Viking Magazine - February 2014 - 31

Does your lodge host a
Barneløpet or other outdoor
youth programming? Send
your ideas to Viking, Letters
to the Editor, 1455 W. Lake
St., Minneapolis, MN 55408
or vikingeditor@msp-c.com.
Kids in the
Great Outdoors
Foster an active outdoor lifestyle this winter
with these activities for your whole family.
S
pending time outside
is a great way to inspire
a love of nature and
share your Nordic heritage
with the young people in your
life. This winter, embrace the
Norwegian concept of friluftsliv
(the outdoor life) and plan a
family outdoor adventure.
You can start by sharing the
legend of the Birkebeiners
(see Viking's feature on page
16), a wonderful tale of Nordic
ingenuity and survival out in
the elements. For getting out
and physically active with kids
of all ages, David Goodman,
author of " Best
Backcountry Skiing
in the Northeast, "
offers simple advice:
" Keep it short, " says
Goodman. " You have
to go their pace ...
understanding that is
key to getting kids to
come back. "
LEARN MORE!
" The Race of the
Birkebeiners " by Lise LungeLarsen
(Houghton Miffl in 2007)
is available through local
public libraries.
To learn more about
geocaching, check out
geocaching.com.
For planning a barneløpet,
go to sonsofnorway.com and
log in to the Members section,
click on Programming,
select Idea Bank and scroll
to Children & Youth.
For the Sports Medal Program,
go to sonsofnorway.com
and log in to the Members
section, then click on Programming
and select Sports Medal
Programming.
Activities for Young People
PRESCHOOL
Make Believe
Read an outdoor story to your
child. A great option is " The
Race of the Birkebeiners " by Lise
Lunge-Larsen. Young children
will love the suspenseful story
of medieval warriors fl eeing
on skis through snowy forests
to save a young prince. After
you've shared the story, head
out with your family to your
backyard or local park and roleplay
the characters in a game of
Birkebeiner hide and seek.
Expand it: Try a short
hike, or if you
have access
to children's
skis or
snowshoes,
strap them on your
preschooler and try a
few strides.
ELEMENTARY AGES
Treasure Hunters
Exercise mind and body on
a geocaching expedition. A
modern-day treasure hunt for
an above-ground " cache " of
trinkets, logbook or disposable
camera, geocaching encourages
families with kids to get outside
in any climate and helps kids
learn orienteering in urban or
wilderness settings. Choose
from among thousands of
caches, rated at fi ve levels
of diffi culty, close to home
or farther away. With GPS
coordinates and a GPS device
or app on your smartphone,
you're on your way to a great
family adventure.
Expand it: When your family
has mastered fi nding caches, try
creating and hiding new caches
for others to fi nd.
TEENAGERS
Living the Lifestyle
Sons of Norway's Sports Medal
Program is a great way to get
outside and be physically active
with your teen. Designed
for any age and ability level,
the Sports Medal Program
encourages physical fi tness and
an active outdoor lifestyle. Categories
include walking, sports
and fi tness, skiing, bicycling and
swimming. Choose a category
that's right for you and your
teen, then start logging miles
toward a medal.
Expand it: Together with your
teen, assist your lodge in planning
a barneløpet, or " children's
ski event. "
http://www.sonsofnorway.com http://www.sonsofnorway.com http://www.geocaching.com
Viking Magazine - February 2014

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