If I had to choose one topic to ever blog about, the subject would be about getting children into the outdoors. Not just the backyards and parks (great start) but into the woods and mountains and deserts. An environment where they get wet, hot, cold and my favorite, muddy (not really). In fact, many researchers and educators are finding that outdoors time has multiple far-reaching and lasting benefits. These findings and reports can be found at the Harvard Graduate School of Education by authors like Ben Wild and Erica Fine. The learning opportunities are endless and are being incorporated into STREAM and STEAM programs.
Personally, in a ten minute outing I can engage my children’s attention with geology and nature. Simply by getting down on my knees with my two-year old, we will get excited about a ladybug or a potato bug (voice inflection helps.) Longer outings, I let the little ones walk out front, stopping periodically to just listen and identify.
As a dad, I know this can be challenging in many ways. My wife and I went from extreme backcountry camping to glamping with children. Going from a minimalist way of camping for days out of a backpack to stuffing my Yakima Skybox with supplies and clothes. The same goes for hikes with our children who are now two and four. Despite the multiple challenges experienced, we are sticking to our “Outdoors Magna Carta.”
Then one day, while deep in the woods, your child will stop and share an observation with you that you may have been oblivious to; bird sound, rock identification or the straw (roots) that feeds the trees. That is the moment when the wet days, muddy clothes, mosquito bites will be worth your efforts.
“The wilderness holds answers to questions man has not yet learned to ask.” Nancy Newhall
Busy Dad 
Well written John.
The outdoors is a place to come back to throughout one’s lifetime. Madre
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Thank you and so true.
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Spot on bro!
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