“Ready, Set, Explore” 2024 participants prepare to go sledding as one of their January activities. (Kristin Dale Lanouette Photo)
From October to May, University of Wyoming Extension will lead a program that inspires
outdoor adventures and encourages families to spend time together.
“Ready, Set, Explore” is a free annual program open to the public. Participants can
complete monthly activities with anyone they consider family, from parents and siblings
to friends and neighbors.
Those who register for the program between now and May will receive an email with
a link to all eight months of activities. Each month includes outdoor activities,
tips about health and nature, a handout on a natural resource, a snack idea and a
journal prompt.
The activities are designed to help families connect with each other and nature. October’s
activities, for example, include going on a fall scavenger hunt, decorating pumpkins
and building a scarecrow.
“Reading, health, movement, snacks and time together (are) so important for our family,
and the activities help us do all of that. It gives our oldest tricks and activities
to use when she babysits other families, too,” says 2024 participant Lexie Scherr.
Families can receive a small prize every month for completing at least four activities
and submitting a written reflection on their experience with these activities.
“Ready, Set, Explore” is led by UW Extension educators Hailey Sorg, Josh Bliss, Joddee
Jacobsen, Gretchen Gasvoda and Jedidiah Hewlett.
Bliss emphasizes the program’s flexibility.
“You have the freedom to do these activities at your own pace throughout the month,”
he says.
Families who participate in “Ready, Set, Explore” for at least four of the eight months
are awarded an annual day-use pass for Wyoming state parks. The pass covers day-use
fees for one vehicle for all Wyoming state parks and historic sites. It does not cover
other fees, such as camping fees.
“‘Ready, Set, Explore’ (gives) families a reason to slow down, step outside and connect
-- with nature and with each other,” Sorg says. “We’ve heard from participants how
much joy and calm it brought to their busy lives.”
The program is supported by Wyoming State Parks, Wyoming’s Office of Outdoor Recreation,
the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Wyoming Bureau of Land Management, the Wyoming
Enrichment Network, the Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts, the Wyoming
Natural Resource Foundation and UW’s Cent$ible Nutrition Program.
To learn more and to register for the program, visit https://wyoextension.org/natronacounty/welcome-to-natrona-county/ready-set-explore/, email readysetexplore.4h@gmail.com or call (307) 235-9400.
About University of Wyoming Extension
UW Extension serves Wyoming communities by helping residents apply university research and resources to practical problems. Since 1914, UW Extension has provided educational programs and tools to the state’s 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. From 4-H programming and pesticide safety education to food preservation and nutrition courses, UW Extension upholds the university’s land-grant mission by offering learning opportunities for people of all ages. UW Extension staff members help Wyoming residents boost agricultural production, care for lawns and gardens, cultivate future leaders, support individual and community well-being, and develop thriving businesses. To learn more, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call (307) 766-5124.
