Summer Ways to Get Kids Moving

Tuesday, June 24, 2008; HE04

To get kids moving this summer, here are some tips from the National Association for Sport & Physical Education, http://www.naspeinfo.org.

· Create an activity treasure chest. Fill a chest with balls, tennis rackets, nets, badminton rackets, Frisbees, jump ropes and sidewalk chalk.

· Be active close to home. Explore parks, pools and youth centers. Add a few other parents and kids, and turn it into an outing. One fun spot? The Youth Center at Robertson Park in Gaithersburg has a kids' climbing wall.

· Take advantage of the county and national park systems. Many offer guided hikes, canoe trips and other programs, with specialized instruction. For information about the National Parks System, check out http://www.nps.gov.

· Pack a picnic. Head out for a sunset hike with a healthy picnic supper. Gradually increase your mileage and keep your kids interested with a travel log of miles you cover on foot and the flora and fauna you encounter. In Northern Virginia, check out the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority at http://www.nvrpa.org; in Maryland, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission at http://www.mncppc.org/index.cfm?id=2; and in the District, the Department of Parks and Recreation at http://dpr.dc.gov/dpr/site/default.asp.

· Try geocaching. Follow clues that you access online at http://www.geocaching.com to find hidden treasures left by ordinary folks, sometimes in out-of-the-way places, sometimes in plain view.

· Go to a pick-your-own farm. A great way for kids to understand the farm-to-table process. Check http://www.pickyourown.org for farms near your home.

-- Lori Aratani