CARLYLE LAKE – In recognition of Great Outdoors Month, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host a nature hike “Discovering Natures Treasures” at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center. The Carlyle Lake area is abundant with treasure, nature’s treasures! Participants will take a hike with a park ranger, and discover turtles, snakes, animal tracks, and much more.
Consider this – no television, no computer games, just you and your family hiking enjoying the fresh air, the peace and quiet, the amazing scenery, the wildlife, birds, plants and more. Your children may object when they realize they won’t have a television to watch, or music to listen to, but with so much to see and do outside, their senses will soon be heightened and any thoughts of televisions and computers will be left behind!
Here are some of the great benefits of hiking with children:
· Hiking can be parent-child bonding. Hiking is a special activity to do with your children. Getting away from all the stress of everyday life gives you a chance to talk to your kids about their interests and dreams, not just what they want for dinner or this week's homework assignment.
· Hiking provides a hands-on learning experience. Bring a field guide or two and have fun identifying the birds and plants you see with your child. Some field guides will tell you about the traditional edible and medicinal uses of plants. Hiking can be a great way to learn about nature and history as real things instead of just words in a book.
Hiking is great exercise. Helping your child develop a lifelong habit of exercise is one of the best things you can do for his or her health. Hiking is a fun, exciting outdoor activity that doesn't require expensive classes.
· Hiking helps encourage appreciation of nature. Nature encourages imaginative, creative play, and experiencing nature is an important part of childhood. Kids who see nature firsthand grow up to respect and love the world around us.
· Hiking challenges kids. Hiking can be a physical and mental challenge for kids, and completing a trail may give them a sense of satisfaction and increase their self-confidence. Just be careful to choose trails that are an appropriate difficulty level for your child--not too hard or frustrating.
President Obama has proclaimed June as National Great Outdoors Month! The President’s proclamation urges all Americans to spend time in the great outdoors and to uphold our nation’s legacy of conserving our lands for future generations.
With school out and summer just around the corner, this is a perfect time to take your family outdoors at Carlyle Lake for some active adventures! Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. In combination with healthy eating, it can help prevent a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and stroke, which are the three leading causes of death. Physical activity helps control weight, builds lean muscle, reduces fat, promotes strong bone, muscle and joint development, and decreases the risk of obesity. Children need 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day to grow up to a healthy weight.
For additional information on this and other events please contact the Carlyle Lake Project Office at (618) 594-2484 or email at carlylelake@usace.army.mil.