Outdoor Activities Social Awareness Collaborative International Project

University of Kansas & Universidad Autonoma de Chiriqui, Panama

Emma Heidenreich   Sally Timmons

Omar SalazarCarlos De Gracia

The United StatesAcross the United States, individuals are able to get involved

in several outdoor activities that cater to their different interests. People are given the opportunity to take on the adventures of whitewater rafting in areas such as Maine and Vermont, or take a leisure walk through the Rocky

Mountains in Colorado. The diverse climate throughout the US gives individuals a variety of outdoor activities to

choose from.

http://www.travelwithachallenge.com/Trekking-Poles.htm

http://ourimages.co.cc/whitewater-rafting.html

United States National ParksThe United States has diverse geographic features

as well as several national parks throughout the country that provide several outdoor activities

for those who love spending their time outdoors.

Yellowstone National Park:Located in Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, offers fly fishing, horseback riding, zip lining, mountain biking, etc.

Rocky Mountain National Park:Located in Colorado, by towns such as Estes Park, offers several water sports, biking, hiking, fishing, skiing, etc.

http://www.rockymtnexpeditions.com/Hiking%20Tours.htmhttp://www.sunset.com/travel/rockies/yellowstone-river-rafting-00400000051226/

Other National Parks• Acadia National Park – Maine

Arches National Park – UtahBadlands National Park – South DakotaBryce Canyon National Park – UtahCape Hatteras National Seashore – North CarolinaCarlsbad Caverns National Park – New MexicoCrater Lake National Park – OregonDeath Valley National Park – CaliforniaDenali National Park and Preserve – AlaskaEverglades National Park – FloridaGettysburg National Military Park – PennsylvaniaGlacier National Park – MontanaGrand Canyon National Park – ArizonaGrand Teton National Park – WyomingGreat Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee and North CarolinaLewis & Clark National Historic Trail – the Mid-West and WestMammoth Cave National Park – KentuckyMesa Verde National Park – ColoradoMount Rainier National Park – WashingtonRedwood National and State Parks – California Yosemite National Park – CaliforniaZion National Park -- Utah

Camping • There are thousands of campgrounds across the

country that allow for families to have a weekend getaway tucked away in the woods. Camping is a

favorite for most Americans because they are able to engage in other outdoor activities including hiking,

biking, horseback riding, water sports, bird watching, etc. Roasting marshmallows is a treat as well

Fishing• The United States offers a vast range of areas

for people to indulge in fishing, fly fishing, and deep sea fishing. Families spend time going on fishing trips together on both the east coast,

west coast, and Midwest.

Biking/Hiking• Biking and hiking are two of the most popular outdoor

activities that people take part in in the United States. Across the country, there are millions of trails that people

take to get their adrenaline pumping while biking or hiking. • Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Maine, California, etc.

http://www.traversecity.com/hiking,-biking-and-skating-12/

http://dardenblogs.com/fall-colors/old_rag_hiking_trail/

Water Sports and Recreation• Water sports are one of the favorites around

the coasts of the United States. People are able to participate in boating and sailing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, scuba diving,

surfing, swimming and snorkeling, and water skiing.

http://www.allwakeboardproducts.com/pictures.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/26592941@N02/sets/72157615931618695/

Outdoor Activities for Children

• Big Foot Relay. • Batty Bowling• Name-It Ball. Have players form a circle. Give one player a

rubber ball. That player selects a category, such as "candy bars." He or she then bounces the ball to another player in the circle, who must catch the ball, state an item from the category, such as "Snickers," and keep the ball moving to the next player. If the player can't name an item, holds the ball too long, or repeats an item, he or she is out.

• Frisbee Tower. • Blind Walk..• Cross Step..• Pick Pocket Tag. Put a strip of cloth in each player's back

pocket. Have the players try to grab each other's strips without having their own strip taken. The player with the most cloth strips wins the game.

• Kill the Cockroach Divide the players into two teams. Line them up, one in front of the other and set an odd object in front of the first players in line. They must kick the object across the yard and the across the finish line to win a point for their team. Kick things like a pillow, empty can, a sock, and so on.

• Drag the Body Divide the group into two teams. Give each team a blanket. Have one player from each team lie down on the blanket. The teams must drag the body on the blanket from one end of the yard to the other. Whoever crosses the finish line first, wins.

• Blind Snakes

Activities in Lawrence, KS• Overview

– This city loves to celebrate sports and outdoor fun in all shapes and forms, creating opportunities for residents or visiting families with active children.

• Background– Kansas combats childhood by applauding parents' efforts to engage children

in vigorous physical activity at least one hour daily, according to Walk Kansas, a nonprofit University of Kansas-based organization teaching healthy eating and promoting physical movement. The key to success includes choosing activities that are age appropriate, packing them with fun options and refreshing them with variety to maintain the appetite for more involvement.

• Team Sports– The Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department's Youth Sports Center,

reachable from 25th and Iowa streets, vibrates with the noises of bouncing balls, cheering crowds and referees' whistles while kids enjoy team sports such as volleyball, basketball, football and soccer. Children from kindergarten to sixth grade can find a venue to get their hearts engaged and pumping fast enough to burn significant energy.

Activities in Lawrence, KS Continued

• Parks and Nature Trails– Lawrence integrates nature right into its neighborhoods. The city counts 53 parks in the city

limits and is surrounded with greenways. The entrance to the Prairie Park Nature Center at Harper and 27th streets leads to a wildlife sanctuary perfect for letting children explore miles of hiking trails. The park offers access, free of charge, to wetlands, woods and a prairie nestling the five-acre Lake Mary, a great fishing place as well a rich setting for spotting wildlife and discovering plants.

• Skate Parks– Rating high on the cool factor scale for teenagers, Centennial Park features a 12,300-square-

foot skate park on Rockledge Road, where kids can practice gliding on pipes, pyramids and other surfaces. If you find this skate park a little too crowded, Deerfield Park on Princeton Boulevard is about half the size of Centennial park but includes the same challenging features. Both skate parks offer free admission, although the centers welcome donations.

• Aquatic Activities– Year-round water fun awaits children at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center on Overland

Drive. In the morning, the 50-meter, 82-degree pool welcomes kids for lap swimming. In the afternoon, water slides and water games keep kids moving, splashing and filling the place with laughs. The city of Lawrence also operates an outdoor aquatic center in summer at Seventh and Kentucky streets.

Resources 1. http://www.livestrong.com/article/229613-kids-activities-in-lawrence-kansas/2. http://www.adventuresportsholidays.com/north_america/whitewater-rafting/3. http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/hiking.htm4. http://divewithbryan.com/free-snorkeling-in-florida/5. http://www.trails.com/water-sports-and-recreation.html6. http://family.go.com/entertainment/article-mm-77587-10-fun-outdoor-games-for-

kids-t/