Last week, I read a great article from the National Wildlife Federation about how to experience nature in the city. I think the piece struck a chord for me because on most typical days, Los Angeles feels like it’s about a million miles away from anything remotely natural.
I admit that I have often complained that there’s no nature in the city; that the only way to truly get in touch with the outdoors is to head out of town. But the truth is, nature is here. Sometimes I just have to stop, look and listen for a while to get back in touch.
Connecting to nature is continually getting easier for our family, mostly because we keep at it. Here’s what we do to keep nature at the forefront of our often busy, city life:
EXPLORE THE BACKYARD
Even as I began this blog last September, I was convinced there was nothing remotely interesting or natural in my back or front yard for my kids to explore. How could there be when all we have is a small space filled with concrete, some plastic toys and a couple of trees?
In fact, I thought that connecting with nature was something left for weekends when there was enough time to visit a zoo, aquarium or park.
Boy, have things changed! My backyard is now our go-to spot for outdoor fun. It’s easily accessible, never crowded, free and an ever-evolving space for growing imaginations.
What is our backyard teaching us about nature? We’ve learned that there are tons of birds that call our trees home. Now that spring has arrived, we see new visitors every day, like butterflies and hummingbirds.
We’re working on creating a welcoming environment in our yard with bird feeders and plants. When we can’t find bugs, we summon them by placing a pot upside down in the dirt. By the next day, it’s amazing what’s shown up!
The backyard is also a great place to dig in the dirt, blow bubbles, climb a tree, plant a garden or build a fort. It doesn’t matter how big or small your outdoor space is. Just get out there and play.
If you need some inspiration, my backyard fun posts are designed to get your little ones discovering nature in just a few minutes.
DISCOVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S WILD SIDE
Not only do we love exploring the backyard, we also take advantage of all there is to discover in the rest of the neighborhood, usually during our evening walks. This is especially important if you don’t have any outdoor space of your own.
How do neighborhood walks help connect us with nature? Sometimes during our nighttime neighborhood walks we go on a nature scavenger hunt. Or we look for flowers or wild creatures. Sometimes we take listening walks or walks under the moonlight. The landscape is ever changing and all it takes is a little creativity to spark your kids’ interest in the natural world just beyond their front yard.
We’ve also taken advantage of our school garden. Don’t have one? Consider joining a community garden to give your little ones a chance to dig in the dirt, see life emerge, then eat something they grow themselves!
PLAN FAMILY NATURE OUTINGS
I long for quiet spaces, tall trees, the sound of running water and other reminders of the wild. So I plan family nature outings whenever I can.
The goal is to take a few hours and head somewhere to explore the outdoors. It can be as simple as a trip to the farmers’ market, a picnic at a local state park or a morning at the nearby botanical gardens. I like to go as a family because it’s a great way to slow down and reconnect with each other.
I’ve written about many of our adventures here (and will continue to do so) in the hopes that I’ll inspire some of you to see that nature play isn’t out of reach for us city dwellers. All it takes is a willingness to get outside and discover.
I’d love to hear what you think about finding nature in the city. Add a comment and let me know what challenges you face and how you overcome them. I’d love to hear from you!
I just have to add…. really great post. Well said, Debi.
Jane, wow, I'm so excited that you stopped by! Just added you to my twitter feed, so hope to interact with you more. 🙂 <br /><br />I first heard about your books through Bethe at the Grass Stain Guru & still haven't gotten around to purchasing one. Which should I start with?! 🙂
Debi<br />Thanks for this great blog! Thanks for sharing your nature adventures, too. I enjoy reading your blog and your tweets!<br />Jane Kirkland<br />Author<br />Take A Walk Books
Jana, kids have great imaginations, don't they? I've enjoyed rediscovering the beauty and wonder of dirt, bugs, sticks and rocks through my boys' eyes, too!
I love taking my son outside to play. Especially in the weather we've had lately in the i.e.. My son is into rocks, twigs and leaves right now. I can't believe he can be so amazed by them when it's something I would never even see the beauty in until I look at it through his eyes. The twigs he just likes to use as a sword or a gun which I think is actually pretty cute…he's 1
Michele, I agree we have been enjoying much more playoutdoors fun. So worth it!<br /><br />Lorraine, I love your idea to take indoor activities outside (especially when it involves food!). And outdoor playdates are the best!<br /><br />Mark, enjoy your backyard and the neighborhood during the week and you'll be surprised how much more nature you discover. It makes getting from weekend to
I grew up in Michigan among the forests and cornfields, which were my playgrounds. As an adult living in an urban jungle, I sometimes find the simple act of walking barefoot in the grass totally refreshing. … Of course, finding that patch of grass can be tricky. Lucky for me, I can walk to a bike/walk path nearby that has plenty of it.
Great ideas! I've been focusing on parks on the weekends but I like your ideas for the backyard and the neighborhoods!
First of all, this is a great post. Period. As to your question, what I try and do is take some usual indoors stuff, outside. So if I haven't gotten enough 'outside' time, then I have us eat lunch outside, or do art or playdough outside. It's gets us fresh air and then hopefully moves to other outdoor activities. The other idea is to have friends over to play. There is something
I was just thinking that your commitment to getting outdoors has really skyrocketed – even since we met at the park that one day. It's fun reading about you and your family having fun together. I bet the boys are loving it.
Stephanie, thanks for sharing about your neighborhood walks. You're right — the biggest step for us city dwellers is stopping to notice what's right in front of us.<br /><br />Sharlene, I'm learning every day just how many hidden gems exist in my own backyard and beyond.
Great post! Its a nice reminder for people to remember that nature is closer than they think!
Yesterday we took a "Happiness" walk (which means we were on the lookout for things that made us happy), and we've been going on walks we call "Steps from Home" for a couple of years, now… we decide on how many steps, and then count that many, and stop and see what magic we can uncover.<br /><br />I think the biggest step is that you have to really notice things! :)<br