Family-Outdoors

Hiking is more than just a recreational activity; it’s a gateway to improved health and well-being. Whether you're navigating a bustling city, wandering through suburban trails, or trekking across rural landscapes, hiking offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. In this blog post, we'll delve into why hiking is beneficial and provide tips on personal safety to ensure your adventures are both enjoyable and secure. MISSOURI HIKING The Health Benefits of Hiking Physical Health Cardiovascular Fitness : Hiking is an excellent cardiovascular workout. It elevates your heart rate, which helps improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease. Muscle Strength : Trails often have varied terrain, which can challenge different muscle groups. Your legs, core, and even upper body get a workout, especially if you’re using trekking poles. Bone Density : Weight-bearing activities like hiking help build and maintain bone density, reducing the risk of ost...

Many suburban and urban Michigan residents have had an encounter with a coyote. A glance out a window may result in a shock when locking eyes with a large, gray-brown canine standing in the backyard. A backyard or city park is certainly no place for a coyote, right? Coyotes can be found everywhere – forests, fields, farmlands, backyards, neighborhoods and cities. Resourceful members of the dog family, coyotes have used human development to their advantage. “Coyotes have learned how to survive in urban landscapes, even near people. They take advantage of abundant natural foods that can often be found in urban and suburban areas,” said Hannah Schauer, a Michigan Department  of Natural Resources wildlife technician. “Because they are highly adaptable, coyotes have expanded their range throughout North America, and can be found in every county in Michigan.” Urban Coyote SMART The DNR offers a few reminders (in the form of the acronym “SMART”) for those who have seen a coyo...

 (Photo credit: Tjflex2 ) It's as predictable as August heat.  From border to border, the Wildlife Baby Season has arrived in Iowa.  From May until at least mid-June, DNR field offices across the state will be inundated with hundreds of phone calls and scores of deliveries regarding "orphaned wildlife." Most calls begin with something like, "We were walking in the park when . . .," or "I looked out my window and saw. . ."  In nearly every instance, the scenario ends with something [or several somethings] being rescued from their mother. During a typical season, the species will range all the way from baby robins and squirrels to spindly-legged white-tailed fawns.  At this time of the year it is not at all uncommon for biologists to discover that complete litters of baby raccoons, foxes, or even skunks have mysteriously appeared on their doorsteps. Why this happens is no real mystery.  From fuzzy yellow ducklings to tiny baby bunnies, nothing...

Missouri state parks and historical districts  (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Missouri State Parks encourages all Missourians to get out in a park on National Kids to Parks Day, May 19. This national event is sponsored by the National Park Trust and endorsed by Missouri State Parks. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon proclaimed May 19 as Kids to Parks Day in Missouri and encouraged Missourians of all ages to get outside and enjoy our state and local parks . “Connecting a child with the outdoors provides physical, mental and spiritual benefits. We encourage you to head out to the park of your choice for a fun-filled day in the outdoors,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Missouri is home to award-winning state and local parks. Parks provide an opportunity for children to engage in active lifestyles while experiencing all that nature has to offer. Whether it is a hike, a swim, or a bike ride all ou...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) WHO: Missouri Department of Natural Resources WHAT: 18 th annual Earth Day celebration WHEN: Friday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: South lawn of the Capitol WHY: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will welcome more than 1,000 students from throughout Missouri to the 18 th annual Earth Day celebration. Participation is free. Earth Day is geared toward students, but the event is open to the public as well. The department sponsors the event and is being joined by 12 other local, state and federal agencies with educational exhibits, booths, interactive displays and stage shows on the grounds. Stage events will include Environmental Survivor, hosted by 94.3 KAT Country personalities Kevin Hilley and Erin Hart, the World Bird Sanctuary, compliments of the Missouri American Water Company, and the musical duo WildHeart, sponsored by Children in Nature through Missouri State Parks. The department has a Web page in place wher...

Cover via Amazon Educators, youth leaders and parents will learn about "Nature Deficit Disorder" and outdoor experiences that reconnect children with nature. By Dan Zarlenga, MDC ST. LOUIS --  The disconnection of today’s children from the natural world is a growing concern among parents, educators and mental and physical health professionals throughout the country. “Nature Deficit Disorder" is a condition identified by author Richard Louv in his book  Last Child in the Woods  and has been linked to troubling current childhood trends such as the rise in obesity, attention disorders and depression. To help address these concerns, the Gateway Children’s Nature Connection, a coalition of St. Louis-area organizations that share a mission of helping parents reconnect children with nature, is sponsoring the “No Child Left Inside Conference” on Saturday, March 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the J.C. Penny Conference Center on the campus of the University of Miss...

Image via Wikipedia The issue of time is a hard one to get around sometimes.  I must admit that almost all of the lulls in my "outdoor life" have occurred at times where I just got too busy.  When it comes to getting outdoors with my family, I have been fortunate that both of my boys pretty much always wanted to hunt and fish, and my wife is one of those people who really always wants to have some trip or event scheduled out on the horizon. If it were only up to me, I would like to think that I would have the self-discipline to get out regularly, but I don't know.  Or, what if I had kids who were resistant to the idea?  Again, I am just not certain. So my advice on what to do might be seen as coming from someone who has no first-hand experience.  I admit this is true, but I am able to convey knowledge I have gathered on the subject. According to Maller, Townsend, St Leger, Henderson-Wilson, Pryor, Prosser, and Moore (2010), "... modern society, by its ver...

Eleven Point River Near Greer Spring P. Allen Mann III Copyright 2010 Family-Outdoors There is little doubt that there is a marked change, in my mind for the worst, in the interconnectedness between people in modern society and nature .  My premise, and one that I will be exploring over time here, is that this change at least coincides with a marked decline in the health and general well-being of families. I will not make an attempt to show that the slippage of our connection to nature is causative of these declines.  I truly do not believe that this could be done.  What I will attempt to do is show that there is truly a natural solution for families to this problem.  I will be making the case, and hopefully be engaging in discussion with readers that reconnecting with the outdoors, AS A FAMILY,   can have a meaningful impact in a number of ways. I will indeed use anecdotal evidence for this argument, but will try and also support it with science....