Want to Help this Earth Day? - Play Outside

4 hours ago
2 min read

Eric Stone and Megan Cohen

Over 56 years ago, the first inaugural Earth Day event occurred in the United States. What started as a small protest for the environment has since grown to reach 193 countries and over 1 billion people. The global reach of Earth Day may seem surprising, but it points to an underlying universal truth: Every person’s actions, no matter how small, can have an impact on the entire world.

In Westchester, we are fortunate enough to have our pick of town Earth Day festivals, curated walks at local nature centers, and school or community projects. Kids can craft using recycled materials, families can learn about composting and reducing plastic waste, communities can participate in clean ups at local parks, and parents can even learn about opportunities for solar power for their homes.

While all of these actions make a difference, there is one thing everyone should do that may help the environment the most:

Play outside.

Sounds easy, and fun, right? Perhaps you think this action is a little too simple to have such a large impact? Remember: Playing is fundamental to human development. Countless studies demonstrate how important playing is – not just for kids to learn, but also for adults to continue to engage in high level brain functioning. When a person plays, the learning centers of the brain absorb information more efficiently than through any other method. Play reduces stress, build social bonds, and even boosts imagination and problem solving.

The suggestion to play outside doesn’t need to involve anything complicated. Whether it is throwing a ball or frisbee, watching clouds to find shapes, or building a stick fort in the woods, every kind of outdoor activity encourages natural connection to the place. Every time we play outside, we also invite the opportunity for small observations, like how the squirrels chirp in warning, or for exciting new finds of different cool animal species or beautiful scenery.

When we look back at Earth Day in 1970, the world was a very different place than what we have today - but one thing remains the same: we want our kids to have a better future. The only way we can inspire the next generation to care for the environment is to ensure they have connections to the natural world. Kids will play outside more when they see their adults playing outside as well, and every time an adult can exert a bit of bravery to try something new, the child will feel more confident to do the same.

So go play outside. And inevitably when the opportunity arises, be brave enough to take one step further in exploring the nature around you. Pick up that slimy worm. Build a campfire and marvel at the stars. Chase butterflies and follow chipmunks to their dens. Whistle to the birds, and chirp to the squirrels.

Whatever you do, have fun. The best environmental stewards do it out of love and joy – but first they had play outside.

If outdoor programs are something that are of interest, explore our Program Selector to see what program is best for you!