It’s What They Call It “The Great Outdoors”

The world has changed. Wii replaced the Wii. “Wheeeee!”Tweeting is not for birds anymore, and Blackberries can’t be picked on a hot summer afternoon. Today’s children spend twice as much indoors than their predecessors 20 years ago.

Technology can also be an ally for families who wish to spend more time outdoors.

NatureFind is a recently redesigned online search tool by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). It helps kids find old-fashioned outdoor fun. NatureFind (www.nwf.org/naturefind is part of the NWF’s Be Out there campaign, a mother-led movement to raise happy, healthier children and foster a lifetime appreciation for nature.

NatureFind users can search for their city, state, or zip code to find outdoor adventures across the country. This includes trails, nature activities, events, wildlife preserves and regional parks as well as zoos, zoos, and campsites. NatureFind provides detailed information for families that can help them explore the natural world up to 500 miles away, or just around the corner.

You are just a click away from your next grandpa’s puddle-jumping adventure or fishing trip. “NatureFind makes spending time outside easy for families,”Rebecca Garland, Executive director of the NWF’s Be Out There campaign, says “It puts the benefits of the great outdoors as close as your fingertips.”

Experts can see the benefits of green time for children’s bodies and minds immediately – their moms. “When we go outside, my kids become their best selves. Gone are the petty arguments about whose turn it is to go first or what to do next.

Suddenly the kids are creative, digging in the dirt, picking up worms, jumping and laughing,”Renee Limon is a Be Out There mom and co-founder of EnviroMom.com. She is also a Portland mother of two daughters, ages 5 & 7.

A member of the NatureFind team confirms each of the over 9,200 locations and 30,000 events found in the NatureFind Database.

Every day, hundreds of new events and locations are added.

For more information on how to start your next family adventure outdoors, visit www. www.nwf.org/naturefind.