Explore a shore with children to spend time in nature and reap the educational rewards.
One of my favorite things to do ever since I was a child was to explore shores. Oceans, Lakes, and rivers all have beaches and banks worthy of exploration. There are so many magical things to discover on the shore. From tide pools to river bugs, rocks to shells, wildlife to inanimate objects, you can always count on something interesting to investigate.
Get Outside to Explore a Shore
Find a shore to explore and make a day of it. You can make it enjoyable by creating a scavenger hunt or home school lesson around it, or you can wing it–totally up to you. Feel free to pack a picnic if you like. 🙂
We are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to explore shores of all kinds with our daughter. You can see her in the photo above investing rocks at the water’s edge. I took this photo at Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park near our current home in Chico, CA.
In the photo below, she is looking for shells and sand crabs on the beach in Santa Monica. We spend our summers on the shores of LA so my husband can work as an ocean lifeguard.
Shores are an important place for us as a family, and we feel fortunate to explore so many of them with our daughter. My husband and I met working on the shores of LA as lifeguards. I retired after 20 years of service to be a full-time mom.
In the photo on the left below, you can see my daughter and me looking at river bugs in a stream on Table Mountain, CA. In the picture on the right, we observe the birds, ducks, and other wildlife around Horseshoe Lake, CA.
Whether you explore the shore of an ocean, lake, or river, there are many beautiful things to investigate. There is nothing better than getting outside and connecting with what matters while learning more about the world around you. We hope you enjoy exploring shores as much as we do!
Great post. It’s easy to take for granted the fun and learning that can come from a change in scenery. Our kids are getting more exposures to riverside paths and parks, but we equally are so lucky in British Columbia to have lakes and shores nearby to expose them to other sights, sounds, and natural classrooms. Your post is a great reminder to do it more often.
I’m glad you appreciated it Scott… makes all my hard work worth the while. I lived in Vancouver, BC (North Van) for 6 years – I loved it there and hope to return one day. So many amazing natural resources up there, and so many beautiful shores. I miss it and hope my daughter gets to enjoy it with me one day soon.