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 have never done anything like this but it sounds a great idea.

We love getting together with other mums if its meeting up at a big play centre or the local park. We have also been camping with one family which was fun, we hope to do it again this year. One mum suggested going to the beach together on Bank Holiday weekend, but I think that would just be a nightmare!

we organise pram walks where we gather together with the children and go on a long country walk

I think this is a good idea and I’d participate if the activities were age appropriate so that ds (11) felt the activity was beneficial to him and enjoyable. I wouldn’t mind travelling up to 45 mins each way for something he would enjoy. I agree with previous posters though that the focus needs to be the activity rather than the “connecting”

Wish the government would realise how important green space is. Our children need fields and parks to experience real childhood, not sitting in watching Youtube or playing computer games. Having a get together parents and children, and having a good game of rounders, football or cricket and a picnic make the best childhood memories in a happy and safe environment.

nice idea, always tricky to arrange to get everyone to arrange a date and all the organising can be impossible to arrange at times.

This sounds a great idea and facebook would be a great way to arrange something like this too. Our two love outdoorsy things. We do follow a local park page and they often organise family outdoor activities for brill prices.

i think it's a good idea. i think it's important for children to socialise with other children and it's good for me to get to speak to other mummies. always have good tips and love making new friends!

Lovely idea,my kids would love this! I have a 7 year age gap and it has been like having 2 only children so they would love the company of others their own age!

We are lucky, we live close to the sea with an excellent common where we get together for barbecues, picnics and play days. The countryside is also easily reachable in a matter of minutes so we often get together for walking trips and round it up with a cold drink in a pub garden in the sunshine.

Brilliant idea. We're really outdoorsy and have another family we meet up with from time to time to cycle but it'd be lovely to meet more like us.

We live near to the sea, with an excellent common opposite, so often get together with family or friends there for picnics, barbecues and play day activities. The countryside is also a quick drive away so we often round everyone up and have a walk in the countryside, finishing up with a cold drink, bag of crisps and a chill out in a pub garden.

I think it is a great idea & that it can be much more fun for everyone. I have 1 child so it is really good for them to get together with other children.
I find it makes me more relaxed with other people to share amazing memories with.

This sounds like a good idea. We go to the park abd for walks so often, it would be nice to meet up with another fanily so the kids can play together. I also struggle to make new friends so perhaps this would helo me too!

In the UK, families carefully site themselves apart on a beach. Please remember that, in many other countries, people would consider themselves rude NOT to sit right next to you. So - chill out and talk to your new neighbours for a different experience!

As a foster family we have often been very large in numbers and have to be careful on any activity or adventure so we do tend to not mix with many other families apart from our close network.... We have some great extended family members and there are so many of us that it can be difficult enough sorting through the arrangements before any adventure

Nature walks, days out. picnics, no pressure, something for all ages so that the older ones are happy as well as the younger ones.

I really like this idea!
I don't know ANYONE in our local area, despite having lived here for nearly a year now. I'd love for my son to be able to socialise outside of nursery and for us to make some local connections.

I'm quite shy though, so come across as very awkward initially- not great for making friends. I've been isolated for so long though it's only getting worse, the thought of trying to meet people and socialise makes me quite anxious.
Vicious cycle eh...

Usually meet up with extended family for bbqs, beach days etc.

This is a great idea and I would consider joining a group like this to do any activities. I have one daughter who would love to regularly meet groups of other children and it would be great for me too.

Great idea - anything to encouage children to spend less time on tech gadgets

I think its a great idea! It gives your children chance to mingle with other kids their age.

I think this is a brilliant idea and certainly something I would want to get involved in. For me, I'd like to see lots of free activities, local parks, walks, park BBQs, outdoor games in the local parks etc. Like someone else mentioned, it would probably be complicated for one person to organise the logistics, so it would be great if, even for a small monthly fee, someone could sort this out and you could just turn up on the day.

nieces always hook up with a friend or go with their sisters and their little ones!

We need more of this, would be great to get it going