An Afternoon in the Park: Inspirational Ideas For Outdoor Activities
As one who is passionate about genuine connection, I found it impossible to hide my delight recently while spending an afternoon in the park. Children were seen everywhere⎯on the playground, at the ball courts, barefoot in the grass. But what really made my heart happy was the sight of the parents who, without any visible sign of technology in hand, were laughing with their children and visiting face-to-face with other parents.
The weather was beautiful and everyone seemed extraordinarily happy. As I sat on the grass enjoying the moment, I felt an unusual desire to jot down a few verses if poetry. Reaching for a scratch piece of paper from my purse, I penned a few lines about what I was seeing take place all around me.
Today, I returned to that park and had a repeat of the same experience. I pulled out my unfinished poem, added a few more lines, and read it through one final time. A smile escaped my lips, for I realized that, in a moment of haste, I had managed to pen a simplistic poem that had perfectly captured my full spectrum of emotions.
An Afternoon In The Park
Clear blue skies,
children at play,
on this lovely spring-like day.
Children climbing up stairs,
rolling down slides,
soaring on swings,
so many fun rides!
Parents, tech-free, laugh in delight,
their children running to and fro,
what a beautiful sight!
A picnic table lunch,
playing in the sand,
kicking balls back and forth,
life outside is grand!
Birds and trees,
bugs and bees,
a soft breeze in the air.
God’s creation,
nature medication,
was meant for us to share.
Outdoor delight,
in the afternoon light,
has left us without a care.
Memories in the making,
filled with laughter and glee,
nature is such a blessing,
Father in Heaven, we thank Thee.
© C. Mason
When was the last time you spent a tech-free afternoon out in nature?
Inspiration For Outdoor Activities
01
Love Handles on a Country Road
After years of daily walks in a cookie-cutter neighborhood with flat streets that offer zero resistance⎯I long to be challenged; I long for resistance. Which is why I look forward to vacationing out-of-state, where the back roads are hilly, the inclines steep, and the views spectacular.
I always stop at the bridges to watch the water flow in the creek, bubbling over rock and riverbed. However, the part I look forward to most is the resistance⎯the dogged effort it takes to make it up those steep and unrelenting inclines that lead back to the house.
While I don’t necessarily enjoy the part where my muscles ache and I run out of breath, I absolutely love the long-term effects on my body.
02
Henry David Thoreau
“Do you like to eat dinner outside by the garden like Henry?” I asked my students.
“Do you like to read books outdoors like Henry?”
“Wouldn’t it be so fun to dance down by the pond like Henry?”
Heads began to nod and hands flew into the air as the children began recounting the fun memories they’d had spending time in the great outdoors—eating, reading, and playing.
That weekend, I reflecting on the conversation my students and I’d had about spending as much time as possible outdoors. Afterwards, I made the spontaneous decision to eat my lunch in the backyard by the garden. Then I read a book out on the grass, with the sun shining down on me.
I even did a few twirls on the lawn in celebration of the beautiful weather.
03
And A Little Child Shall Lead Them
“May we please stop at the park and play for a few minutes?” our three children begged, ganging up against their dad and me.
We had gone on a last minute family walk around the block and I was anxious to get home to start our bedtime routine.
“Fine,” I relented, “you can play for ten minutes.”
The children cheered and ran for the playground equipment; my husband smiled and followed me to a bench. As he and I talked about events of the day, I glanced around the playground. There was a family I had never seen before.
04
Lessons From The Garden
Walking to the garden to gather vegetables for dinner, I pause to listen to the crickets.
The sound of crickets takes me back to my childhood. I clearly remember falling asleep each night to the steady chirping of crickets outside my bedroom window. I can picture myself on our regular family camping trips, lying awake in a tent, snuggled warm and cozy in my sleeping bag, trying my hardest to stay awake just a little longer to enjoy the cricket chirps, the sound of the rustling aspen trees, the glow of the golden moonlight. These are some of my favorite memories.
05
Reawaken Childlike Wonder
The month of April ushers in new life. With branches blossoming in shades of pink and white, gone are the dark days of winter. Birds’ nests fill the once-empty branches. April is a time of rebirth and renewal.
Fresh, earthy scents of spring envelop the senses as a gentle breeze flutters the emerald leaves, bringing new life to barren trees.
Just after sunrise, migrating birds, dressed to the hilt in coats of browns and reds, yellows and blues, beckon with “chirp-chirping” melodies. Then, with outstretched wings, they soar to greater heights in search of a new home.
As an adult, I feel compelled to follow–to spread my wings and soar to greater heights.
Nature, with its birds and nest-bearing trees, is filled with wonder, captivating adults everywhere, yet no one is more enraptured by nature than little children.
Conclusion
Whether spending an afternoon at the park, spending time in the garden, or going for a nature walk, consider spending more time each week in the great outdoors, away from the distractions of technology. Your improved relationships and mental health will thank you for it.
Check out the “Bee” Of Good Character class for children ages 8-11 where they will learn about bees and character-building virtues and create an art project.
