
What we’re about
“1000 Hours Outside is a global movement designed for any age child (or adult) and any environment. Join the journey and watch your life transform before your eyes. Nature holds tremendous power for each and every one of us at any age or stage.
We track a lot of things these days - steps, calories, budgets, frequent flyer miles etc - why not track something so beneficial to our children as well? There are so many things that compete for our time so it's easy for something like this to get back-burnered. We found that if we spread these 4-6 hour chunks out over a few days (shooting for roughly 20 hours a week) it would take us to averaging about 1,000 hours of outside activity a year. That seems insane, maybe - we get it. But did you know the average American child spends 1,200 hours a year in front of screens? Now THAT seems insane to us, but hey, we get it - parenting is hard and sometimes those screens 'seem' like such a welcome reprieve from the chaos. We certainly are not militant about it and we don't take a 'no screens ever or you will surely die' approach either. But we would, quite vehemently, argue that nature- big, beautiful, bountiful nature - is the absolute and very BEST reprieve for you and your children. Honestly, they don't even compare!” - 1000 Hours Outside
This group’s activities will mostly stay in the Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Orangevale area. But honestly, there are so many cool things to do all over Sacramento, we can't make any promises! Pick and choose what works best for you and your family! Additionally, our goal is to provide you activity ideas throughout the week, either local or in your own backyard! If you have suggestions or want to add something to the calendar, just message us!
Main Goal: get these kids outside to burn some energy, rain or shine!
Some side benefits: Meet new friends, both adults and kids! Explore the parks of Sacramento. Discover fun local outdoor events!
Our responsibility: Provide you with outdoor prompts and get-togethers to get your child off screens and outside!
Your responsibility: Join us for the adventures, look up the weather and dress appropriately, pack extra clothes if needed, pack snacks and/or a lunch, pack necessary beverages to stay hydrated,
Things to consider/bring when packing for an outing:
- Sunscreen! Hats! You can still get burned even if it's cloudy and cold!
- Will my child be getting wet?
- Will it be raining? Raincoats, snow pants, rain pants, rainboots
- Will my child get hungry? Will this outing last over lunchtime?
- What shoes are best for this activity? What clothes are best to keep my child comfortable the whole time?
Resources:
- "1000 Hours Outside" book
- "No Such Thing as Bad Weather" book
- 2023 Kick Off Pack - a free printable packet with ideas of things to do each month, a book club for parents, and book recommendations for kids based on the seasons
- "1000 Hours Outside" app to track your hours - in your phone's app store
Additional Comments:
- No age limits on who comes with you - while this is a family-based group, you can invite family members, teenage cousins, etc - anyone can benefit from being outside.
- Although we love a good hike, sometimes that can be tough on the little ones and therefore tough on the parents. We may do a tiny hike here and there, but we would like to keep it more open-ended. If we do a hike that's longer, we will most likely leave it up to the kids to dictate how far we go.
- Ideally, we'd like to make our activities drop-in. Come when you can, leave when you need to!
- Our goal is to make it the least amount of planning possible because we are all SO BUSY. Yeah, you might have to pack extra clothes or a picnic lunch, but other than that, we want you to bring just you, your family, and a willingness to play and explore!