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 the wonder and awe of nature! The weather on October 30 was perfect and the fall colors at Indian Lake County Park were vibrant. About 500 geese and few sandhill […]
Getting Kids Outside at Indian Lake County Park was a Success Read More »
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 adult volunteers to Cherokee Marsh for some mudilicious fun. We also had fun tromping on the ice, playing with sticks, spotting sandhill cranes and soaking up the warmth of the
March Mudness at Cherokee Marsh: Tips on hiking with kids on a muddy day Read More »
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. Watching kids learn to ski can be painful because they fall down so much. Watching kids learn how to get up and deal with their frustration makes up for it.
Donate $40: Teach children to ski and they’ll learn how to deal with frustration. Read More »
“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 Jamar for reminding me of the best bike movie ever. In the movie’s most famous scene, a gang of bike-riding kids outmaneuver the cops to protect their friend ET. Kids
ET: The best bike movie ever Read More »
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 remember any of it as adults? Will Bike for Life make a difference for these kids? As Bike for Life’s summer session comes to a close, I’d like to think
These feet are made for biking: making memories to last a lifetime Read More »
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.
Owls and the Homeless: When nature and reality meet Read More »
Learning to ski is a humbling experience. Fall, get up. Fall, get up. Poles and skis slip and slide and get tangled up in the weirdest of ways. That’s pretty much how it goes for first-timers, especially as they learn to maneuver hills. I can’t think of a better metaphor for life. If kids can
What goes down must come up: Life lessons learned while skiing Read More »
Outdoor adventures with kids bring curious comparisons. “It looks like Africa,” said 8-year-old Marjorie as we drove into Governor Nelson State Park on a cold March day. I paused, a bit thrown by her thoughtful comment. I mean, I had never heard Wisconsin and Africa being linked geographically. And even if comparisons could be made,
African savannas and Wisconsin state parks Read More »
Lou and his mother didn’t look too happy as we gathered at 9 a.m. on a cold, December morning for a trip to Indian Lake County Park. “I had my doubts,” mom admitted. But she showed up anyway along with 30 others. At the end of the day, they were all smiles and glad they came. Despite
Kids learn to enjoy winter at Indian Lake County Park Read More »
Carrot juice or chips? Raw peanut butter anyone? What do you think kids will eat? Turns out they’ll eat all three, but not necessarily in that order. I didn’t think they’d like carrot juice, but they did. They watched intently as the Willy Street Coop juice bar man turned carrots into juice with the flip of
Carrot Juice vs Chips: Bike for Life explores the options Read More »
