Well, here we are Kiddywinks – Summer! SO many adventures are waiting for you. I’ve found a few ideas for you to share with your parents and/or your grandparents. Ask them to take a look at this and then, prepare yourself for some wonderful outdoor summer FUN! Bigfoot and I will look forward to seeing your photos…..
Unlock the Fun of the Great Outdoors With Your Children this Summer!
Summer…the days are long and the weather is warm. Yet, studies show that children aren’t spending as much time outdoors. You can reverse this trend and help your children (or grandchildren) enjoy the outdoors again. The best way to guarantee that children are having fun and ensure the adventure is successful, is to be sure to pick something that excites you about being outside. Grab the RV to make it a true family adventure and deliver healthy fun and memories to last a lifetime. Let your imagination run wild…
Here are a few ways to enjoy the outdoors with your children this summer that are guaranteed to deliver great memories and healthy fun.
1. Geocaching. Join millions in a new outdoor adventure that utilizes hand-held GPS (global positioning system) devices to locate hidden “treasures” around the globe. Geocaching connects the Great Outdoors with youth’s interest in technology. Geocachers have created “caches” all over the world and have posted “how to find” information on the Internet. Help your child look up the location of a cache in your town (there are over 400,000 caches hidden around the world right now at www.geocaching.com) and use a GPS device to track it down. Your hunt could take you hiking through the woods, to a historical monument, or to a scenic overlook. It’s always a mystery and always an adventure. Once found, a cache may contain a variety of rewards or interesting information. It’s a modern day treasure hunt.
2. Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt. Another way to turn your child’s interest in technology into an outdoor exploration is to create a list of “nature things” you can find locally – a red flower, a stream, or a fallen tree. Then, visit a nearby park or nature reserve, and see how many of the items your children can spot. Let them use a digital camera or a cell phone camera to take a photo of everything on your list – and encourage your children to snap a few extra shots of the beautiful surroundings. After your outdoor adventure, upload the photos onto the family computer and create a Nature Hunt Scrapbook. Encourage your children to share their adventures with our Island RV Guide readers. They may end up published photographers and appear in, or even on the cover of, the Island RV Guide! E-mail their photos to arbmark@arbutusrv.ca. Please try to have them take and send a few photos of their family enjoying their RV in the beautiful outdoors. It will provide them, and you, with fond memories of your RVing experiences for many, many years to come.
3. Canoeing or Kayaking. If your children love the water, canoeing or kayaking is a great adventure. Canoes and kayaks are great for exploring the Great Outdoors because they can travel in shallow water, allowing children to step out and explore a riverbank or approach a water bird feeding along the shore. You can rent a canoe or kayak, all the needed safety equipment, and get instruction from outfitters at many Island Locations. Many will even pick you up and return you to your car after a journey downstream.
4. Trampoline Campout. This one’s great for when an RVing week-end just isn’t in the cards. That jumbo trampoline in your backyard can find a new use. Get your Children back outside by setting up the trampoline for an overnight campout. Set up sleeping bags, have a battery-powered lantern and flashlights, and brush up on your ghost stories. Perched above the ground, children can enjoy the outdoors without worrying about critters and creepy-crawlers below. Many trampolines come with side rails that can convert the trampoline into a cozy cave by throwing a large blanket or tarp across the top. And you can add a “sideshow” to this adventure. Help your Children pitch a tent next to the trampoline. Plug in an extension cord, and hook up a television and DVD player right inside the tent. Watch your child’s favourite movie and your favourite childhood film. For added outdoor effect, roast marshmallows over a small fire in a charcoal grill next to the tent.
Help today’s children discover the outdoors early in their lives and begin a lifetime of benefits – mental, physical, and spiritual – and build memories of shared adventures that will last a lifetime. Grab one of these simple ideas today and your entire family can reap rewards. |
