How To Spend National Great Outdoors Month

Do you know what kids are thinking about when National Great Outdoors Month, aka June, comes right around the corner? The freedom to have fun for a whole summer! 

As a family, June is a great time to consider how you plan on spending the next couple of months before the kids go back to school in the fall. This time is your excuse to go outside if you’ve been cooped up at home, working, or learning remotely. The sun is waiting to brighten your day, just like the smiles on your little ones’ faces! 

What is National Great Outdoors Month?

In short, June is National Great Outdoors Month because it’s the best time of the year to celebrate nature! Whether that be in the form of visiting national parks, helping wildlife refuges, or admiring even the simple beauty of a garden outside your home, this is a month you don’t want to skip on celebrating. Yet, more often than not, we take nature for granted, considering its abundance and endless wonder on the planet. So make an effort to change your attitude toward heart this summer so that the whole family can show their support! 

Now that you’re all excited to make the most out of the great outdoors, here are our tips on how to spend National Great Outdoors Month: 

Fall back on a comfortable outdoor activity.

Almost every family has a tradition, whether big or small, come the holiday season. Think of what you enjoyed doing most with your family as a child, or ask the kids what they want to partake in this summer. Activities can include hiking through a forest, splashing in the ocean, or even planting a garden! If you’re starting a summer activity from scratch, see what’s typical for families in your area to partake in come June. If that seems a bit overwhelming, you can take it easy and start with something simple such as visiting the park when the weather is perfect. 

Get out of your comfort zone.

Summer is also the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone of outdoor activities and be adventurous. Opt for traveling to a new place–like a camping trip in a national park or even halfway across the world to see the Northern Lights. But maybe, traveling to a completely different country is out of the picture? Outdoor photography is a well-loved activity that helps you see the great outdoors with a new lens–pun intended! 

Find what’s local in your neighborhood or county. 

If you want to be more low-key, there are still many great things to do nearby and close to home! You and the kids can become experts on birds and bugs, take nature education classes at your local libraries, and even read up on native plants that only grow in your region. Most of the time, nonprofit organizations in the community host fun get-togethers with families to encourage everyone to gather together in nature. Take the time to research the summer events that are going on, like those hosted by foster agencies in Riverside, California. You can also subscribe to a foster parent newsletter if you particularly love to help foster families. You’re guaranteed to find at least a couple of activities the whole family will enjoy! 

Nurture nature yourself. 

Sometimes, the best place to celebrate nature is in your backyard. If you have birds make homes out of your trees, consider providing them with a feeder or fountain. Hummingbirds, for example, are very easy to love. You can set aside a small feeder filled with sugar and water, so they always have something to eat and drink! Alternatively, you and the kids can try your hands at gardening by planting fruits, vegetables, or flowers. Taking care of nature will teach your kids that it’s up to us to take care of the natural world and environment we have the privilege of living in; we wouldn’t be where we are today without them. 

Regardless of whatever you choose to do for Great Outdoors Month, the activity will positively impact you, the kids, and both of your perspectives on why nature is so wonderful. In addition, as your family grows older and begins to make a life for themselves, you must instill a love and appreciation of nature in them to continue celebrating the world into their adulthood with their own families. 

Now that you have a solid idea of how to spend Great Outdoors Month have fun in nature, and make some of the best memories under the warm summer sun!