U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Let's Go Outside!
Office of External Affairs
 |
Learn More
Cover of Fish and Wildlife News Special Children & Nature
Edition. Credit: USFWS.
Let's Go Outside!
Helping Families Connect With Nature
"If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." - Rachel Carson
Celebrating Monarch Butterflies
Credit: USFWS
Hundreds of national wildlife refuges and a host of programs by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service protect and restore monarch butterfly habitat, monitor their transcontinental migration, and teach thousands of school children about their unique migration from Mexico through the United States on to Canada – and then back again.
Back To Nature
Service biologist Carolyn Kolstad, director of the Chesapeake Bay Field Office’s Schoolyard Habitat program explains the intricacies of wetland plant plugs. Credit: Lavonda Walton/USFWS
For years, Service employees have been connecting children with the land and with the agency's conservation mission. Today those efforts may be more important than ever.
By David Eisenhauer
Senses in the Desert
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge offers children the chance to experience what they learn in the classroom. Credit: Chuck Mulcahy/USFWS
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona is an oasis of life and learning for thirsty young minds.
By Betty Mulcahy
Celebrate Fishing and Boating Week at a National Wildlife Refuge
Introduce your youngster to fishing during the National Fishing and Boating Week, June 1-8. Credit: USFWS
Introduce your youngster to fishing, or come fish together as a family at a national wildlife refuge during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 1-8. Most states waive fishing license requirements for one or two days during the week and America’s national wildlife refuges are great places to take advantage of this opportunity to get outdoors and connect with nature.
By David Eisenhauer
Did You Know?
Did you know that nature is good for your health? Emerging research shows that children who feel connected to nature have better physical, mental, and emotional health. Nature also improves student learning. And sharing the outdoors together can build strong family bonds and create life-long memories.
What Can You Do?
Go outside and connect a child to the wild!
Spending time outside is fun for the whole family. And it doesn't have to be somewhere far from home. It can be simple and safe:
- Take a walk in the woods
- Lie on your back in your backyard and watch the clouds roll by
- Turn over rocks in a stream and look for critters
- Catch lightning bugs
- Climb a tree
- Fish at a local pond
- Draw a picture of a tree and all the animals that live in it
- Picnic at a local park
Whether it is your own backyard, a local community park or a national wildlife refuge, there are lots of outdoor places you can visit. Start by doing something small, and see what happens from there! The possibilities are endless.
