Submitted by
Pebble Hill Plantation
National Take a Child Outside Week is Sept. 24-30, and Pebble Hill Plantation is participating by offering fun, nature-based activities for children from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. This event is free to the public and will be held at the Learning Center at Pebble Hill, located in Thomasville, Ga., at 1251 U.S. Hwy. 319 S.
“Take a Child Outside Week is held each September and celebrates opportunities for children to have free play outside and develop a better understanding and appreciation of the environment in which they live,” said Pebble Hill Program Coordinator Kitty Spivey. “We encourage everyone to come out to Pebble Hill to get outdoors and explore and discover nature.”
The event at Pebble Hill will emphasize the importance of connecting with nature. Spending time outdoors has many benefits for children, including reduction of stress and anxiety. Exploring nature also positively impacts cognitive abilities and fosters a stronger spirit of creativity and curiosity.
Take a Child Outside week was inspired by Richard Louv’s book Last Child in the Woods. “We tend to block off many of our senses when we are staring at a screen,” Louv has said. “Nature time can literally bring us to our senses. Now more than ever, we need nature as a balancing agent.”
In that spirit, Spivey has planned a fun day filled with activities. “We will have nature-inspired crafts and art projects, scavenger hunts, lessons on studying and observing nature, and other hands-on activities that will help children learn about the natural beauty that surrounds us.”
This free event at the Learning Center is a drop-in program. If there is inclement weather, the Take a Child Outside Day will be moved to Sunday, Sept. 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Learning Center. Participants may purchase grounds tour tickets at the Visitors' Center to explore other areas of the main grounds. For more information the program, contact Kim McCray at (229) 226-2344 or kmccray@ pebblehill.com. See also www.pebblehill.com and www.takeachildoutside.org.