Get Outdoors: Have Fun Responsibly

NPS Photo

There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors! National parks, state parks, neighborhood parks, local natural areas, or even your own backyard offer special places to have fun, explore, and be have a memorable time with your family. Remember, spending time in nature is good for you! And while you do it, remember to do it safely. Join the #RecreateResponsibly movement.

Do your best to complete the activities on your own but have a parent, grandparent, scout leader, or other helpful adult with you while you are exploring. You may need to bring an adult with you on some of these adventures!

Check that you have what you need before you head outside. Make sure that you are bringing things like water and snacks.

Let’s go biking!

Biking is an excellent way to exercise and see new things. Take your bike for a ride around your neighborhood or a nearby park. Make sure you are wearing proper bicycle safety equipment—such as a helmet, brightly colored and reflective clothing, and bicycle lighting—and that you pay attention to all rules of the road.

When you come back, write down what you learned and saw during your adventure. And then share it with your family and/or friends.

• How was the weather?

• How was the wind?

• What wildlife did you encounter?

• Did you see a lot of people enjoying the outdoors?
• What was your favorite part of your adventure?

Yellowstone National Park

NPS / Neal Herbert

Let’s go hiking!

Lace up your hiking shoes and go for a 30-minute-long hike or a simply nature walk. It can be anywhere from your backyard to a nearby park. Hiking can help you develop a life-long relationship with nature and the great outdoors.

Bring a notebook or camera with you. Take pictures or videos, or draw some of the wildlife and plants that you find while exploring. Write about your adventure and share those thoughts, pictures, videos, and drawings with your family and friends.

• What was your favorite place in your backyard or local park?
• Is there a specific place you would like to go hiking or walking? Or a specific national park?
• What was your favorite part of this adventure?
• What wildlife and plants did you see?
  

Let’s go camping!

Pack up your tent and head outside (to your backyard if that’s the only option!). Camping in the great outdoors transforms a regular old road trip into an epic experience. Remember to read up on how to stay safe while camping.

• Bring a notebook and camera with you.

• Go on a scavenger hunt: write a list of objects to find—like specific leaves, flowers, and plants—and go look for them before it gets dark.

• There are many other camping activities that are fun for everyone!

• Find tips to build and maintain a safe campfire, whether you are doing one out in the wild or in your backyard. Remember to bring the essentials to make s’mores!

• Camping isn’t complete without stories by the fire. Encourage your family and friends to share stories at night.

Trailridge Road at Rocky Mountain National Park

NPS / Kim Grossman

Let’s go stargazing!

Go outside and find a safe place with a good view of the night sky. Starry skies are truly awesome to behold. You can also become a Junior Ranger Night Explorer.

• Use a red flashlight to move around at night. (White light will spoil your night vision.)

• Bring a star chart or planisphere to find the constellations.

• Use binoculars (or a telescope if you have one) to look at planets and stars.

• Use a notebook to write down what you see.

• Did you find any constellations?

• Did you get to see any planets? Which ones?

• Were you able to see any shooting stars? How many?

• Where you able to see the moon? What phase is the moon in now?

• Share what you saw and learned with your family and/or friends.

Let’s go on a picnic!

Grab a picnic blanket, a cooler and some snacks and head outside! Remember, don’t share your food with wildlife. Find a park with picnic tables and water refill stations (make sure you check if they have reservations online). You can also simply go to your backyard or visit your local park to lay your blanket on the floor and spend some time out in the sun.

• Bring a book to read, a coloring book to color, a notebook to draw or your camera to take pictures.

• Connect with your family by sharing stories, maybe e learn a little bit about your family history or their favorite things to do.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

NPS Photo

Let’s go kayaking!

National parks and other parks have plenty of water activities for you and your family and friends to explore! Plan a kayaking day with your family at a nearby park. Make sure you learn how to prepare and stay safe out on the water (always keep your lifejacket on!) and know what your level of experience is.

• Take lots of breaks and enjoy the scenery.

• When you come back, draw, paint or write about some of the scenery you saw while kayaking. What was the most beautiful part of your trip?

• Share what you liked and disliked about your adventure with your family and/or friends.

Let’s go listen!

Spend 10 quiet minutes outside, in nature. Try to listen to your surroundings and explore the exciting world of sound. You can also become a Junior Ranger Sound Explorer and help reduce noise in national parks.

• Bring a notebook and write down the different sounds that you hear.

• How did each sound make you feel?

• What was the quietest sound?

• What was the loudest sound?

• Did you hear any animals?

• Did you listen to the wind?

• Share what you saw and learned with your family and/or friends.