7 Challenges to Get Your Family Outside More
The New Year + Nature
I don’t know about you, but I LOVE planning for the new year. There is something exciting about a fresh start and the unknown. While there is no saying whether the new year will be all we hopes for, there is something we can all do to have a less stressful year. Get outside more!
Research has shown that
“Stress is relieved within minutes of exposure to nature as measured by muscle tension, blood pressure, and brain activity. Time in green spaces significantly reduces your cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Nature also boosts endorphin levels and dopamine production, which promotes happiness.”
ResearchGate
Simply said, more time outdoors equals less stress and more happiness.
But for some, it can feel overwhelming knowing how to get outdoors more. That is where outdoor challenges come in. They are a great way to stay motivated throughout the year and are super fun for families to do together. Check out the outdoor challenges below for a happier new year.
7 Challenges to Get Your Family Outside More
1000 Hours Outside
The 1000 Hours Outside movement was started by Ginny Yurich. The purpose behind it is to match nature time with screen time. The average child consumes 1200 hours of media a year. A 1000 hours outside over the course of a year is about three hours of nature time a day. That may seem like a lot but with overnight camping trips and long days at the beach you may be surprised at how quickly the hours accumulate. Ginny even has some cute tracker sheets you can download for free to track your hours.
52 Hike Challenge
The purpose of the 52 Hike Challenge is to get out and do one hike a week for a year. However, you can easily adapt this if you would rather do more hikes a week in the summer and not hike as much in the winter. The link above has a variety of 52 Hike Challenges you can sign up for. They even have one that is specifically for kids. I made a cute tracker for this challenge that you can download here for free.
Visit National Parks
You really can’t go wrong when it comes to visiting National Parks. With 62 National Parks in the United States, it may not be feasible for your family to visit all of them in one year. But there are some fun National Park combos you can try, such as:
The Mighty 5 in Utah (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands)
The Northern Rockies (Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier)
The Pacific Coast Highway (Redwood to Olympic National Park)
For more National Park Road trip ideas check out the link above! You can also find comprehensive National Park trip itineraries at Dirt in My Shoes.
100 Hours Unplugged
The 100 Hours Unplugged challenge was started by OARS. The purpose of the challenge is to get outside and reconnect with those you love most without the distraction of screens, social media, work emails, etc. The hours are to be done consecutively, so that means four days of playing in nature without screens. They recommend doing it in the summer, but you can do it any time of year.
365 Mile Challenge
The 365 Mile Challenge is to do “just a mile a day, your way”. The only caveat is that those miles have to be self-propelled, meaning miles done on a snowmobile, four-wheeler, etc. don’t count. But there are a variety of ways you can do your miles, like running, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, swimming, paddling, and backpacking. Use the link above for details on how to register!
24 in 24 Adventure Challenge
Of all the challenges, this is my favorite one. The purpose of the challenge is to complete 24 adventures in 2024. This would be a fun new years resolution to set with family or friends to add a little more adventure to your new year.
30 in 30
The challenge is to spend 30 min outdoors three days a week or hike 30 miles in 30 days. This might be a good challenge for those of you with smaller kids that want a more doable goal for getting outside.
Create Your Own Challenge
While the challenges above are a lot of fun, there is always the option of creating your own outdoor challenge or adapting one of the above challenges to meet your needs. For example, maybe instead of doing 1000 hours outside you do 365 (one hour a day), or instead of doing a 52 hike challenge you could do a 12 hike challenge (once a month). In the end, all that matters is that you and your kids are getting outside and adventuring.
What outdoor challenge are you excited to try this year? Please comment below! Need tips on how to get out and adventure with kids in tow? Check out my post 9 Tips for Easy Outdoor Adventures with Kids and be sure to share this post with family and friends. Everyone could use a little more nature in their lives!
