I've been working on packing the truck for a weekend in the woods all day today.
It's worse than kids not knowing how to play in nature. They can't even identify natural things anymore! I can't tell you how many kids can look at a rabbit---A RABBIT!--and not know what it is!!!!
sheesh! when our oldest was just 4 or 5, he would spend the
entire day outside tromping around our 4 acres. when he got
hungry, he would snatch tomatos or bush beans out of my
garden. heck, the kid wouldn't even come in to use the
bathroom, that's what treehouses and the backside of garages
are for. ;)
the boys just got back from a few days at the cabin with their
grandad. entertainment consists of hiking, riding their
dirtbikes and watching flaming mice scatter, right pat? ;)
I live in the mountains of east Tennessee where there are endless hiking trails and unnumbered places to go camping. I and my family spent many many days and nights camping and back packing in the nearby woodlands.
We can and did pick up and go often.
In the campgrounds and on the trails you meet folks from the cities, the blue zone where they pour over catalogues and plan endlessly. They get maps and they plot. They actually get to spend only a few days or hours in the outdoors, but a good bit of energy and money and time are involved in creating an identity. That identity is projected via an SUV, a big suppply of gear, decals on the rear window and numerous other badges.
Then there are some who want to have the identity without the bother and uncleanliness of the out of doors. they merely buy the stuff and create the identity. Their kids are doomed to a life bereft of substance as they live on the surface, the veneer of reality.
The wilderness is the distance between the apartment and the truck.
Yes, "The Woods!" I had 2 growing up and the most popular thing we did was to play Army. Also dirt clod wars, apple throwing wars, hide and seek, throwing rocks, etc. Once with 2 girls and a Playboy.
I blame those who release child molesters from prison. Everyone's afraid to let their kids out of their sight.