Blog
Nature Bracelets are a Hit
Engaging kids in nature is actually pretty easy since nature offers so much to kids. Nature activates all the senses and is real, something that
Firefly Hike 2023 Bring Smiles and Wonder
Summer is short so it’s important to get kids outside to enjoy the nice weather, especially at night. Here’s what a few kids said about
Spring Hike at Aldo Leopold Center
What do you get when you have a beautiful spring day and add kids? A great day to be outside exploring! That’s what happened on
Snowshoeing at Warner Park – Lessons Learned
Let it snow! And it did, just in time for our snowshoe event on Friday, February 24 at Warner Park’s Rainbow Shelter. We had 25
Winter 101 – How to Keep Kids Warm and Dry
Yes, the weather is very cold in Wisconsin, so not many kids will be heading outside, but when the weather warms up a few degrees,
Sun Shines on 2nd Annual Fall Wonder and Adventure Outing
October 29, 2022 was a sunny and warm day to be outside at Indian Lake County Park for the 2nd Annual Fall Wonder and Adventure
Leaf Magic Delivers Fall Colors
Fall is a great time of year to explore leaves. This year, Get Kids Outside teamed up with the Lakeview Library to present “Leaf Magic.”
Firefly Hike was a hit!
There is nothing better than enjoying fireflies on a hot summer night. More than 50 people (22 adults and 33 kids) came out to Indian
Boys and Girls Club at Cherokee Marsh
On July 6, Get Kids Outside hosted a group of 30 kids from the Taft location of the Boys and Girls Clubs at Cherokee Marsh
Cherokee Marsh Alive with Kids and Birds!
About 30 kids and their families showed up at Cherokee Marsh for the evening hike on April 9, 2022. We were able to see red-winged
We Can Now Accept Tax Deductible Donations!
As of January 1, Get Kids Outside (we are changing our name from Outdoors 123 to Get Kids Outside) can now accept tax deductible donations.
Getting Kids Outside at Indian Lake County Park was a Success
What do you get when you take a perfect autumn day and add 13 kids? A great day to get outside and introduce kids to
Get Kids Outside at Indian Lake County Park on October 30, 1-4 pm
Indian Lake County Park is the site of our Get Kids Outside fall event.
Support the Firefly Walk
At Outdoors 123, we build relationships using nature. To do this, we need your help.
“Don’t take our playground” – Equity conversation draws full house at Bayview
The City of Madison’s new Race, Equity and Justice Initiative (RESJI) is getting its first test. According to Tori Pettaway, Racial Equity Coordinator, the RESJI
Test Case: Will the City of Madison Make Good on Plans at Brittingham Park?
The City of Madison wants to build a large, barrier free playground at Brittingham Park.
This is a good thing for the city and it should be built.
Brainstorm Session: How do we make Outdoor Activities more Accessible to all Children in Madison?
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 100State 30 W. Mifflin Street, 6th floor (Next to Veterans Museum) Free and open to the public Register via Facebook or email
Community Firefly Hike at Indian Lake County Park
8183 Hwy 19, Cross Plains July 11, 2015 7:30-10 p.m. Let the kids stay up late tonight. Join Get Kids Outside on an easy hike
The Night Primeval at Cherokee Marsh: Christ the Solid Rock and Madison Audubon Society
When the marsh wakes up, it does so with a riot of prehistoric sounds. Cranes bugle. Chorus frogs sing, blackbirds scold, and the woodcock peents, just
How to Make Hot Chocolate Outside!
Learn how to make hot chocolate to enjoy in the great outdoors.
10 Wonder-filled Summer Activities for Kids
by Diane Schwartz, Get Kids Outside Summertime flies by so fast. Before you know it, back-to-school ads will start. Enjoy the summer by giving your
Firefly Hike at Indian Lake County Park
Join Get Kids Outside on Friday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m. for a magical Fireflyhike at Indian Lake County Park, 8183 Hwy 19, Cross Plains, WI. We’ll take an
“Go Play Outside” – Easy Tips for busy parents to get their kids outside
“Go play outside.” It’s so simple you would think that all parents would do it. But they don’t. As parents, you have the most influence on
5 Tips for Making Going Outside a Habit
Guest Post by Rachel Thomas Since my children were very small we have made it a habit to spend as much time outside as possible,
Where are we going? Learning to read a map
Hiking is a great way to teach map reading skills. In the photo, I am showing a student the map at Cherokee Marsh. Map reading
The Stick: Now available at a woods near you!
You can’t keep a good stick down. In an instant, kids will transform the humble stick into just about anything and you should let them: Walking
Top 10 Fall Adventures with Kids in Wisconsin
It’s autumn in Wisconsin and nothing is better than that. Get outside with your kids this fall and create memories to last a lifetime. Here
Tips on Fishing with Kids: Plus 6 Midwest Fishing Hotspots
By Joe Laing, guest author Looking to reel the kids out of the house? Fishing is a great way to get them away from the
Is Physical Inactivity the New Normal?
Do you walk less than you used to? Do you watch more television? Do you spend more time at the computer? Are you getting older
March Mudness at Cherokee Marsh: Tips on hiking with kids on a muddy day
Forget Basketball. March is all about mud, sandhill cranes and those glorious first warm days. A few weeks ago, I took 12 kids and two
EVERY CHILD NEEDS NATURE — Not Just The Ones With Parents Who Appreciate Nature
EVERY CHILD NEEDS NATURE — Not Just The Ones With Parents Who Appreciate Nature
Top Outdoor Spring Break Adventures that all Kids will love!
Guest Post by Ken Myers Spring Break is a great time to take the kids and have an adventure. The trick is to find a vacation
The Kids of Ski Club 2013: Spring can now officially begin
What a great group of kids. They skied their hearts out for eight weeks and learned so much. Many thanks to the volunteers at Blackhawk
Who says snow has to be white? Green and Purple Snow
Who says snow has to be white? With a little food coloring, you can turn a field of white into all the colors of the
Get Kids Outside: A fashion geek’s guide to enjoying winter
Learn how to stay warm and dry in winter with these time-tested tips from Diane Schwartz, owner of Get Kids Outside.
Donate $40: Teach children to ski and they’ll learn how to deal with frustration.
Teach children to fish and they’ll eat for a lifetime. Teach children to cross-country ski and they’ll learn patience and how to deal with frustration.
ET: The best bike movie ever
“I want to ride like ET,” said Jamar, during bike club last week. “You mean that you want to fly?” I asked. “Yes.” Thank you
Not in my kitchen: Purple and yellow brighten the fall prairie
Purple and Yellow. I would never want these colors in my kitchen, but on the prairie – and certain pro sport jerseys – they work.
These feet are made for biking: making memories to last a lifetime
These feet are made for biking. And playing in the sand, talking to ducks, jumping on rocks and just plain having fun. But will they
Bubble Mania at PBS Kids Get Up And Go! Day!
What do you get when you take 20 gallons of bubble juice and add hundreds of kids? One huge bubble party! Get Kids Outside was
Bike for Life: Tips on How to Bike with Kids
Bike for Life 2012 has started and it’s going very well, in part because of lessons learned from 2011. Here’s a run-down of 10 changes
Searching for Big Foot at Governor Nelson State Park
Some hikes are more about nature than others. This was definately not one of those hikes. This hike was all about Big Foot. “I think
Researchers find time in wild boosts creativity, insight and problem solving
It’s nice to see research that validates what I’ve known for years: that being outside is as good for the mind as it is for
Owls and the Homeless: When nature and reality meet
Look, there’s an owl nest.
Hey, check out the trout lilies.
And just ahead, there’s a homeless man sleeping.
So it goes at Turville Point Conservancy on a Saturday morning hike.
Downhill or Bust: Lessons from the Ski Slope
Kids love to go downhill. They like the speed. They like the thrill. I even think that some of them like wiping out. Speed freaks