Last weekend, we took the kids on a day trip to Carlsbad Caverns. It wasn’t a first for either of them, but the last time we went they were both so young (5 & 2) that they really didn’t remember much of it. Now, at 11 and 7 they were much more engaged in the trip itself and surprised me by how interesting they found the entire experience.
We took the long route and walked down into the caverns as opposed to taking the elevator down and simply touring the Big Room. We also rented the audio wands…intending to share them but the kids monopolized them the entire time! They were both thoroughly enchanted on the way down. Christopher kept whispering “This place is amazing!” and Carrie used it as an opportunity to “teach” us. The little turkey would listen ahead on the audio wands and as soon as we approached the site she had just listened to she proceeded to explain it to us in GREAT detail (let’s just say that my dear daughter is NOT a woman of few words!).
All in all I was pleased at how they did…they were willing to walk AWAY from technology for a day (no ipods, no DS, no TV, no internet, no movies) for the day and walked the entire way with little to no complaining about being tired. They both walked away awestruck by the beauty of the caverns and having learned something about nature.
I suppose this simple family outing shows that you can find a balance between our technological and natural world…we may just have to work a little harder to do it!
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January 4th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Maybe Carrie could enter this contest:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008
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February 5th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I was thinking of this post when I saw this on the news last night.
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February 6th, 2008 at 12:11 am
With any luck, the movement called “No Child Left Inside” will catch fire and at the very least counteract some of the negative effects. I know a lot of people will claim this statement from the article you linked to as unfounded:
“The replacement of vigorous outdoor activities by sedentary, indoor videophilia has far-reaching consequences for physical and mental health, especially in children,” Pergams said in a statement. “Videophilia has been shown to be a cause of obesity, lack of socialization, attention disorders and poor academic performance.”
But I’ve seen first hand the difference in Christopher when he can spend even an hour out doors…he’s calmer, more focused, and more inquisitive.
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February 27th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Was it hard for Carrie and Christopher to leave all the tecnolegy at home? I don’t think I could leave that at home.
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February 27th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
They complained a bit at first…especially because the DVD player in the van wasn’t working so they REALLY had a long drive (in their opinion anyway). However, after a while they didn’t even seem to realize that the only “technology” they had was their minds!
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April 10th, 2008 at 10:01 am
REAlY!!!!!!NO TECHNOLOGY!!!!Thats imposssible! I can’t last with not even 1 min. of TV! It was probobly hard to pull them away from technology.
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April 13th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
Actually it wasn’t hard at all to pull them away. I’m not a big “technology as a way to pass time” type of person. I love technology, I think my kids should know how to use it and have access to it as much as possible. However, I do NOT believe that technology is better for a child than 30 minutes spent outdoors digging in the mud, sitting under a tree reading a book, watching a butterfly, etc. etc. I think there needs to be a balance and my concern is that as a society we have lost that balance.
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May 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
So they didn’t complain about the walk down to the caverns? I’m the kind of person who would play basketball or even read a book if I had a chance. So I play video games or sleep to pass the time. I don’t think that this story has a main Idea or hot spot.
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May 5th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
wow I also have gone but I was to little to remember it.Well when you say no electronics I think my mom would agree with you.
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May 7th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I don’t get you by no electronics because you can explain more and what is your hot spot but I like the way you explained Carlsbad Caverns and I can almost relate because I’m going again.
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May 13th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Wow!They (Carrie and Christopher)Didn’t complain! i think 2 hours is a lot of walking!!!Or maybe I just think that Because I haven’t been there in a long time!So what did you see? Did you see curtains? What are some of the other formations?
I can’t wait to go to there on our field trip on May,22!!!
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