The beginning of the new year often inspires people to make resolutions. While we are all for new beginnings and new goals, resolutions can create a lot of pressure and sometimes set us up for failure. The 1000 Hours Outside challenge is a fun, low pressure, and active way to engage with your family outdoors, get away from the stress and the screens, and enjoy nature together. Whether you do 10 hours or 1000, they all count towards a healthier lifestyle!
The challenge was started by Ginny Yurich of Southeast Michigan, a mom of 5 children and an avid nature lover. According to her website, “1000 Hours Outside is a global movement designed for any age child (or adult) and any environment. Join the journey and watch your life transform before your eyes. Nature holds tremendous power for each and every one of us at any age or stage. We track a lot of things these days – steps, calories, budgets, frequent flyer miles etc – why not track something so beneficial to our children as well? […] We found that if we spread these 4-6 hour chunks out over a few days (shooting for roughly 20 hours a week) it would take us to averaging about 1,000 hours of outside activity a year. That seems insane, maybe – we get it. But did you know the average American child spends 1,200 hours a year in front of screens? Now THAT seems insane to us, but hey, we get it – parenting is hard and sometimes those screens ‘seem’ like such a welcome reprieve from the chaos. We certainly are not militant about it and we don’t take a ‘no screens ever or you will surely die’ approach either. But we would, quite vehemently, argue that nature- big, beautiful, bountiful nature – is the absolute and very BEST reprieve for you and your children. Honestly, they don’t even compare!”
The website includes a blog, tracker tools, a newsletter, and many other resources to help you and your family make the most of your time spent in nature. They also have an app for Apple or Android, a Facebook, and an Instagram page to follow along if you are interested! In addition to the website and online resources, Yurich has recently written a book (now available for pre-order) entitled 1000 Hours Outside: Activities to Match Screen Time with Green Time. We at Bloomsburg Kids truly believe in a balance for all parents between giving ourselves and our children the much needed downtime we (all) need, and doing activities that help us to bond, keep us healthy, and give us things to look forward to. The 1000 Hours Outside challenge aligns with our philosophy of raising kids to be curious, kind, and extraordinary!
Remember, you don’t need to meet the 1000 hour goal to involve yourself in more time outside! Below we have listed some local parks in our area that would be great places to complete some of your outdoor hours. Additionally, check out our blog on the PA Passport Program, which is another way to visit our state lands and track your time outside. This blog has several of our favorite, local PA State Parks including RB Winter State Park in Mifflinburg, Hickory Run State Park in White Haven, and Weiser State Forest in Catawissa.
Nescopeck State Park (Drums) is offering a First Day Hike (January 1 at 10am) this year, which would be a great way to kick off your outside time for the new year! The park also features a wonderful Nature Discovery Area complete with a mud kitchen, different areas to dig and build structures, make music, and climb on various obstacles, as well as a butterfly garden! This area of the park is particularly geared towards children and is not to be missed!
Shikellamy State Park (Selinsgrove) has a great playground, easy trails to hike, and two overlooks, including the lovely Shikellamy Overlook (a 360-foot outlook with views of the Susquehanna River confluence and Sunbury, Northumberland, and the surrounding areas) and Kury Point in Shikellamy Marina (with a view of Lake Augusta and the river).
Worlds End State Park (Forksville) is surrounded by the Loyalsock State Forest, and boasts many different trails (some more difficult than others), a playground, and a small beach area with rocks for climbing. There are also two scenic vistas, including Loyalsock Canyon Vista and High Knob Vista, both of which provide outstanding views of the Endless Mountains region.
Tiadaghton State Forest (Waterville, Lycoming County) has many areas for walking, biking, and hiking including the 62-mile Pine Creek Rail Trail, and the 1.7-mile Bob Webber trail for a fun, short hike. Observation areas at the district office provide panoramic views of the Pine Creek Gorge, and Pine Creek offers kayaking, canoeing, and swimming opportunities.
The Montour Preserve (Danville) offers a wide range of year-round opportunities for free, family-friendly, outdoor activities. There are variety of fields, forests, and streams and features like the sugar shack, fossil pit, boat launch, fishing pier, wildlife observation blinds, visitors’ center / environmental education center, pavilions, children’s play areas, more than seven miles of trails, and more, all centered around the Preserve’s signature feature – the 165-acre Lake Chillisquaque.
