Posted on 10/01/2020
"All good things are wild and free," writes author Henry David Thoreau. While you may take exception to the "all" in that statement, the fact remains that much beauty and multi-sensory experience is ours to enjoy and bequeath to our children. Let's start by exploring the basic how-to's of spending time in nature.
Get Dressed
While experiencing nature does not require any expertise or specialty equipment, it does require you to be dressed properly — especially if you want to avoid injury and illness, along with the bane of parents everywhere: whining. Basically, you need to make sure your child is dressed in clothing that allows for a reasonable degree of comfort and movement. In the summer, that might include a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, along with closed-toe shoes that allow for good traction. If it's rainy or muddy out, make sure you have mud boots and a rain slicker. If it's snowy, you might want to consider dressing your child in wool socks and layering clothing. And if it's much below freezing, you get a pass. And make sure that whatever your child wears, it's something you're going allow them to get dirty or even torn.
Grab Your Gear
In addition to proper clothing for your environment and the time of year, there are a few items that can be helpful to you and your child as you explore and learn to appreciate nature. Now if these kinds of things seem foreign to you, don't worry: it's not that you need to be an expert at using them or know how to use them in a professional way. It's just that they might enhance your child's ability to appreciate what he or she sees — and who knows?! Maybe you'll find a new hobby emerging for your own pleasure. Even if not, though, it'll be helpful to have a few basics on hand:
• water bottles and snacks
• pocket field guide (this lists local plants, animals, birds, or a combination of all 3)
• journal or sketchbook and colored pencils
• magnifying glass and/or binoculars
• camera (preferably one you're comfortable letting your child use)
Ideally, you should keep the above items readily available in your vehicle, in a ready-to-grab nature pack.
Go Outside
If you're in an extremely urban environment with only concrete surfaces outside, you may have to take a walk or drive to another location, but there's not much you really have to do. Just find a setting ripe with vegetation, and you're literally half way there. No preparation or research or printable nature lessons are needed ahead of time. If you don't know what you're doing, that's okay. Just go.
Really, these instructions are all you need to follow to get started with nature walks. But if you're the kind of person that wants to know a little more about how to get the most out of your time outdoors, check out the next post in this series: Nature Walks 102.
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