Step Outside — Your Next Adventure Awaits!

When my kids were young, Pokémon GO accomplished something parents everywhere can appreciate: it got us off the couch and out the door.

Armed with our phones, we trekked through neighborhoods, explored community parks, and wandered around town searching for virtual creatures. We logged thousands of steps along the way. But looking back, the Pokémon were not the important part. The real value was spending time together!

Why Getting Outside Matters

The benefits of outdoor play extend beyond fresh air and spent calories. Walking, hiking, climbing and running strengthen muscles and bones and support cardiovascular health.

Time outdoors also benefits the brain. It improves attention, memory and academic performance. It elevates mood and decreases symptoms of anxiety and depression. It encourages curiosity, creativity, problem-solving and independence.

And when parents join the outdoor adventure, there is another important benefit: connection. Exploring together creates opportunities for conversation, shared discovery and family memories.

Outdoor Adventures to Try

The best outdoor adventure is one your family enjoys. It doesn’t need to be expensive, complicated, or far from home. Here are some activities to consider:

• Take a family walk or hike. Explore your neighborhood, a local park, nature preserve or hiking trail. Let your kids help choose the route.
• Create a scavenger hunt. Make a list of things to find—a red flower, something shaped like a heart, three kinds of leaves, animal tracks, or a really interesting rock.
• Try geocaching. Use GPS coordinates and a smartphone to hunt for hidden containers placed by other adventurers.
• Go on a photo safari. Give kids a theme such as birds, bugs, flowers, interesting architecture or funny-shaped clouds. Then photograph what you discover.
• Explore on wheels. Ride bikes, scooters, or roller skates. Remember properly fitted helmets and other safety gear!
• Visit someplace new. Parks, playgrounds, botanical gardens, nature centers and metro parks can turn an ordinary afternoon into an adventure.
• Bring technology along. Pokémon GO and other apps can still provide motivation to get moving. Technology doesn’t have to compete with outdoor adventure; sometimes tech inspires the fun.
• Let the kids lead. Not every adventure needs an agenda. Give children time to explore, invent games and decide what happens next.

Keep Outdoor Adventures Safe

Choose activities appropriate for your child’s age and abilities. Keep younger children within sight and establish clear boundaries for older kids. Stay alert around streets, parking lots and water.

On warm or sunny days, bring something to drink and take breaks as needed. Protect skin with shade, clothing, hats and sunscreen. In wooded or grassy areas, consider an appropriate insect repellent and check everyone for ticks when you get home.

And teach kids to respect nature: stay on designated trails, avoid unfamiliar plants and wildlife and leave natural areas the way you found them.

Make It a Family Habit

You don’t need a national park, expensive equipment or an entire weekend. An outdoor adventure begins right outside your front door. Take a walk after dinner. Explore a new playground. Hunt for fireflies. Skip rocks. Watch the sunset. Look at the stars. Or dust off Pokémon GO and see what you can find.

Your next family adventure may be closer than you think!

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