Outdoor Playgroups

[Kari]

From post http://www.activekidsclub.com/feature/outdoor-playgroups.html














Together we will move mountains
By Kari Svenneby

A lot of the time it is hard to know how to start things. Like changing a habit or how we can get more outdoor time. Finding an outdoor program or occasional family trip to nature is a good start, but let’s make a point to discover the everyday nature first; that local park or ravine in your community. Little explorers are not born to skiing on Whistler or hiking the Rocky Mountains. Exploring starts in your neighborhood,in your backyard and in the many natural space you can find around you.

Organizing outdoor playgroups
Debra, Mari, Kristen and Cinza are all organizing outdoor playgroups in their communities in Toronto. Free and open to anyone who wants join. Why do they do it? Debra organizes so she makes sure that she has one set day that she gets out of the house. Mari is an active woman and loves to spend time outside. Her passion in life is skiing and wants to meet likeminded parents and kids. Designer Kristen has a quite connection tonature that she wishes to foster in her children. She is a walker and loves to discover bugs and create nature art. Cinza is a new mom and a runner who looks forward to connecting with other moms for a high energy stroller tour around her neighborhood.

Grassroots without any rules
Outdoor playgroups get organized differently for individual reasons. Some have one activity when they meet while others are constantly changing. An outdoor playgroup is not meant to be a program or service to any particular parent, it is suppose to be a place where parents discover
nature, play together and build connections between parents, their kids and nature. It is not any different than a indoor playgroup, other than it is just outside.

The beauty of an outdoor playgroup is that it is inherently grassroots. There are no rules how you are suppose to do it.
At Activekidsclub.com we like to believe we are living dangerously when we live our motto; no bad weather, only bad clothing. Basically we see ourselves as a part of nature and bad weather is... well it is natural.

Making sure that you get your outdoor time

Whether you love to be outside or maybe just want to live healthier and give
your kids some much needed green time, being part of an outdoor
playgroup is an excellent way to make sure that you get your daily
nature time. It is more fun in groups. As an added bonus, it can create
friendships among both the kids and the parents.

Wanna start an outdoor playgroup where you live?
Join Debra, Mari, Cinza and Kristen here at Activekidsclub.com and start
your own outdoor playgroup. Collectively we know a thing or two about
organizing a group and what to do outside so we have created some
useful tools for you. We bet you have lots of other ideas that we would
of never though of without your input. Together we can move mountains.
This is how you do it
Register at Activekidsclub.com
Read How to create an outdoor playgroup
Join us on our forum with questions
DOWNLOAD Outdoor Outdoor playgroup flyer
Add a new outdoor playgroup in our forum and we will set you up wit...
Add images to our photo gallery

[Suz Lipman]

Hi Kari! It's great to see you here. I know you've been an active C&NN member for a long time. Congratulations on all your efforts and energy towards getting kids outdoors in Canada (and in the winter, in particular!) through our nature clubs and your ActiveKidsClub. I'm sure I'll see you real soon.