Well Words Wednesday: School Is Out, Nature Is In!

06 05 2025

What better time to encourage curiosity and creativity than when school officially breaks for the summer? Remember the slogan “Less Screen Time and More Green Time”? Lather on some mineral based, broad spectrum sunscreen and head for the great outdoors.

Even if you don’t have children, everyone can benefit from spending some time outside. The more time you spend outdoors, the more mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits you will receive.

Learning to identify the plants and animals around you has many benefits. You will become more curious and feel more connected with the flora and fauna that surrounds you. When you can call something by its name, it becomes known and becomes more a part of you and your world. Taking the time to teach yourself and your children to identify the flora, fauna, shells, rocks, and constellations brings excitement and appreciation for the earth, water, and sky. You will also increase your ecological awareness, as well as building skills for observation and classification. Here are a few ideas to stimulate and encourage you to make this a part of your and your family’s summer goals.

• Consider putting up some bird feeders in your yard. Birding has become an immensely popular pastime, whether it is a birding adventure in the woods, at a park, or outside your window. Arm yourself with a good bird identification book, a pair of binoculars, and even a camera. You will be amazed at how much you will enjoy this new hobby as you gain knowledge and excitement which can be shared with your children, spouse, and/or friends.

• Add some variety to your summer activities by seeing how many Greenville County parks you can visit this summer. For those who may not have heard, Conestee Nature Preserve has recently added a Nature Playscape where children can play, be creative, and explore. This area allows children to connect with the natural world by building nests with sticks, creating forts, running up and down a hill, and getting muddy in a simulated stream. Check it out! Greenville County Rec has a wonderful website, greenvillerec.com that has a link to the 2025 Parks and Rec Guide. You can find it listed under “Quick Links.”

• Another fun adventure is exploring South Carolina’s 47 State Parks where you can enjoy hiking, camping, boating, and fishing. These parks are located from the mountains to the sea and offer the opportunity to explore South Carolina’s rich history, cultural treasures, and diverse landscapes with a large diversity of flora and fauna. The website, discoversouthcarolina.com highlights the many activities available on the 90,000 acres of state park land. These lands “also serve as a playground for outdoor fun. You’ll find picturesque settings to fish, swim, boat, kayak, hike, mountain bike, play tennis, golf, volleyball, basketball, croquet, go geocaching, scuba diving, horseback riding, and skeet shooting.” How could anyone ever run out of fun activities to engage in, especially right here in our own state? If you want to visit all the parks, you will be rewarded with the title and t-shirt that bears the name of your accomplishment, “Ultimate Outsider”! To take the challenge, purchase a $2.00 Official Guide to South Carolina State Parks which is available online or at any state park. The guide features information about the various amenities at each park and special events. Each time you visit a park, you can get your guide stamped by a park ranger. Once you have visited all 47 parks, you turn your guide over to a ranger to claim your reward. It’s a great idea to purchase a South Carolina All Parks Passport for $99.00 and get free unlimited admission for one vehicle to all the state parks. South Carolina residents can also check out an All Parks Passport from the library with a library card for a period of between 7-14 days with no renewal. For more information, visit southcarolinaparks.com. Many of the parks offer wonderful educational programs for adults, children, and families.

There are many fun activities to engage in within your own state, your county, and your own backyard! School is Out, and Nature is In. Let this summer be the spark for you and your family to engage in a year-round love of nature and the outdoors!