Getting Outside in April & Beyond

The Children & Nature Network is kicking off a huge event in a couple of days called Let’s G.O.! (Get Outside) Month. The idea is to rally people of all ages to play, serve and celebrate nature during the month of April.

Now you know I couldn’t let something as big as this slip by without lending my support.

To that end, I’ll be trying a few new things here on the blog this month to support your efforts to get outdoors with the children in your life, including:

• Weekly “Get Outside” giveaways all month! The idea is to highlight some of our favorite things (yes, I’m stealing this idea from Oprah!) and share them with you! The fun starts next week.

• A new feature! Once a week, I’ll be posting a photo of nature taken by one of the explorers. And you can join the fun, too, either by linking up or sharing your photos on Facebook.

• More ideas and inspiration as part of Your Green Hour Survival Guide. I’m hoping more than one of you will set a goal to get outside at least 15 minutes a day every day. This month, I’ll be inviting you to share your stories here.

• Compiling a huge list of ideas for Spring backyard nature fun. Send me your favorite activities and I’ll try to include them, too!

Of course, I’m not the only one planning something special. Here are a few other exciting things I thought you’d want to know about:

Let’s Go Chipper! Into the Great Outdoors Tour Kickoff: The tour kicks off on Earth Day (April 22) and runs through the first day of summer. Each month will be packed with get-ready fun dedicated to one of three themes: the planet, our parks and the people who dedicate their lives to preserving them.

Yours truly is one of several Chipper Ambassadors who’ll help create a virtual path to the great outdoors by sharing ideas and activities for getting outside and connecting families with nature.

Let’s G.O. ! (Get Outside) Local Events: Register an event or sign up for something already happening in your community. This is a simple way to get out exploring nature near you.

National Park Week: All national parks will be free (that’s right, free!) for the week of April 16 through April 24. Search the events calendar to find your National Park Week must-dos.

Picnic for the Planet: On and around Earth Day 2011 (April 22) people all around the world will be stepping outside and heading to their favorite outdoor spot to enjoy good food in the company of great people.

Whew! It’s going to be a busy month! I hope you’ll join the fun and make time to get outside.