Exploring the great outdoors

A GREAT way to get children connected to the outdoors and enjoying nature is to take them on a hike or bushwalk.

Kids enjoy the sense of adventure and going somewhere new. There’s a wide range of parks and trails in your local area.

Check out your local council website or the State Government’s National Parks and Forests site for a list of places to visit.

Remember when going on a hike to leave no trace other than your footprints.

Make sure that all your rubbish is collected – taking a large zip-top plastic bag always works well.

This teaches and inspires children to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.

DID YOU KNOW?

Australia has more than 500 national parks.

Spot it

A GOOD way to keep kids interested during a hike is to play a nature-based treasure hunt.

Make a list of items everyone has to find on a hike, and the first one to find them all wins.

Kids don’t have to actually collect the objects, they can

announce their finds by calling out ‘spot’. Suggestions for the list: Something blue Heart-shaped rock Something man-made Animal print Animal poo (scat) Seed pod

Fungus, moss or lichen A feather

A leaf with a hole