This post on taking in community outreach was inspired by my #playoutdoors friend, Caro Webster, who wrote about: The power of "people variety" in a child's life on her beautiful blog. I read her post over a year and a half ago -- but I really took her words to heart. Caro says: "I see it as part of my job description as a mother, to provide them with access to unusual people, places and situations until they are old enough to do it for themselves." Here are some people in our neighborhood who specialize in their fields and work to educate the young people in our community. Do you know them?
Park Rangers (ocparks.com)
The official OCParks.com website's list of parks with interpretive centers is a great place to start when looking to meet your local ranger. I love all the rangers I've met! They are eager to share our natural resources with the kids of our county. When you visit Nix Nature Center or Riley Wilderness Park Interpretive Center -- you'll talk to rangers who really know their stuff. Don't just cruise by without striking up a conversation. Watch the OCParks.com website for opportunities to join a Junior Ranger program.
Master Gardeners (uccemg.com)
Our first exposure to our local Master Gardeners was at the Orange County Great Park Farm & Food Lab. We went to a Family Gardening seminar that was excellent and very kid-friendly by the amazing Master Gardener Teena Spengler. She inspired us to start our own container garden at home. We're off to a great start this spring. You can find Master Gardeners at the Orange County Great Park Farm & Food Lab on most Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm. Click on the "Things to See" tab on the OCGP website.
The Librarian and Friends of the Library (ocpl.org)
The children's section of our public library is one of our favorite destinations. Whether we go once a week or twice a month, it's a regular outing for us. The librarians always suggest interesting titles and put up inspiring displays. On one of our last visits, we saw a terrarium FULL of stick bugs. Amazing! I don't know what we'd do without the ability to borrow books! Just this past week, we've learned about The Star Spangled Banner and the women's suffrage movements. The illustrations in the stories made our imaginations soar. I end up learning as much as the kids. The Friends of the Library volunteers are equally helpful with their 25 cent titles available for purchase and recommendations on best buys. The kids always love to show off their choices and chat with the volunteers.
Final Thoughts
Many of us crave the connections we make in our online lives. We read blogs to connect with the writers who live to share them. We spend time on Facebook and Twitter to see what's going on in the world and with our friends. We can sit in the comfort of our homes and socialize. But if we aren't getting out into the real world and interacting in person, what does that teach our kids? Life wouldn't quite be the same for our family if my kids didn't know these people in our neighborhood.
Computers are great. I don't know what I'd do without mine. But it's the real human interactions that are superior to any online experience I've ever had. I like to shake someone's hand and see their face. I like to ask questions and see their eyes light up when they share their knowledge. I don't ever want to these real life connections to become virtual. Virtual isn't real enough for me.
