Tag Archives: outside

Go Geocaching This Summer

Posted by melissa.t on May 17, 2013 2 comments

geocaching with kids

If your kids like treasure hunts, they’ll love geocaching.

Geocaching is an outdoor, world-wide treasure hunt which requires the use of a GPS to find the treasure.

The treasures aren’t really anything big – nothing of value but a little memento or trinket – stored in a weather-proof metal box.

The treasure is in the hunt – that’s the fun!

Get Started Geocaching

Get started with a geocaching kit like this one that we sell at Imagine Toys.

download

The kit includes a GPS unit, a geocache container, a guidebook, and treasures. The GPS is already loaded with 250,000 geocache sites in the United States and you’ll get plenty of hints if you need.

Alternatively, you can use a geocaching app for your phone – the iPhone or Android.

Find a Hunt

Now that you have your GPS, you’re ready to go on a geocache adventure. Find a hunt online at Geocaching.com at the “Hide and Seek” page (or on your GPS or mobile app). You’ll be given the coordinates of the cache.

Next find the starting point and get started looking.

Find the Cache

When you find the treasure, sign your name in the logbook. If you take the treasure, you must leave one to replace it.

Have Fun

Geocaching gives you a fun family activity that keeps you outside, active, and learning. Let us know how it goes. Happy geocaching!!

Photo credit: Padraic Ryan / Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Get Outside for Earth Day (April 22)

Posted by melissa.t on April 12, 2013 None comments

Monday, April 22, is Earth Day. Earth Day reminds us to savor nature and consider improving how we care and nurture it.

The best thing you can do for Earth Day with your kids is experience nature.

It’s highly unlikely that a globe craft will teach a love of the environment.

But, going outside sure will.

the night sky

Even at night, there is so much to see.

So, go outside.

When children love and appreciate nature, it only follows that they’ll want to protect it with environmental-saving habits such as recycling. But, they must experience nature to do this.

Go outside!

Get Outside for Earth Day

You won’t believe what my daughter is feeding in the photograph above. . . It’s not the ducks. It’s the fish!!

Animals in Nature

My kids think animals in nature are the coolest — how about yours?

You don’t have to do anything fancy, when you go outside, find animals.

Do you have a lake where you can feed ducks?

Or a nearby zoo?

How about a backyard bird feeder?

Do you look for tracks in the snow or mud?

Find the animals in your environment.

Plants in Nature

Another great way for children to learn to appreciate nature is growing things.

Watch for spring plants. Notice the green buds and early bulbs.

Clear an area for a family garden. Talk about the food you like to eat that comes from plants.

Plant spring flowers in pots.

Go on a scavenger hunt for animals and nature. Printable cards on Craft Interrupted.

Outside Toys

My kids love their outside toys. It keeps them outside having fun. Here are some favorite toys for outside:

Do your kids play outside? What do they like to play with?

Kids — Get Outside For Winter Play!

Posted by melissa.t on January 12, 2012 2 comments

Okay, so you know that I’m obsessed with Pinterest, right? And, that kids need to get outside for at least 20 minutes a day? Well, I’ve found many inspired activities to do with kids outside in the cold and snow to get in our 20 + minutes of nature time! I hope you’ll agree that these will be totally fun — what will you try?

1. Bird Cake Recipe from Red Ted Art