OutdoorNebraska

4 We share a responsibility to create environments inviting people to venture outdoors, inspiring their sense of curiosity and desire to play outdoors; creating safe zones that allow a participant to experience their natural world and imagine their own adventures. Playful environments where young minds can grow and develop through imagination, building self-esteem, and the courage to explore and discover new things. Settings that allow the individual or group to appreciate nature and develop their sense of place in the outdoors. As children, playtime meant going outdoors, running barefoot in the grass, climbing trees to observe faraway landscapes, wading in creeks to discover what lies beneath the surface, building forts, laying on the lawn, gazing at the sky and feeling the warmth of the sun, and catching fireflies at dusk. Reluctantly, we only went indoors when we were summoned to do so because dinner was ready or we were sentenced to bed. Today, we are champions for nature, thankful for the various outdoor excursions we experienced during those adventures of our youth. Today, children and adults are often captivated within the realms of the virtual world, an artificial environment absent of the sensory aspects necessary to develop an appreciation for the natural world. Realms in which they do not need to invest physical exertion or develop their own imagination – it has already been designed for them. Our responsibility today is to awaken outdoor attitudes, summon people to venture outside, and inspire an appetite to play in the world of authenticity the outdoors has to offer. This publication, developed by a creative team with common understanding, can serve as a guide to help facilitate your creative ingenuity, and assist in the development of blueprints for what will become real and tangible landscapes for creative play and adventure. This guide takes you through a step-by-step process on how to create a natural playscape that serves the needs of the people you serve. Remember what it was like to be a child, and enjoy the freedom of creating something that youth and adults can enjoy for years. Feel inspired as you consider your own opportunities to create a natural playscape of outdoor adventure, and have fun in the process! Your rewards will be realized in the smiles and echoing laughter generated by what you create. As always, remember, Time Outdoors is Time Well Spent! Nebraska Game and Parks Commission INTRODUCTION

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