Scott Turner
Building Resilient Kids: The Power of Outdoor Play
We all want our kids to grow up to be competent, confident adults. We strive to provide them with new experiences and teach essential skills, but balancing guidance with independence can prove challenging. This is where outdoor play comes in as one of the best ways to give our kids space to grow, and this is where Riverside Camps can help! Truetimber founded these outdoor programs in 2005 to share our love of nature and the tree climbing experience with Richmond’s youth, and since then many thousands of children have learned to fully embrace our wonderful natural environment on the banks of the James River here in Richmond.
Beyond stress reduction and exercise, outdoor play increases creativity and problem solving skills. When kids climb a tree, rock hop in the river, or build forts out of sticks; they improve physical coordination and build strength. They learn to assess risk, trust their abilities, and work through their fears to achieve a goal. Most importantly, they learn how to fail. If they miss a jump while rock hopping, they end up with a skinned knee and a better understanding of how far they can jump. A collapsed fort inspires a better design. Playing outdoors with other kids teaches cooperation, interdependence and valuing diverse ideas – foundational skills for capable adults.
Here in Richmond, we’re lucky to have so many public green spaces to enjoy. Our parks provide opportunities for climbing, swimming, paddling, and peaceful walks. They improve our quality of life, and enable us to get our kids off of screens and outside. If we’re lucky, we live near one of our many parks or in areas where we can send our kids outside to play. Unfortunately, not all of us live in that neighborhood. Even if we did, not all kids are up to the challenge of entertaining themselves in the outdoors. Some require guidance, a safe environment to learn to assess risk, and inspiration to ignite creativity and confidence. Organizations like Riverside Outfitters Camps fill this gap. Since 2007, they have fostered friendship, confidence, creativity, and an appreciation for Richmond’s natural beauty. Their week-long summer camps are full of activities like tree climbing, river exploration, environmental education, and whitewater paddling. Discover their offerings at riversideoutfitters.com/
