Newswise — It's December 27 and cabin fever has set in. The out-of-town relatives are driving you crazy, the frig is down to egg nog and a left-over cheese ball, you've run out of batteries, the cat has knocked most of the ornaments off the tree, the kids are reeling from their candy cane sugar buzz, three new toys have already broken. HELP! How can you escape?
Bundle everyone up and head outside for some time with nature. There are lots of fun outdoor activities that will provide relief for that cooped up and over-stuffed feeling.
Don't know where to go, no problem. The National Wildlife Federation has teamed up with NatureFindâ„¢ to provide a quick and easy way to find many of the green places in your community including regional, state and national parks " and some private parks and nature centers as well.
You just plug in your zip code and NatureFind will display a list of close-by wild places including a web link to each locale, the distance from your house, and the recreational opportunities available at each location. Even when your holiday travels take you to Grandma's house or friends in new cities, you can pull up the information and head outside into Mother Nature's winter wonderland.
The National Wildlife Federation's Green Hourâ„¢ web site provides lots of suggestions for things to do when you get outside including animal tracking, catching snowflakes, filling bird feeders and watching for feathered friends to visit, or organizing a winter scavenger hunt. Many of these activities can take place no further than outside your back door.
And when your kids rave about the good time they had outdoors during the holidays, make it a New Year's resolution to give them a Green Hour every day in the new year. Their stress levels will go down while their imaginations soar. They will become fitter and leaner while their immune systems grow stronger. And best of all, it's FUN!
Check out NWF's Green Hour and Nature Find at http://www.GreenHour.org
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