Family-friendly outdoor activities to do together during the break

It’s no secret that children who spend a lot of time outdoors benefit from their exposure to nature in immeasurable ways. These days, with children spending more and more time in front of screens, it’s even more important for them to unplug and play outside.

According to a 2006 study published in the journal “Human Dimensions of Wildlife,” fifth graders who attended school at a local prairie wetlands where lessons in science, math and writing were integrated in an experimental way had significantly stronger reading and writing skills than their peers who attended more traditional schools. Another study published in the “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health” found that holding a class outdoors one day a week significantly improved the daily cortisol patterns of students, reducing their risk of stress and improving their ability to adapt to stress.

In light of these findings, some area schools such as Paredes Middle School in Austin, have opened dedicated outdoor classrooms where teachers can lead classes in the open air.

During the holiday break, parents can take the opportunity to explore the great outdoors together. Here are a few ideas for some family-friendly outdoor fun.

• Set up a nature scavenger hunt: According to the San Marcos Parks and Recreation website, San Marcos has seven unique natural areas consisting of over 2,100 acres of greenspace and over 28 miles of trails. This acreage provides ample opportunity for parents to teach children about the abundance of plants, birds and wildlife that live in the parks and along the trails near their homes. Purgatory Creek Natural Area, accessible from 2101 Hunter Rd., Prospect Park at 1414 Prospect and 1751 Valencia Way, features upland meadows, stunning canyon bluffs up to 40 feet, juniper thickets, champion oaks and a flood control dam. Within this natural area, visitors can spot the golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos that call the area home.

• Host an outdoor art class: Families don’t even need to leave their properties for this outdoor activity. Choose a pleasant afternoon and set up an outdoor painting station. Budding artists can find inspiration during fall and winter months during outdoor painting sessions due to the vibrant colors of the changing leaves. This activity need not be restricted to paper or canvas. Children can also paint rocks or even make collages out of found objects such as acorn caps and fallen leaves.

• Make s’mores: Outdoor activities need not be limited to daylight hours. Families can gather outdoors around a firepit or an electric s’mores maker with chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows and tell scary stories. In addition to traditional s'mores, have some fun by making a whole s’mores-gabord with your own ingredients such as Oreos (s’moreos, if you will), peanut butter or, for the truly adventurous, maple-flavored bacon.

• Go stargazing: Winter months are excellent for stargazing, particularly in nearby Dark Skies communities such as Blanco and Dripping Springs. The clear, crisp nights in December and January allow for prime meteor shower viewing as well. The next meteor shower will be the Quadrantids, which peak within the first days of January 2024. However, the first meteors will begin to streak through the Earth’s atmosphere around Dec. 26. At its peak and under ideal conditions, between 60 and 200 meteors can be seen per hour. Pack some snuggly blankets, a few thermoses of hot chocolate, some camp chairs and fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, and you just might start a family tradition that will last until your kids are grown.

Take advantage of this holiday time to get out and spend more time together in our local parks, trails and along the river, where you’re sure to find activities people of all ages can enjoy.