Outdoor Adventures for Children Abound This Summer

Warmer weather and longer days mean more opportunities for children to spend time outdoors. And after this past long, cold winter, children — and their parents — are ready to enjoy those activities. Studies show that children spending time outdoors improves not only physical health but also assists with emotional health and cognitive skills.

Tennis at North Park

Latodami Nature Center, North Park, Allegheny County Department of Parks, is committed to providing several outdoor options for children of all ages. “We believe that because we are part of nature, humans naturally have an interest in the outdoors. However, if this interest is not nurtured in childhood, it can become lost. By providing outdoor activities for children, our hope is to keep that interest alive so that the next generation grows to view nature as important, valuable and worthy of protection,” said Latodami Supervisor Ranger Katrina Stanley.

The Young Naturalist Summer Camp is one of the most popular programs offered at Latodami. “The Young Naturalist Summer Camp, which is a three-day-long camp that takes place four times throughout the summer. The camp takes children ages 9-13 on a journey to become a naturalist, spending one day in meadows and learning about pollinators and indigenous history, one day in the forest learning tree identification and fire building, and another day in aquatic ecosystems looking for salamanders while discussing the importance of healthy watersheds,” Stanley explained. There is a fee for this program.

They also offer a monthly Young Nature Explorers program throughout the summer. “It’s a free program specialized for preschool-aged children and explores different topics each month like reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and moths, and the sun, moon and stars,” she said. “Other programs that you can join at Latodami Nature Center this summer include bird hikes, Tuesday evening hikes, volunteer opportunities, and much more all listed on our website at www.AlleghenyCounty.us/Latodami.”

Families and others are always welcome to explore the 250 acres at the Latodami Nature Center from dawn to dusk every day. “You can explore our trails that wind through meadows, forests, wetlands as well as along streams and ponds. Along trails, you will spot educational signage that allows you to learn even if you’re not hiking with a Latodami Ranger. Or, you can visit our website to print out fun educational activities to bring with you, like how to determine the age of a living tree or how to be a nature detective,” Stanley said.

Hiking on the Rachel Carson Trail

In addition to the activities at Latodami, there are numerous outdoor activities available at North Park such as hiking on miles and miles of trails, including the well-known Rachel Carson Trail, biking on and off road, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, bird watching and geocaching.

And speaking of the Rachel Carson Trail, the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy offers a series of child-friendly hikes in the summer and a geocaching challenge. Families can also hop on the trail in various locations including North Park, Emmerling Park, Hampton Community Park, and Harrison Hills Park. Its sister trail, the Harmony Trail, located in Wexford, is a very child-friendly hike, fairly level with a creek for water play and a couple of easy-to-find geocaches. For more information, visit: https://www.rachelcarsontrails.org/.

In addition to North Park, the eight other Allegheny County Parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities for children and families. Deputy Director of Recreation, Allegheny County Parks Brooke Bossong-Wilcox said they partner with several organizations at the parks including Trail Adventures Mountain Biking at North and Hartwood Acres Parks; Soccer Shots at North, Hartwood, and Harrison Hills Parks; and HappyFeet Soccer at Hartwood Acres.

Other outdoor fun at the County Parks includes the free Spray Park at Deer Lakes Park, dek hockey classes at North Park, tennis and paddle ball courts, numerous playgrounds, trails and kayaking and fishing opportunities at some of the parks.

See the stars at the Wagman Observatory

Children can learn about the stars and planets through the Wagman Observatory, located adjacent to Deer Lakes Park, and operated by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh. “The Public Star Parties are a way to demystify science — you don’t have to be a scientist to enjoy learning about astronomy,” said Director Eric Fisher. The star parties are free of charge once a month, beginning in April, with members being available to talk with visitors, including children, while also providing the opportunity to view the skies through the association’s telescopes. “We have several members who love working with kids,” Fisher said. Guests can also stop at the observatory any time the gate is open, according to Fisher. For more information, visit: https://3ap.org/about/wagman-observatory/.

The Pine Community Park Splash Pad gives kids the opportunity to cool off.

Local township parks also provide many opportunities to get outside. “The Pine Community Park Splash Pad is a great summer option for families looking to cool off! It is a nice space as it is fenced in so families can bring a picnic lunch and just enjoy a refreshing day without the worries of deep water,” Tyler Walker, director of parks and recreation, Township of Pine, said. “We also do monthly themed family fun nights at the splash pad. We have had Moana, a mermaid, and SpongeBob in the past as special visitors for these nights.”

Pine Township also hosts a Farmers Market and Rockin’ Rec Summer Concert Series on Thursday evenings at the Pine Community Park Amphitheater. “It features a selection of local market and craft vendors, food trucks, and a different selection of live music each evening. The amphitheater is also conveniently located right next to one of our playgrounds, so it is truly an all-ages event,” Walker said. Children can also fish (catch-and-release) at the small lake at the park. Visit https://www.twp.pine.pa.us/170/Parks-Recreation for more information.

Jody Rutton, director of education with Venture Outdoors, stressed the importance of getting outdoors. “Time spent in nature is so great for everyone! Time outside reduces stress and improves social relationships. When introducing kids to outdoor activities it gives them a tangible reason to care about the earth,” she said.

Kids can mountain bike at both North Park and Hartwood Acres Park

Venture Outdoors hosts summer day camps at both North and South Parks for children rising kindergarten through ninth grade. “We also offer community programs like hikes and fishing throughout the area. Our paddle sports rental hubs at North Park Lake and near the convention center are great for families to rent kayaks and explore our local waterways,” she said. “Many of our community events are ‘pay what you can’ with a free option. Additionally, we have pay what you can on Thursdays at our rental hubs. You can find those on our website.”For more information, visit: https://ventureoutdoors.org/youth-outdoors/.

It doesn’t have to be hard to get children outside, Rutton said. “Make spending time outside part of your daily routine. It doesn't need to be a grand event. It can be as simple as bringing indoor activities like reading or crafts outdoors or a short walk around the block.”