Reuniting Kids w/ Nature – Nature Walk

“Time in nature is not leisure time; it’s an essential investment in our children’s health (and also, by the way, in our own).” ~Richard Louv, Last child in the Woods

MATERIALS: 

Wear weather appropriate clothing, bring a water bottle, and a small snack and any other tools that might help you explore.

TIME FRAME:

As long as is possible.

PROCEDURE:

• Simply walk in nature…
• Listen to the sounds of the birds, of the rustling of leaves and blades of grass, hear the whispers of the nearby river or the winds as they whip through the valley.
• Smell all the smells that dance in the fresh air, the blossoming flowers, the decomposing leaves, the crisp quality of space around you.
• Feel the dirt beneath your feet, the air in your lungs, the texture of the bark on the trees you pass, the velvet of a rose’s petals.
• See everything.  Walk slowly and with intention.  Take the time to acknowledge how blue (or grey) the sky is or how drastic the differences are between one plant and the next. Watch the birds playing in the branches or the ants scouting for food.

REFLECTION:

How does it feel to allow yourself some time to walk in nature?  How often would you do it if you could? How can you make spending time in nature a priority for you?

TIPS & IMAGININGS:

• Take two bags with you on your walk: one for collecting trash and one for collecting natural materials for future projects (pine cones, leaves, small sticks, rocks, a few flowers…)
• Always tell someone else where you are going and when you anticipate being home again when you are going to spend time in nature, even if you’re going with someone else! Safety first!