Getting Outside with a Photography Safari

Getting kids outside is important

Getting kids outside is more important than ever. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that kids are spending upwards of seven hours a day with screen technology, which means less time outside playing. According to a nationwide poll conducted by The Nature Conservancy, only about 10 percent of children spend time outdoors every day.
But spending time outdoors has numerous mental and physical heath benefits. Research finds that kids who spend time outside are more creative in their play, more physically active and have enhanced attention spans. And as they get older, children who’ve spent time outdoors show a greater appreciation for the environment. A great way to start spending more time in the outdoors is to go on a family photo safari.

How to plan a photo safari with your family

I found that by taking my two sons, ages 13 and 11, out on a photography safari at one of our local parks, we were able to slow down and intentionally observe nature’s quiet rhythm, including wildlife, insects and seasonal plants and colors. Keep these tips in mind when you’re planning:

Choose a place and time

Parks with nature trails, botanical gardens, nature centers and zoos provide plenty of material for a safari. Or start in your own backyard. Set aside 30 minutes to an hour. Or, if you’re on vacation, turn the safari into a multi-day event where snapshots are collected over the duration of your trip.

Cameras

If you don’t have a digital camera and you’re uncomfortable with your child borrowing your phone or iPad, check out inexpensive, kid-friendly digital camera options available online and at large discount stores like Walmart and Target, or purchase a disposable camera. Also, pack sunscreen, bug spray, water and snacks.

Photo Shoot Lists
Make a list of the photos you want to shoot. Maybe you plan to hike in a forest or camp at a national park this summer. Make a list of animals, plants, birds, or landscapes to be on the lookout for. Decide how many and what types of items to put on your list according to the age of your child.
If you’re going to the zoo, you might craft a list of adjectives that describe different animals. For example, look for animals that are striped, have tusks, swim, waddle, fly, etc. I opted to keep my list for the park general and stuck to having my kids search for particular colors, shapes and textures. To challenge kids who are already handy with a camera, you might have them hunt for interesting angles, lighting and reflections.

Sample List for Your Photography Safari
Snap photos of something:
• Green
• Furry
• Red
• Striped
• Orange
• In motion
• Feathered
• Round
• Square
• Oval

Rules of the game

For our safari, we decided that we couldn’t choose the same subjects to photograph. Consider the game rules for your hunt. For example: Can we help each other? Is there a time limit to complete the list? Can we only shoot natural objects or are manmade subjects game too? Will we head out together or split into groups? How competitive do we want the hunt to be?
Decide if you want friendly competition. I opted not to make our safari a competition with prizes at the end. But you could, especially if you’re hosting a large group of kids that you plan to split into teams like a Boy Scout/Girl Scout group or for a birthday party. Dollar stores offer a variety of inexpensive prize options. You might award prizes to teams who captured the funniest, most striking or creative images.

After your safari – ideas to share

• Paste a favorite photo into a journal and write about it
• If you went to the zoo and picked up a map, cut and paste photos onto the map to keep as a souvenir
• Create a digital photo book
• Write a make believe story to go with the photos
• Start a private family blog and have your child write a post about his outing featuring his favorite snapshots
• Make a movie slide show of photos set to music
• Print out the photos and make a collage or scrapbook

My sons and I began to see all kinds of various shapes and interesting colors that we’d never before noticed when we’d visited the park in the past. We watched a goose swimming gracefully across the lake, a fisherman casting his line, and a kayaker paddling smoothly across the water. We peered over a bridge and marveled at the geometric design engineers used to build the lake’s dam. And best of all, while we walked side by side, cameras in hand, we simply enjoyed each other’s company.