Steven Cleaver has some outdoor activity ideas for families. The activities will drive your family’s sadness away. Steven is the Executive Director（执行理事）of Horizons for Youth, an organization in Massachusetts that has worked on children’s enviromental education for more than 60 years.
We asked Steven to share some outdoor activities that families can do together. Here’s what he told us.
Going to a nature center---In State Audubon societies, there are usually smaller nature centres. Naturalists are ready to answer kids’ questions so parents don’t need to worry about teaching the subject matter themselves.
Hiking---Going on a hike is a great way to go outdoors and get some exercise. State parks can offer free paths to hike along and many fields to explore.
Gardening--- Gardening is a wonderful family activity. Not only can the whole family get involved, but everyone can benefit from the harvest. Since it’s winter, you might just start with a family plan for the garden. The garden can be a cooperative effort where parents can teach their children teamwork. Assign tasks to each family member. Who plans? Who waters?
Fruit picking---It’s a great seasonal outdoor activity. Children get to see how fruits grow and everyone gets to enjoy the fruits which they pick.
Cleaning up---Taking part in nature clean-ups or volunteering to do path maintenance(维护)teaches kids that they have the ability to do something positive for the environment and communities. When parents get involved, they can set a good example for their children to follow, which will help children realize their responsibility to protect the environment.
小题1: Will the outdoor activities drive your family’s sadness away?
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小题2: Who will answer kids’ questions in nature centres, naturalists or parents?
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小题3: Which places can offer free paths to hike along?
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小题4:What is a great seasonal outdoor activity?
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小题5:What can children learn from these outdoor activties ?
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