Community Concierge Magazine Interviews Savannah Donovan about the C-U Outdoors Club

What will club members do?

Club members will have access to free opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors with other local families. These opportunities can range from hikes to picnics, from star-watches to sports games and more. Members will receive occasional emails that let them know about upcoming free outdoor events in the Champaign-Urbana area—most opportunities will not even require pre-registration. The idea is to get as many families as possible enjoying the outdoors in places that are close to home and at times that are convenient for them. Our goal is for families to become familiar with local parks and natural areas and to feel comfortable exploring them together. We want to remove all of the barriers that may prevent families from enjoying nature. Club members will also have the opportunity to set their own agendas, times, and locations and invite other families to join them, similar to a Meetup Group. Club hikes are already planned monthly for October through December. During these hikes, parents will learn tips and tricks that will make exploring nature more fun and enjoyable for their family. Urbana Park District staff will be on-hand to share information about plants and animals and guide fun trail activities.

Why should families join?

There are so many proven benefits of spending time outdoors: reduction in stress and anxiety, heightened awareness, increased ability to concentrate, and lowering blood pressure and promoting weight loss are just a few. Unstructured play with “loose parts” in nature (sticks, leaves, mud, etc.) increases children’s critical thinking skills and ability to think creatively. As they run, jump, climb and teeter across logs they improve their large motor skills. Picking apart seeds, building fairy houses, and playing with bugs all help to improve fine motor skills. Children with ADHD, sensory processing disorders, and autism often show reduced symptoms when they are allowed to play and explore in nature. Also, spending time outdoors increases our appreciation of nature—the environment that feeds us and provides clean air and water. This can lead to increased stewardship and advocating for our shared natural environments. In today’s world of video games, computers, and smart phones, it has never been so important to get back outdoors and in touch with nature.

What do you hope this program will be become in a year, 2 years, 3 years?

My goal is for this club to be entirely member-run within the next year. Right now, I am managing the website, online calendar and email announcements, but the plan is to hand over those responsibilities to the club members themselves as they become more active and engaged with the C-U Outdoors Club. Ideally, this should be a club for families, run by families. In two to three years, I hope to see club members enjoying weekly excursions outdoors at times and places that are most convenient for them. If enough families are active and involved, this group could become a powerful voice in our community to promote outdoor recreation and nature conservation. I certainly hope the club will gain that much momentum! And I hope to see you outdoors at the next C-U Outdoors Club gathering!

Savannah Y. Donovan

Environmental Public Program Coordinator

Urbana Park District

Anita Purves Nature Center
217-384-4062 ext. 359