Use Ranger Rick Magazine's How-To Guide for Outdoor Fun

The National Wildlife Federation has been promoting their Be Out There campaign, trying to encourage families to get outside and have more active fun. As a part of this, Ranger Rick magazine has released their "How-To Guide for Outdoor Fun," which details six old-fashioned ways to have fun in the sun. Adaptations and extra activities are included below.

1. Skipping a stone.

Remember absentmindedly skipping stones across rivers and streams? It can be a great release when having a relaxing conversation with someone. It's also fun to have a contest to see who can skip a stone the farthest. Compete against your own personal best. Try different types of stones to see which work better than others.

2. Catching a frog.

Frogs and toads are slippery little buggers, but oh so much fun to catch! Look for them in any wet or swampy area, by a pond, or a river. Have fun trying to hold on to them, but be sure to let them go after you have played with them for a while. For even more fun, look for tadpoles, and watch them grow into frogs!

3. Flying a kite.

Try to make your own kite, or purchase an inexpensive one at a local discount retailer. Look for an open field, or visit a local park with a wide open area. It works best on a windy day. Don't get discouraged if your kite ends up like Charlie Brown's kites, wrapped up in a tree, or tangled around you. Laugh and have fun with the experience. Get cheesy and sing "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from Mary Poppins.

4. Calling a bird closer.

Ranger Rick details how to make sound effects to encourage birds to come closer for identification. If sound effects are not your forte, simply toss out birdseed. Many retailers carry inexpensive birdseed and cracked corn that will encourage birds and ducks to come feed. See how many you can identify. Capture their pictures with a digital camera. Try to catch their bird calls with a digital recorder.

5. Making a dandelion chain.

You can tie the ends of dandelions together to make a belt, necklace, crown, or bracelet. Or, you can put small slits into the long stems, and thread the flowers together this way. These techniques also work with other flowers, such as daisies. Mix and match flowers for variety.

6. Whistling with a blade of grass.

This pastime always ensures giggles when obnoxious loud sounds come from that blade of grass. Have a contest to see who can make the loudest and longest noises. Experiment with different types of grass to see what kind works the best.

Bonus: Climbing trees.

One rite of passage in childhood is trying to climb a tree. Be smart and safe, and focus on trees with sturdy branches that are low to the ground. Make a rule about how high up children can climb. See how the world looks at a different angle!

Bonus: Stories in the clouds.

Lie down on a blanket and watch the big fluffy clouds overhead. Look for different shapes in the clouds. Make up stories about the creatures that you find in them.

Bonus: Go on a bug hunt.

Look for different kinds of bugs in the dirt and grass. They especially like to hide under rocks and stumps. Take a magnifying glass with you, but don't disturb their habitats too much! They can be fun to try to collect as well, but collections should return to the wild so that they do not die.

Bonus: Go worm hunting.

After a good rain, you can always find lots of worms. Look for them on pavement, in flower beds, and in the grass. Again, collect them to see how many you can find, and the different sizes, but then let them go after you have examined them.

Bonus: Splash in puddles.

Forget having clean clothes! After a good rainstorm, there are always a lot of great puddles. Put on boots and stamp around in them. Get on your bike and ride through them. When finished, come home and hose off!

Bonus: Take the indoors outdoors.

Take favorite indoor activities outside. Instead of eating around the kitchen table, have a picnic. Read books while lounging on a blanket or a swing. Bring arts and crafts activities outside. Nature can be very inspiring.

No matter what you choose to do, make it a point to get your family outdoors on a daily basis. It is good for your health, and good for your family bonding time.

Resources:

"How-To Guide for Outdoor Fun" Ranger Rick. Retrieved 8-12-10 from http://www.nwf.org/Kids/Ranger-Rick/Activities/Outdoors/Outdoor-Fun/How-To-Guide-for-Outdoor-Fun.aspx

Further Reading:

Coventry, Andrea. "National Wildlife Federation's Be Out There Campaign - Resources for Fun Family Outdoor Activities". Associated Content. Retrieved 8-12-10 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2563681/national_wildlife_federations_be_out.html?cat=25