Children explore what nature has to offer

The Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center in Eden put on a display Saturday to help spark the interest of children from the Eastern Shore in the great outdoors.

Studies have shown the effects of regular outdoor activity have a positive impact on people, including an increase in life satisfaction, mindfulness and a decrease in stress.

"Just being outside, we need it for our basic human health and comparing that to sitting inside, being sedentary, just going into the online world and losing yourself, it's ok once in a while but don't stay there," said Jim Rapp, Director of the Center.

Get Outdoors Day, as it's called, was put on for the tenth year, in an attempt to not only advertise the center, but to promote more activity outdoors for children.

The emphasis is put on introducing children to nature and outdoors early on, which can lead to a lifetime of activity.

"We're hoping that some of these kids get the bug.  They want to come back, learn more about fishing, hunting, kayaking," said Rapp.

And life on the Eastern Shore offers no end to the different activities for kids and parents to partake in.

"On a day like today we have fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, you can try your luck at sporting displays, shoot a shotgun safely, archery,  there's a hayride, bounce house, all sorts of fun things," said Rapp.

The Hazel Center sits on over 500 acres of farmland and forests, bought and preserved by Richard Hazel, who set up a foundation before his passing to protect the land, and make it free to everyone.  His goal was to make it possible for people of all walks of life to come out and experience the beauty.

If you would like to learn more on the Hazel Outdoor Discovery Center, log on to their website, hazeloutdoors.com.