Blog

This weekend, head outside after dark for a game of flashlight tag!  There are many variations of the game. Here’s the easiest way to play:  Designate one person as “it”.  Decide the boundaries for the game.  As “it” counts (to 30 or more), all other players hide somewhere within the boundaries. If it’s dark enough, …

Whenever I mow close to the house, I notice a number of insects moving out of the grass. Some go up towards the windows and hang on the screens. There will often be at least one or two praying mantises in the group, some large and some small. And each time, I’m amazed by these …

 If you’ve ever tended a garden, you know the satisfaction that comes from harvesting your own food. Imagine your students experiencing that same satisfaction as well. And in the process, they not only receive a hands-on science lesson, but you can expand it to include other subjects as well.    Getting Started Find a place …

This weekend, head to a favorite park or your backyard for a potluck picnic! Invite family and friends to join you and bring along a dish to share. No time to prepare any food? Ask guests to bring along a couple of sandwich items instead. You could even have a contest to find the most …

It’s Outdoorosity’s first art contest, and there’s less than a month to enter!  This contest is for students in the U.S. in grades 4-6. Find out all of the details HERE!  To view the gallery of entries, just click HERE.  We can’t wait to see what you love about the great outdoors!   

Today is the first day of spring, so we’ve come up with a list of some ways to celebrate its arrival! 1. The birds are chirping! Before all of the leaves appear, take some time to see how many different types of birds you can spot in an afternoon. Visit the Audubon Society for tips …

Nature journaling is a great way to start your students connecting with the outdoors. Not only do they draw pictures of what they see, they can also record any observations or thoughts they have. This helps them appreciate their natural surroundings and hopefully be more motivated to take care of them.  There are no rules for …

Spring comes each year with a predictable rhythm. Are your children or students feeling the drumbeat of its approach? Rather than letting spring fever take over, channel their excitement into observation of the outdoors. If you have a consistent commute with kids in the car, begin by pointing out the blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees …

Have you ever had a surprise guest to a barbecue or picnic? A few years ago we had a picnic in our backyard with lots of extended family. After eating, one of the kids needed to throw something away, so I told them to bring over a large garbage can. Imagine their surprise when they …

This contest is now closed. Entries are still being posted in the gallery. You can view the winner HERE.      It’s time for Outdoorosity’s 2018 Great Outdoors Art Contest!  Theme: The Great Outdoors What do you love about the great outdoors? Show us with your original artwork! Subject matter can be anything that has …

Early in the morning, on January 31, a super blue blood moon will be visible to residents in some parts of the western U.S. Find out more on NASA’s site HERE.    Photo by cgiraldez    

In many parts of the country, the winter season means snow. But before you bundle up with that cozy blanket in front of the fire, consider these ideas for enjoying that fluffy white stuff: Go sledding Gather snow to make snow cream Build a snowman or a whole snow family Have a snowball fight (my …

Today is the first official day of winter and the shortest day of the year.  To celebrate, the Outdoorosity team has a few ideas for you and your family to make the winter season magical: Celebrate the solstice with a night hike. You can read more here. Enjoy the winter by bringing the outdoors inside. …

It may be chilly outside, so add a layer or two of clothing and then head out into the dark! All you need are some flashlights or headlamps. Then take a hike around the yard, down the street, and through the neighborhood!    Photo by mrmac04  

My teenage daughter has a basement bedroom, one she doesn’t want to share with either her sister home from college or creepy crawlies from outside. She is always dismayed, then, when she finds either in her room, especially a creepy crawly. And the one that bothers her is the most is the centipede. With the …

In our part of the country, we only have a few snow days each year. But my family loves them! We have snowball fights, build snowmen, and sled down a nearby hill. We also love taking walks while it’s snowing. It amazes me to think how every one of those flakes has a unique design. …

It’s early December, and almost all the deciduous trees in our yard are bare. That makes it easier to see some feathered friends, especially cardinals with their bright red plumage. One red bird that’s difficult to spot throughout the year is the scarlet tanager. In the summer, these birds usually stay among the thick foliage …

We have had a few cold snaps already, and I’ve noticed a sharp decline in the number of insects around. So when my son and I were pulling up some vines the other day, you can image our surprise when a swarm of yellowjackets came up from the ground. We took off running as fast …

It’s the big weekend for shopping the sales and waiting in line. It reminds me of a birthday party I went to at Chuck E. Cheese when my children were small. It was so loud and crowded that the birthday girl’s mom said, “I just want to go home and sit under a tree.” The …

I love Thanksgiving, especially when extended family can get together to celebrate. Every time we do, we usually follow the family’s traditional Thanksgiving schedule: cooking and baking all morning, eating a huge meal around lunchtime, taking a nap, and then playing a family football or volleyball game. And while the food is delicious and the …