10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions

OutGrown Blog 10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions
Share
Share

Rebecca Hosley

Nov 20, 2022

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes family traditions. Between baking cookies, decorating the house and classic holiday movies to watch, we tend to spend a lot of time indoors. Itching to get outside and connect with your family in nature? Here's a list of ten fun outdoor holiday traditions to enjoy the beauty that nature brings to the holiday season.

1. Turkey Trot

Many cities across the United States hold a race or fun run around Thanksgiving. These fun events usually include something for the whole family, with options for runners, walkers and even kid races! Costumes are encouraged (who doesn’t want to dress their kids up as turkeys?!), and prizes are often given throughout the event for finishers and best costumes. Some families have also created their own “turkey trot” traditions closer to home or on a favorite trail.

We love doing a "turkey trot" (an organized run or just our family trotting around the neighborhood) the morning of Thanksgiving. – Christina from the Snohomish, WA, Branch

2. Outdoor Family Game Time

Growing up, my mother would always kick the kids (and my father if he was trying to “taste-test” the pies) outside while the turkey or ham was cooking on Thanksgiving and other holidays. We played soccer or touch football, or we'd have snowball fights if there was snow on the ground (I grew up in Colorado, so the weather was always unpredictable!). As I grew older, I always looked forward to these family “mini-tournaments,” and it’s one of the things I look forward to the most when we go home for the holidays.

3. #OptOutside for Black Friday

The #OptOutside movement was started by REI in 2015 as a way to move away from the crazy commercialism that occurs on the busiest shopping day of the year, and move toward finding the immense value of spending time outdoors. REI (along with a growing number of businesses) shut their doors on Black Friday and encourage their employees and customers to enjoy the outdoors as opposed to spending their day inside, waiting in lines or rushing from store to store. This mindset has grown into a tradition that many families have adopted, including many of our Hike it Baby families.

The last couple years, we chose to #optoutside for #greenfriday (Black Friday). We love this tradition so much and it's a great way to burn off all those mashed potatoes and pie! – Vanessa from the San Diego Branch

10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions by Rebecca Hosley for Hike it Baby

Opting Outside on Black Friday in Upstate New York

4. Outdoor Holiday Festivities

Holiday festivals and outdoor events seem to happen in abundance in the months of November and December. Many downtown areas hold “Festival of Lights” parades in which the holiday lights are illuminated for the first time during a big celebration. Many zoos have light shows as well, from the “Wildlights” festival at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, WA to the “Zoolights” Illumination at the Jacksonville Zoo in Florida. Checking your local newspaper or social media outlets can keep you up-to-date on all the outdoor holiday festivities happening in your area.

Our local botanical garden does a million bulb walk every year that's always a hit. Once December rolls around, the lights are drive-through only, but we love to get out in November when you can still walk them! – Melissa from the Hampton Roads, VA, Branch

5. Themed Hike

Themed hikes are fun to do with your local Hike it Baby Branch or with your own family! Here are a few ideas we have done in my branch:

Jingle Bell Hike – Attach bells to the shoes and wrists of children (and yourself!), and parade up and down the trail, making a joyful sound as you go!
Candy Cane Hunt – Have someone hang candy canes on low-lying tree branches for kids to find as they walk along the trail (just make sure you adhere to the principles of “leave no trace” and remove any extra candy canes or trash before you head out!).
Hot Chocolate Urban Stroll – Who doesn’t love hot chocolate? Stop by your favorite coffee shop for some hot chocolate/cider (or bring some along in a thermos), and walk around, enjoying the holiday decorations and lights in a downtown area near you.

6. Neighborhood Light Walk

What is one thing the holiday season tends to bring out in abundance (besides cheer, of course)? Lights! Taking a walk through your neighborhood or downtown area after sunset to enjoy the colorful and creative light displays is a tradition that many families share. Worried about bringing the kids out in the chilly night air? Dressing in layers and bringing along a favorite warm drink can keep the chill at bay. Hot cocoa/cider, anyone?

7. Stargazing Walk/Hike

Have you ever wondered why the sky appears clearer during colder months? Cold air holds less moisture, which is also why the air is much drier in the winter. Air that is dry is much less hazy compared to moist air, making it the optimal time to stargaze! The best days to stargaze are when the moon is new (totally dark), which will fall on November 23 and December 23 this year. You can bring along a star chart and see how many constellations you can spot along the way!

8. Winter Solstice Hike

The Winter Solstice marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest period of night. It falls on December 21 if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, which also marks the first day of winter. What better way to celebrate the start of a new season than to get outside and experience it firsthand? Check out this article for other fun ways to celebrate the winter solstice along with some craft and book options.

9. Holiday Walk/Hike

Did you know that there are extra health benefits to walking before and/or after a big meal? Walking before a big meal can increase your metabolism and decreases the amount of fats and sugars that accumulate in the blood after a hefty meal. It can also decrease appetite, making you feel full faster, resulting in smaller portions of that yummy turkey, stuffing and pie consumed (and more leftover turkey sandwiches!). Light or moderate walking following a large meal also increases your metabolism, helping you burn off those mashed potato and pie calories more quickly. You may want to hold off on the marathon right after a large meal though; your body is already exerting a lot of energy trying to digest the colossal mass of food you just consumed!

Last year we worked off our holiday dinner by doing an evening glow-stick walk/hike. It was super fun! –Melissa from the Capital Region Branch

10. New Year’s Day Hike

Many families opt for a hike or other outdoor activity (such as skiing or snowshoeing) on the first day of the year as a way to start the year off right. Growing up, my family would take long walks/hikes on January 1, planning out our “New Year’s Resolutions” and discussing how we plan to make the year a great one. What a wonderful way to kick-start the year!

We have celebrated New Year's with a "First Day Hike" for the last couple years. I look forward to it immensely! – Ryan from the Central Florida Branch

10 Fun Outdoor Family Holiday Traditions by Rebecca Hosley for Hike it Baby

First Day Hike in the Adirondack Mountains

ABOUT OUTGROWN

OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org

EDITORS NOTE:

We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.

But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

Community tags

This content has 0 tags that match your profile.

Comments

To leave a comment, login or sign up.

What is the Winter Solstice? It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter in many places across the United States. The temperatures are dropping and the landscape has transformed into dull greens and browns as the deciduous trees are now mostly bare. Probably most noticeable of all are the short days and long nights. We are approaching the winter solstice (also known as Yule for some cultures). On this day we have the shortest day and the longest night of the year as one of the earth’s poles (the north pole for those of us in the northern hemisphere) tilts furthest away from the sun at 23.44 degrees. It also marks the first day of winter—December 21 in the northern hemisphere. Celebrating Winter and the Return of Light Celebrations of the winter solstice date back to ancient times. From Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona to Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” in China, people around the world observe the solstice in unique and special ways. Although it's the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, this important astrological occurrence is viewed by many cultures as the return of the sun. After all, the days grow in length and light starting on December 22. We think this transition from fall to winter on the longest night of the year is worth a celebration! Check out these activities, crafts and book recommendations to help your family celebrate the winter solstice. Activities Night Walks and Hikes: Nature transforms at night with different sights and sounds to experience. Winter offers the unique opportunity to partake in night events without having to throw the kiddos routine out the window. Check out this list for ideas on how to take advantage of the long nights of winter. Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Welcome winter with each of the five senses. Review this printable checklist or create your own based on your region. Create a winter nature table: Creating a space where your kids can place items that remind them of winter is a great way to kick off the season! It can be as small or big as you want, and the items that you place on it can vary widely. You can include pine cones, pine needles, twigs, winter crafts (see below), etc. Or better yet, following principles of “leave no trace”, you can take photos of these items in nature to include on your table. Read this article for more creative ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this winter. Craft Ideas Stick Art: Sticks and pinecones are plentiful this time of year. Here are 4 easy winter crafts to make using materials you can find in your own backyard. Craft or Bake a Yule Log: The Yule Log tradition started as a medieval Nordic tradition. The yule log was lit as a symbol to entice the sun to return and lengthen the days again. Check out this article for a fun Yule Log craft. Looking to add some baking into your winter solstice celebration? Check out this recipe for a yummy Yule Log cake! Winter Solstice Lanterns: Bring light to the longest night of the year by creating a nature-inspired lantern. Books to Read As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” These beautifully illustrated books help children of all ages understand what happens as fall turns to winter — starting with the shortest day of the year. Birth - 3 Years Winter in the Forest By Rusty Finch - Follow two little raccoons as they learn about winter in the forest. Even the littlest kiddos will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover hidden surprises in the snowy landscape. Winter Board Book By Gerda Muller - This chunky board book shows the joys of winter through beautiful illustrations. This book is part of a four-part, no-text series on the seasons. One Short Day in December By Lilith Rogers - This fun book follows a deer family of two moms and their baby deer as they celebrate the Winter Solstice. 4 Years and Up The First Day of Winter By Denise Fleming - Follow a little boy as he discovers all the trimmings needed to make a perfect snowman. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along to the tune of “Twelve Days of Christmas” starting with the first day of winter. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter By Kenard Pak - Join a sister and brother as they greet the signs of winter while they explore nature and take a stroll through their town. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice By Wendy Pfeffer - This book explains the science, history and cultural significance of the winter solstice in lyrical prose that kids can enjoy. How does your family celebrate the winter solstice? Let us know in the comments below! Photos courtesy of Krystal Weir, Deanna Curry and Jessica Human. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

How to Dress Baby for Cold-Weather Camping

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT MORRISON OUTDOORS The term “camping” may bring to mind warm summer nights and hot days splashing in the lake. However, there are benefits to camping in colder weather. There are fewer crowds, it’s easier to find prime campsites, there are not as many mosquitoes and biting bugs, and bedtime is less of a struggle since there are fewer hours of sunlight (just to name a few). So why don’t more families camp in colder weather? The biggest question we get from caregivers is “How do we keep our family warm when camping in colder weather?” followed by “there is no way I could camp with my baby in this weather!”. We promise you, it is possible, even with a young baby in tow. It’s all about the right layers and sleeping environment. Read on for more information on how to layer your baby for a cold-weather camping adventure and start reaping the benefits today! The Basics of Layering Baby for Cold-Weather Camping Choosing the right material and number of layers is crucial for keeping your baby (and everyone) warm during cold-weather adventures. Here are some basics to keep in mind when picking cold-weather camping clothing: Base Layers for Baby First and foremost, AVOID COTTON! There is a reason you hear the term “cotton is rotten” when it comes to winter clothing. It collects and holds on to moisture which can then chill the skin when it’s cold. This is especially dangerous for babies since it can lead to a drop in body temperature. For the layers closest to the skin, we highly recommend wool for its soft feel, durability, and superior wicking ability. Synthetic materials (such as polyester) are also effective and generally a more budget-friendly option. Various companies make baby-specific base layers that include a onesie and leggings. Insider tip: if you choose a onesie option, snapping the onesie over the leggings can help prevent the leggings from sliding down while baby is moving around or being carried. Middle Layers This layer goes right on top of the base layer and functions as an insulator to help retain body heat. Polyester fleece is a great, affordable option here, especially fleece footie pajamas that completely cover the baby’s feet. One thing to note: if you plan to babywear your child during your camping adventure, make sure the footie pajamas are not so tight that they could risk reducing circulation (I usually went a size up if I was wearing my kiddos). Other options include thick-knit wool or insulated down, which are very durable but also come with a higher price tag. Outer Layers The type of top layer you choose will rely heavily on two factors: temperature and moisture. For the really cold, wet adventures, you may opt for a waterproof, down, one-piece snowsuit. This provides full protection from the elements, but also limits mobility and can make your baby too warm if the temperatures rise (in this case, you can shed the mid-layer). For cool or cold (but not frigid) camping trips, a down or synthetic jacket on top will likely suffice. I highly recommend purchasing a waterproof one-piece shell (such as a rain suit) for baby in case the weather turns wet. Look for ones that cinch on the waist, ankles, and wrists so you can size up and let your baby grow into it. Accessories Wool is an excellent material for hats and socks to keep moisture away from the skin. Synthetic material is an affordable option as well, just stay away from cotton! My kiddos wear these at night as well since they tend to wiggle in their sleep (my oldest used to wiggle completely out of his sleeping bag!). If you don’t want to purchase wool baby socks that they will grow out of quickly, you can use big-kid or even adult wool socks on your baby’s feet and hands to keep little extremities warm. Fleece is a great option for gloves if the conditions are not wet and your baby prefers a bit more dexterity. They also layer well under waterproof gloves for some added warmth and protection. Wool or fleece scarves or neck warmers are a wonderful option for added insulation, just be sure to make sure they are loose and not constricting the baby’s airway. Proper footwear for your baby will depend greatly on outdoor temperatures and the mobility of your little one. Warm fleece or wool booties may suffice if your little one isn’t walking yet. Winter boots may be a better option for little walkers so they keep their feet dry and clean while traipsing around the campsite or trail. Keeping Warm Through the Night Once the sun sets, the temperatures can drop significantly. A baby-specific sleeping bag is a must for keeping your baby warm through the night. We love the Morrison Little Mo for babies 6 months and older. There are two temperature ratings to choose from: A synthetic 40-degree option and a down 20-degree option. You can find out more about these sleeping bags in this article. In addition, make sure your baby is not sleeping directly on the floor of the tent. A camping crib/pack and play or sleeping pad can provide insulation from the cold ground and help baby sleep more soundly. Does your family enjoy cold-weather camping adventures? Do you have tips to make it enjoyable and successful for the whole family? Let us know in the comments below! Looking for more information on how to camp with a baby in tow? Stay tuned for more articles in this blog series! We will cover various topics and provide tips and advice to make camping with a baby a huge success! Other Articles in this Series: How to Choose a Baby-Friendly Campsite Essential Baby Camping Gear Tips for Sleeping in a Tent with Baby Favorite Baby Camping Foods Photos by Deanna Curry and Kim Ives ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.