Kids and their families were invited to participate in some outdoor adventures Thursday at the Hermon Woodlands Metro Park. The park held what they call an Imaginature Playgroup where kids are taken around the trails and given the opportunity to explore. The recently opened playscape gives kids the opportunity to play by the creek, climb up a rope swing and even build their own fort. A park naturalist says it's important for kids to get outside and learn about nature.
"It's a way of connecting kids, who have a disconnect in this generation, it's a way of connecting them back to nature because I think so often we're focused on our screens or we're playing on our traditional play equipment that is such a disconnect. We're inside our homes, we're not getting outside in the natural world. And so this park is designed to get us out and playing in the natural world," said Dan Hodges, a Johnny Appleseed Park District naturalist.
Hodges says the next Imaginature Playgroup is scheduled for Thursday, July 7th at 10-am at the Hermon Woodlands. It's free and they welcome anyone to join.
