I’ve been thinking about all the people out on the west coast who can’t go outside because of the fires, I’m so sorry.  I just want to say that you’re in our thoughts.  Stay safe.  For the rest of us, much gratitude that you are able to get out and enjoy nature.

There’s no better time than now to get out in nature.  Our world is stressful with COVID, home-schooling, politics, racial injustice, financial worries, social distancing, and more.  Life is stressful, nature heals. 

The days of carefree shopping, group get-togethers, and restaurant dining are on hold for now, but there might be a silver lining.  You might just find that being in nature is so much better for your soul than shopping and eating.  Nature reflects the best of this world, it’s calming, peaceful, and beautiful.  So take off your earbuds, silence your phone, and go listen to nature. 

Here are 50 ways to get wild:

1.  Lay down in the woods and close your eyes – what sounds do you hear?

2.  Take a bird book with you and try to identify as many birds as you can.

3.  Take a blanket and a good book and lay down in the grass and read your book.

4.  Go on a photo hunt.  Pick your target –  butterflies, birds, bugs – and get hunting.

5.  Go swimming in a pond, lake, or ocean.

6.  Take a nap outside.

7.  Take a hike – and I mean that in the nicest way.

9.  Take a sketch pad, find a piece of nature to draw – notice all the little details.

9.  Start a Collection – pretty rocks, colorful fall leaves, flowers.

10.  Learn how to whistle using a piece of grass. 

11. Make a flower chain – I use dandelions.

12. Play “spot the differences”, tree trunk textures, leaves, shades of green.

13. If your feeling really frisky – dance in the rain!

14. Go stargazing at night – as Bart would say, D’oh!  Don’t try this during the day – LOL

15. Follow an ant or a butterfly.

16. Find out what trees are indigenous to your area and go on a hunt for them.

17. Study the ground, see if you can find any animal tracks.

18. Go for a walk in nature at night, bring a flashlight.

19. Put out bird food and watch the birds that come to eat.

20. Be a Plogger. 

21. Take off your shoes and feel the sand, mud, grass beneath your feet.

22. Find a beautiful location and do some yoga.

23. Skip rocks across a pond, river, lake.

24. Do some cloud watching.  What shapes do you see?

25. Go horseback riding.

26. Watch a sunrise or a sunset.

27. Go skiing or snowboarding.

28. Watch a bug, be curious.  How many legs does it have?  How does it move?

29. Have a picnic – sit by a pond or under a tree.

30. Build a tower of rocks – how high can you build it?

31. Find a beautiful location and sit quietly and meditate.

32. Climb a mountain and take in the views.

33. Go for a jog in the woods.

34. Take a dog for a walk.

35. Listen to the sound of crickets.

36. Explore a wildlife meadow.

37. Go for a kayak ride.

38. After a rain, go out and stomp in the puddles.

39. When surrounded by woods, lay down and look up.  Watch the sun shimmer through the branches and leaves, notice the light and the shadows.

40. Take a walk.

41. Jump in a pile of leaves.

42. Go to a farm and pet the farm animals.

43. Close your eyes and really study the feeling of the sun and the breeze on your skin.

44. Notice the distinct smell of different flowers.

45. Learn to use a casting net and go see what you can catch at a local pond, lake, river, bay.

46. Find a waterfall to play in.

47. Study a spider web.

48. Go Hang Gliding.

49. Bike rails to trails paths. 

50. Sit in nature, breathe deeply, and just be.

Ahhhhhhhhh.  Enjoy.

I’d love to hear if you have ideas to add to this list, just put them in the comment section below.

Is there someone who inspires you with their kindness?  Nominate them for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Award of $250.

Do you have an act-of-kindness project you want to do but need help funding it?  Submit your idea for the Matt Kurtz Kindness Grant of $250 and let us help you spread kindness.