Get Outdoors and #DiscoverTheForest

We love getting outside and sharing the great outdoors with friends and family. My favorite pastimes for outdoor activities in the summer are hiking, backpacking, nature walking, camping, tree climbing, rock climbing, biking, horseback riding, swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, fishing, picnicking, barbecuing, foraging, hunting, and gathering, wildcrafting, harvesting crops, farming, and gardening. Any one of these activities lets my family, friends and I get fresh air and get back to nature. We have a "naturehood" nearby us called Dibblee Beach. This beach with Columbia River access is just a short walk from our home. We love to go there and relax and play. We also have Lake Sacajawea Park across the river from us in Longview Washington. We enjoy spending time there to picnic, BBQ, or have our kids play on the playgrounds that surround the scenic lake.

Nature is closer than you think. Every neighborhood has a #Naturehood, urban forest areas and parks that are just a short-drive away, making it easy for families to unplug from the daily routine and reconnect with nature. These urban forests offer many of the same benefits as national forests, but they're right in the neighborhood. Beyond the swings, slides and clearings, there are trails, trees, wildlife and water just waiting for the urban dweller. To find a neighborhood park or green space near you, visit DiscoverTheForest.org.

Research has shown that children who play outside have lower stress levels and more active imaginations, become fitter and leaner, develop stronger immune systems and are more likely to become environmentally conscious in the future. Kids need to discover the wonders of nature, make memories with their families and friends outdoors, and develop an interest in the environment by creating a lifelong relationship with it. Spending time together outdoors helps enrich family life.

DiscoverTheForest.org features an interactive map tool that enables users to search for nearby forests and parks, and filter by zip code and desired activities. Free outdoor activities are also available for download and printing, which you can take the next time you visit.

SOCIAL • CORNER
Website - DiscoverTheForest.org
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/discovertheforest
Twitter - https://twitter.com/discoverforest
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/discoverforest/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/discovertheforest/

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I'm participating in a group initiative with Homestead Bloggers Network about the importance of getting outdoors with your family. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post. My name is going into a drawing for a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Celebrate Earth Day with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood!

Do you remember as a child watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood? I sure do and it was one of my favorite TV shows as a child and now for my children. Now The Fred Rogers Company has created a very cute TV series called Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood that is based on the Neighborhood of Make-Believe from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. An all new, extra special episode premieres on April 22 (check local listings) for Earth Day – just in time to help young viewers learn the importance of cleaning up, picking up and recycling.

The new show features two adorable stories. In Neighborhood Clean Up, a wind storm blows through town making a mess of the Neighborhood playground and no one can play. King Friday proclaims that it is “Clean Up Day” and everyone helps restore the playground by throwing out and recycling the trash. The Neighborhood children – along with young viewers at home – learn that, by working together, the playground can be ready for play again in no time! And in Clean Up Time, Daniel and his best friend O the Owl are playing “farm” at Daniel’s house. They are having a lot of fun, but are also making quite a mess! After losing his watch in a messy room, Daniel realizes that cleaning up and putting his toys away will help him find it. And the great clean-up begins!

Inspired by Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and the upcoming special Earth Day-themed episode, here are some simple and fun ideas for celebrating the special day (and Mother Earth) together with your toddler/preschooler:

• Proclaim your own “Clean Up Day”! Tidy up your yard, and clean out the winter clutter. While you’re at it, find out what kind of trees, plants and wildlife are “at home” in your backyard and neighborhood, too! 
• Plant a garden! Pick out the kinds of vegetables you’d like to grow or design a flower bed together – kids love to get their hands dirty! If you live in an apartment, you can create a beautiful flower or herb garden right on your terrace or windowsill. 
• Help beautify a park or playground! Get a group of parents and preschoolers together and visit a local park to help make sure that it’s trash free and ready for playtime! 
• Recycle together! Invite your children to get in on the act of recycling! Have them assist you in tying up those newspapers and magazines, collecting the cans and bottles, crunching the cardboard boxes – and making sure that everything goes in its proper bin. 

Here is a short clip of one of the episodes:

Earth Day from GC on Vimeo.

And don’t forget to tune-in to the brand-new Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Earth Day episode together. It’s another perfect way for families to make Earth Day a special day in their neighborhood! If you miss these episodes make sure to check your local listings and you can catch the show at another time.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: PBS Kids and Grand Communications provided this information to me to share with you. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for posting this information.