A Sure-Fire Cure for “Nature Deficit Disorder”

My sister-in-law, Laura is of the strong opinion that many of America’s children (and adults too) are caught in the terrible grip of a raging epidemic called “Nature Deficit Disorder.” When I first heard her pontificating about it, I thought it was a term that she just made up (being the passionate nature advocate that she is), but if you Google it, it’s a real thing!

After reading all about it, it makes perfect sense.

This summer it has been a constant battle to get my kids off the screens and out into nature. There is something about screens that reels kids in like a fish on a hook. I was fighting the good fight all summer. It was exhausting and I lost more than I won.

Then we went to Lake Powell for a week.

Deep in the heart of a isolated canyon, floating on a house boat, on a lake with a combined shore line longer than the Pacific coast; there was no phone service, no Internet, no TV, nothing; just an abundance of nature to assault all one’s senses.

Be gone Nature Deficit Disorder!

Once again, owing to the good graces and generosity of our friends, Greg and Heidi Johnson, we were able to spend 6 days on a house boat sucking the marrow out of life in one of the most incredible places on God’s green earth (although this place doesn’t boast much of that green color).

My kids were in heaven, my husband was in his ultimate happy place, I got a much needed chance to relax and get away from it all…it was a wonderful, incredible, rejuvenating vacation!

(Look, some green!)

With this incredible backdrop, my camera was click, click, clicking away…

 
A floating house with a water slide right out the back door…that’s kid heaven right there.

This dog was ready for safe water adventures…

…but this stuffed Tiger was not! Mary Kate’s friend (that she can’t stand to sleep without) took a tumble down the slide and into the lake one early morning…with no life jacket! Good thing stuffing floats and dries out quickly in high temperatures.

The jet skis certainly earn their keep at Lake Powell. We spent hours exploring the wide channels and narrow canyons. When that water is glass, there is almost nothing better than being out there on those jet skies.

 

We water skied and wake boarded (well some of us did, and others attempted to).

Jeffrey worked hard all summer so he could try water skiing at Lake Powell. Before we had a chance to give it a real try, he jammed his toe going down the water slide. His toe was black and blue. After that he couldn’t get his foot into the ski without terrible pain. On the very last day, just before we packed up to leave, he braved it out and got up on the skies. Jeffrey is one tough kid!

My kids all voted tubing as the favorite water activity of the week. I’ve never seen Jonathan laugh so hard or MK hang on so tightly. The kids have got much stronger stomachs than me. I took one tube ride and promptly threw up. Never again!

We hiked to, and explored Indian ruins, petroglyphs and all.

 

We climbed up and through cliffs and even jumped off one, or two…or ten.

For some down-time, we did puzzles and played games (even though it’s not technically a nature activity, I still count it because it’s not a SCREEN!)

We had time to read and read. (My face looked exactly like that when I read “The Glass Castle” a few summers ago)

We took great care to stay hydrated in the extreme heat. You’ve never seen so much ice and so many beverages in all you life! Jeffrey single handedly downed an entire case of Sprite, something he would only be allowed to do on vacation!

 
(Genius cup organization, don’t you think?)

Jonathan adamantly declared to me one day, “Mom, we’ve GOT to get us a Challenger 3 as soon as we get home!” I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out he was referring to this nifty, inflatable raft. These three boys spent the majority of the trip having adventure after adventure on the Challenger 3. Maybe we will have to get one.

Smack in the middle of our week, we enjoyed the experience of a life time. There was a wonderful thunderstorm/downpour that day and we suddenly found ourselves in a world of waterfalls. Mike stopped counting at 25. Water cascading off the canyon walls and into the lake…fantastic!

When you’re living on a lake, what’s a little rain?

Better than the wonders of nature surrounding us, better than the rest and relaxation, better than the break from any kind of screen, was the company. Best people to vacation with, ever! Wow, what great friends we are blessed with!

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And this family.

My favorite aspect of all…being with them for 6 straight, uninterrupted days. At the end of the trip I desperately needed to shower, I was longing for clean clothes, air conditioning and soft mattress; but when it came time to pack up, I found myself extremely reluctant to leave. On the ride home, I found myself humming happily and realized I was pretty nearly perfectly happy.

Then I looked at my phone and counted 62 waiting text messages, 10 voice mails, and 103 unread emails.

Back to real life and more Nature Deficit Disorder, but for those 6 days…bliss.

*key words and phrases for memory’s sake…boating in the dark, fish in the swimming suit, Lake Powell theme song, coconut popsicles, kangaroo rat looting at night, boys who can’t stay put during sleep, sleeping under the stars, swimming in the rain, fish and Jeffrey’s snorkel mask, long chats with Heidi and Holly, games all night long, canyon exploring, Jonathan’s 35 foot plummet, Werewolf at night, yummy food, teenage screams while tubing, reading aloud to the crowd, midnight swims, best popcorn balls ever, gas runs with Heidi, Greg’s hard work, Maggie’s smiles, Five Crowns, Challenger 3, twin toots, baby frogs, hot hikes, Jeffrey’s toe and tenacity, slot canyon screams, cliff jumping, waterfalls in the rain, loud Marshall, sweet Holly, food science, SPRITE!