Best way to expose kids to some nature related activities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I & DH are not outdoorsy and physical active, but I am willing to get myself out to expose kids to fishing, boating, camping, and some nature survival skills. It is not like I find these activities fun or useful, but I just do not want to rule them out from kids life because parents do not have these interests. I have never done any of these mentioned above because I am from a foreign populated city. Is joining scout or joining summer outdoor camp the best, most budgeted and easy way to do it? Or should parents find some family oriented outdoor club to join from eventrite to find our own groups? Do they have a paid professional guide like that in dmv area to lead a few families to do these things altogether as experiences, like provide us a list of things to bring & buy, and we follow the guide for a few days in nature?

It depends on what you want for them. I am not the camping/wilderness type, but we do a lot of hikes, gardening, bug hunting, and talk with the kids about what we are seeing. That kind of everyday encounter goes quite far towards fostering a love and appreciation for nature. We also get memberships in our local nature centers and take them to arboretums, to farms, to parks in spring where you can see tadpoles, maple syrup or honey collecting. Even an outing to a stream can be fun — Asia Citro has some great books on outdoors/nature projects for little kids, and my kids have enjoyed exploring the bugs and testing the water at local streams. With COVID we have found even more places and it’s easy to nip away for an outing of 2 hours, picnic on a hike, etc.

When they get older I think we will probably do national parks and sailing, maybe even (eek) a bit of camping! Haha. But I think getting them used to being out in nature, looking at plants and animals and learning about how things work is something you kind of build into their everyday experience — not an exotic outing that you need a lot of equipment or special skills. If they get into that and want to do more then yes, scouts or your local nature center camp could be good. Some summer camps are also more wilderness oriented.

[Anonymous]

OP - Hiking is my favorite pastime and there are lots of trails nearby. Great Falls has some nice hikes. Woodrow Wilson park also. Then you can venture out farther. You can also find some good trail rides an hour away depending on how old children are. Most can start around six years old and ride a horse through the woods for an hour or two is fun for many kids.

I am an outdoors person and DH is not. Camping with kids is not for the light hearted. We will rent a place near Deep Creek MD and enjoy some outdoor activities there ever other year.

[Anonymous]

Check out easy trails on Alltrails.com nearby where you live. You can grab a fishing pole and help them with it. Most states let 12 and under fish for free. Cub Scouts would be a great introduction to outdoor education, safety and adventures. Parents are usually very included so you will also learn a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Hiking is my favorite pastime and there are lots of trails nearby. Great Falls has some nice hikes. Woodrow Wilson park also. Then you can venture out farther. You can also find some good trail rides an hour away depending on how old children are. Most can start around six years old and ride a horse through the woods for an hour or two is fun for many kids.

I am an outdoors person and DH is not. Camping with kids is not for the light hearted. We will rent a place near Deep Creek MD and enjoy some outdoor activities there ever other year.

DP — where would you recommend for trail riding? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My parents never took me hiking/camping/fishing -- not once. They did, and do, hate anything that doesn't involve at least a 3-star hotel. I grew up to love nature and the outdoors. So don't assume you're confining them to a life without nature even if you don't like it.

[Anonymous]

I’m Asian American and from NYC. I did not grow up doing nature activities.

I have 3 kids. My 2 older boys did cub scouts and my youngest attends a nature based preschool. She plays outside all day everyday. My boys play sports. We go on hikes as a family. They are good golfers and skiers. We like to fish and go boating. I try to expose them to more than I was as a child and have a well rounded childhood.

[Anonymous]

Pp again. I still don’t really enjoy nature activities. I would not go camping. We do go on vacations that are nature themed with emphasis on outdoor activities.

[Anonymous]

I’d pick out whatever activity you like to try doing best yourself outdoors, and bring your kids along. If you’re not into fishing, camping or boating it will be pretty boring trying to get your kids into it too. We go fishing and boating quite often and the kids like it too, but if we didnt enjoy it ourselves spending hours attempting to catch one fish could feel like a drag.