National Get Outdoors Day is June 12

School is out and if your family is looking for a way to kick off summer, grab your sun hats and head outside to partake in Get Outdoors Day. This special day got its start in 2008 and is still going strong today. According to the Children & Nature Network, “kids today spend up to 44 hours on a screen and less than 10 minutes a day playing outdoors”. Growing bodies and mind need fresh air and exercise to thrive (and it’s good for the parents too)!

My new book, The Gift of Green Time: 50 Ways for Families to Disconnect (and Reconnect) Outdoors, Door County ™ has lots of ideas on how to be active and enjoy nature together. Here’s a couple you might try in June:

Activity # 27:  Visit a Farm to pick your own berries. Plucking a ripe strawberry off a prickly plant help kids understand where their food comes from (and it’s OK to eat one right in the field). Extend the learning by reading the book The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don Wood.

Activity # 1:  Dance by the Light of the Full Moon. There are 3 Super Moons in 2021 and the next one occurs on June 24. Bring your older kids and teens to an open viewing spot and wait for the moon to rise at 9:32 p.m. - jammies and popcorn optional but are extra fun!

The Gift of Green Time is on sale now and can be ordered online at: https://www.bevgillen.com/store/the-gift-of-green-time.