Rain, Sleet, Snow: Why it is important to venture out in inclement weather.

It is hard to gain confidence in preparing the whole gang for warm, comfortable and dry fun in all kinds of weather. Fortunately we have some amazing resources in Alaska such as my dear friend and Alaskan author Jennifer Aist, whose book Babes in the Woods, is a wealth of knowledge for getting outdoors with the kids. There also happens to be a global movement to connect and reconnect children with the outdoors. This movement has largely been spurred on by the author Richard Louv and his books LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, and most recently, THE NATURE PRINCIPLE: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Why is taking your kids out in cold or inclement weather important and actually healthy for them? Oh the reasons are numerous:

• Fresh air is so important for so many health reasons, it helps with croup, colicky babies, it is very important in the winter months to help ward off colds and bugs that thrive indoors in close quarters.
• Endorphins are thought to be released by engaging in physical activity and to elevate mood and energy levels, as well as promote a healthy immune system. They are said to help you recover from injury and illness faster too.
• Emergency preparedness - when you know how to prepare yourself for being comfortable, safe and warm no matter what the elements have in store for you, you have a better understanding of how to keep yourself alive should you or your children find themselves in an unfortunate predicament.
• Process skills and planning - as a veteran elementary teacher process skills and the ability to plan are traits that are widely lacking in today's children. Pushing on through and planning for an outing in inclement weather teaches kids how to predict what their needs will be and meet them trough planning and being proactive.
• Follow through & determination - the ability to see a plan through to the end. If you say you're going to accomplish something like a hike... then do it. Teach your children not to let obstacles get in their way.
• Flexibility - teach and role model for your kids how to roll with the punches and not let little things like rain get in their way of doing what they had intended.
• True sense of satisfaction - there is nothing more satisfying than conquering an obstacle, even one as silly as weather. Some of the best hikes with Taiga Trekkers have been rainy or cold ones, because we all thought about bailing before we even got to the trailhead, but we all persevered and felt better about ourselves than we would of if it was a regular old sunny day.
• Perspective - seeing life through another lens - rainy & snowy days aren't often thought of as beautiful, but they really are.
• Deeper understanding of nature/science & its cycles - if you only spend time outside when it it is "nice" or rather I should say sunny (now that we've established that other kinds of weather are nice too), you miss out on all the amazing lessons to be learned about nature and how all it's phenomenal systems function. A simple example is leaves turning themselves over before a rainfall or flowers battening down the hatches by closing themselves up. 
• Wards off depression - I recently read a staggering statistic, from a reputable source, that claimed that symptoms of depression could be reduced by 50% when a person spends time outside every day. I know from personal experience, that it played a huge role in helping me back out of the dredges of post-partum depression.

Now of course there are limits to what we will expose ourselves, an more importantly our children to. Those limits are different for every family, but it is important for us to not let a little rain or cold get in the way of our time outdoors. We'd miss out on so much wonder and opportunity if we did!

***This is a repost from my older blog Taiga Trekkers****

Rainy Days Rule

It was raining, as it often does in this rainforest we call home. I was tired and thinking about staying in that morning... but I know our days are so much better when we get outside. One of the reasons we choose Auke Recreation Area for our weekly Outdoor Playdate is because of its mix of open space, rocky tide pools, beach and treed areas that provide a protective canopy and windbreak on rainy, windy days. It is important for kids, and adults to experience a place through all the seasons and weather to understand all the cycles that happen in nature. 

Despite my dragging feet it turned out to be a phenomenal morning at Auke Rec! It was lightly raining so we stayed mostly under the canopy of the trees on the hillside before you head out to the point. We picked thimbleberries, huckleberries, found feathers, climbed on rocks, explored the "caves," found the biggest slug I've ever seen, and enjoyed each other's company. My oldest and his friend will be started kindergarten so it was their last time out with us for a while. My youngest and I will continue on the tradition.

*After Labor Day we park near the large pavilion, as the day parking lot is closed off when they close up the campground for the winter.*

 

 

 

Gskirt Review

Gskirts

It's a rainforest out there! How are you keeping dry? My new favorite way is with a rain skirt! George the maker of Gskirts was kind enough to send both an adult and kids version my way. Here are my thoughts on the adult version (kid's review coming soon):

• The adjustable wrap around style of this skirt allows you to wear it over anything from simple base layers to to suit pants
• Allows for free range of motion
• Sweet button detail
• The material is so light weight, yet very durable
• Comes in a range of great colors
• Much better price than comparable rain skirts like Skhoop 
• Quick and easy to put on 
• I even take mine off and throw it on the ground for a dry place to sit for the kids and me.
• Keeps you dry!
• Perfect for going to the grocery store, soccer games, hiking, walking the dog, playing in the rain...
• Perfectly simple
• Clean lines
• Handmade in Vancouver, BC! 

This is the perfect outer layer for any outdoor activity, especially in Juneau, Alaska! My favorite way to wear this skirt is with Smartwool leggings and my trusty Xtratuf boots (an Alaskan staple). I would have killed to have this when on recess or bus duty as an elementary school teacher! It is a great way to keep your professional clothes dry too.

Photo credits go to my 3 year old Little Bear.

Play On!

Beautiful sunshiny morning at our regular Thursday, Outdoor Playdate at Auke Recreation Area. It was a morning full of meeting new friends, enjoying already forged bonds, playing in the tide pools, picking berries and climbing trees. Perfection!

We're going on a scavenger hunt

Plant identification - a great way to get outside with the kids and show them how to use reference materials/do research, discuss attributes/identifying characteristics, use descriptive vocabulary, common uses and discriminate what a reliable sources of information is. Its like a scavenger hunt! 

What plant is this?

Here are some great resources:
-Alaska Native Plant Society
- Wildflowers of the United States, Alaska
- USDA Plants Database