Escape to the Real World of Nature

Last Updated 9/28/2026 • Posted in Recreation, Parenting, Lifestyle, Kids, Home Page Featured Post, Education

When times get tough, parents and kids alike often long for an escape from the real world – the news of the day, the stress of school, the busyness of work. In truth, however, the “real world” is not these things, but instead the wonders of nature alive and thriving all around you every day! In the fall, you can smell this truly real world in the scent of long-awaited rain, see it in the color of changing leaves, and taste it in the last goodies from the garden. You can feel it in the crisp evening air and hear it as the crickets sing their final songs before winter’s cold arrives.

So next time you feel stressed or the kids are spinning around the room like tops, head outside. Time spent outdoors can significantly reduce anxiety, give energetic kids a constructive way to let off steam, and facilitate positive family interactions. You don’t need to go far; simply aim for a nearby park or just take a walk around the block. The trees in town will soon be turning beautiful colors and if it rains, there will be puddles to jump in! Wear appropriate outdoor clothes/shoes to make sure everyone stays warm and dry, but don’t worry about “bad” weather. It’s only uncomfortable if you’re unprepared.

To keep everyone moving forward and happy, below are a few tips for nature wandering with children.

Kids of all ages enjoy forward motion hide and seek. Invite older kids to walk a short distance ahead by themselves, hide behind a big tree or somewhere else safe, and challenge them to stay still enough to fool you into walking past. Younger kids can zoom ahead to hide with another adult as you count to twenty (and enjoy a few moments to yourself).

For kids who like puzzles, add a natural scavenger hunt to your adventures. You can make up your own or try one of Nature Nature’s at nearbynature.org/explore-activity-pages. The Super Stars, Rainbow, and Harvest Hunt themes are great for fall. And the Alphabet, Numbers in Nature, and Shapes scavenger hunts will help reinforce things kids are learning in school. You don’t need to collect anything, just check the items off your lists.

For the lover of “things that go” in your family, play train. Have your young one take the lead, find a sturdy stick, and connect to you to form a train. A rhythmic chant of “Chuga-chuga choo-choo, whistle blowing woo-woo” will help move your engine on down the line. Vary the pace by pretending to “stop at the station” now and then if you see something interesting along the walk.

Let your child lead the way as the “nature guide.” Encourage kids to show you fascinating finds along the trail — colorful leaves, helicopter seeds, creepy-crawlies. Be prepared to stop often. Keep things moving by asking: “What’s around that next corner, nature guide?”

Set up an “unnatural hike” to encourage forward motion by hiding a few human-made objects just a little way ahead of where you’re walking — a rubber band, a pencil, a penny, a plastic fork, and the like. Camouflage the items, but don’t completely hide them, and see if your kids can find them. Then let them hide replaceable (in case they get too well hidden) things for you! Bring a trash bag and some plastic gloves for picking up actual litter to add a community caretaking element to your adventure.

Finally, for some extra nature fun that you don’t need to plan, attend a fall outdoor event in the community. Some cool family-friendly ones coming up include Nearby Nature’s Haunted Hike on October 16th (pre-registration required) and the Mount Pisgah Mushroom Festival on October 25th (children under 12 free, tickets required for adults). Check the Oregon Family Magazine online calendar for other fun outdoor events in town as well!