Stuff To Do

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES                             Download PDF Print Version

Ideas for Your Photos & Videos!

RULES 

  • You must be 13-18 years old, living in the LA Metro area to participate.
    (Metro LA = Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, Riverside and Orange Counties.)
  • You must be the photographer or videographer.
  • You must practice safety by following all local laws, rules, and regulations when collecting your photos or videos.
  • Do not damage or harm any wildlife (plants or animals).
  • Do not endanger or cause injury to yourself for the purpose of collecting photos or videos for this contest.
  • When you enter a video or photo to GetTheGreen.org, clearly label what type of outdoor activity is in the video or photo.
  • You can have multiples entries for each activity but a new photo or video must be submitted for each entry. Repeats will not be accepted.

LIST OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

i. Green Open Space
ii. Nature’s Beauty
iii. Recreation
iv. Conservation
v. Wildlife – Native & Non-Native Species
vi. Environmental Events

I. GREEN OPEN SPACE

  1. Find a place where there are more trees and bushes than people. When you enter your photo or video at GetTheGreen.org, tell us know where you are and all the cool stuff you find.
  2. Check out an urban forest – they’re closer than you think! An urban forest is a space with nature, plants, etc in any area where people live. Urban forests include street trees, parks, landscaped boulevards, public gardens, etc. Take inspiring photos and videos of an urban forest close to you!
  3. Take your friends or family for a hike in a park, public garden or national forest.
  4. Take the “before”, “during” and “after” pictures or videos of your trip or adventure to a park, public garden or national forest. Share your experience with us! To find a forest or park near you, visit: www.discovertheforest.org/where-to-go

II. NATURE’S BEAUTY

  1. Find cool cloud formations.
  2. Show the 3 funkiest or coolest rocks you can find.
  3. Take a picture or video of wildlife in their natural setting (example: squirrel in a tree, deer in a forest, lizard in the dirt, mouse in a field, rabbit in the woods, etc).
  4. Find animal tracks in the outdoors (examples:  footprints, feathers, scat / droppings, etc).

III. RECREATION

  1. Take a picture or video that shows you, your friends and/or family hiking a trail. Visit http://www.discovertheforest.org/where-to-go to find a hiking trail near you.
  2.  Take a picture or video that shows friends, family and/or you in the most beautiful natural setting you can find. 
  3. Take a picture or video that shows friends, family and/or you next to a natural water setting. (example: river, lake, pond or ocean)
  4. Take a picture or video that shows you, your friends and/or family enjoying the peace and quiet of a park or forest.
  5. Take a picture or video that shows you, your friends and/or family camping under the stars.
  6. Take a picture or video that shows you, your friends and/or family taking eco-friendly transportation. (Examples:  bikes, buses, skate board, walking, trains, etc.)
  7. Take your friends or family for a picnic in a park, public gardens or the national forest.
  8. Take a picture or video that shows healthy snacks you take with you when you go outdoors.
  9. Do any of the 10 activities in the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights. www.calroundtable.org/cobor.htm
    • Play on a team
    • Follow a trail
    • Discover California’s past
    • Splash in the water
    • Play in a safe place
    • Explore nature
    • Camp under the stars
    • Learn to swim
    • Catch a fish
    • Celebrate your heritage

IV. CONSERVATION

  1. Create a video or a photo series showing how to get to your closest park via public transportation, walking or biking. Go to www.discovertheforest.org/where-to-go and type in your zip code. Choose a place with nature, then show how to get there!
  2. Take a picture or video of you and your friends/family doing community service that protects the environment. Ex: litter removal; tree-planting, ecosystem rehabilitation; caring for plants in public urban settings; recycling; etc.
  3. Illustrate negative impacts and threats to nature and the ecosystem caused by humans. Ex: erosion from human overuse or misuse; pollutants; trash and litter; tree vandalism; etc.
  4. Now that you’ve found threats to urban forests and nature in LA, capture photos and create videos that show what you can do to conserve nature and help reverse this negative impact. Hints: www.treadlightly.org/page.php/education-recreationtips/Recreation-Tips.html
  5. Illustrate trees at work. Trees provide shade, clean air and water, storm water control, energy conservation, reduction of pollution and noise, tranquility, beauty, and so much more!
  6. Plant a native tree or a bush with your friends and family.
  7. Take your friends or family for a picnic in a green park, public gardens or the national forest! Video and photograph pack-it-in, pack-it-out and Leave No Trace principles. Link: http://www.lnt.org/programs/principles.php
  8. Take a picture or video that shows things around your house or neighborhood that have been reused, recycled, or made from recycled material.

V. WILDLIFE – NATIVE & NON-NATIVE SPECIES

Click here to learn more about native vs non-native species.

  1. Showcase plant species in your neighborhood or schoolyard. Identify their name and if they are a native or non-native species.
    http://davisherb.ucdavis.edu/cnpsActiveServer/thumbs.aspx
  2. Video or photograph a native reptile or amphibian species in your neighborhood or schoolyard. Identify their name and if they are a native or non-native species.
    http://www.werc.usgs.gov/project.aspx?projectid=75
  3. Take videos or photos of a bird species in your neighborhood or schoolyard. Identify their name and if they are a native or non-native species. http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/birds/index.htm
  4. Find an invasive species in your neighborhood or schoolyard – a plant, animal or insect that’s a non-native imposter to your area.
    http://cisr.ucr.edu/invasive_species.html

VI. ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS

  1. Make your own commercial or advertisement about how to prevent forest fires.
    Use Smokey Bear’s message: Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires. www.smokeybear.com
  2.  Earth Day, April 2012 – Make a video or picture image that invites others to participate in Earth Day 2012 by demonstrating what they can do next year for this important day celebrating mother nature and how to protect the environment.
  3. Keep America Beautiful – Take “before” and “after” pictures: Show how you can make a difference! Pick up litter, pitch trash in a garbage can, keep trash out of the streets and drains to protect water sources, make litter bags for your family car – so many things we can do! http://www.kab.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_tips

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