When the temperature drops and snow begins to fall, the first instinct for many families is to hunker down indoors.
For parents, a special program is making it easier than ever to get the whole family outside. The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation created the Utah Every Kid Outdoors Adventure Challenge. This initiative encourages families with children ages 5-18 years to explore the state's natural beauty through a series of fun and accessible winter activities. The program provides a structured yet flexible way for families to try new things and discover local parks and trails, turning the winter landscape into a giant playground.
"The Every Kid Outdoors was a legislative initiative in 2019 to encourage kids to get outside," said Caroline Weiler, youth engagement program manager for the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation. "After it transferred hands the last six years, it landed here and we revamped it."
Joining the program is free and available year-round, making it easy for families to participate at their own pace. To make the experience even more engaging, participants can collect unique stickers from the local libraries after completing each activity, which helps track their progress and adds a rewarding element to the challenge.
"Our team has created 15 different adventure challenges that we have hosted events for each month," Weiler added. "This winter will have our winter games, snowshoeing and hiking. Then we start it all over again next year."
Activities families can enjoy as part of the program:
- Explore STEM activities such as experiments with salt and ice to discover how they interact.
- Host a star party and observe the winter night sky filled with constellations.
- Ice skating at Millcreek Common is a fun and active way to enjoy the season.
- Go on a winter hike to explore the beauty of local trails and connect with nature.
By reframing winter as a season of opportunity, parents can provide kids with valuable experiences. From the challenges like the EKO initiative to simple backyard play, colder months are filled with chances for kids to grow and explore.