Get Outside and Play
Some of the fondest childhood memories for people of all ages are those of time spent in nature: building tree houses in the backyard; skipping stones on the waters of a nearby creek; and hiking through the woods, purely for the joy of being outdoors.

At Travelocity, we recognize that today’s children suffer from nature-deficit disorder as a result of a largely technology-driven world. Through trip ideas, environmental education, and travel inspiration, we are working together with MasterCardTM to reconnect our children with nature: because everyone should form a bond with the great outdoors that creates memories that go far beyond a computer screen.
Family Road Trips
To help your family find adventure in the outdoors, we partnered with National Geographic Kids to take you on a journey across America’s scenic landscapes. See all trip ideas.
Spotlight on the Pacific Northwest
Perfectly positioned along Washington's coast, Olympic National Park provides a scenic start to your onward journey. Learn More
Click on National Geographic Kids-approved pit stops to get insider tips on where to find bug-eating plants in Georgia, which hikes are the most kid-friendly at Arizona’s Red Rock State Park, and more.
Volunteer Outside with Your Kids



  • Unplug the kids for a day and get outside to improve local public lands at a Take Pride in America volunteer event near your hometown.
    Learn More


  • Teens can get their hands dirty studying global warming, get up close and personal with dolphins and whales, and explore the world's wildest places on a Teen Team expedition. View these Earthwatch trips.


  • This vacation, try something new. Book a volunteer vacation with the American Hiking Society and introduce your kids to service and Mother Nature. Plus, learn how you can participate in National Trails Day - June 6, 2009.
IgoUgo travelers recommend the best national parks for you and your kids to reconnect with nature.
Explore nature and the great outdoors with editors of Travelocity's blog.
The Facts
  • Bike riding has decreased by 30 percent over the past few decades.
  • In a typical week, only 6 percent of children ages 9-13 play outside on their own.
  • Children at 8-years-old can identify 25 percent more Pokemon characters than wildlife species.
  • Youths between the ages of 8 and 18 spend more than 45 hours a week with electronic media.
  • Obesity in children has increased from about 4 percent in the 1960s to close to 20 percent in 2004.
  • 70 percent of the mothers reported playing outdoors every day when they were young, compared with only 31 percent of their children.
  • Free play and discretionary time declined nine hours a week from 1981 to 2003.
  • 71 percent of adults report that they walked or rode a bike to school when they were children, but only 22 percent of children do so today.

Richard Louv’s Nature Tips
Be a cloudspotter. Only a sky-view and a guidebook needed. Cirrostratus, cumulonimbus or lenticularis are all part of "Nature's poetry" according to Gavin Pretor-Pinney in his book The Cloudspotter's Guide. See more great tips.

About Richard Louv
The recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal and author of Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv was the first to give name to a phenomenon we all knew existed but couldn't articulate: nature-deficit disorder. Since its original publication, Last Child in the Woods has created a national conversation about the disconnection between children and nature, and Louv’s message has galvanized an international movement. Find out more.


One Family's Adventure
Rainer Jenss, National Geographic Kids Vice President and Publisher, set off on a year-long, round-the-world journey with his wife and two sons, and he'll be blogging about his trip the entire time.
Get Your Parks Pass
Yosemite National Park photo by jpeterson424