“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you…
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

~ John Muir

If you follow me on Twitter, you know they call me the #playoutdoors lady. It’s a title I wear proudly. Well, I just spent a few days with my people. My tribe. People across North America working to help connect children and nature. The thing I really love about the Children and Nature Network is the spirit of collaboration and lack of need to own the movement, which is, as it should be.

We should all be working together to get kids and adults alike outside. Whether you care about conservation, education, public health, recreation, developmental psychology, environmental justice, the creativity of the future workforce, or…

You see, it does not matter what angle you are interested in or what professional hat you wear. It doesn’t matter how big or small your organization is, or if you are out there on your own, beating the drum and reminding people that there is a beautiful world out there that they need to remember to be a part of.  It doesn’t matter where you are from or whether you are a parent or not. None of it matters.

Today, tomorrow, and always there will be great personal and societal benefit for spending time outdoors. For getting to know the world around you and your place in it. For sharing those lessons, breath-taking vistas, and moments of wonder that can only be found when we take the time to slow down and head outside, allowing the most basic parts of ourselves to be restored.

Someone recently asked me why I do what I do. It’s simple, really. I do this because I firmly believe that life is meant for living. That happiness is found in simple moments of beauty, in connecting with ourselves and nature, and not only in being stewards of the Earth, but in stewards of our humanity. It troubles me to see so much lost in the never ending quest for more, so I write, and speak, and connect with others who want the same thing — even if it is for different reasons from my own.

So, I invite you to join me and my tribe — to join all the people across the globe that are doing their part to make a difference on personal or professional levels. In backyards and schoolyards. In parks, big and small. In nature centers, community gardens, and arboretums.

Join us. Get outside and play. Pass it on. Together our voices are strong.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: eunmind

photo credit: Gdpaule

TGSG Note: Sometimes, posts are worth another visit. I think this is one of them. I hope you do too.

When people ask me what I write about — what I do — I often get strange looks. It appears that dedicating oneself to unstructured play and connecting children (and adults) with nature can be perceived as a frivolous thing. I get that. I mean, it is play, after all. People tend to associate play and exploration with fun. In turn, they associate fun with anything but serious.

But here’s the thing: This subject is anything but frivolous. In fact, I propose it is quite serious.

If you think about it, if you take the issue of today’s childhood — the well-documented and increasing gap between children and nature — and look at it in its entirety, it’s really quite an enormous issue. A societal issue requiring a societal response.

Here are just a few lenses we can use to look at the issue. Each of these is a post or series of posts in their own right, so these are simple “thought bubbles” for the moment. Consider:

Public Health: Childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing, as is the medication of children for ADHD. Childhood and adolescent depression are also on the rise. Consider how spending time in nature, being active outdoors, playing, and having fun might impact these health problems and be part of a wellness and disease prevention paradigm.

Education (and reform): Mandatory recess. Establishing reasonable and thoughtful homework policies that impact not only the lives of students, but of educators, parents, and families. Protecting play-based learning in Kindergarten. On and on. We cannot expect kids to get outside and play if we do not provide opportunities for them to do so, or value those opportunities in the learning readiness of all students. Additionally, environmental education is a vital, viable win-win educational opportunity to enrich the school environment. Its hands-on, real-world approach is a powerful tool for engaging all learning styles.

Urban Planning: Planning community green-spaces, nature trails and community-connecting bike and walking paths. Creating safe walking routes to school. Sidewalks in neighborhoods. Traffic patterns. You name it — urban planners have a great power to create and refit healthy communities that foster time outdoors.

Social Justice: How are poor areas impacted in greater ways? Is it safe to go outside some places? What can be done about that?  In areas heavily populated by recent immigrants with a different, and often more deep connection to the land, how are we engaging them in programs and efforts? What could we do better? What do they need?

Conservation: Without a connection to nature, what will the next generation do? One cannot protect what they do not know. Who will take the jobs of the people retiring  in the conservation field, if kids grow up with no interest or connection? Who will vote to protect land, species, etc.? Who will become members and donors of NGOs that work on conservation issues?

Quality of Life: This one is key. Time outdoors. Unplugged time. Time to make connections to the land, ourselves, our families, and our communities in more meaningful ways. Time to recharge our batteries. Time to simply be. Time for children to play, which is how they restore.

This time — this magic time of unplugging and connecting — is a powerful way to be a happier, healthier person. Doing so can help you be a better parent or mentor, a better employee or employer. A better you. How can society not be served by better versions of us all, young and old alike?

Steeped in awe and wonder, time spent playing and exploring the outdoors is indeed, quite fun. It is also a very important issue, and quite serious. It requires all of us to work together — professionals from a variety of disciplines, parents and grandparents, educators and caregivers, and concerned citizens.

I hope you will join me. We have lots of work to do. But luckily, much of this worthy work is, as it turns out, PLAY!

See you outside! – The Grass Stain Guru

Howdy, nature detectives! The Mystery Critter has been hiding out, but it wanted me to tell @OCPlayParks‘ kiddos hello and good luck guessing!

OK, time to play Mystery Critter.  Put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it! And remember — no cheating.

CRITTER CLUES:

• I am the largest of my species
• I look a bit prehistoric
• The male of the species never leaves the water
• I have a very unique tongue that acts like a lure
• I have a long lifespan

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance soon!

Remember, when looking for wildlife, keep your eyes and ears open! What critters can you spot in your neck of the woods? Be sure to tell us!

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: downing.amanda

Season’s Greetings, nature detectives! Tis the season to go wildlife watching! Lots of critters are out looking for food, and birds are especially easy to spot with the leaves off the trees.

OK, time to play Mystery Critter.  Put on your thinking caps and let’s get to it! And remember — no cheating.

CRITTER CLUES:

• I have shaggy fur
• You may not see me where you live, but you might see one of my cousins
• I am migratory
• I am very fast
• My diet consists of plants, lichens, mushrooms and fruit

So, what am I?

Make your guess then go to eNature for the answer and more interesting facts.

Did you get it right?

If not, no worries. You will have another chance soon!

Remember, when looking for wildlife, keep your eyes and ears open! What critters can you spot in your neck of the woods? Be sure to tell us!

And don’t forget! Join the Wildobs community and share your wild adventures with the world.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: WellspringCS

photo credit: eyeliam

OK, who’s with me?! I am ready to let my hair down and have some fun. Too much work and not enough living.

So, let’s remedy that. Let’s get our #playoutdoors on! 

Why not…

• Explore plants in the garden with this activity sheet from Kidsgardening.org
• Check out the outdoor games featured on Kaboose — and kick up your heals with some backyard fun!
• Challenge yourself to get creative in the garden with this idea (and more!) for recycling soda bottles!
• Take a trip to your local farmers market — most should be in swing by now. Find one near you.

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do — just unplug and get outside.

There is a whole gorgeous planet out there just waiting for you. Seriously.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

TGSG Note: I’ve had a busy few weeks on the road for my day job, so tickled to have good friends to pitch in! Thanks to the lovely Karen Wilde for giving us these great Frolic Friday ideas. See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

It’s December – nearly time for snow and I bet some of you are already blanketed in the white stuff.

Snow days are perfect days for getting some play outdoors action. Who can forget that first flake drifting from a grey sky? It seems almost everyone, especially children, LOVE SNOW!

Ideas for Snow Days:

Wrap up warm – Thick socks, no jeans, warm hats and big jackets are de rigour for snow days, keeping you toasty to enjoy all the fun.

Grab a sled – or a swimming tube or even a tin tray and get out to the nearest hill. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of whizzing down a hill before plowing into a bank of the white stuff.

Build a Snow Fort – If the snow is REALLY deep you can pack it down with your feet and cut it out to make blocks. Snow forts are perfect for hiding behind when you…

SNOWBALLS!! – Run, quick, it’s flying through the air, get behind the snow fort!

Build a Snowman – old scarves, buttons, carrots and floppy hats. How tall can you make your Snowman?

Unplug, get outside and have some FUN. Some people never see snow. If you’re lucky enough to get some this Winter, make the most of it and go play outdoors! You can always warm up with hot cocoa afterwards.

Guest blogger bio: Karen Wilde is passionate about re-connecting to nature and living a wild life outdoors. She writes for the Natural Pathways blog and can often be found under a debris shelter in the Kent woodland. She also freelances and edits the Green Pepper website.

photo credit: nightthree

Happy Frolic Friday, all! Fall is wrapping up, and we are starting the slow slide into winter. Let’s take advantage of the sunshine when we can, and embrace the gray when we can’t!

This weekend, why not…

• Go be a nest detective! Now that the leaves are off the trees, it’s really easy to spot nests built up in the branches. Count how many you find.  Take pictures or sketch them in your nature journal. Do you see different shapes and sizes? Take the kids and make a game of it.
• Head to the wild bird store and check out the feeder selection. Seed, suet, platform, tube — there are so many choices! You can also have the kids make simple bird feeders out of bagels or pinecones.
• Join a local bird watching walk. Check with your local nature center, wild bird store, or parks department for walks scheduled near you. Nothing near you? Start a Family Nature Club and schedule your own outings with friends and family.

As always, it doesn’t matter what you do, just get outside this weekend and earn those grass stains. Take some time to unplug and belly laugh — it’s good for the soul!

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

photo credit: ingridtaylar

Happy Frolic Friday! Time to play, and what better time of year to get outside and celebrate the beauty of nature?

I will admit it: I am gaga for gourds. Girl loves a pumpkin patch like nobody’s business.

Orange for as far as the eye can see. Tall ones. Short ones. Fat ones…I am giddy just thinking about it.

They call to me, begging to be carved into jack-o-lanterns, baked into pies and bread, and made into savory soups. I even get lots of tiny ones to keep on the table — little orange balls of happiness.

This weekend, why not…

• Visit a local pumpkin patch and let each member of the family pick out their own prized pumpkin. After all, beauty is in the eye of the gourd-holder, so to speak. Find a pumpkin patch or corn maze near you.
• Carve a cool wildlife-themed pumpkin! WWF has great stencils you can download for free. You can even make a solar powered jack-o-lantern. How cool is that?!
• Let’s admit it — squirrels love pumpkins! If you have never had your jack-o-lantern hijacked by one, just wait. Roast a few seeds and sit back and enjoy the show!

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shout-out to another pumpkin lover. Another sure sign of fall: Linus and The Great Pumpkin. Enjoy!

As always, it does not matter what you do, just get outdoors this weekend and have some fun.

And yes, you can call me pumpkin. I won’t mind a bit.

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

Recently, I sat down with Danielle Marshall from KaBOOM! to discuss nature play, one of my favorite subjects.

I hope you enjoy it, and share it widely. The more parents, educators, and communities we get on board, the better.

Remember — childhood was meant to be messy! Muddy. Slimy. DIRTY!

Let’s get those kids outside! And while we’re at it — the adults, too. Nature is for all of us. Go ahead, you know you want to…

See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru

TGSG Note: The audio gets a bit wonky on this after the first question, so I hope you will just pop on your headphones and crank it up a bit.