8 New Outdoor Experiences To Try - Get Outside!
In a previous blog, I outlined why we needed to spend time outdoors, so I thought, what’s better than to give you a few unusual but very doable options of what to do outside. Whether you’re fit or not, I have a selection of ideas for you. Some may appeal, others not, but choices are always good.
Picture this; you and a friend are enjoying drinks on the porch when a bird lands on the porch railings. Your friend says: “I wonder what bird that is” and quick as a flash you say: "Why, that's a thrush". Who’s the clever one then?
Birding gets us to learn while we’re in nature and what could be better than that I ask? Our minds are completely distracted from stress, pressure, work, and family issues while we’re purposefully looking for birds and learning to name them. When we're bird spotting, we’re taking in creativity at its best, seeing variety in color and species, and hearing a diversity of calls. We become more aware of what's happening around us and alert to new sounds.
If you're a morning person, then this is definitely for you.
What you need:
- A bird book or a birding app.
- Binoculars.
Paintball is basically a game of “hide and seek” for young and old … and it never gets old. If you’ve never tried it, it may be time to get a bunch of friends together and go for it. Paintball generates laughter, friendly competition, camaraderie, and it is a blast of a way to exercise.
Most, if not all paintball adventure centers will hire out gear. It’s not worth buying your own gear until you know it’s something you’d like to do more often.
What you need:
- A phone – to make your paintball appointment.
- A bit of spare cash to hire equipment and pay for the field time.
This is hands down one of my favorite pastimes! You’re going to need a bit of a head for heights and enjoy speed while suspended in the air via a harness. Bear in mind that at times you may need to climb structures and walk between lines, so a tiny bit of walking fitness and strength to pull yourself up after landing is advisable.
You could search zip line kits and build yourself a backyard zip line, which is a great idea if you’re ever in lockdown - but we hope that NEVER happens again! Or, you could build up a bucket list of the most spectacular zip lines and go there! Google these zip lines to try out:
- Ocala Zipline
- Las Vegas Zipline
- Catalina Zipline
- Lake Geneva Zipline
- Lake Tahoe Zipline
Every zip line adventure center has safety codes, and they provide everything you need from helmet to harness; you’ll be safe and good to go. Go with a group of friends, it’ll be a LOT of fun but leave your acrophobic friends out of this one.
What you need:
- Comfortable clothes
- Closed shoes (so that you don’t lose them while zipping from point A to B)
Things to know about ziplining:
Research the ziplines available in your area and look at reviews. You want the best experience as not all zipline adventures are the same.
Check the weather before you go to dress appropriately – also you’ll want to be able to see the stunning views you’re whizzing over, so make sure there’s good visibility, particularly if you’re ziplining in the mountains.
Pack snacks and stay hydrated, especially at higher altitudes.
Simply put, in rock climbing, your goal is to start at the bottom and get to the top. This outdoor experience needs a fair bit of training and someone to teach you how to rock climb. You could start at an indoor climbing gym but don’t stay inside, venture outside and try your hand at outdoor rock climbing.
Over time, you’ll build upper, lower, and core body strength, you’ll learn some elaborate foot maneuvers, problem-solving skills, and mental as well as physical endurance. Be a rock climber!
What you need:
- A rock climbing gym near you.
- Determination to see it through.
What is Plogging you may ask? The definition of plogging according to the dictionary is as follows: The word plogging is an English-Swedish combination of jogging and plocka upp, which means “pick up”, in Swedish.
We have a responsibility to look after our planet, and many environmentally conscious people have taken to the combination of walking, jogging, and hiking while taking care of the environment.
Plogging involves wearing gloves and carrying a plastic bag while you exercise so that you can pick up litter along the way. This form of exercise was initiated by Erik Ahlstrom, a Swedish man who took matters into his own hands when he saw litter lying around his capital city of Stockholm.
Just search #plogging on Instagram and you’ll be amazed at how someone has begun to make a global change by making a difference in his own city. Make a difference while you exercise, get your friends together to exercise and clean up your city at the same time.
What you need:
- Gloves.
- walking/running shoes
- A bag to hold the rubbish.
The Disc Golf scene involves throwing a disc or frisbee to hit certain marks. A disc golf course is great, but let’s face it, you don’t actually need the course, you just need a park and a frisbee. Set up your own course, grab a friend, and go outside. If you really want to find a course, google is your friend - just google “disc golf near me”.
What you need:
- A frisbee if you’re going to set up your own disc golf course
- A disc golf course near you.
Okay, you may need a body of water for this one and if you don’t live near one, it may have to be a weekend sport. Stand-up paddling or SUP involves standing up, on a paddleboard while steering yourself with an oar. You’re not only going to gain upper and lower body strength, but also a core-strengthening workout with this one.
What you need:
- Stand Up Paddling board lessons and rental near you.
Try it out first before you buy equipment.
Time to divine your inner Katniss Everdeen!
Archery was first used for hunting a long time ago, probably around 3000BC, by the Egyptians. Since we no longer need to hunt for food, unless we really want to, archery has become a sport. Could you be the next Archer for the US Olympic team? Anything is possible.
If you fancy improving your hand-eye coordination, training yourself to focus, and fine-tuning your balance, then Archery may be just the thing for you. Don’t opt for an indoor archery range, rather look for an outdoor range, after all, this is about getting outdoors! Again, hire equipment first so that you can test the waters to see if it’s a great fit for you.
What you need:
- An archery range near you.
We have so much available to us, and it’s time to take control of your life if it’s been on a downhill going nowhere since the beginning of 2020. Being outdoors can only make you happy, to feel the sunshine on your face, to feel alive when your adrenaline begins to race. So go on and get outside!
Come on (pant, pant) let's go play ball, come on, come on, here it is, throw it for me (pant, pant). Who's a good boy!
