Whether you’re chilling in a canoe, toasting marshmallows over a fire, or hiding from the rain in a leaky tent, being in the great outdoors provides time and inspiration for big questions with your little thinker.
Here are some great ones to get you started:
- When you’re out in nature, do you feel a part of it or like you’re visiting? Why do we think we are separate from nature at all?
- Do you still feel like yourself, when your everyday stuff is back at home? What can you give up or get away from, and still feel like you?
- Since being close to nature clears the mind, it makes it easier to think about nothing at all. As you’re sitting and listening to crickets, ask your kid if it’s possible to think about nothing. Why or why not? How do you know if you’re thinking about nothing?
- Do things like rocks, water, dirt and air have feelings and thoughts? How do you know? If not, then why is it so important for us to look after them?
- What’s the oldest thing you’ve seen on the trip? Is there anything that lasts forever? Is there anything that’s always existed?
- While staring up at the starry night sky: If there is life on other parts of the universe, do you think they’re like us? What do you think they would think of us if they visited Earth, or if we visited them?
- While telling scary stories around the campfire: What is the difference between something that’s real and something that’s imaginary? If things in scary stories aren’t real, then why are we afraid of them?
Just like camping trips are a great way for families to bond, discussing big questions can also bring you closer together. Happy thinkers can make for happy campers!
For even more inspiration on being connected to our environment, check out our ThinkAboutIt series for kids!