Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts

Friday, December 5, 2014

Winter Break Planning

Winter break is just around the corner. The Juneau Outdoor Family Network Facebook page is a great place to plan outdoor activities with other families! You can create your own event by going to the "Events" tab at the top of the groups FB page or you can just post where you're headed and when. I can be as simple as "My family and I are heading to Sandy Beach... or the Airport Trail at 10:30 tomorrow morning and would love to have other families join us." Activities could be, but are not limited to ice skating, sledding, snowshoing, skiing, playdate at the park...

JOFN is designed to be a place where parents are empowered with the tools and the venue to create their own outings that fit their own family's schedule. Part of the reason why I created this group and similar ones in Anchorage and Kodiak, was to make sure I had things I knew my boys and I would love to do at a time that met our needs, while making new friends. I'd like to extend that luxury to other families.




2nd Annual Lantern Walk



Our 2nd Annual Lantern Walk was a great success! Mother Nature bestowed us with a starry, calm night. We had about 20 families attend. Thank you to everyone who brought, food, drink and firewood to share! We were able to gather around the fire before and after the walk and the kids happily played at the playground. Next year I'll have to enlist a parent beforehand to lead us in song along the trail. My raspy, out of tune voice was just too quiet while recovering from a nasty cold to rouse any joiners. Right as we left the forecasted clouds moved in and we got our first snow dump of the season later that night.





Sunday, November 23, 2014

Upcoming Event

Join us for our second annual Lantern Walk, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Check out the Facebook group page for details and to RSVP.




A Lantern Walk is a magical way to embrace the season and the darkness. Everyone carries a lantern as we do a short hike together out to the beach. It would be awesome if we could have some parents volunteer to go out before us and get a fire going, so we could roast marshmallows and hot dogs on the beach before we hike back. There are some great DIY lantern ideas on the web, especially on Pinterest.


Adventures in Auke


We've had some amazing outdoor playdates recently. Check out our Facbook group for upcoming dates and event info.
  




Tuesday, August 26, 2014

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.*



 









Saturday, August 2, 2014

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!


Saturday, February 15, 2014

Outdoor Playdates


A bunch of us try to meet regularly on Thursday mornings 10am, at Auke Rec./Point Louisa for an outdoor playdate. This is unstructured play time. The kiddos climb, pick berries, fish, romp, explore the tide pools, the trees and the beach. Parents get a chance to connect with each other. It is a great location rain or shine, as there  is beach, the peninsula that is Pt. Louisa, covered shelters and the trees themselves provide shelter and a windbreak on blustery days. It is important for children to get to know one place through all the seasons, weather and tides to see the cycles and systems in nature. Often times from the point seal lions, seals, porpoise and whales can be seen swimming about. Often parents will bring wood for a campfire, hot dogs, marshmallows and apples to roast. Everyone always brings a snack to share.