Introduction to family outdoor activities :
In this article, we’ll try to explain the benefits of outdoor activities for the whole family. What are the best activities for children of different ages? It’s up to you to choose which outdoor activities suit you best.
For people of all ages, the natural environment in its untouched state provides an opportunity for contemplation and the awakening of the senses. A child’s curiosity and bond with these new elements are all the stronger for it. Sports in a natural environment develop concentration, autonomy and self-confidence. Open-air activities enable a much better assimilation of natural coordination reflexes. They help anticipate risk and develop general agility. Family outdoor activities help build team cohesion. Your family becomes a real “Team”!
A few tips for a successful family outdoor activity
Here are a few tips to make the most of these unforgettable moments with your children:
Equip them with travel journals or sketchbooks, and let them keep a diary of the nature outings they’ve made. Whether in writing, drawing, in the form of a travel diary, or collecting blades of grass for a “herbarium”. Let your child create and transcribe in his or her own way the events that made the biggest impression on him or her.
Make them aware from an early age to care for and respect what they find beautiful.
Activités de plein air en famille, carnet de voyage à l’aquarelle !
Preserve these natural habitats
Explain that if it’s beautiful, it’s because people have been looking after it for a long time. If you know anything about flora and fauna, it’s the best way to teach them about the fragile nature of ecosystems. So we teach them not to pick up everything and not to step on everything we see. The umbrella in Devil’s Canyon is a Natura 2000 site. So we preserve it without stepping on it, just by contemplating it with our eyes. The tufa formation characteristic of this area is a complex alchemy, and if you trample on it, the wonder disappears.
In our family outdoor activities, such as canyoning, we avoid walking where there’s little water. To avoid disturbing this micro-world of fish, amphibians and insects, we prefer to walk along the river banks.
Here are a few ideas for unusual outdoor sports activities you and your family can enjoy together.
The via-ferrata :
It’s the perfect mix for adventurers thirsty for vertical strolls and aerial games! An example of an outdoor activity to enjoy with the whole family!
The spirit of the via-ferrata is to take on a mountain and get close to the sensations of climbing. Progression is made possible by the use of rungs and a cable providing a lifeline from start to finish. Specific and adapted equipment is provided. (Harness with lanyards and shock absorber, plus helmet). We advise you to be supervised by a professional. He’ll know how to make the activity all the more fun and full of surprises, thanks to his in-depth knowledge.
The Hérault and Gard departments have several courses.
You’ll encounter aerial crossings via zip lines, monkey bridges, cave crossings and pendulum jumps. The via-ferrata is open to climbers aged 8-10 and over.
A day like this forges beautiful memories and moments of family togetherness.
Looking for adventure? Naturéo Sport Aventure offers via-ferrata activities to suit all tastes. Find out more here.
Via ferrata du Thaurac dans l’Hérault, un parcours aérien et varié.
Canyoning:
Canyoning is pure pleasure. What a delight it is to find yourself in cool river water when the thermometer is hovering around 40 degrees.
Equipped with a neoprene wetsuit, harness and helmet, you’ll descend a river with vertical crossings.
Jumps are the best-known form of obstacle clearance in canyoning. You can also abseil on a rope or slide down natural slides sculpted solely by the passage of water.
Accessible from the age of 8, it’s an activity that can easily be enjoyed by the whole family.
I’m always amazed at the ease and speed of progress a child can generate in natural environments, and especially in canyoning.
learning new body reflexes:
Learning to control your balance, to give the right impulse to target an area during a jump brings an incredible richness to the acquisition of a varied gestural repertoire.
Jumping in the water means learning to trust yourself, your instructor and the other members of your group. The controlled surpassing of oneself brings a state of euphoria and a feeling of lightness that won’t leave you for long.
In short, if you recognize yourself in these lines and they arouse your curiosity, don’t hesitate to direct your vacations towards destinations where you can enjoy outdoor activities with your family.
Here are just a few of the highlights in France: the Verdon gorges, the Hérault gorges, the Cévennes, the Ardèche and Corsica.
Practicing with professionals is essential if you’re just starting out. These disciplines remain dangerous without an exact knowledge of the environment. By this we mean mastery of access routes, escape routes and the right methods for overcoming obstacles. So you can enjoy your day in the great outdoors with peace of mind!
Looking for adventure? Naturéo Sport Aventure offers a range of activities to suit all tastes. Find out more here.
