Tell us your thoughts on connecting with other families for outdoor activities - £100 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

Like us, we're sure that the majority of you are relieved to see the end of the cold, dark, and wet months of winter (although it doesn’t quite feel like it yet!) and are welcoming spring and summer with open arms. The arrival of warmer days, bright mornings and longer evenings for many of us means it’s time to get outdoors with the family.

Here at MNHQ we would love to find out your thoughts on being able to connect with other families for shared and group outdoor activities such as: organised walks, visits to nature trails and areas of outstanding natural beauty, and other fun stuff for parents and kids to do together.

What sort of activities would make you consider joining an outdoor network with other families? Would you like to be able to connect with families in your local area or from further afield? Perhaps you have ideas of how this network could be run/organised? Are you already part of a group of families that organise outdoor activities together? If so tell us about it!

Whatever your thoughts are about connecting with other families do to outdoor activities, please comment on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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I was just speaking about this the other day, on a local Facebook Page (Gossip Girls). We've been trying to sort something out. I have moved around a LOT(!) 22 times in total (4 being with DD - sounds terrible I know, but I had my reasons, which were in our best interests). I am now settled in a lovely area and DD has started school. Whilst I speak to the other parents I don't really 'know' anyone. I have quite bad anxiety at the best of times, I have tried to strike up conversation but everyone seems to know everyone. I am a single parent (the other parent has zero involvement). I often go walking with DD and would love to meet other single parents, in an outdoor environment as I'm really into walking being a NT member. I go on 'girls nights out' but I don't really drink and tend to be an early riser and early to bed, and by the time childcare has been arranged well... Most of my friends are either still doing the whole 'sex in the city' thing or are happily married. My best friend is married and has her second on the way, and whilst I am over the moon for her(!) she obviously wants to spend time with her family, understandably. They invite me round for meals and ask me and DD out, but I often feel awkward (a third wheel). I'm not looking to meet anyone due to personal circumstances. I've joined a 'Nordic Walking' club, but I'm the only one under 50, and it's not something DD could get involved in. I love walking and trekking with DD, but would love to meet new people and DD to make friends with people in a similar situation. I often look at the families and it does make me a little sad, that as an only child she's just got her (boring, old!) Mum for company. I guess it's time to get sorting!

Sorry for the super long post!

I think this is a lovely idea! We live by the sea so we often meet up with other families we have met down on the beach. The kids all play together and we have picnics etc.

What a great idea. Doing activities outside is always more fun if children have others of the own age. I would love the fact of my son having other friends that are not part of his school friends. It would be great if it was not just during the warmer months as well.

A game of rounders in the park with other families is a summer must for us. Healthy exercise & friendly competition. Mood boosting and free!

when they're old enough and have a small circle of friends days out as a group with their parents helps to establish friendships.

Look on the local council website for activites - they often have pond clear ups or activity days - great because the organising is done for you

My kids are at an age now where they think going on a walk is boring. If they know we are going with friends, they are much more up fo it and don't moan half as much!

Difficult for us as family because we've always want to go to new places, BUT once in a while we've managed to convince friends to come along and it is a real party time we all have.
If it works out, it works splendidly.

Watching children play soon becomes tedious so sharing an outing means you share the care and have company. Children benefit from playing cooperatively and can come up with inventive games

Being really honest, I don't like engaging with other families when we are on holiday. Always friendly and polite but the whole point of being away for me is to spend quality time focussed on our little family.

There's enough sport in school, so we prefer organised trips with other families that are more educationally-based. Dinosaur hunts (we have dinosaur fossils and footprints near us), and castles (with history back-story), are perfect.

Rock painting and hunting is popular where we live and a great way of getting together outdoors

It’s hugely important especially with children . It helps keep u us parentd sane too

We go camping with around 5 love families every year and it's a big event. The children all have a blast and everyone looks forward to it.

In terms of organising other outdoor events, I think the simpler the better generally. An easy way would be to find a great location and just say every 3rd Sunday in the month we'll be there at a time. That way people could come, being a picnic, being a ball, frisbee etc and just have some outdoor play.

facebook group, we organise get togethers at parks etc

Camping in France has always been great for our children - they usually pal up with French children - although neither speak the others language well, they always manage to communicate and enjoy their time together

great idea

Our local home education group organised lots of group trips which our DC love.

Think the kids would be happier to do it, the more people of their own age were there - not sure the adults would enjoy having more kids about tho!

During school holidays we often meet up with other families at the park so the children can all play together, its excellent to help them form relationships with children in and out of school...it also wears them out with out spending a penny. When they return to school they are able to talk about the fun they all had together.

Definitely a great idea as adults and children have company outside of the family unit, which can be a welcome change for both

I think this is a great idea and something my friends and I definitely would have joined when our DCs were younger. There are lots of parent and baby/toddler type groups in our area but all the sort of sit around singing nursery rhymes type or the coffee morning while the children play (try to kill each other) type. There also isn't much for children once they reach school age. I think organised walks, park and beach days (we live by the sea) etc would be great. It is something you could do with friends and their children but could also do if you didn't know anyone or had just moved to an area. Lovely idea.

I think games like cricket , rounders , football team sport activities where you need a few people would be amazing !

It's good fun and also you get to have contact with other grown ups, which is rare treat