Finding Nature in Urban Settings with Kids

It is a wild misconception that being a “city kid” means depriving young minds of nature and the benefits of a free-range life. When done intentionally, children raised in the city have a unique opportunity to tap into a larger community of nature lovers. While there are some considerations and logistics to giving urban dwellers a sense of connection with the earth, it is possible, and even enjoyable, to find parks and nature within a concrete jungle. Today, Tiana Kubik of @usalongtheway, a city-dwelling and nature-loving mother of two, provides answers to how you can find urban nature with kids. It’s closer than you might think! 

Why you should get your city kid into nature 

There are many reasons your children should find nature, even in the city. The big takeaway though is that taking the time to connect with nature is good for them, others, and the earth. It is a one-stop-shop for well-being. Here are some additional reasons city kids need nature too.

• The most pressing reason is the care and knowledge of our earth and nature. As we construct more buildings, creating time to appreciate and engage with nature will be more critical than ever. The more we know about how the earth functions, the more we can preserve it for all living beings.

• Yoga and meditation have shown that grounding and connecting to the earth and all the elements, fosters positive self-awareness and supports healthy social-emotional development in children (and adults). In fast-paced city life, seeking moments with our earth can help children calm their nervous systems and lead happier lives.

• The earth is the one thing that connects us with every living being. Finding friends and meeting new people through nature activities supports bonding and social awareness of others. Not to mention, a healthy earth is good for our fellow citizens. So, learning to care for the planet is also about learning to care for each other.

Now that you know the benefits of exploring urban nature with kids, let’s get outside.

Exploring urban nature with kids

The most basic start to finding nature in urban settings is to get outside. Not every location is nature, but there is nature in every location. Yes, you read that right. Nature is in every outdoor location, even if it isn’t as obvious when you are surrounded by skyscrapers and cement. 

Here are five easy ways to explore nature in a city environment

1. The sun, the wind, the rain, and the temperature outside? All nature. Take a mindful and adventurous walk and explore how these elements affect you and the people and things around you. Splash in puddles or play in the rain. Feel the wind on your face or watch how the wind sways the trees. These are things that are all a part of our earth. 
2. Even the most densely populated skyscraper city has a tree or a patch of grass, someplace. Find it. Study it. Play in it.  
3. Bugs, birds, squirrels, and so many more critters make their homes in densely urban settings. Go for a walk and count the birds you see, find a bug and study what it does. Find some skat (bird and dog poop counts) and see if you can figure out what kind of animal made it. 
4. Grabbing a picnic or even patio seating at a restaurant is a practice in enjoying nature. Soak in the experience. Find a farm-to-table restaurant or farmers’ market and get to know the enthusiastic people about where our food comes from. I guarantee most of them will be thrilled to chat up young nature lovers about their process.
5. Flowers are often planted outside businesses and in various places for landscaping. Find some and smell them. Can’t find any outside, meander through a farmer’s market and find a flower vendor or walk to a grocery store and stroll through the floral department. Flowers do not need to be wildflowers to be enjoyed in nature.

Enjoying city parks with kids

Almost every city has a park district. Park districts are a great place to start for some more extensive and often inexpensive activities. Parks are also the perfect place to explore and discover urban nature with kids.

Going to a city’s park and recreation department website can tell you a few things:

1. The location of all of the city-owned parks, playgrounds, beaches, conservatories, zoos, farms, pools, splash pads, or other features. This is great for planning and getting the most accurate information on location, hours, and potential activities.
2. Scheduled activities and programming. The park districts often have classes for kids, adults, and often families. They also may lead volunteer opportunities, concerts, animal encounters, and tours. 

Once you arrive at a city-owned park, explore the signs and plaques that will often give information about the history or essential facts about where you are. Every city park has a unique story. Especially as urban areas build bigger and taller buildings, nature’s survival in urban areas is a task and a beautiful story of love and care.

Explore arboretums and gardens

Ready to kick it up a notch? Gardens and arboretums are usually the places to go within a city to really up the “WOW” factor. For example, The Morton Arboretum in Illinois has nature+art exhibits throughout the grounds. So, you are getting some great nature plus some art and culture.

We highly recommend becoming a member at a conservatory or nature center in your local area. There are usually some great benefits. Here are a few of the things we love about being members of an outdoor arboretum or botanical garden.

1. Take a look at the location you wish to have your membership and see if they belong to any reciprocity organizations like the American Horticultural Society. This will get you into hundreds of similar gardens all over North America, with free or discounted admission. This is especially wonderful if you travel or want to explore lots of places as you travel.
2. Being in the loop. With social media, this is not as big a consideration. However, members do get the first notices on new exhibits, tours, and programs. And sometimes there are special “members only” events or days where the lines are short and members enjoy special access and treatment. If you are not a natural nature person, getting “personal” invitations to exhibits and programs is a good nudge to get out there!
3. Your membership fees support those doing the heavy lifting to keep mother nature alive and well. Having a membership to an arboretum or garden will help them continue caring for the earth. Even if it is just within their own space, we need every bit of green world we can keep.

Finding urban nature that fits your adventure family

Are you a rock climber, swimmer, kayaker, hiker? Many urban areas have found innovative ways of retaining or creating these experiences. A quick internet search will send you down the rabbit hole of companies and organizations that focus on your specific specialty.  

Finding experts in your preferred activity will give you the best access to the areas best suited for what you want to do. For example, the local yacht club may offer sailing classes. The park district may have bike and boat rentals. The local nature center may hold classes or nature trips for families.

You may also connect to small local organizations that have taken on the education and community building around family fun outdoor engagement. For example, Chicago Family Biking in Chicago hosts family bike rides and educational events that help families realize the ease of biking with kids. Big Muddy Adventures in St. Louis hosts family-friendly canoeing and paddle adventures in the Mississippi River, Missouri River, and surrounding rivers and streams. 

Enjoy the city life and nature

Even with activities that aren’t usually considered nature-y we can discover a connection to the earth and all it gives. Here are a few examples of how you can find and enjoy urban nature with kids in unexpected ways.

1. Are you going out to eat? Ask to sit outside and admire the planters, trees, sounds, and smells on their outdoor patio.
2. Walk, ride bikes, scooter to activities as often as possible.  
3. Volunteer to pick up trash. This can be organized or just buy a grabber and make a habit of going out as a family and picking up trash.
4. Plant a garden or if you lack space, join a community garden. 
5. Look for fun programs like outdoor music concerts, festivals, farmers markets.
6. Use public transportation to check out new neighborhoods and parks.
7. Take a class. Find family yoga, outdoor art, and movement classes in your urban area.

Hold your family accountable

Ideas are great but holding your family accountable to your outdoor goals (or any goals you have) is the only way to increase your outdoor time. Need some inspiration on how to do this? Below are a couple of options.

1. Join Facebook groups. Run Wild My Child, Hike it Baby, and other outdoor-focused organizations often have online communities where you can gain motivation and learn from like-minded people. There are also likely some local outdoor family groups too.
2. Follow social media accounts. Believe it or not, seeing pictures of people with their kids outside or reading posts of what others are doing will help you stay motivated to take your own kids outside too.
3. Join outdoor focused challenges. This is a great way to keep yourself motivated to get outside and may even help create new habits.
   • Hike it Baby hosts a HiB30 Challenge twice a year, with the goal of getting families outside for at least 30 minutes three times a week for one month.
   • The 52 Hike Challenge isn’t geared toward families, but you absolutely can choose to take your kids on 52 “hikes” over the course of the year. And yes, a walk through the same park once a week totally counts.
   • Our Run Wild My Child team is launching a new 7-day challenge that you can use to “rewild your child” called the Wildhood Challenge. This challenge is 7 days, each with a different theme for outdoor play, and will help encourage and inspire you to spend more intentional time outside for a full week, showing you just how easy it can be to prioritize time outside with your little ones when you’re intentional about it. 
4. Step/health trackers. Seeing how many steps you take each day (whether it’s a few or a lot) is a great motivator to keep taking walks with your kids.
5. Great a schedule or calendar. If you have a hard time finding time to get outside, set alerts on your phone or schedule time into your calendar. 

Helping make a difference

We are big believers that nature should be accessible for all. And spending time outside in nature shouldn’t be just for kids that live in the country, on farms, or in the mountains. City kids need nature and outdoor playtime just as much (if not more) than ever. According to the national PTA organization, one-third of all US children live in urban areas. Living in urban areas can mean it is difficult to access natural areas, even when they’re not far away. Longstanding systems of inequity have influenced the design and distribution of green spaces in and around cities and urban areas.

Cities across the country are searching for ways to bring nature’s benefits to all children. As are parents, community leaders, educators, and people like YOU (and us) that believe in the importance of nature for all. Achieving change requires a community-based approach and lots of help. Organizations such as Children’s Nature Network have great resources and toolkits to get you started if you’re interested in helping more city kids discover urban nature and making it more accessible for all.

Additional resources

Here are a few other resources from our team all about getting city kids outside discovering urban nature with kids! 

• Finding nature in urban areas
• Socially distanced outdoor activities for city kids
• Run Wild My Child podcast – Episode 4: Exploring Outdoors in the City 

Photography by Thomas | © 2019 TK Photography | www.tkphotographychicago.com

Now go run wild, my city child!
How do you find nature in the city?

About the author

A city girl through and through, Tiana wasn’t always thrilled with outdoor adventures. However, learning the importance of nature + play through her journey to a Master’s in Early Childhood Education changed her heart. She still prefers the hustle and bustle of city life. She also has learned to love all that nature is and gives. Tiana has discovered unbelievably amazing North American destinations by traveling in a DIY converted Sprinter Van with her husband and two kids. She looks forward to new adventures and discoveries every day.

You can find more from Tiana in the following online locations:
Instagram: @usalongtheway
Website: US Along the Way