Three Everyday Ways to Connect to Nature

It seems to me that most people are incredibly busy, confined almost every moment to the indoors at school and work, and on weekends so burdened with shopping and chores that like-it-or-not (and I don’t) we are becoming more and more disconnected from the natural world. We simply can’t get outdoors enough! And the problem is different for different age groups. For example, my eighty-year-old mother is very arthritic and as much as she loves the outdoors she hardly ever gets outside and receives almost no outdoor light.

I really yearn to be outdoors more, especially now that it is spring. How about the rest of you? Here is a start. We offer three everyday ways for kids, teens, adults, and elders to connect more to nature. Please chime in to add your suggestions (the link is below)! We all need inspiration on this one, as parents (teenagers, anyone?), for ourselves, to help those who are aging:

Kids
1. Do an outdoor activity outdoors that requires that they get dirty (such as playing in the mud)
2. Take wildlife-watching walks
3. Take a trip to a working farm

Teens
1. Play outdoor sports
2. Outdoor seasonal projects (raking, gardening, filling the bird feeders)
3. One meal a week, ask them to make the food choices and talk with them about the production (organic versus conventional, etc.) of the foods they pick

Adults
1. Go camping
2. Spend time outdoors gardening, taking walks, picnicing–whatever suits
3. Connect to your local farms or farmers’ markets

Elders

1. Take walks to drink in the beauty of nature
2. Sit outdoors when you can (in a park or yard)
3. Invest in some binoculars to watch birds

We welcome you to share your ideas.

Read more: Nature, Nature & Wildlife

By Annie B. Bond

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Tim C.

10:53AM PDT on Apr 1, 2012

send a green star

Robert O.

10:06AM PDT on Aug 10, 2011

Great ideas for all age groups. Thanks Annie.

Jennifer C.

12:37AM PDT on Aug 9, 2011

Great ideas. Thanks.

Brenda T.

3:18AM PDT on Aug 7, 2011

I feed the birds ever day. I try to walk couple of miles several days a week. I potter about in the garden, and like walks on the beach!

KARLOLINA G.

6:45AM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

All of us seem to have a tendency to get out of sync with our own vitality. You stumble and move through all manner of emotions throughout your life, and this often pulls you out of being vital. You have lots of means to get back on track. Friends loved ones, doctors, lawyers, and many more. Of course, those are all people. People who will not always be vibrant, and ready to get up at dawn and belt out a song each morning. So what if you added nature to your list of your resources to restore your vitality? I propose that you can't help but change if you spend consistent quality time in nature.

Julie D.

2:28PM PDT on Jul 31, 2011

Nice article, thanks!

Michele W.

7:55AM PDT on Jul 14, 2011

Thank you

Abbe A.

4:58AM PDT on Jul 14, 2011

So glad I have a dog who motivates me to get outside. It's always the best time of the day.

Bon L.

1:50AM PST on Feb 5, 2011

Thanks for the info.