I couldn’t help but smile. Kayana put into words what we see all the time when taking a group of kids outside. A student finds a centipede by rolling over a dead log and curiosity takes over, compelling her to look under every log to discover what else she can find. Or a child notices the brilliant yellow and orange stripe on the head of a brave Goldencrowned Kinglet perched in the bushes just a couple feet away and suddenly each bird is a new treasure. New worlds are discovered just by taking kids outside and giving them the opportunity to explore.

Research has shown that children spending time exploring nature benefits them in many ways. In his book “Last Child in the Woods”, Richard Louv suggests that consistently spending time outdoors is beneficial to children’s spiritual, emotional and physical health. It can be as simple as turning off the TV and spending time in your own backyard or taking a walk to your neighborhood park.

So if you have a child or know a child (or even if you don’t!), go outside and do some exploring of your own. Spring is the perfect time to look for wildflowers or migrating birds, plant a garden or search for animal tracks in the mud.