Gift Guide
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Books Make Great Gifts: A Dozen Book Titles for Nature Lovers
Books and experiences always make good gifts. While experiences may be tough to plan at this time, books can provide hours of entertainment (plus a bit of education too). These twelve books about nature and the outdoors are just a sampling of those published this year. For Children Morning, Sunshine! by Keely Parrack A series of haiku accompanied by informative text introduces children to the nature just outside their doors What’s This Tail Saying by Carolyn Combs Children follow clues as they learn how to “read” animal tails Wait, Rest, Pause: Dormancy In Nature by Marcie Flinchum Atkins An exploration of the idea of dormancy; how living organisms handle environmental…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Experiences and Giving Back
Sometimes the best gifts are experiences, not things. A good way to sample a new activity is to enroll in a class or participate in an event. Some local branches of national outdoor outfitters (including REI, LL Bean and Eastern Mountain Sports) offer classes in a variety of outdoor activities with all necessary supplies included. Sometimes these classes are in partnership with local environmental non-profit organizations. You can find classes in cross country skiing, snowshoeing, stand up paddle boarding, canoeing/kayaking and rock climbing. The American Canoe Association lists classes in various paddling sports on their website for beginners and instructors alike. Small local outfitters may offer lessons as well. Many…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Books and Other Publications
Books and other publications always make great gifts. There are many options for the outdoor enthusiast or for someone you want to encourage to spend more time outdoors. Picture books depicting nature, especially those about animals are good for young children. You can find books on a particular animal or group of animals or about camping or other outdoor activities in the non-fiction section. Chapter books about surviving in the wild can foster an enthusiasm to get outside and explore. Memoirs or biographies about explorers can give a glimpse into the outdoor world and our relationship with it. Guide books can be found to cover any outdoor pursuit you can…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Gear
While many outdoor activities require little or no equipment, or items you can easily rent or borrow, sometimes it is nice to have your own gear, especially if you plan to do these things more often. There are of course the big items such as a bicycle, canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board or skis. These are easily rented and sometimes difficult to store, but frequent users may want to have their own. There are too many options to adequately list here and many things to consider when choosing a specific model. Each of these also has accessories (paddles, helmets, lifejackets, locks, etc.) that are standard as well as many extras…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Gadgets and Toys
The number of gadgets seems to be endless. While many of these are not necessary, some of them can make things easier and/or more fun. Some you may need infrequently, but be glad you have when the need arises. When spending extended time outdoors, such as when camping, having a couple toys around can certainly make things more fun (and can keep the kids busy if the adults have tasks to tend to or simply want some time to relax or converse with other adults). You can find these things and more while wandering the camping aisle of many department stores or on collections of shelves and racks in outdoor…
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Get Outside Holiday Gift Ideas – Outdoor Clothing
Though many don’t think of clothes as being particularly exciting gifts, pieces designed to wear while exploring the outdoors may be the exception. There are specialized clothing options for any outdoor activity. Though these items are not generally necessary to enjoy these activities, they are designed to improve performance and comfort and may be a worthwhile investment for someone regularly engaging in these pursuits. Since many of these are made of technologically-advanced fabrics to increase mobility, some of these can be pricey and perhaps something people won’t buy for themselves. High-tech fabrics and layering An almost universal benefit to clothing worn while exploring the outdoors is breathability. Wicking fabric, which…