I recently learned about the 1000 Hours Outside project. I wanted to share information about this project and other outdoor initiatives with our Lynchburg Macaroni Kid families and offer 10 ways to spend more time outdoors in the Lynchburg area.
Here at Lynchburg Macaroni Kid, we promote outdoor play and share many family-friendly outside events in our event calendar. From our Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Parks Guide, events created by Lynchburg Parks & Recreation and other local parks and recreation departments, to local running events and more, our website and calendar offer outdoor fun for children and adults of all ages and a variety of indoor events and activities too.
You might wonder what the 1000 Hours Outside project is and why you should care. Here's the thing - compare how much time your child spends outside with how much time they spend in front of a screen and you'll understand how this movement began.
From the 1000 Hours Outside website, "1000 Hours Outside is a global movement designed for any age child (or adult) and any environment. Join the journey and watch your life transform before your eyes. Nature holds tremendous power for each and every one of us at any age or stage."
According to the 1000 Hours Outside website, the average American child spends 1,200 hours a year in front of screens. That's a lot of screen time! Some say that estimate is lower than reality.
We all know that it's much healthier to stay physically active at any age, but it's also easier to be physically active outside. Kids are full of energy and outside is the perfect place to expend some of that energy.
According to the American Psychological Association, "spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being." ·
In a survey conducted between October 2008 and May 2009, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that kids ages 8-18 spent an average of 7.5 hours in front of a screen for entertainment each day, 4.5 of which were spent watching TV.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Being physically active improves your brain health, emotional well-being, helps manage weight, strengthens your bones and muscles, and reduces your risk of depression and anxiety.
You'll find a graphic about the health benefits of physical activity in children on the CDC's website.
Ginny Yurich, founder of the 1000 Hours Outside project, along with her husband Josh, decided to make changes in their family's life to a healthier lifestyle with more time spent outdoors. On their website, you'll find information to download, a nature curriculum, methods for tracking outdoor time, and more.
The 1000 Hours Outside project isn't the first or the only outdoor initiative. Every year in June, the National Park Service observes Great Outdoors Month, a month dedicated to celebrate America's outdoor treasures.
National Trails Day, sponsored by the American Hiking Society, is celebrated on the first Saturday in June every year. Events are held throughout the U.S. on National Trails Day each year to promote and recognize the benefits provided by federal, state, and local trails.
Here in Virginia, the Virginia’s Outdoors Foundation’s Get Outdoors (GO) Fund provides grants for projects to increase access to safe outdoor spaces across the Commonwealth.
These are just a few of the outdoor initiatives throughout America. Many families create goals or New Year's resolutions to spend more time outside, but often get sidetracked with the busyness of life.
Each family is unique and we all face time management challenges. 1000 hours may feel unattainable, but every hour spent outdoors instead of watching screens is an improvement. Start small with 15 or 30 minutes a day and work your way up to more.
Here are 10 ways to get outside more in the Lynchburg area.
1. Go to the park. It may seem cliche, but the easiest way to entertain kids outside is at a park. The Lynchburg Area Parks are many and offer a variety of activities for families to enjoy. In our parks guide, you'll find information about parks in the city of Lynchburg and in Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, and Campbell counties.
2. Play in your backyard. You won't have far to go to play in your own backyard. These Classic Outdoor Games will take you back in time and help you get started.
3. Take a hike. Ramp up the physical activity by a level with a family hike. Stay close to home at one of the local parks or go Hiking Off the Blue Ridge Parkway, accessible within 30 to 45 minutes from Lynchburg.
4. Ride bikes. Riding bikes isn't just for kids. Bring your own bikes or rent them at a local bicycle shop. Check out these 10 Lynchburg VA Area Places to Ride Bikes close to home.
5. Take a walk. If you live in a neighborhood with sidewalks, this one is pretty simple. But wherever you live, you're not far from these 25 Places in the Lynchburg Area to Walk.
6. Play in the water. Splashing in the pool or lake, running through the Sprayground at Riverside Park, or playing in a sprinkler in your backyard are all fun ways to connect and stay cool in the summertime. Here's information about Lynchburg Area Pools, Spraygrounds, Lakes and Water Holes.
7. Go skiing or snowboarding. Enjoy winter sport fun all year long at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre in Lynchburg. They offer beginners lessons too.
8. Play disc golf. If you've never tried disc golf, you don't know what you're missing. Pick up a new or used disc golf disc at a retail or sporting goods store. The traps are metal cages with chains. The disc golf course at Peaks View Park is an 18-hole course. There are also disc golf courses at Sandusky Park, Liberty University, Randolph College, University of Lynchburg, Camp Hydaway, and Heritage Park in Lynchburg, New London Tech Trails in Forest, and Falling Creek Park, Independence Park, and the YMCA in Bedford.
9. Run with your kids. Lynchburg is a runner friendly community with many 5k runs, fun runs, and other running events throughout the year. Check out the Healthy Kids Running Series, which runs through May 21, 2023. You'll also find many running events on the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid event calendar.
10. Visit a Virginia State Park. With 41 Virginia State Parks across Virginia, there's something for everyone. Smith Mountain Lake is a favorite state park getaway for local families, but there are many others to explore. Here's 10 Reasons to Enjoy a Virginia State Park Staycation.
Stay tuned for more ways to get outdoors as the weather warms up in our area. This summer, watch for our Summer Day Tripping series, with lots of free and inexpensive day trip suggestions.
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