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Dreams do come true.

I am ecstatic to report that my book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, was just honored with a GOLD award by the Nonfiction Book Awards, via the Nonfiction Authors Association (NFAA).

Here is the Official NFAA Review:

It’s safe to say that finding fun, affordable, and engaging activities for children is not only a major concern for parents, it’s also a major challenge – even more so now as young ones increasingly deal with “grown-up” issues that put a strain on their emotional and physical wellbeing, and that make a healthy sense of self tougher to achieve with each passing day.

“Our children are struggling” writes author Sandi Schwartz in the Introduction of her book. And with that statement made, she then sets out to empower parents and other caregivers with tools to help them lessen the effects of the world on their children and bring them back to center with activities that embrace the beauty of the world around them as found in Nature.

Finding Ecohappiness is therapeutic. It goes beyond the typical parenting book, providing the science behind the activities it recommends for families. Activity checklists offer up suggestions to parents who might be “stuck” coming up with ideas for engaging play. Highlighted in call-out boxes are sample questions meant to help make teachable moments easier to identify and implement. Links to helpful resources are included throughout, as are beautiful full-color images that align with the author’s message of how tapping into nature and its healing benefits can bring calm to even our little ones in ways that affect their wellbeing from the inside out. The awe of childhood as it should be experienced is found on each page from beginning to end.

Schwartz’s book is an exciting and meaningful guide sure to help its audience navigate this important, life-affecting part of the parenthood journey. Highly recommended!
~ Nonfiction Authors Association Book Awards Program

Grab your copy, give some as gifts, and donate to a Little Free Library near you. And be sure to leave a review. Thank you!

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I recently had the pleasure of reviewing and blurbing Linda Akeson McGurk’s new book, The Open-Air Life. I also love her first book, There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather, and referenced it in my book more than once. Linda and I address many of the same topics in our books and hope that we can inspire more people to build a nature habit in their lives to experience the many benefits of nature connection.

In The Open-Air Life, Linda takes us on a fascinating journey to explore how nature can enhance our lives. While some of the general concepts are familiar, she adds a unique perspective by introducing us to the terminology and customs rooted in strong tradition from her native country, Sweden, and the surrounding Nordic countries. Through poetic storytelling, helpful checklists, and informative illustrations sprinkled throughout the book, she educates and inspires us to step outdoors into the fresh air and bring a number of nature-connection habits into our daily lives no matter where we live, our age, or what language we use to describe them.

Understanding the Concept of Friluftsliv

The main concept of her book is based on the Norwegian word friluftsliv (pronounced FREE-loofts-leeve), which means open-air life. Linda explains that the Norwegian government defines this term as “embracing nature and enjoying the outdoors as a way of life, a possibility of recreation, rejuvenation and restoring balance among living things.” The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency explains that it is about “spending time outside in natural and cultural landscapes for personal wellness and to experience nature without the pressure to achieve or compete.” This is an important concept to keep in mind as we live in such a structured, competitive, tech-obsessed society these days.

As I talk about in Finding Ecohappiness, free nature play is so valuable to all of us. This can look like taking a relaxing walk around your neighborhood, eating outdoors, sketching a nature scene, or simply finding a sit spot and enjoying nature through all our senses. I love how Linda describes this way of life: “In essence, traditional friluftsliv is less a set of activities and more of a culturally learned rhythm that revolves around being outside and experiencing oneness with both nature and the cultural landscape.” It is a sort of slow living, as she compares it to slow food and slow parenting. In many ways, it is about being mindful in nature to soak it all in and reap the many benefits, another concept I talk about quite often.

Principles of Friluftsliv

At the beginning of the book, Linda outlines the 10 core principles of friluftsliv. Here they are, with a bit of my take on each one woven in:

1. Be one with nature. I love how this is the first principle because it’s all about protecting nature. If we don’t protect and respect nature, we won’t be able to enjoy it and benefit from it in the future. As I mention in the conclusion of my book, I hope that more people will recognize the mental health benefits of our natural environment so they do what they can to protect it.
2. Don’t mind the weather (or the season). This is the premise of Linda’s first book, and I highly encourage you to grab a copy. She provides so many helpful tips on how to prepare for and enjoy the outdoors in various weather situations.
3. Use your body. She encourages us to challenge ourselves physically outside to maintain good health, develop resilience, and achieve a harmonious state of mind. Green exercise is great for this!
4. Appreciate your nearby nature. Linda and I agree that you don’t have to venture deep into the wilderness to experience a nature connection. I often recommend that everyone start by looking for nature around your home, such as sitting on a balcony, exploring your backyard, and walking or biking to a local park.
5. Learn useful skills. Linda writes, “Open-air life gives you an opportunity to grow confidence through greater self-reliance but also get a deeper knowledge of yourself and your role in the beyond-human world.” Throughout the book, she describes many outdoor skills you can develop, from starting a fire to foraging.
6. Keep it simple. Simplicity and frugality are key to living an open-air life, so keep this in mind when you are making plans and deciding what you need to enjoy the great outdoors. In other words, don’t buy too much stuff! Keep it basic and go have fun.
7. Do not compete. Linda warns against competition in your outdoor activities since it defeats the purpose of friluftsliv and could erase the many benefits nature has to offer.
8. Disconnect to connect. Linda and I both agree that all of us need healthy breaks away from screens throughout the day to recharge and get back to a balanced state, both mentally and physically. Replacing screen time with green time is another core concept of an open-air life.
9. Propel yourself. Interestingly, friluftsliv encourages using our natural energy to get around outdoors, such as by walking, biking, paddling, skating, pedaling, swimming, and propelling.
10. Nurture your sense of wonder. Finally, living an open-air life means cherishing the joy in everyday nature experiences to find a sense of awe and contentment that helps us ultimately feel happier and calmer.

There’s so much more to discover throughout the book as she dives deep into open-air activities within the categories of air, earth, water, and fire.

Learn More

Linda Akeson McGurk is a Swedish American journalist and author who believes life is better outside. Her first book, the parenting memoir There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge), was published in 2017 to critical acclaim, receiving mentions in The Wall Street Journal as well as The New York Times. Since then, the book has become an Amazon bestseller and been translated into five languages. The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day is her second book. Learn more at www.rainorshinemamma.com and www.lindamcgurk.com.

 

Creativity is the ability to think in unusual, divergent ways. It involves using the right side of the brain from where imagination, intuition, visualization, emotions, and daydreaming originate. Creativity has been shown to develop many positive characteristics and help individuals lead happy, successful lives.

When we are creative, we tap into curiosity, intuition, and playfulness. Creativity can also be an important stress buster to help us feel happier and more relaxed. It provides a healthy outlet for us to express and cope with our emotions in a safe, calm manner.

Benefits of Nature Music Sounds

The arts can also be a path for connecting to nature, as it is one of the best sources of inspiration for creative endeavors since it is filled with so many stimuli. Nature sounds like birdsong, wind, rain, and flowing water can be quite healing. They help mask intrusive noises like airplanes flying overhead, leaf blowers, and construction sites, and undo the stress we feel from listening to them.

Engaging in nature music—whether it be singing, listening, or creating—provides biological and psychological benefits. It can help us relax by providing a healthy distraction and forcing us to be more mindful. As music garners our attention, it acts as a diversion while also helping us explore our emotions. It also keeps us focused and prevents our mind from wandering to negative thoughts. Music also allows us to lose ourselves in the moment as we enjoy the sounds we play or hear.

We can incorporate nature music sounds into our lives by either listening to meditative nature sounds that are enhanced by soothing music or by creating, playing, or listening to music with nature-related content. With regard to the first option, there are many apps available that provide nature relaxation music. This is especially an effective tool to use if you or your kids are having trouble falling asleep at night.

Encouraging Children to Enjoy Nature Music

When it comes to children, they often enjoy listening to music that tells a story about nature, whether it be about animals, trees, the ocean, or otherwise. One artist to check out is Raffi, a music producer, author, and ecology advocate. He is known for his signature song “Baby Beluga,” and has been producing children’s music since 1976. Many of his songs have nature themes. The Laurie Berkner Band also has several nature-related songs, along with cute, engaging music videos on their website. Finally, Mister G is a Latin artist who performs bilingual songs in both Spanish and English. His album Mundo Verde (Green World) is filled with environmental children’s songs covering topics like bees, fish, and water.

If your children play musical instruments or love to sing, they can try their hand at writing their own nature-themed music. It may be helpful for them to use other songs as inspiration, such as taking a popular song and changing the words to focus on nature. If they take piano or guitar lessons, they can easily add in their own words to the music they are already playing. Even children who have never taken a music lesson can still bang on some drums or shake a maraca to some nature lyrics they penned themselves.

 

Ecotherapists often use nature metaphors to connect with their clients. These figures of speech act as a symbol of something else in order to create a teachable comparison. Using nature metaphors is a helpful way for people, especially children, to better understand what they are going through emotionally and can be a catalyst for them to communicate their feelings.

The metaphors tend to be quite visual, which can be powerful when trying to get someone to open up about their struggles. We can use these vivid comparisons to talk to our children about how they are feeling with regard to stress, anxiety, and sadness. During an ecotherapy training session, Dennis Kiley, President of the EcoPsychology Initiative, discussed how we can use nature to talk about emotional balance. He correlates air to the mind and thoughts, earth to the physical body, water to emotions, and fire to passion and anger. This paints a clear picture of how different aspects of our mind and body interact to generate our many complex feelings.

Here are some more nature metaphors to share with your children. It would be fun to see what additional metaphors they can come up with on their own.

• Seasons: Seasonal changes in weather can correspond to seasons in our lives. For example, we can talk about feeling cold and dark like during wintertime.
• Trees: A tree is strong, yet flexible. Its roots keep it grounded in the earth while its branches and leaves can bend and change to help it survive storms. We can use this metaphor to talk about how we can overcome challenging times.
• Animals: Different animals can be used to represent feelings, such as a loud, roaring lion to show anger and a soaring eagle to indicate power and freedom.
• Waves: The ebb and flow of ocean waves can resemble our fluctuating emotions.
• Leaves floating on a stream: This is commonly used to encourage people to “go with the flow” and not get stressed out.
• Stones and rocks: They represent a sense of sturdiness and strength.
• Planting seeds: This metaphor is used to stimulate curiosity and to encourage people to work towards growth and progress.
• Life cyle of a butterfly: Kids love learning about how caterpillars transform into butterflies. This process offers a great way to talk about how we go through changes in life and how we can start fresh at times.

Learn more about ecotherapy.

 

Looking for an activity in which your kids can have fun while also connecting to nature and helping the environment? An excellent way for children to get involved in ongoing nature volunteer projects is to join a nature club or to start your own. The goal of nature clubs is to connect children to nature through educational, recreational, and volunteer experience. This nature connection provides so many benefits to them, including reducing stress and helping them feel happier.

You can find nature clubs through national organizations, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, local community centers, your school, and more. Check out these examples of nature clubs and resources for starting or leading your own.

Clubs

Roots & Shoots

Roots and Shoots is an organization created by the renowned environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall to empower and encourage youth of all ages to pursue their passion, mobilize their peers, and become compassionate citizens and leaders to ensure a better future for people, animals, and the environment. There are over 2,100 registered groups in all fifty states, so you are bound to find one in your neighborhood.

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts

We are all familiar with the Scouts. As I highlight in my book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America collects information about the benefits of volunteering outdoors. They surveyed nearly 3,000  girls ages 8-14 about their Girl Scouting experience and how it made them feel. Nearly two-thirds of the girls said they enjoyed the outdoor activities, and environmental volunteering was listed as a top 10 favorite activity. Additionally, results showed that environmental volunteering through Girl Scouts was the strongest and most significant predictor of their environmental stewardship, while also providing them with a rewarding and inspiring activity that gives them a sense of purpose.

PBS Kids Nature Trackers Club

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club is a community of young children, their families, and educators committed to learning about nature and doing good things for their environment. Nature Trackers enjoy exploring and having adventures, respecting their environment, collecting things, tracking and observing plants and animals, and challenging themselves to get outside and make discoveries every day.

Quest 

Quest Clubs are scouting style clubs run by Curiosity Untamed, an educational incentive program designed to promote lifelong learning. They offer the structure and friendship of a scouting program, but include thousands of badges, a wide variety of higher awards, and the flexibility to design the club to fit the needs of your group. Badges encourage participants to delve deeper into subjects they are already interested in, as well as explore new ideas and experiences. Badges cover topics like the outdoors, science and technology, and agriculture. You can either join an existing club or use their resources to develop your own.

Resources

Children & Nature Network’s Family Nature Club Toolkit

The Children & Nature Network supports a global movement of leaders working to turn the trend of an indoor childhood back out to the benefits of nature–and to make sure that all children have equitable access to outdoor spaces where they can learn, play, and grow. The organization provides a free downloadable Family Nature Club Toolkit packed with everything you need to organize and lead a family nature club, including planning guides, tips, ideas, checklists, and ready-to-use forms.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Family Nature Clubs & You Toolkit

Some zoos and aquariums are now organizing nature clubs to expand their role in connecting families to nature. They offer programs that enhance the health and well-being of families and build community in the natural areas both in and surrounding the institution. The purpose of the Family Nature Clubs & You Toolkit is to provide information, resources, best practices and even inspiration for zoos and aquariums that are interested in creating or supporting a Family Nature Club. The toolkit provides examples of ways to organize and host events both on and off zoo and aquarium grounds, as well as ideas for collaborating with and supporting existing Family Nature Clubs.

The Nature Club Books

Wildlife biologist and mom Rachel Mazur loves volunteering with her children and decided to write a children’s book series called The Nature Club Books to encourage more children to get involved with environmental volunteering. She has found that kids enjoy volunteering if you tie it to wildlife or nature. Her books focus on school-aged characters in a nature club of their own, and she has received feedback from many readers that the stories inspired them to start their own nature clubs. She also has some tips on how to start your own nature club.

Green Kids Club

Green Kids Club provides fun, educational stories for children that introduce the concepts of
environmental stewardship and endangered species conservation. They do this by working with conservation groups–such as Elephants Without Borders, Saving the Survivor, and Blood Lions–and writing children’s books related to environmental issues they are experiencing. After publishing a book with one of these conservation groups, they donate part of the proceeds to that organization. These books are a perfect addition to any nature club.

 

I have always enjoyed eating outside, whether it be a backyard barbeque or an outside table at a restaurant with a water view. But outside dining took on a whole new meaning during the pandemic. Many people now prefer to eat outside (I certainly do!), even if the weather isn’t perfect. The great news about this cultural shift is that eating outside provides numerous benefits because of the nature connection we experience.

Every year on August 31, National Eat Outside Day is celebrated. I propose that we all try to make this a more common occurrence throughout the year–no matter where you live. In her book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, Linda Åkeson McGurk teaches us that we can enjoy spending time outdoors even if it is rainy, chilly, cloudy, windy, or other weather that typically keeps us inside. With the right equipment and clothing and a bit of planning, we can venture outdoors more, including a family meal.

Benefits of Eating Outside

Besides the obvious avoidance of germs inside a restaurant, there are many benefits of eating outside that reflect the power of nature.

Fresh air: There’s just something about being outside and breathing in the fresh air that helps us relax. A main reason is the high concentration of oxygen that both calms and invigorates us.

Greenery: Odds are that if you eat outside, you will have a view of some bushes, trees, or maybe even some colorful flowers. Greenery can help us feel happier and calmer. One study found that being around trees and green space helps people feel happier and less anxious.

Nature sounds: When we eat outdoors and listen mindfully to nature, we can feel more relaxed due to the restorative effect of natural noises like chirping birds, blowing wind, and flowing water. These relaxing nature sounds physically alter the connections in our brain, reducing our body’s fight-flight-freeze instinct. These soothing sounds also help mask intrusive noises like airplanes flying overhead, leaf blowers, and construction sites, and undo the stress we feel from listening to them.

Natural light: Being outside in natural sunlight has a huge impact on our well-being. Without the natural light, our mood can suffer. So, even if it isn’t the best weather, try to eat outside. Just be sure to protect your skin by seeking out a shaded spot to dine.

A possible water view: Humans are naturally attracted to water for its many beneficial properties like tranquility, blue and emerald hues, waves and ripples, soothing sounds, and scent if you are by ocean. If you can sit outside and eat by the water, you can calm your body and mind. Research shows that less cortisol (the stress hormone) and more serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine (hormones that boost mood) have been found in people as they spend time around water.

A chance to see wildlife: When we eat outside, this gives us the chance to catch a glimpse of beautiful, entertaining, and intriguing wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, lightening bugs, squirrels, rabbits, and more. When encountering wildlife, we often feel as though time stands still and we get lost in the moment of observing an animal’s every move, behavior, size, and color. Believe it or not, watching wildlife can provide a deep sense of well-being that can lead to psychological health benefits.

And while you’re waiting for your food to arrive, you might want to try a nature lovingkindness meditation to set the tone for your relaxing meal outdoors.

Places To Eat Outside

Here are some ideas for where you can have your next relaxing meal outside:

• Enjoy a lovely meal in your own backyard or on your balcony. If you have a garden, you can use the produce and herbs you grow to create a fresh, delicious meal.
• Look for restaurants that offer outdoor dining. Be sure to ask about heat lamps or cooling misters to stay comfortable no matter the temperature.
• Head to a park to have a picnic.
• Plan an outdoor birthday party. Check out these fun outdoor birthday party themes.
• Choose outdoor venues for gatherings, such as your next book club meeting.
• Turn a meal into a family walk or hike as a way to stack your life with nature and movement.
• Find a nature sit spot to enjoy a snack or meal outside.
• Go on an adventure and enjoy an outdoor meal while you are there to take in the scenery. Some ideas include nature centers, zoos, botanical gardens, butterfly gardens, lakes, the ocean, rivers, boat rides, mountains, waterfalls, caves, canyons, farms, rocky areas, and if you are really lucky, volcanoes and tropical rainforests.

 

We just got back from an incredible vacation in the Pennsylvania woods in which nature was the centerpiece of basically everything we did: birdwatching, hiking, learning about medicinal plants, stand up paddle boarding, biking, kayaking, archery, nature art classes, mindful labyrinth walking, and garden tours. We even enjoyed fresh organic food grown onsite and served in the restaurant. While we can connect to nature in our own backyards, there is something extra special about traveling to discover exciting new places. Nature travel inspires and invigorates us, and provides many health benefits that help us feel happier and calmer.

Benefits of Travel

Getting out of our daily routines, experiencing new surroundings, and forming fresh perspectives reset our mind and body. Vacations give us something positive to look forward to and break from the daily hustle and bustle of our hectic routines, allowing us to relax and recharge. In fact, studies show that by just planning a vacation and getting excited about it, we can experience a boost in happiness.

Vacations can be inspiring, expand our knowledge, help us learn new skills, put us in touch with different cultures, and give us the chance to build relationships and interact with new people. As a result, we feel happier and less stressed during our time away, and often that feeling lasts even after a relaxing trip.

Of course, if we choose family travel adventures that encompass outdoor experiences, we can benefit from all that nature has to offer as well. Nature provides many opportunities to feel mindful, grateful, and in awe, which helps boost our mood and reduce stress. The great outdoors can be an especially invigorating and peaceful place to get away.

According to LoveHolidays, there are several developmental benefits of family travel for kids, which also help improve emotional well-being:

Promotes curiosity. Besides being fun, travel provides a huge educational opportunity for kids. Learning through immersion offers invaluable context only real-life experiences can bring. Researchers have found that travel is beneficial for children’s education and development.

Provides an opportunity for socialization. Travel offers opportunities not found in a classroom, exposing children to people of different ages, nationalities, and backgrounds. This can help them develop empathy, communication skills, and confidence.

Teaches flexibility. Being in new situations requires us to adapt and be flexible. This is an important skill that we all need throughout our lives in order to cope with change and stress. Travel involves getting used to different environments and cultures, so it’s a great way to teach children how to adjust. Travel can also provide an opportunity to learn patience as travel plans change and trips often involve waiting in long lines and spending a lot of time on transportation.

Leads to family bonding. Daily stress and schedules can prevent families from connecting. However, family travel provides plenty of uninterrupted time to spend together. Sharing the experiences of travel will strengthen existing bonds and create wonderful memories to enjoy for years to come. In addition, positive interactions boost healthy brain development in kids, especially when they come from important figures like parents and caregivers. This special time also allows for improved family communication, giving kids a chance to relax and open up about their feelings.

Planning Nature Adventure Travel

Depending on where you live, the amount of time you have, how far you want to travel, and your budget, there are numerous outdoor travel adventures for your family to try. Some ideas include camping, fishing, and canoeing. When we think of outdoor adventures, the term “ecotourism” often comes to mind. According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education. Ecotourism trips can include visiting parks, boating, rafting, caving, rock climbing, hiking, zip lining, exploring a natural reserve, volunteering to help the local environment, and hundreds of other experiences your family will love.

Some of my fondest nature vacations include horseback riding along the beach in Puerto Rico, taking a helicopter tour over Hawaii, hiking to see a glacier in Alaska, and a boat ride between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts during the summer. You can choose the best excursions for your family, whether that means a day trip in your state or region or traveling halfway around the world.

Check out these travel tips by the LoveHolidays.

Happy travels!

 

Spending time in and around nature is so beneficial to our family’s health and well-being. It calms us when we are feeling stressed and boosts our mood when we are feeling down. There are so many incredible ways to tap into the healing power of nature.

Ecohappiness is about connecting to nature to feel happier and calmer. On a deeper level, it involves realizing how important nature is to our well-being so we do what we can to protect it.

I am so thrilled to announce that my parenting book, Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, is now available and the children’s picture book I co-authored, Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness, is also available wherever books are sold.

Grab your copies today of both books to start finding ecohappiness for you and your family! Keep reading to discover how you can help spread ecohappiness far and wide.

Request Books at Your Local Bookstore

Independent bookstores are the heartbeat of many local communities, offering special programming and hands-on customer service. It’s so important to support local bookstores. Many bookstores are already carrying Finding Ecohappiness and Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness either online or physically in the store. If the store in your area isn’t yet stocking my books, please request that they do so.

Request Books at Your Local Library

Reading about nature can be particularly soothing. Let’s get both ecohappiness books in the hands of more readers!

Did you know you can request your library to add a book to their collection? Just ask a librarian or look for a book request form on your library website. I would be forever grateful if you requested my books to be at your library.

Little Free Library

Have you noticed the cute Little Free Libraries sprouting up all over the place? In case you are not familiar with the Little Free Library program, it is a nonprofit organization based in Wisconsin with a mission to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers, and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries. There are now over 125,000 Little Free Libraries in over 100 countries around the world, sharing more than 42 million books annually.

I was inspired by author, Christina Dankert, and her 50 State Challenge to spread kindness with her book, The Kindness Machine. Taking a cue from her, I decided to kick off my own 50 State Challenge to spread ecohappiness.

   

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Purchase a copy of either Finding Ecohappiness or Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness (or both).
2. Pop it in a Little Free Library in your area or while traveling. Find a location near you.
3. Take a picture. Post it to Instagram and/or Facebook with the name of the state and #ecohappiness. Be sure to tag us @getecohappiness.
4. Send a quick email to sandi@ecohappinessproject.com letting me know what state you donated the book(s).
5. I will add the Ecohappiness Project logo to all the states submitted.

If you are outside the U.S, you can still participate. I would love to be able to add a country challenge as well! Just follow the instructions above and include your country.

Choose Books for Your Book Club

Joining or starting a parenting, environmental, or other type of book club can be a wonderful way to find support while having fun and garnering a whole host of additional benefits, such as meeting new people, engaging in intriguing conversation, learning new things, building a healthy habit of reading, and more.

I have put together a free book club discussion guide for Finding Ecohappiness. Download your copy now and add my book to your book club’s calendar.

Another idea is to read Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness if you are part of a children’s book club through school or otherwise.

Give Books as a Gift

Looking for a gift for a friend or loved one? Consider gifting my books for the next birthday, holiday, or other special occasion. Both of my books would make the perfect gift for a teacher, guidance counselor, therapist, camp director, or anyone else who works with kids or has a connection to mental health and/or nature. There is also a coloring book for Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness, so a wonderful gift would be to pair the children’s book with the coloring book.

Write about Ecohappiness

If you are a professional writer or enjoy writing as a hobby, consider highlighting ecohappiness and my books in your next blog post; newsletter; or magazine, newspaper, or website article. My ecohappiness work has been featured in numerous publications, including The Washington Post, National Geographic, Yahoo!, MSN, Good Housekeeping, Earth911, and more. I am available for interviews, so please reach out to me at sandi@ecohappinessproject.com.

Ask Me to Speak

Finally, if you are looking to host a discussion about ecohappiness to share this important information about nature and mental health with your group, please let me know. I have been featured on over 50 television shows, conferences, summits, podcasts, social media lives, and more. View my speaking engagements here and please reach out to me at sandi@ecohappinessproject.com to book me for a presentation, discussion, or interview.

Thank you for spreading ecohappiness!

When my husband and I moved from Washington, DC, to Florida several years ago, I turned to volunteering at a nature center to find something positive during a major transition in my life. I discovered a special spot about 10 minutes from our place at the time. The nature center, which is part of the county park system, overlooks 100 acres of wetlands and provides educational opportunities. The park includes 1.5 miles of an elevated wooden boardwalk, which takes visitors through various habitats, including cabbage palm hammock, cypress swamp, wetland hammock, and tropical hardwood hammock. The boardwalk also features a Seminole chickee hut as well as several gazebos, which have signs with information about the wildlife and plant life. The Nature Center building includes a lecture hall, gift shop, and live animal exhibits.

I loved this place so much that I signed up to volunteer. The gig was to lead nature walks for visitors along the boardwalk. In order to identify various types of native birds, I stocked up on a few birding guides and worked hard to memorize key facts to share with visitors on the tour. During that special time, I challenged myself to learn more about nature and educate others about the area, and I experienced the wonder of getting lost in the moment while trying to find and identify all the unique creatures in the habitat. I watched as birdwatchers captured special moments with their cameras and mothers pointed out beautiful birds and other animals to their young children. I look back on that time fondly and recall how happy and relaxed it made me feel in my new environment, and how it helped me connect to others during an otherwise lonely time.

Why Volunteering Is Important

Doing good makes us feel good. Whether it is sending a donation or volunteering on a weekly basis like I did at the nature center, research shows that acts of kindness make us feel happier, calmer, and healthier, especially activities that expose us to nature and its endless benefits.

You may have also heard of a “helper’s high.” This theory says that helping others through activities like community service makes us feel good and triggers a positive physical sensation. It results from our brain releasing endorphins such as dopamine, giving us a rush and making us feel elated, similar to how we feel after exercise. Volunteering can also reduce stress levels, which is often reflected in lower blood pressure. Experts believe that volunteering may improve physical health and longevity since it helps decrease stress and accompanying physical symptoms.

Volunteer Opportunities at Parks

Volunteering at a park is a wonderful way to give back, while also reaping the many benefits of spending time in nature. At the same time, volunteers are a critical part of the success of parks. Local, state, and national parks often need help with projects like hiking trail maintenance, cleanups, planting trees, removing invasive plant species, and more.

The National Park Service, for example, offers youth programs for children to volunteer their time at a park. The Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger program invites Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to participate in volunteer service projects at national parks to provide them with the opportunity to explore and learn more about protecting our natural resources. Some parks also have nature centers where you can volunteer as a docent or help with maintenance.

Whatever your interest, you can find something that you love at your local park. And rest assured, most parks are committed to making sure you have the right tools, training, and support to have a successful and rewarding volunteer experience with them.

Here are some specific types of volunteering activities to consider getting involved in:

Cleanups. One way that we can help to ensure that parks stay pristine and garbage-free is by participating in a cleanup. We can feel more connected to nature and less stressed after spending time outside cleaning up a natural area. This is a simple activity to do alone, as a family, or with an organized group.

Tree and Flower Plantings. A lovely way to beautify our world and reduce the impact of climate change is to volunteer to plant trees, flowers, or other vegetation in your community at a local park. This is such a positive, hands-on activity where you can directly see the impact you have. Many towns host planting events and have goals to plant a certain number of trees annually.

Trail Stewardship Projects. This can include trail maintenance, trail construction, and trail marking.

Gardening. Volunteers who enjoy gardening can help maintain garden areas within parks. This might involve planting, watering, weeding, mulching, or pruning plants.

Park Greeters. If you enjoy customer service and talking to lots of people, you might want to volunteer at the park entrance, ticket booth, exhibits, or visitor center and during special events. Some parks may also need trail patrol volunteers to help park visitors along the trails by directing them and answering their questions.

Docents. Share your knowledge and love of nature with visitors by volunteering as a docent or guide.

Invasive Strike Assistants. Help identify and remove damaging plants that take over native habitats.

Animal volunteers. Some parks may even have animals, such as horses, on location. In that case, they will need stable assistants to help with handling, grooming, and tacking up horses.

Environmental Educators. Many parks hold special group events, host school visits, and offer camps that may need some help from volunteers with certain experience.

How to Be a Local, State, or National Park Volunteer

Now that you know how many amazing volunteer opportunities are available at parks, how do you get started? Here are some tips about how to find volunteer opportunities at parks.

Local Parks

• Start by visiting your town and county websites to locate all the parks in your area. Visit each park or contact them by phone or email to ask about volunteer opportunities.
• Contact your city or county’s sustainability or environmental director.
• Check local publications for volunteering announcements.
• Search for environmental groups in your area, such as Sierra Club, that may organize volunteer activities at local parks.
• Check out Tree City USA, Garden Club of America, and The American Community Garden Association to discover opportunities related to plantings and community gardens.

State Parks

There are over 6,600 state parks in the United States covering 14 million acres of land. These parks may go by a variety of names including: state forests, natural areas, landmarks, monuments, historic sites, geologic sites, recreation trails, memorial sites, preserves, wayside areas, heritage parks, resource centers, scenic rivers, agricultural areas, state forest nurseries, metro parks, fishing piers, fish hatcheries, and wildlife areas.

Check with your state Department of Natural Resources or Department of Environmental Protection to find outdoor volunteer opportunities at your state parks.

Find a state park: https://stateparks.com

National Parks

There are 400 sites managed by the National Park Service, with at least one national park in every state. The best part is that most Americans live within 100 miles of a national park! The National Park System includes battlefields, monuments, memorials, recreation areas, seashores, and more.

Here’s how you can find volunteer opportunities at national parks:

• Search state-by-state to explore national parks near you.
• Visit Volunteer.gov and under “Find a Volunteer Opportunity,” use the agency dropdown to select National Park Service. Then, enter your city and state to search available postings.
• Find park-specific volunteer and contact information on the National Park Service’s volunteering website. You can search by park name, state, or zip code.

Also, be sure to watch this video from the National Park Service about volunteering.

Additional Resources

Check these websites to search for environmental volunteering opportunities at all types of parks:

• www.justserve.org
• www.idealist.org
• www.volunteermatch.org
• www.eventbrite.com
• www.meetup.com

 

This guest post was written by Lindsey Scott of A Subtle Revelry. She is a stay-at-home mom of three beautiful kids who loves to cook, make crafts, and keep her little ones entertained. When she’s not busy chasing after her kids, Lindsey enjoys blogging about her experiences as a mom. She likes to share recipes, crafting tips, and ideas for keeping all the family occupied.

Playing outdoors helps improve children’s mental health by exposing them to sunshine and fresh air. Keeping kids away from screens and encouraging them to spend time playing outside promotes their emotional stability, physical health, teamwork, and a positive relationship with nature.

This list offers suggestions for a variety of outdoor games for all types of kids and spaces.

Minute to Win It Games for Kids

Minute to win it games are short, fun activities that can be played with basic equipment—often items you already have at home. These games promote teamwork and challenge kids by encouraging them to compete either against a clock or against each other. Here are the three most popular minute to win it games for your family to try:

• Pinging It Out: Each player has a tissue box full of Ping-Pong balls strapped around their waist. Players must jump up and down to bounce the balls out of the box. The first player to empty their box is the winner.
• Potato and Spoon Race. Give each player a spoon and a potato. Players must run across the lawn to the finish line while balancing the potato on the spoon, without touching the potato or letting it fall. The first player to cross the finish line wins the game.
• Musical Chairs. The players stand in a circle around some chairs. There must be more players than chairs. Play music while the players run around the circle of chairs. When the music stops, each player should sit down on a chair. Anyone left standing is out of the game. Remove one chair for each new round, until there is only one chair left. The player who gets the last chair wins.

DIY Outdoor Jigsaw Puzzle

Creating a life-size DIY outdoor jigsaw puzzle is a fun activity for the whole family. Both making the puzzle and putting it together provide a great opportunity for cognitive, emotional, and physical stimulation. Make sure you have the necessary equipment like a giant sheet of cardboard, glue, scissors, and a life-sized picture to cut out. Kids usually spend about an hour making the puzzle. This project is a great fit for kids of all ages, depending on the puzzle size.

Red Rover

Red rover is a team game that does not require any equipment and is suitable for any age. The game can be adapted to younger children by shortening the distance between the two teams. Playing this game encourages kids to work as a team.

Separate into two teams, hold hands, and form two lines facing each other, 10 feet apart. Team one decides who they want to invite over, and calls out “red rover, red rover, let [child’s name] come over!”

The selected player runs across and tries to break through the linked hands of the other team. If they can’t get through, they join the other team. However, if they succeed, they can choose one player to take back with them to their team. The game ends when everyone has joined one team, or when everyone has had enough.

Sack Race

Give each child a burlap bag or a pillowcase. For older kids, use king-sized or body-pillow-sized pillowcases. The players climb into their sacks and stand behind the starting line. At the starting signal, the players jump towards the finish line, holding their sacks up with their hands. The first child to reach the finish line wins. Sack races are helpful for strengthening gross motor coordination and promoting a healthy competitive spirit in kids.

Blind Bucket Pitch

You need a bucket and a ball for this two-player game. One player—the pitcher—stands facing away from their teammate—the catcher—with a few feet between them, and holds the ball above their head. The pitcher tosses the ball behind them, and the catcher jumps to catch the ball in the bucket. If the catcher misses, the players swap roles. The winner is the player with the most catches. In addition to improving gross motor coordination, this game is a wonderful exercise because the kids have to run around while trying to catch the ball.

Hit to One Hundred

Kids of all ages can play this game using a Ping-Pong paddle and Ping-Pong ball. Each player holds the paddle, palm up, and tries to bounce the Ping-Pong ball in the air 100 times without dropping the ball. If no one succeeds, the player with the highest score wins. If more than one player succeeds, the winners compete to see who can continue the longest without dropping the ball. This game is excellent for improving hand-eye coordination and can be adapted for all ages by changing the number of hits needed.

I Spy With My Little Eye

Choose one player to start the game as the spy. The spy chooses an item that’s visible to everyone and says, “I spy with my little eye something beginning with [the first letter of the object].” The other players must guess the name of the object. If no one can guess, the spy gives the next letter of the word. The first person to guess correctly takes a turn as the spy. Continue playing until every player has had a turn being the spy. This game helps to improve concentration, listening, and spelling skills.

 

Many of us are so used to lacing up our shoes before we head outdoors. But did you know you can actually feel better if you sometimes leave those shoes behind? Throughout history, humans have become more distant from the earth. Our ancestors walked more, worked the land, and even slept outside, which meant they were in closer contact with the ground. In order to encourage this connection to the earth today, experts recommend we stand, walk, or lie on the grass, soil, or sand for about thirty minutes every day–a practice known as earthing or grounding.

What is Earthing?  

Sometimes all we need to do to feel better is to go back to the basics. Earthing, also known as grounding, involves standing or walking barefoot on the ground. This can be done on the grass in your yard, soil or mud in a nearby park or forest, or sand at the beach. The goal is to walk barefoot while paying close attention to the soles of your feet as they connect with the earth’s surface. Next time you head out to your backyard, a local park, or the beach, try putting your shoes aside and see what a difference it makes in how you feel.

Benefits of Going Barefoot

Earthing and grounding provide several benefits to people of all ages:

• Feels good to us. It is freeing to walk around without feeling constrained by shoes all the time. It also feels pleasant and comforting to have our feet touch cool, soft grass or warm sand.
• Provides a sensory experience. Earthing improves our senses as the bottom of our feet as we touch different types of textures, sometimes for the first time. Having more opportunities to feel distinct sensations allows us to experience our world in a brand-new way.
• Builds mindfulness. Mindfulness is the act of being fully present in the moment in a non-judgmental way. As we practice mindfulness, we begin to understand our bodies and minds better and learn how to be less reactive to thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. This helps us have more peace, ease, and balance in our lives. Earthing is a wonderful tool for practicing mindfulness as it helps us tune into our natural surroundings.
• Results in health benefits. As a practice done by indigenous cultures for millennia, some experts have found that earthing can also result in some health benefits like reducing pain and inflammation, lowering stress, and improving sleep. It is believed that the electrical charge from the earth neutralizes free radicals in our body to improve health. The electrons, in a sense, act as antioxidants to improve how the body functions. One study of fifty-eight healthy adults found that nearly half of them felt a decrease in stress after earthing.
• Connects us to the benefits of soil. Scientists have discovered that a common microscopic bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, found naturally in soil can improve mental health. The bacteria are known to thrive in typical backyard gardens or anywhere soil is enriched with organic matter. It is believed that we can take in Mycobacterium vaccae by touching soil, so earthing is the perfect activity to build this healthy connection to soil.

How to Practice Earthing at Home and Beyond

Leaving your shoes behind to connect to the earth can be a fun family activity. Try building it into your daily routine such as after a workout or by spending some time in your backyard before dinner. Here are some tips for adding earthing to your day in an enjoyable way:

• Find a nature sit spot to relax.
• Play some calming music as you connect to the ground.
• Bring along a nature-related book to read outside as you sit in the grass.
• Try different sensory experiences: soak your feet in warm water; bury feet in the soft sand at the beach; walk through cool, dewy grass; slip through wet, gooey mud; or walk over rough rocks or bricks.
• Hug a tree while you stand barefoot on the ground.
• Play barefoot games: draw pictures in the sand or mud with your feet; pick up rocks with your toes; walk around in different ways like on your tiptoes, backwards, sideways, or hopping on one foot.
• Practice outdoor yoga barefoot. Check out these adorable animal yoga poses.
• Try walking meditation. Walking barefoot on grass or other natural surfaces is a wonderful way to learn how to stay focused on the present by tuning into our body’s sensations, which can help us relax and reduce stress.
• Start a family garden so you can connect to the soil. Barefoot gardening sounds fun!

Enjoy your barefoot time!

 

This guest blog post was written by Sandy Richards of Sandy Richards Wellness. First and foremost, she is a mom of two girls. Raising her daughters to live a long, healthy life has been at the forefront of her motherhood journey for about five years. Her goal in life is to ensure that her girls have the tools and knowledge to feel empowered and equipped to live a healthy life (whatever that may mean to them.)

As a certified health and wellness coach and personal trainer, Sandy has made it her goal to educate and empower her clients to be strong inside (emotionally and mentally) and out (physically). Although she loves coaching her clients, her main passion lies within bringing like-minded people together through wellness events and retreats and leading her “Stronger TogetHER” Mom and Daughter Fitness class. If you are a mom of an elementary-aged daughter, join her Facebook Community that connects girl moms all over the globe to support, encourage, and learn from one another. You can also find her on Instagram @SandyRichardsWellness.

With the temperatures rising and the sun staying out longer, now is a great time to take your workouts outdoors. Let’s take advantage of this beautiful weather and switch up our fitness routines by heading outside to connect to nature. After all, exercising outside is a convenient workout with endless possibilities and many benefits for both our physical and emotional health.

With a few simple exercises, you will be able to add variety to your family’s fitness routine that can be done in your own backyard (no fitness equipment even needed!). So, grab your kids and head outside to get moving and to reap the many benefits of green exercise.

 

If you want to incorporate some new equipment into your routine, I recommend trying:

• Rocks
• Benches or Chairs
• Monkey Bars
• Logs

Exercise #1-SURRENDERS 

This exercise can be done with or without a weight. If not using any type of weight, try putting your hands behind your head for a more advanced workout. This exercise targets legs, butt, and core. It will also keep your heart rate up.
Tips: Try to stay in a squat position when you step up. Alternate between right and left sides.
Beginners: Without weight, hands behind head.
Advanced: With weight.

Exercise #2-RUSSIAN TWIST 

This rotational move targets your obliques as well as your core. Grab a rock or boulder to add an extra challenge.
Beginners: Keep feet on the ground.
Advanced: Cross legs and hold them off the ground.

Exercise #3 – RENEGADE ROW

This is an exercise focused on stabilization. It’s also a great exercise to help improve posture and overall body strength. Get more connected to nature by using a big rock or boulder as your weight.
Tip: If you feel your body rotating, squeeze your glutes to keep your body in a straight line.
Beginners: Row with or without weight.
Advanced: Add a push up in between.

Exercise #4-MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS

This is a true total body workout incorporated into one exercise.
Beginners: Find a taller bench or log to lean on so your body is more upright.
Advanced: Move your body to the ground and off the bench so you are in a plank position.

Exercise #5-Tricep Dips

This one focuses on arms and shoulder strength. I love this exercise because it can be done just about anywhere. The goal is to form a 90-degree angle with your arms, making sure your elbows stay tucked in.
Beginners: Bend your knees.
Advanced: Straighten your legs or elevate your legs as well.