Make Summer Vacation a Valuable Outdoor Learning Opportunity for Your Children

The summer vacation can seem to stretch long into the distance, and many parents have asked the question—how am I going to keep myself and my kids sane until school starts again? Part of the problem is that kids get bored if they are not learning. The summer vacation is not a time to take a rest from learning, but an opportunity to learn in a different way.

Learning on the Water

Somehow summer vacations and water go together, and most children are at their happiest when there is water around. Take that natural enthusiasm and use it to help them learn new or better skills.

Swimming is a vital skill, and a pool is a good place to learn it, but wild swimming takes it to a whole new level. Especially in the sea, there is so much that can be learned about the natural forces of wind, tides, and currents, and the multitude of life forms that abound under the waves, as well as the skills of staying safe.

Sailing is another way to learn about natural forces and about how careful design has enabled ship builders through the ages to harness those forces.

Fishing involves understanding the behavior of the fish, and the ingenuity that is involved in getting their attention. Knowing which of the Blue Water Candy lures you need to employ for which species is a fascinating study.

Learning on Dry Land

Hiking is not only an enjoyable shared experience; it is also a great opportunity to learn about the plants and animals that you come across. Turn every walk into a voyage of discovery by noticing the ways living things interact with their environment and by carrying out scavenger hunts.

Cycling will be a good introduction to mechanics and design. Learning to maintain their own bikes will not only keep your kids safer when they are out on their own but will also give them valuable knowledge about how things work.

In these days of GPS apps, the skills of map-reading are easily ignored. But maps can tell you much more about your terrain than just where you are. Whether walking or driving, get your kids to predict where you are heading next and what you will see.

Learning by Recording

The key to turning every activity into a learning experience is to record it. Always have a notebook to write down what you have observed together. To stop for a moment and draw a sketch, however rudimentary, of something unusual involves so much more than a quick picture on a smartphone.

Afterward, go through the notes to consolidate what has been learned by talking and reflecting together.

Love to Learn

Children’s brains are like sponges, absorbing skills and information all the time. It is a tendency that can be lost by adults, but the instinct to learn is still there. By secretly turning your summer vacation into a university of the world, you can keep your kids happier and at the same time connect with your own natural powers.

Hayden Nicholls loves nothing more than spending quality time with his family and guests in the great outdoors. He enjoys sharing his ideas online through blogging.