MAZAMA FAMILIES by Amanda Brown
C
lose your eyes, and think back to your childhood. What are your favorite memories? If you are like me, your favorite memories involve time spent outside. My sister and I would play outside on summer afternoons and evenings building “raceways” for pop cans in the creek behind our house. Then we would try to catch the biggest crayfish we could as they darted in and out from underneath the rocks. She and I would make up fun stories for our adventures. Some days we were outlaws running from the law. Hound dogs were hot on our scent, and we had to throw them off by wading through the creek. When we were sure that we had lost them, we’d settle in for the night around our campfire (a big pile of sticks) and eat our dinner ( foraged weeds and crushed nuts) on our plates (big flat rocks). We would pretend to go fishing in our little creek (too small for any real fish) by making fishing poles
out of big sticks and strings, then take turns attaching big leaves to each other’s strings. The big leaves were big 'ole fish we were going to cook later over our campfire. Hopefully, you were as lucky as I was, and some of your cherished memories involve being out in nature. Now, close your eyes and imagine your own child(ren) and your child(ren)’s future. What do you think their favorite memories will involve? Unfortunately, urban children do not have as ready access to nature as I did in the rural Midwest. We all know that children need more time in nature and less screen time. However, it can sometimes feel like a chore to get children out. And if it feels like a chore, then the joy is gone. Fortunately here in Portland, there are many opportunities to engage children in nature within the city limits or just a short drive out of the city limits. The opportunities are virtually endless. If you are feeling overwhelmed with where to start, Mazama Families activities are a great way to get you and your family out. You can share the chore of organizing
"Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature." –Richard Louv, author of Last Child
in the Woods
and planning with other parents, and your child(ren) will get the opportunity to make new friends. You can enjoy adult conversation while your children spend some time getting to know other children. Our activities include hiking, climbing, snow camping, backpacking, mountaineering, and more. Check out mazamafamilies.org for more information. All are welcome to attend our committee meetings; 6:30 p.m. the 3rd or 4th Thursday of the month at the MMC.