Family Outing – The Lynn Family

Nature For Kids is happy to present to you the third family in our Family Outing series. Meet the Lynn family from Las Vegas, Nevada! They have plenty of insightful information to share with us today so read on.

1. What is your favorite family outing activity?

If it is just my two kids and I, we like to take walks around the neighborhood. Where we live there are a lot of walking trails and sidewalks. Usually the kids are found climbing all the trees they can find. We live in the desert with a lot of desert landscaping so it makes for fun rocks or structures to climb on as well. Sometimes I bribe my kids with a trip to the park. The way they get to go is if we walk. Usually it is a mile there and a mile back. Sometimes a trip to the park is worth it and other days “exercise is just too much” (that is what my 4-year-old says).

Now if my husband is around we usually will head to Red Rock Canyon and take the kids hiking. We still strap the two year old in the back carrier but we let the 4 year old walk. We bring a picnic lunch and they are in heaven.

My husband also plays Ultimate Frisbee every Saturday morning. He takes our son with him and lets him climb the rocks there and run around the field as much as possible. At 4 yrs old Curtis can throw a Frisbee better than most adults. Soon he will be able to really get out and play with daddy and his friends.

2. How has recreating in the outdoors benefited you and your children?

It helps us all but mostly the kids release some much needed energy. It provides great family time without any distractions. We can talk or sing or act silly. It allows us to really appreciate what is around us, to appreciate Nature. When you walk you also are more aware of things and it brings up a lot of learning experiences. You can teach your kids about so much without them having to sit down and learn it in a book or in a classroom.

3. What outdoor destination would you recommend other families to visit?

We have visited a lot of places. I use to think that in order to go to cool destinations you had to travel or go camping but I am now realizing there really is a lot to see right where you live. I have lived in Vegas 4 years and in just the last year I have started to venture out and wander with my kids. I am amazed at what is found in our backyard. Go to the library and check out a book on your state or region and see what ideas they have. Usually there are some off the beaten path places you haven’t been to or heard of that are worth checking out.

4. What advise would you give others when it comes to recreating outdoors as a family?

Make it simple
Don’t set high expectations
Don’t plan.

If I try to plan for the perfect time to go it never happens. So on a Saturday if we are all home and we are bored we will just pick up and go do something fun… no planning, no fussing.

5. What is something new you’d like to try as a family in the outdoors?

We would love to try more water sports. It seems too expensive though since we don’t own our own boat or sports equipment. We would love to go rock climbing too but don’t know enough about it to do it by ourselves and don’t have the equipment either.

Nature For Kids would like to thank the Lynn family for sharing their outdoor experiences with us. The next Family Outing series is coming soon so stay tuned!

*If you missed our first couple family outing spotlights simply follow the links below…

Family Outing – The Marcoccia Family