Posts filed under ‘Summer Activities’
Lots of Bubbles at Wisconsin PBS Kids Open House
They came; they made bubbles; they left.
I just went through 12 gallons of bubble juice at Wisconsin Public Television’s Open House at Vilas Hall in Madison, WI.
That’s a lot of bubbles.
That’s a lot of kids.
That’s a lot of fun.
About 1000 kids and parent showed up to make bubbles, see Mr. Steve and enjoy their favorite PBS Kids characters.
If you want me to come to your special event, just send me an email at getkidsoutside@gmail.com.
Bubbles are fun and even the smallest children can enjoy them.
Is it ever too hot?
I wrote this piece during the last heat wave. Now that we’re deep into our second heat wave of the summer, it’s a good time to post.
I didn’t want to, but I cancelled Bike for Life on Friday afternoon (July 1) because the temperatures were 90 degrees with a heat index of 97.
Wisconsin licensing rules forbid children from engaging in outdoor activity when it’s above 90 degrees (except swimming of course). The rule is designed to keep kids safe, but it is also restrictive.
Yes, it was hot, but it wasn’t too hot for a healthy kid to bike less than a mile to Olbrich Park, go swimming, and then bike back. Imagine what kids do in the south? They would never go outside in the summer with a rule like that.
I believe that rules like this teach kids to fear the outdoors. For example, we went skiing in sub zero temperatures and the kids were fine. They learned what to do to stay warm. The same is true of heat. The kids lost a valuable opportunity.
Next year, I’ll plan bike club in the mornings to avoid cancellations. I can’t change the rules, but I can change the times that we ride.
And, if it’s hot on Friday, I’ll be planning to do something else.
What do you do when the weather’s hot?
When it’s okay to shoot a gun: Outdoor Skills Day
Ebrahim, Gavin and Juan target practice.
Year ago, shooting a gun was a rite of passage for boys and BB guns were common. Today, BB guns and bow and arrow sets are pretty much things of the past, but not at Outdoor Skills Day at MacKenzie Environmental Education Center in Poynette.
For one day each summer, kids learn how to shoot at targets, throw hatchets, cast a fishing line, cut wood, cook over a fire, start a fire without a match and lots more. I went with 13 kids ages 5 to 13 plus three parents.
At first, I was a little nervous, but once I saw how great the kids were behaving, I loosened up a bit. They were so respectful of each other and of the skills they were learning. The people at MacKenzie know what they’re doing. They made it safe.
The Bowhunters Association, DNR wardens and fisheries staff, and lots of volunteers were on hand to teach kids how to do things safely. They had the all the right equipment and plenty of room. Kids learned that shooting a gun wasn’t about killing people, but about concentration and skill. It was wonderful to see the kids so focused. I could see their self-confidence grow as they practiced. Experiential learning is so important for kids, especially high energy kids.
As a result of this trip, I’m inspired to bring an archery program to Goodman Community Center or to host our own Outdoor Skills Day. We could use a few more confident, respectful kids.
So what do you think? Do you think events like this are okay? What is your experience working with kids and outdoor skills?
Tania (age 5) and Buba (age eight) work the cross-cut saw.
Angel (age 13) shoots a muzzle loader with help from a Wisconsin Muzzle Loader Association volunteer.
Mari (age eight) gears up for archery.
Ebrahim (age 5) throws and then hits the target. His face says it all.
Gavin (age eight) gets instruction from a Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association volunteer before taking aim.
$1 Snack Attack: What will kids choose to eat?
What will kids buy if they only have $1 to spend on a snack?
That was the Bike for Life challenge last week.
The kids could choose from the following as long as they stayed under $1:
- apple or banana – 22-60 cents
- cheese stick – 33 cents
- 1 oz peanuts – 22 cents
- 1 candy bar – 93 cents
- Single serving bag of chips 33 cents
Before they made their choices, we talked about each item and its nutritional value. We also looked at portion size and learned how to read a nutrition label.
Then, we biked to Copps grocery store on Aberg and took a tour of the departments. The store manager gave us a tour and the kids made their choices.
Of the six boys, 1 chose peanuts, two chose an apple and cheese stick, 1 chose the chips, and two chose the candy bar. Of the 7 girls, all bought an apple along with either the nuts or a cheese stick.
For whatever reason, it appears the boys felt freer to buy junk food. The two boys were giddy that I’d let them buy candy. If given money and the choice, some kids will always buy candy.
When I asked John why he chose the chips, he said “I just felt like a chip.” Perhaps he associated chips with a reward, or he craved the salt. Regardless, nutrition had nothing to do with his choice.
The girls all chose a healthy snack: either an apple and nuts, or an apple and cheese stick. One person commented that she didn’t get the candy because she could buy two things for her money instead of one candy bar. Just like John, nutrition had nothing to do with her choice. It’s also possible that the girls wanted to please me or were driven by peer pressure. Since none of the girls said they wanted a candy bar, perhaps it was too risky for a lone candy bar lover to break from the pack. I wonder what would have happened if just one boy would have wanted the candy. Would he have risked speaking up?
Overall, I think it was a good experiment. Most of the kids chose healthy snacks despite less healthy options. Next time, I’ll ask more questions about why they chose what they did. Healthy eating takes a lifetime to learn and this was a small learning step. Two things are certain, 1) kids have lots of reason for choosing what they eat and 2) the will never forget (I hope) the day that their teacher gave them $1 to spend anyway they wanted.
The Ferocious 5: The joy of same-sex bike groups
Isaiah, Micah, Buba, Cashel and Gavin look cool on the Goodman Center's new bikes.
Meet the Ferocious 5: Isaiah, Micah, Buba, Cashel and Gavin.
The boys make up my morning Bike for Life group at the Goodman Community Center.
I have a girl group in the afternoon.
While I didn’t plan it this way, I’m seeing the benefits of same-sex groups.
I find it easier to manage behaviors in same-sex groups because the behaviors are similar. In this case, the boys are more competitive. They argue more and listen less. They want to go fast, but then poop out. The girls don’t argue at all and they’re better listeners. They pace themselves and have more stamina. If they’re competitive, they don’t show it, or at least not yet.
Neither is better, but the energies are so very different.
Of course, same-sex groups may not work this smoothly in all cases, but I’m happy with them so far.
Bike for Life meets every Friday for 9 more weeks. Stay tuned for more stories about the Ferocious 5 and the Girl Group.
Bike for Life teaches kids how to love biking so they’ll want to do it forever. In addition, they’ll learn about healthy snacks so that they’ll stay fit.
Biking: Independence on Wheels
Icie and Micah show off our super cool folding bikes outside the Goodman Community Center after our first neighborhood ride.
A bike is an independence machine.
called Bike for Life. Bike for Life teaches kids how to safely ride and navigate city bike paths and roads. It also strives to get kids moving and teach them about healthy nutrition. Obesity is a huge issue today, especially among minority populations. Of course, the serious stuff is disguised in the fun and adventure of biking.
Leaf Out: Stop, look and enjoy Spring
The lush spring garden.
Buds and blossoms are bursting everywhere and today’s 80 degree heat will speed growth exponentially.
Be sure to stop, look, and enjoy this rich time of year.
Here are few simple things to do with kids.
- Pick a bud and record its growth each day. Use a ruler to measure.
- If you have a digital camera, take a photo and compare the photos.
- See how long the blossoms last.
- Count the number of blooms on a plant (within reason).
- Are there insects on the plant?
- What does it smell like?
- What colors do you see? Challenge them by asking them to look beyond the obvious. Are there patterns? Are some leaves darker or lighter? Look underneath. What do you notice?
Most of all have fun and enjoy. Spring lasts a nanosecond in Wisconsin so be sure to soak it up while it’s here.
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Show don’t tell: Giving kids the gift of observation
What you do in the outdoors is more important than what you say.
Show them how to observe by being an active observer.
Show them with your enthusiasm and excitement about the world.
Show them by asking questions and encouraging questions.
And most of all, show them by being fearless.
This is the greatest gift you can give kids.
So what do you do when you have fear or your kids want to explore something that makes your skin crawl, like insects?
First relax. Insects are fun to watch and most are harmless. Then, try this simple activity.
Lift a log or a rock and ask: What are they doing? What do they look like? Put your find in a jar and ask: Can you see their mouth parts? Their legs? What colors do you see? What do you think they eat? Use online resources like this simple activity guide. Give them a clipboard and ask them to draw what they see. If you don’t know something, you can look it up with the kids.
It’s okay to say, “I don’t know, but we can find out.”
Show them how to learn and you will create curious, life-long learners.
And what could be better than that?
Have fun out there and tell me about your experiences with kids in the outdoors.
How do you overcome fear?
Let’s Go Biking: New folding bikes arriving soon
Really cool Schwinn folding bike. Gotta love the back rack. Makes you want to ride doesn't it?
“Let’s go biking!”
We will receive five Schwinn folding bikes next week. These bikes form the foundation of a new bike program at the Goodman Community Center. I am very excited about this program and will start taking kids on trips as soon as the bikes arrive.
Why folding bikes? Well, they are much easier to store and they look really cool. The kids will love them. Plus Willy Street Bikes gave us a really good deal.
Stay tuned for more information on this exciting program.
Tell me what you think? Do you like to bike? Have you ridden a folding bike? What are your favorite places to ride with kids?
It’s beautiful day in Wisconsin. Unfortunately, Diane is stuck inside writing grants in order to take more kids outside. If you’d like to contribute to Get Kids Outside, please “like” this article. If you’d like to donate to Get Kids Outside, just email me with your donation amount and I’ll forward a Paypal link. Thank you.
Wheels for Winners: Kids earn a bike for service
Every kid should have a bike. Period. Biking promotes independence and fitness but most of all it’s fun.
Wheels for Winners is one of the coolest organizations on the planet because they put bikes in the hands of kids – and adults – that can’t afford them.
The program is easy.
Kids do 15 hours of community service and earn a bike, helmet, lock and license.
I just started working with five 3rd and 4th graders on this program. We’re doing jobs around the Goodman Community Center and they love it. Kids love being of service. It boosts their self-worth and teaches them about the world. Remarkably, one of my kids is doing the program just to do the service. She already has a bike!
If you know of a kid who doesn’t have a bike and can’t afford one, let them know about this program. Many organizations would be happy to work with you. And, if you can’t do service, kids can write 5 book reports instead. The reports don’t have to be scholarly, just enough to let them know that you read the book.
It’s a great program. Let me know what you think.
You can find Diane working with kids at the Goodman Community Center or at Schumacher Farm Park looking for pasque flowers. Register for this blog now and receive a free 11-page Bubble Activity Guide. Oh, and don’t forget to “like” what you see.
