Why 1000 Hours Outside?
The benefits of 1000 hours outside
Most of us understand intuitively that spending time outdoors – 1000 hours outside, in fact! – is important. But what does science say about the role of nature in our lives? How can we make the outdoors a staple of our children’s childhoods without tears?
The 1000 Hours Outside campaign seeks to match nature time with screen time, and that’s because kids spend approximately 1200 hours per year in front of electronic devices. I’ve dedicated my family to the lofty goal of spending 1000 hours outside this year in ways that are structured, completely unstructured, and everything in between. (Full disclosure: I’m a bit behind!)
Today I speak with Molly Ridic and Austin Rempel. Molly is a representative for b4 Adventure; Austin is a Forest Restoration Manager for American Forests. Together b4 and American Forests have teamed up to plant thousands of trees across North America.
Molly and Austin are on the show to outline research-backed benefits of extended playtime outdoors for adults, children and even nature; they offer practical tips, too, to help you and me prioritize nature play in all kinds of weather.
Here’s a preview of this week’s episode:
[6:15] Why is it important to spend time outdoors? Here’s what the research says
[10:30] The connection between fostering nature love and creating environmental stewards, plus an exploration on the benefits of trees
[17:30] Why adventure is an important component of nature love
[21:30] Pragmatic motivation for listeners with obstacles, including living in an urban environment, experiencing challenging weather, and more
Resources mentioned in this week’s episode:
* This episode is sponsored by Outrage + Optimism. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts for new episodes every Thursday.
* Want more episodes like this one? Check out #099: How to Raise Eco-Conscious Kids.
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One thought on “Why 1000 Hours Outside?”
Just wanted to say thanks for covering this topic! With 3 kids 3 and under, I’m not tracking hours yet, but I do prioritize outside time and I’m really proud of getting the kids out in all kinds of Minnesota weather. It’s fun to try to think of new outside activities.
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