Written by Callie Radday, Associate Director at Shane Camps & Resorts
Winter can make staying active a real challenge. Just the thought of snow and cold weather probably makes many of us want to curl up in a blanket and never leave the house! Working out and staying on track toward your goals suddenly seems harder than ever, but it really doesn’t have to be. Winter is the perfect time to not only make the most of your family time, but to find fun ways to keep active together.
Did you know there are actually many great health benefits to working out in cold weather? When exercising in cold weather your body needs to work harder to regulate it’s internal temperature, which actually helps you to burn a few extra calories. Not only that but your heart needs to work even harder to distribute blood throughout the body – making outdoor winter workouts a great way to strengthen your heart and improve your cardiovascular fitness. So despite your desire to stay warm and toasty indoors, there are lots of great reasons you should bundle up and head outside. Not only that – but snow is pretty beautiful, if I do say so myself. Here are 5 fun activities your family needs to try this winter:
Ice Skating.
Nervous to try ice skating? I know what you’re thinking, you’re worried about falling and looking silly. While I can’t promise you this won’t happen – I can encourage to let go of the worrying and just go for it! Even if you cling to the wall the whole time, trying new things can be fun. Plus if you stick with in and can learn to actually navigate your way around the rink – you will feel so rewarded.
Ice skating is also a great way to discretely teach kids some very valuable lessons. They’ll learn to keep getting up no matter how many times the fall. Talk about perseverance! And as they start to get a bit better, they’ll also feel more confident. It’s a win-win.
Still not convinced? Ice skating is also a great way to work out your legs – you’ll use muscles you don’t even realize you have!
Go Sledding.
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow each winter, you should definitely invest in a few sleds. Kids love the thrill of sledding down a hill so much that they don’t even realize how hard they’re working to climb back up again and again. Sledding is a major calorie burner, according to Calorie Lab you can actually burn more than 300 calories during an hour of sledding. Talk about a solid workout!
Rent Snowshoes.
Though I’ve personally never tried this one, I have heard great things and it is definitely on my list for this winter season. Show shoeing is a great way to keep moving, but is versatile enough that you can truly decide how hard of a workout you want to get. Even keeping it really light and walking at a leisurely pace you will burn more calories than you would just by regular walking.
I personally love to hike and snowshoeing allows you to keep hiking throughout the snowy winter. I can only imagine how much better looking the views will be when covered with some beautiful fresh powder.
Cold winter weather not really your thing? That’s alright! There are tons of ways you can stay active indoors – and no I’m not just saying to head to the gym. Get creative with your kids and make the most of your extra family time.
Build an Indoor Obstacle Course.
As a kid, my sisters and I would constantly build forts – out of blankets, pillows, even made of leaves or snow outside. We absolutely loved to get creative and make each one better than the last. Obstacle courses take fort-building to the next level, but also encourage them to move.
This is a perfect activity for that snow day when everyone is stuck inside. Your kids will love this activity, and I bet you parents will too! Let yourselves get creative and see what you can come up with. You can take it one step further and make it a competition, see who can compete the course the fastest.
Plan for a Fun Family Outing.
There are lots of great indoor activities you can try that are perfect for family time. We suggest going bowling or finding an indoor miniature golf course. These are fun, competitive ways to keep everyone moving and burn a few extra calories. Another fun idea is to try a trampoline park – not only will this kids enjoy this option, but adults will too!
Do you have any other ideas on how to stay moving this winter? What are some of your family’s favorite things to do during the beautiful winter weather?
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The Camp Shane Team
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