Anne Cissel’s Archive

Time For Some Serious Play

This week, National Wildlife Federation will turn Twitter and Facebook into a virtual playground – and inspire people to turn the computer off and play outside! 6 Ways To Play … Read more

6 Reasons You Don’t Go Outside—And How To Get Over Them

Does a small voice inside of you tell you that you shouldgo outside more? Maybe you’ve noticed that the kids are calmer and happier after a walk. Or you learned that lack of … Read more

Boy swinging

Finding Time For A Green Hour

Life is full of ironies. In 2007, the National Wildlife Federation launched the Green Hour program, giving parents the tools to make the outdoors part of their children’s daily life. How?  … Read more

5 Tips to Stay Warm Outside In Winter

It’s not bathing suit weather, but winter’s still a great season for outdoor fun. Be prepared! 1. Dress in Layers Wear several layers of clothing and peel them off if … Read more

Sense of Wonder

9 Books To Inspire Outdoor Fun for Your Family

A bird singing, a cool breeze, a magnificent sunset: most of the time you don’t need convincing that outdoor time is good you and your family. But sometimes it’s nice … Read more

Share Your Family’s Outdoor Photos

From leaf-jumping to bird-watching to fort-building, the Green Hour group on the photo sharing site Flickr has it all! For more than a year, parents who believe in Be Out … Read more

8 Easy Ways to Create Your Own Outdoor Holiday Tradition

Let’s face it: It might feel a bit claustrophobic in the house at this time of year—with the kids underfoot, relatives hovering over you, and the strain of cooking, cleaning, shopping, … Read more

NWF Shines on Today Show with “Wild Things”

Check out NWF spokesperson Dave Mizejewski on NBC's the Today Show this morning. He brought a cabybara, a beaver, two baby African lions, and more. The animals were squirmy, but … Read more

When Words Become Endangered: Oxford Junior Dictionary Removes Nature Words

Noted Washington naturalist Robert Pyle once asked, “What is the extinction of a condor to a child who has never seen a wren?” In other words, if children can’t recognize … Read more

Scavenger Hunt

10 Ideas To Get Kids Outside After School Starts

Homework, soccer practice, ballet—is there time in the schedule to play outside? Here are some tips to add some outdoor time to a busy day: Scenario #1: Traffic made you late, … Read more