Plan an Animal Adventure to Connect Kids with Nature’s Wonders

The wide world abounds with remarkable life. For countless traveling families who adore animals, the opportunity to discover and learn about the astounding assortment of species on our small blue planet can be a powerful draw.

Research continues to confirm positive interactions with nature and animals offer a wealth of wellness benefits. Introducing kids to the wonders of the wild can help them develop empathy and awareness, and an enduring connection with the world affords benefits such as lowered stress and an increase in compassion and curiosity.

Marissa Brun, M.S., LMFT, and founder of WildSense Therapy in Colorado, says when we connect with nature and animals, we not only increase our capacity for understanding other species and their mannerisms, but we also foster a sense of connection that takes in the animals’ purpose, their habitats and how we co-exist with one another.

PHOTO: © KELVIN LACK | DREAMSTIME.COM

A wide variety of trips allows families to observe and interact with animals, contribute to conservation efforts and learn about nature. Gorilla treks organized by United States Tour Operators Association member Alexander + Roberts take participants to Rwanda’s mountains to watch the forest’s resident gorilla families going about their daily activities. In Tanzania, the company’s hot air balloon journey soars above Serengeti National Park to view graceful zebras and gazelles in their natural habitat. Witnessing firsthand the interconnectedness of life in the wild can be a powerful tool in imbuing children with perspective and other positive attributes.

“Often, connection with plants and animals allows children an outlet where they can feel more imaginative and allows for space to slow down and be with their own inner experience without interruption,” said Brun. “A child’s nervous system can be calmed just by being in nature and tapping into a natural rhythm of harmony and balance. Connecting with animals and nature also boosts the neuroplasticity in the brain, which is particularly essential for children as they are actively growing and pruning synapses during this time. Having new experiences with animals and natural environments also changes a child’s brain by reducing cortisol (our stress hormone) and boosting neurotransmitters such as serotonin and oxytocin, which increase feelings of joy and connection.”

On Rottnest Island in Australia, small, smiling marsupials called quokkas roam free. Because they’re nocturnal, they’re particularly active later in the day. About the size of a large rabbit, they’re friendly and inquisitive (but they are definitely not domesticated and aren’t there to be picked up or touched). SeaLink Rottnest Island offers several family- friendly tours that include Segways or e-bikes and plenty of opportunities to capture photos of quokkas and to learn from guides about the way they live. When observing animals, Brun reminds parents to always encourage your child to observe first at a safe distance, to ask for permission before coming close and to respect an animal’s natural boundaries and habitat.

“Animals, like children, are emotional creatures and have similar needs including food, play, safety and being a part of a group,” said Brun. “Being around animals can help children learn and read nonverbal cues and to recognize the needs of others. For example: Why is that animal behaving in this way? Perhaps they are hungry? To see our own experiences reflected in another being is a great way for children to understand their own emotions and feel less alone. This affects our feeling of attachment — not just to our own family but to the greater world around us — and provides context to how we impact other beings and how other beings impact us.”

AAA Club Adventures takes guests on a 12-day exploration of Sri Lankan nature that includes accommodations at an eco-lodge located within the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, where big cats and monkeys live. During Audley Travel’s 13-day Birdwatching in Costa Rica excursion, families can hike along winding trails through lush tropical forests and the San Gerardo de Dota cloud forest in the company of a naturalist guide while surrounded by the natural wonder of the region’s 448 bird species. Accommodations for this trip include the Rancho Naturalista birding lodge.

© DISCOVER CORPS,

Discover Corps offers a worldwide selection of trips. These include the Australia Beachside Wildlife Adventure, where kids get to meet and care for koalas, wallabies and kangaroos while learning from Australia’s Gold Coast rangers, and a Thailand Elephant Conservation Expedition that allows for up-close and hands-on care of elephants while being guided by the conservation center’s skilled caretakers.

If your family’s comfort level tends toward a little more physical space, you can enjoy an up-close — but still safely distanced — experience with fascinating wolves at Parc Omega in Québec. Spend the night in a specially designed Wolf Lodge, where a wall of glass looks directly into the park and allows for spectacular views of a resident wolf pack … and where you can watch to your heart’s content as the curious wolves peer back at you through the glass. The cabin sleeps up to four people and has its own fully equipped kitchen, so you can linger over breakfast while still enjoying the company of wolves. Afterward, tour the park in your vehicle to view Arctic foxes, moose, elk, reindeer, bears, ibex and birds of prey. (Hands inside the car, everyone.)

In fact, parks make an excellent choice for discovering animals and learning about their place in Earth’s ecosystem. At Yellowstone, families can participate in one of the park’s Lodging & Learning immersive field education experiences. Led by naturalist educators, choices include the Wolf & Elk Discovery, Yellowstone for Families, Trails Through Yellowstone and Spring Wolf & Bear Discovery.

Even when observing from a distance, you can deepen your child’s experience by encouraging them to consider an animal from multiple perspectives. Brun says to ask questions of your child when meeting a new species or animal: What colors and textures do they see? What characteristics of this new being stand out to your child? What emotion do they see in this creature? How does it move? What does it eat? Where does it live? What does it need to feel safe and at home? Is it alone or with others? Do they see any of their own experiences reflected in this animal?

“Growing up in an urban environment can limit exposure to the natural world and cause children to feel more isolated from the wonder around them — and can increase stress,” added Brun. “Nature invites access to all of our senses and inspires a deep curiosity that we often feel disconnected from due to living life indoors. Being in nature can offer a break from a child’s routines and stressors by offering more space for play and creativity.”

© ALEXEY STIOP | DREAMSTIME.COM

Some of the most meaningful travel experiences are the ones that take us out of our comfort zone and plunge us into other worlds. Consider a whale-watching expedition in Iceland aboard a traditional wooden Icelandic sailing vessel with North Sailing’s Whales and Sails journey. Along with the extraordinary experience of observing the whales and birds of Skjálfandi Bay, you can help hoist the sails and haul in the lines under the supervision of the skilled schooner crew. Hot cocoa and cinnamon buns are part of the experience, and the crew provides expert guides and — if the weather demands — raincoats and warm overalls.

You can enjoy horseback riding trips with family in many areas, including England and the Western United States. The website of the Dude Ranchers’ Association offers a comprehensive guide to finding a guest ranch suited to your family’s horse-related skills, including lessons. Global horseback riding tour agency Equitours offers riding excursions appropriate to all levels in locations throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Asia, the South Pacific, North America and Central and South America.

A trip embracing the natural world of animals can be a wonderful bonding experience for families. It can also spark the kind of wonder that inspires your child to continue exploring the world around them long after they’ve flown their own family nest. Being outside and interacting with other life on the planet is good for us, but be aware not all travel experiences that involve animals are ethical or humane. Be sure to travel with a company with a track record that reflects caring, compassion, sustainability and ethical responsibility. Then you and your children can embrace your adventure with curiosity, excitement and gratitude that we share this planet with such an incredible diversity of beautiful life.