Here are the ideas as referred to in my article, "Exploring the Creation...Exalting the Creator" published in the April 2010 edition of the Minnesota Christian Chronicle: Enjoy!

• Plan daily time outdoors (bring the outside in if weather is severe: place natural items such as sand, soil, pebbles, water, wood chips, snow, pinecones, or shells in a low container placed on a towel, plastic tablecloth or shower curtain)
• Be insistent and consistent in getting yourself and others outside.
• Be a good role model--enjoy the outdoors with kids.
• Get educated--study to be able to teach children about nature, to offer interesting learning experiences and to be able to defend a biblical view of creation.
• Create spaces that are "as safe as necessary" vs. "as safe as possible."
• Encourage kids to "pay attention" rather than to "be careful."
• Set clear, consistent limits, teaching young children to respond to "no" and "stop" in truly potentially harmful situations.
• Provide unstructured play in the yard, a field, in the woods or at a lake or river. Leave a part of your yard undeveloped (dirt piles, logs, rocks)
• Cut large "cookies" or tree slices from dead trees to use as stepping stones of various heights. Hollow out a short tree stump and fill with sand or dirt for digging.
• Provide natural wood toys, blocks, rattles etc. stored in wicker or reed baskets.
• Visit nature centers, farms, zoos, farmers' markets, garden centers, city/county/regional/national parks.
• Plant a garden together--flower, vegetable and/or herb. Learn to compost.
• Take nature scavenger hunts. Give child a small bag with a picture of an item to find on the outside of it or use a picture sheet of items to find/collect/observe.
• Eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner picnic-style outdoors on a blanket.
• Read a good book together under a shady tree.
• Take frequent walks (moonlight, too), hikes, or try geocaching.
• "Practice" camping in the backyard--then try the real thing!
• Place a hula hoop or circle of rope on a field or grassy area--use a magnifying glass to examine what exists, lives in that space.