How often do you find yourself uttering the phrase, "When we were kids . . .", or at a minimum thinking about your youthful days when you left the house first thing in the morning and returned only to pass through the kitchen at meal times or to collapse into bed at the end of a long sun-soaked day filled with non-stop activities limited only by your own imagination. The world has changed so much for our kids, complicated by computers, video games, cell phones and scheduled activities, that we can't help but wonder if they may be losing touch with the simple, but rich outdoor experiences that defined the seemingly endless summers of years gone by.

The mission of our Awesome Adventures series is to celebrate outdoor and adventure activities to help kids connect with the natural world. It's not just the spectacular view from the summit or the feeling of accomplishment they will remember from their hike, but also the frog they stopped to watch along the way. Watching the clouds go by on a clear summer's day will be as valuable an experience as the new kayak or canoe skills they learned. Getting outside, spending time with old and new friends, enjoying the amazing adventure opportunities that Southern New England has to offer - these all remind us that memories may be our most priceless possessions of all.

Introduce your kids to the simple pleasures of the great outdoors and watch them grow in ways that cannot be measured on a door frame. I welcome you to "take it outside"!