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Feel the Earth

Activity

A Barefoot Sensory Walk

Explore the world through your feet during a barefoot walk! Choose a safe and natural area where it is comfortable to walk barefoot, such as a grassy lawn, sandy area, or soft forest trail. Start by standing barefoot on the ground and taking a few deep breaths to relax. Walk slowly and mindfully, paying attention to what you feel under your feet. Notice the texture, temperature, and any changes in the way the ground feels. You might even imagine roots growing from your feet into the ground! You can also do this activity sitting down.

Science Seed

Walking barefoot in nature is also known as grounding. When we walk barefoot on the ground, we feel a deep sense of calm and connection to nature. Being in touch with the Earth helps us feel more centered, grounded, and at peace. It is a simple way to feel refreshed, less stressed, and more present in the moment. Grounding allows us to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel more balanced, leaving us feeling more relaxed, happy, and connected to the world around us. Spending time connected to nature helps our mental and physical health by lowering blood pressure, increasing focus, reducing anxiety, reducing inflammation, boosting immune function, decreasing nearsightedness, increasing movement, supporting positive mental health, improving sleep, and increasing life expectancy. Enormous health benefits can be gained by spending just 20 minutes per day six days per week (120 minutes per week) in nature.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore the Memorial Park Conservancy

The mission of Memorial Park Conservancy is to preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by