Did you know that children in the U.S. today spend 50% less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago?
Sure, I remember Saturday morning cartoons as a kid. But I also remember making mudpies in our backyard, catching fireflies, jumping in crunchy leaves and discovering slithering worms under a rock.
Saturday, June 12 is National Get Outdoors Day. Seeing that I have an entire Summer Adventure Bucket List to get crackin’ on, we’ll be doing SOMETHING outside this weekend.
The USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council have partnered to help get kids and families to spend more time in forests and re-connected to nature. Being that marketing and being outdoors are two of my favorite things, this makes me especially giddy.
So what does any of this have to do with Shrek? Well, he probably spends more time in the forest than anybody. Check out Shrek’s encounter with two wee adventurers:
I love that a popular character like Shrek is part of this campaign. Usually, characters like this are saved for big money partnerships like sugary cereal or overprocessed kids’ snacks. Not this time. Kudos to Dreamworks for sharing Shrek with a good cause.
Check out the Discover the Forest website to find useful stuff like:
- Lots of fun online games that will teach parents and kids interesting things about nature, like how to identify wildlife tracks or use a compass
- Tips for parents on how to help get their kids outside and enjoying nature, including an activity book of stuff to do when out in nature
- An excellent “nature finder” tool that lets you simply type in your zip code and find the nearest forest, park or nature sanctuary
You can follow their “spokes-animal” Cheecker the Squirrel on Twitter (also see the #discovertheforest hashtag) or like them on Facebook.
Even if you already have plans for Saturday, no worries. Getting your kids outdoors is more than a one day thing. It’s a lifelong commitment to making sure they grow up knowing that dirt don’t hurt.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Melissa,
Nice post and the Bucket List is terrific!
Thanks for the heads up, I’d missed this one somehow. We’ll be out playing baseball most of Saturday, but I’ll have to try and throw in a hike on Sunday too! If I can pry them away from the pool!
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