This time of year, communities around the world get festive for the holidays, sharing traditions and exchanging gifts in celebration of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. We thought, why not share a bit of nature this giving season? We’ve pulled together a gift list featuring “some of our favorite things,” all designed to help you and your loved ones connect to nature in the coming year. Whether you’re facilitating outdoor time by gifting gear, supporting worthy causes in comfy slippers, or sharing memorable moments in nature thanks to experiential coupons and parks passes, our staff picks will help your favorite people to connect with the natural world — and the planet will thank you, too.

One of the best gifts we ever got our son was a hammock. When he was little, we did all sorts of outdoor activities together as a family — gardening, hiking, camping, kayaking, etc. But when he hit his teen years — surprise, surprise — he wasn’t so into hanging out with his parents! And, we noticed that he was spending more and more time indoors. A friend suggested that we get him a hammock. Genius! He spent many hours ’mocking in parks around the city with his friends and we didn’t have to nag him as much to get outdoors.

Sarah Milligan-Toffler
President & CEO
Atlanta, Georgia

I love anything by the footwear company OluKai! Of course, I live in their flip flops, but their cozy slippers are also great for keeping warm after a fall/winter ocean swim. They are durable and comfortable, but the biggest reason I recommend them is their commitment to giving back, honoring Hawai`ian culture and sharing aloha. We’ve had many lifeguards on Hawai`i tell us how generous OluKai has been to them and their families.

Laurie Rich
Director of Events & External Relations
Hilo, Hawai`i

Following a canoe trip some years back, I asked my son to help refine our packing list: what did we miss, what could have been left at home. He responded immediately with, “I missed our binoculars” – which had spent a lonely week on the dining room table instead of in our day pack. A few years later, I got him his own Nikon Travelite set; he’s used them while camping and hiking, to watch a lunar eclipse from the backyard, and to ID birds from the window. REI has an expert guide to choosing binoculars, covering everything from magnification power to field of view to prism type, plus tips for testing and focusing. For kids, this Miami Herald article offers tips for picking the right binocs for toddlers to pre-teens. And if you look at our packing list from that fateful canoe trip years ago, “binoculars” is both circled and underlined, with a note written by a much younger version of my son that reads, “make sure to don’t forget.” (So far, so good!)

Laura Mylan
CSO, External Relations
Minneapolis, Minnesota

My favorite gift is sharing a picnic on the beach with friends and a sunset… And some ice cream afterward, of course!

Jae Baldizzi
ArcStone Project Manager / Digital Marketer
St. Petersburg, Florida

Nature adventure coupons make great stocking stuffers! If you are not feeling crafty or you’re in a time crunch, an online search will turn up some great files to download and print out, with complimentary options as well as designs available for purchase. Although my children and I enjoy the outdoors often, these coupons really are a gift of out-of-the-ordinary shared moments in nature. For example, going on a nature treasure hunt requires parents’ pre-adventure preparation, while gifting a picnic is special because I’m not a huge fan of eating outdoors — but my kids love to. You can pair with other items like a catch-and-release critter cage, new hiking boots, or a compass. But they make great gifts on their own too!

Kristy Omelianuk
Network Engagement Manager
Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Outdoor gear by Outdoor Afro + REI Co-op = great gifts! “Celebrating the nature in all of us” — That’s the intention behind this partnership. Featuring clothing, footwear, and accessories, the collection came about when Outdoor Afro and the REI Co-op partnered to amplify Black Joy and leadership in the outdoors. I’m excited to share this beautiful outdoor wear with my daughter and son-in-law. Love the color, fabrics and comfortable fit! While these gifts are for Mom and Dad, my granddaughters are also hoping to borrow the shirts to sleep in.

Now that’s a gift I feel good about giving!

Avery Cleary
Conference Manager
Walnut Creek, California

Jamie and her family exploring Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park.

My home state of Minnesota, like so many states across the U.S., has an incredible diversity of outdoor activities available in its state parks. Our family enjoys visiting them throughout the year — from leaf-peeping in the fall to snowshoeing in the winter, watching the waterfalls swell in the spring and swimming in the summer — there’s always something to keep our kids (and dogs!) busy. A state parks vehicle permit is a great way to share your state’s parks with friends and family. In Minnesota, $35 gets your vehicle into the park for the year. Prices are often similar in other states, too — check out what’s available in your state!

Jamie Pérez
External Relations Coordinator
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Speaker Yolanda Renee King at the  Inside-Out International Conference, one of the many ways that the Children & Nature Network helps nurture and grow the movement for children and nature.

I just moved to a new home, and the act of moving has reminded me how much unnecessary stuff I’ve accumulated over the years! So this holiday season, my family is taking a break from physical gifts. Putting a pause on presents will give me the gift of space in my closets, and will give us all a bit more room in the calendar so we’ll have more time to focus on my favorite part of the holidays — making memories with loved ones. And I can use some of that extra time to go through my overflowing closets and make donations!

In lieu of a physical gift, I’ll be gifting loved ones with a membership to the Children & Nature Network. It’s a cause that’s near and dear to my heart, of course, and memberships support efforts for the children and nature movement in so many ways. We’re holding our annual member drive through the end of the year, so please join in the fun — giving this gift is a win-win for nature and children everywhere, with warm and fuzzy feelings for both giver and recipient!

Amelia Rhodeland
Content Production Manager
Los Angeles, California

 

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