Published: October 10, 2008 01:37 am            

Make tracks in the outdoors this Columbus Day

special to The Star

 

The National Wildlife Federation has an initiative titled Make Tracks that promotes getting outside in natural settings. The program encourages parents to take children on hikes to observe and enjoy nature. With today’s high gas prices, discovering nature where you live has even plenty of benefits. Columbus Day, observed Monday, October 13, is being promoted nationally as a day of outdoor activities such as observing nature.

So be an explorer like Christopher Columbus. The natural beauty of America awed the 15th-century navigator – here is what he wrote in his journal:

October 28, 1492 -- “At sunrise I approached the coast and entered a very beautiful river free from dangerous shoals. The water all along the coast is deep and clear right to the shore. The country around the river is full of trees, beautiful and green and different from ours, each with flowers and its own kind of fruit. There are many birds of all sizes that sing very sweetly. The crew of the Nina stated that they had seen a grajao (a large black bird like a crow) or water-wagtail, which never go farther than 25 leagues from land.”

Put your best foot forward this Columbus Day and visit maketracks.org.  Register your family and join the thousands of parents who have become members of the movement. More information and a weekly guide to outdoor fun can be found on greenhour.org.

Haven’t hiked much, or ever? No problem, you don’t need to be an expert or in top physical condition to enjoy the outdoors. Have small children? Grab the stroller. Your outing can be as long or as short as you want. Be part of a growing movement in the U.S. to rediscover the outdoors; and realize the benefits of stepping away from the computer or TV or video game and breathing some fresh air while experiencing the wonders of nature.

Make Tracks! is part of National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour® campaign which urges parents to give their kids a daily dose of nature – unstructured time for children to leave homework, piano lessons and soccer practice behind to play outside and discover the freedom it provides. This time can improve both physical and mental health for adults and kids alike. The alarming spike in childhood obesity has revealed the true cost of a “plugged-in” lifestyle.

Check out these Web sites and join the movement this coming Monday to see sights like those Christopher Columbus saw more than 500 years ago.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.