Wheeling Children Encouraged to Get Outdoors

A presidential proclamation was recently released by the White House announcing June as Great Outdoors Month and Wheeling parents are encouraged to use this opportunity to get their children out and under the warm summer sun to stay active.

"Without school to keep kids occupied it's easy for them to get stuck behind a screen for hours at a time," commented Shik Lee, a fitness expert who owns and operates White Tiger Martial Arts Center in Wheeling. "When training for martial arts, we often do the activities we would normally do but do it at a local park. Kids love being outside but sometimes they need a little motivation to break them away from video games and TV."

Finding the right activities can be difficult but there are several options to choose from, you just have to find the right ones for your family. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), families can enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback riding, and rock climbing amongst others.

"The one thing we can't stress enough is to keep your kids safe while having fun outdoors," stated Lee. "Don't forget to bring essentials such as proper clothing and shoes, navigation devices, bug spray, sunscreen, and water for hydration."

According to the IDNR, an estimated 44 million people visit state parks each year and throughout Illinois there are over 70 state parks - all offering fun and unique ways to enjoy family activities together.

National Great Outdoors Month started as just a one-week observance back in 1998 and it has since been lengthened to a full month with more than one million people participating in Great Outdoors Month activities last year.

The IDNR has safety education classes for children and park safety rules listed on their main website at www.dnr.illinois.gov.