5 Fun Ways to Create A Family Physical Activity Plan

Summertime is a great time to get on a path to better health (and a better attitude) with a family activity plan! In May 2010, the National Physical Activity Plan was launched to get Americans up and moving. The goal is to help us all enjoy the physical and mental benefits of being active every day. Here’s what your family can do.

1. Set some screen time limits.

Here’s a simple approach to screen time (TV, DVDs, computers, and video games): Do more, watch less together! While the transition may be a little rough, families are happier and healthier when they pull the plug or cut back. The American Academy of Pediatrics says no screen time under two years, none in the bedroom, and no more than 1-2 hours total per day.

2. Make a list of easy, everyday activities.

Since it can be hard to get some kids (and adults too!) off the couch, make a long list of fun activities that are close by, free or inexpensive, and easy-to-do as a family. They can be in your own backyard, around the neighborhood, or at a local park. Keep the list in an easy-to-access location - like on the fridge - and add more activities as you think of them.

3. Get equipped for active family fun.

Easy-to-use equipment is another great way to get your family off the couch and having fun. There’s no need for brand-new, expensive stuff from a sports store or catalog. Check out the possibilities at used-equipment stores, thrift stores, and yard sales. Look for Frisbees®, balls, hula hoops, soft spongy stuff (like Nerf® and Koosh®), and sprinkler toys for summer fun.

4. Schedule time for weekend activity.

Weekend schedules can easily fill up with chores and errands. Make fun plans for plenty of activity early, especially on hot summer days. Use a family dinner in the middle of the week to discuss the possibilities. A hike in the mountains? A bike trip on the new trails in town? A little canoeing and fishing at the lake? A family treasure hunt (aka geocaching)?

5. Plan an active vacation.

If you’re planning a family vacation or a stay-cation this year, make sure that some fun physical activity is built into every day. That’s easy on a backpacking or camping trip, but also lots of fun if you are visiting relatives or touring a city. Just plan ahead: Check out the activity options online or in a guidebook - make active fun a family priority every day.

Celebrating National GO Outdoors Day at Farmer's Market

Today I celebrated GO Outdoors Day at the Boulder (CO) Farmer's Market.

Beautiful sunny weather, beautiful fresh produce, it was a perfect day to be outside.

And, now we have some delicious asparagus to enjoy for dinner tonight.

If you're in Boulder on a Wednesday or Friday, check it out for produce and for an outdoor meal. We had a global breakfast of veggie pot stickers plus a cheese and green chili pupusa. Perfect way to fuel an outdoor adventure.

All the details at Boulder Farmer's Market.

More fun ways to get outside in the Last Best Place

Montana - affectionately known as The Last Best Place - is looking forward to a sunny Saturday after weeks of rain and many flooded areas.

What a perfect prediction for Get Outside Day MONTANA!!

Here are three of the many examples of fun outdoor opportunities for Montana families - from border to border of the Treasure State.

In Florence, Hideout Mountain at Florence Park will be the scene of many activities for families from 9 AM to NOON on June 11th. Family hikes, family tennis, family fishing, and family birding clinics will be featured along with numerous ways for families to get into the biking habit. Bicycle helmets will be available for purchase, along with free parts and assistance for bike repairs.

The Montana Audubon Education Center in Billings will kick off a FREE multi-week, back-to-nature event for all ages June 12th from 1 to 3pm @ the Audubon Center. Families can engage in some friendly competition as they explore Billings and Red Lodge’s conservation areas through activities such as hiking, biking, Frisbee golf, scavenger hunts, canoeing, and much more!

How does it work?

• Teams must consist of at least one person over the age of 18 and one person under the age of 18.
• Each week of the competition features several “guided” or “self-guided” events. A self-guided event allows teams to visit the designated park anytime during the 4-week event and engage in an activity on their own such as Frisbee golf or a scavenger hunt.
• Each team will receive a passport which will be used to track teams’ participation in the competition. When teams check-in at each guided event, they are awarded a point for their attendance. Teams must provide proof of completion of self-guided park activities (e.g., a sketch or photograph) and will be awarded a point for each activity completed.
• Teams will be eligible for some awesome prizes (tents, bicycles. etc.).

On Montana eastern high plains, Makoshika State Park celebrates the return of the turkey vulture to eastern Montana with Buzzard Day, a tongue-in-cheek day of appreciation for one of 'nature's cleaners'. Makoshika's badlands topography provides excellent habitat for Turkey Vultures, a species of concern because of its breeding requirements and its position in the food chain (carrion eaters ingest toxins carried throughout the entire food chain).

• Buzzard Day has events for all age groups, including a pancake breakfast, nature walks, 5K and 10K Buzzard Runs, festival games and food.
  
• Admission is free to all the Buzzard Day events on June 11, 2011.

Not lucky enough to live in Big Sky country ... visit National Get Outdoors Day to find a fun event in your state!

Go OUTDOORS for FUN at a State Park!

After two family weddings (same couple in Montana and Mexico), I am back online again - and excited to begin writing about getting outdoors as an exciting way to celebrate Great Outdoors Month.

Actually, I am most excited to get outdoors myself. I had a wonderful hike on Saturday in the Beartooth Mountains.

Here are some other wonderful places to have fun in Montana's beautiful outdoors!

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While every day is great day to be outdoors in Montana, June as Great Outdoors Month, is a special time to get into the swing of summer. Now that winter has passed and spring rains have turned the “Last Best Place” many shades of green, it is the perfect time to have some outdoor family fun. And, there are dozens of Montana State Parks - all sizes, shapes, and descriptions - that make wonderful, close-by destinations for free or inexpensive summer fun.

PLAN

• Learn where the parks are located: Planning your Montana State Park visits is super simple on the Fish, Wildlife, & Parks website.
• Explore the opportunities to play: On the website, you can search for parks that offer your family’s favorite activities, like hiking, water skiing, or bicycling.
• Plan the best times to visit your choices: Fill in a few dates on your family summer fun calendar, giving each person a chance to choose a different park (or two).

PLAY

So many parks, so few days of summer! Montana State Parks really do offer something for everyone, including many locations with accessibility for those with disabilities.

1. Ackley Lake: Camping (no fee) and fishing in the very heart of Big Sky country
2. Clark’s Lookout: One of many historical sites from Lewis and Clark’s Expedition
3. Giant Springs: Accessible hiking, biking, and picnicking near Great Falls
4. Hell Creek: Full-service campground on Fort Peck near the Missouri Breaks
5. Logan: Camping and boating on Middle Thompson Lake along the Idaho border
6. Medicine Rocks: Hidden treasure near Ekalaka for hiking and primitive camps
7. Placid Lake: More camping and boating in a full-service campground
8. Sluice Boxes: Mining history comes to life in this spectacular setting
9. Tower Rock: Montana’s newest state park has a rich history, right off I-15
10. Yellow Bay: How often can you camp in the midst of cherry orchards?

ENJOY

Spending time in Montana State Parks is a perfect way to combine family fun with the physical activity every body needs for good health. Just GO and have FUN!!