Doing Stuff Outdoors

I remember those endless summer days of my childhood. My friends and I would head outdoors right after our bowl of corn flakes and we’d spend the whole day playing, sometimes not coming in until almost dark. We’d ride our bikes everywhere. We’d spend hours exploring the nearby creek and woods. As hokey as it sounds now, we even climbed trees. My best friend had a poplar tree in his backyard that was so tall and straight with branches just in the right spots for kids to climb on. We’d play baseball and football and of course being Canadian, plenty of ball hockey. We’d tease the girls in the neighbourhood but really I think we were flirting with them. And the truth is some of the girls would join us on our biking jaunts and explorations. I grew up in Toronto, even then a big city but what I remember are the parks and woods and fields. It was 1960’s suburbia and it was a perfect environment for a kid to be a kid.

I heard a report recently about a new study that found kids don’t go outside much anymore. Their summers are spent largely indoors. They spend hours and hours on the computer, playing video games and of course watching TV. Some children rarely go to the park in the city. They’ve never had a true outdoors or wilderness experience. That’s sad.

I have no doubt that my ability as a kid to roam and run outside free of many of the social worries kids face today, shaped my love of the outdoors. If children don’t play outside anymore will they ever develop an appreciation for the outdoors? What will the consequence of that be down the road? Aside from having a generation of people who don’t hike or ski or ride bikes, what does this mean for the protection and preservation of wilderness areas in years to come? These are troubling questions and should be of concern to everyone who loves the outdoors.

I think too that we underestimate the value of play. When I was a kid we called everything we did playing. There was no lesson to be learned or project associated to say exploring the riverbank. We’d catch crayfish and build bridges with stones just for the love of it. We’d ride our bikes for miles, not as a way to get exercise, but just because it was fun. That pure form of childhood fun is something that I think is missing today, not only for kids but also for adults.

We joke about it today but often when I get a call from a skiing buddy about a trip planned for a Saturday, we refer to it as coming out and playing, exactly the same way as we did as kids. And that’s what it is. I discussed this with a friend on a recent afternoon mountain bike ride. He told me every time he rides his bike or skis or goes for a hike he is playing, plain and simple. He said it’s really no different than what he did as a kid; only now this kid is over 50. I feel exactly the same way.

We all agree that playing is essential for children. It’s how they learn and develop. I would argue that playing is a life long requirement for all of us, no matter our age. We all need that break from the stress of everyday life that play provides. Back in episode ten of the Doing Stuff Outdoors Podcast, Harold Cox talked about the same thing. He’s in his 50’s and kayaks just about every day. He also teaches the sport to kids at a local beach and he says the parents just sit there and watch. He can’t understand why they don’t join in. He says he plays every day and it keeps him young.

So if you’re a parent make sure your kids get out and play. And play with them. Pull the plug on the computer from time to time and take your children outdoors with you. Take them on walks and bicycle rides. They’ll love it, especially the time they spend with you. Go on outdoor outings together with other families with young children. If you’re kids are grown it doesn’t mean you still can’t play with them. Go on a hike together or a ski trip. It’ll be rewarding for both of you. Call up a friend and instead of going for a coffee, pack some water and bars in a bag and go for a long walk. It’s a great environment for having long talks. If you’re alone and you need a break, hop on your bicycle and go for a ride. Just go out and play and do it every day.