Like most parents, March likes the idea of his kids, ages 7 and 9, getting out to play in the neighborhood. And like most parents, he has his reservations about letting a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old roam too far. If they could only play outside, but close to home, he thought. The answer came to him when he read a post on this blog in May: “Recreational paradise … in your own backyard.” The post was based on a story in the New York Times about UCLA’s CLEF project. The Center on Everyday Lives of Families was created in the wake of September 11 to take an in-depth look at the lives of middle class Americans. Among their findings: Our houses are crammed with stuff, save for our yards, which go virtually unused. That post and a subsequent one looked at turning your backyard into the aforementioned recreational paradise. March wrote asking for advice. He was particularly intrigued by climbing holds we had anchored onto the supports of our second-floor deck. “I’d like to do a climbing wall or climbing net but I’m not sure how I could do it.”

GGNC’s Recreational Consulting Team decided to pay a visit. As we pulled into the March neighborhood, it was immediately apparent that this would either be a piece of cake or we would keep on driving and pretend we couldn’t find their place. Half the houses “I hope their house backs up to the forest,” my stepson/creative assistant Ben observed.

Fortunately, it did.

Hammer plywood to this end support, paint it something colorful, attach holds and you'g got your own personal climbing wall.

The March home is ideally situated. It’s on a relatively small lot, good for minimizing maintenance. And it backs up to a heavily-wooded greenspace that screams “play in me!”

“Do your kids bike?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said. “On the sidewalks, in the neighborhood..”

I laid out my plan for an off-road trail network that would wind through this backyard forest dominated by young pines. With a rake and a shovel (and perhaps a mattock to remove stubborn rocks and the occasional root) I described how he could create a short, fun trail network that would let his kids ride their bikes in the much more entertaining woods, sans car traffic. We even discussed throwing in minor obstacles, such as a log stack or a low-lying skinny.

“I like that,” he said.

March had already been busy in the forest. Two hammocks were strung between pine trunks, there was a new chin-up bar and a tire swing that had met with mixed reviews. “It tends to be more of a spinning device than a swing,” he said. A tetherball pole had gone over well until it wobbled itself out of the ground.

Still, he was taken by the idea of a climbing set-up.

“What about a low-ropes course?” Ben suggested. He went on to describe a low-lying — about a foot off the ground — web of cargo netting and cable that the kids could climb on jungle gym style.

“Is there a playground supply store around here where I could get some cargo net?” March wanted to know.

“You’re probably better off finding it on the internet,” Ben said, noting that it would likely be much less expensive.

We turned our attention to the deck off the back of the March home. Their house is built on a slope, a slope dropping significantly from the street to the back property line. Thus, while the deck comes off the main level, it’s a significant drop to the ground — too significant to anchor climbing holds to the supports like we’ve done at our house. At our place, if you drop, you fall a little more than a foot. Here, you’d be looking at a three-foot fall, four if you’re a typical 7-year-old.

I noticed Ben checking out the substantial corner support system, which consisted of braced 6-by-6 support posts about four feet across.

“Plywood?” I asked.

Indeed, the two sides could be covered with half-inch plywood six- to eight feet up the supports. Climbing holds could then be anchored into the plywood, which is how it’s done at many neighborhood climbing gyms. March was intrigued by the idea, but it was tempered by that tell-tale look of reservation at the prospect of tacking up plywood to the outside of your house.

“It could be done very creatively,” I said. “You could paint the plywood, and the holds come in some pretty cool shapes and colors.”

Don't forget that the backyard should also be an adult paradise.

We kicked around some more ideas, but it was 100 degrees in the shade (literally) and March seemed content — for now — with the trail, the low ropes course and the climbing wall. He’d have his hands full, his weekends accounted for, for a little while. He seemed genuinely motivated to turn his sedate suburban backyard into an outdoor playground. Still, we weren’t about to let him off the hook.

“Sound good?” I asked.

“Oh, yeah,” he said. “I think we’ve come up with some good ideas here.”

“Great,” I said. “We’ll be back in a couple months to see how you’ve done.”

We’ll report back in a couple months to see how March has done.

* * *

Resources
Intrigued by the notion of building a low ropes course, a climbing wall or a mountain bike trail in your own backyard? Below are some online resources that will provide direction. Obligatory warning: Any of the following projects can result in injury if not executed properly. If you don’t know a shovel from a saw, find someone who does and can do the job for you.

Climbing wall. Even if you aren’t a DIYer, the Instructables web site is great browsing. Here, you can find out how to build an incredible array of … stuff, including a climbing wall. The site has several tutorials. Your best bet is visit the site, then type “build your own climbing wall” into the search engine. You’ll not only learn how to make a wall, you can learn how to make your own holds.

Mountain bike trail. A general Google search on “build your own mountain bike trail” will turn up pages of DIY sites. If you want to do it right, though, we suggested you consult the folks who set the standard for fun and enviro-friendly mountain bike trail: the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Go here and learn everything from blazing a simple trail to building a ladder bridge.

Low ropes course. Perhaps because of the liability factor, you won’t find quite as many sites with directions for building your own ropes course. One that shows you some of the more popular elements of a low ropes course is the AdventureSmith site. Check it out here.

Photo: Spence March with his tire swing. And bird house.

Coast

1. Ever see “Little Shop of Horrors” (either the 1960 Roger Korman original or the 1986 Frank Oz remake)? A man-eating plant! How outlandish, you likely thought.

Not really, it turns out.

OK, so sundews, bladderworts, butterworts, pitcher plants, and the Venus fly trap may not cause you much of a threat. But be glad you aren’t a fly, because these carnivorous plants would gobble up your pesky six-leggedness in a heartbeat. You can find out more about these curious plants, which tend to reside within a 60-mile radius of Wilmington, on the ranger-led Carnivorous Plant Hike Saturday at Carolina Beach State Park. Starts at 10, lasts an hour or so. Meets at the Nature Trail parking lot.

More info: Call 910.458.8206 or go here.

Lake Waccamaw (photo courtesy N.C. State Parks)

2. I won’t tell you what happened the last time I paddled a Carolina Bay, but the odds of winds that strong kicking up this time a year are small. Tiny, even. Though I do see that to participate in Saturday’s Evening Paddle/Canoe Trip at Lake Waccamaw State Park you, “Must be able to swim.” Still, you’ll be wearing a pfd. Anyway, the best way to enjoy Down East this time of year is on the water, in this case from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in a canoe. No charge, but pre-registration is required, by calling 910.646.4748.

For more info on the park, go here.

Mountains

New River (photo courtesy N.C. State Parks).

1. Paddling a flat water coastal lake, you do all the work. On a mountain river, the river does the heavy lifting. Once reason to sign up for Sunday’s ranger-led canoe trip down the New River. (The other reason being the stellar scenery, of course.) This 12:30 p.m. trip at New River State Park is free (save for a “minimal fee for shuttling,” but limited to 8 paddlers, so sign up now, by calling 336.982.2587.

More about the park located near Jefferson here.

Mount Mitchell

2. Or maybe you just want to beat this blasted heat! No place better than atop the East Coast, at Mount Mitchell State Park. Several programs are on tap this weekend, the one likely to get you closest to Mitchell’s 6,684-foot summit: Small Wonders on a Mighty Mountain. A naturalist ranger leads a one-hour hike along the Balsam Nature Trail looking for what survives in this often-harsh environment. Commences at 11 a.m.

More info by calling 828.675.4611 or visiting here.

Piedmont

1. A personal favorite when it comes to state parks programs, Geology Hike at Occoneechee Mountain (pictured above; photo courtesy North Carolina State Parks). Occoneechee, near Hillsborough, tops 800 feet and is the highest point in the Triangle region. As the entry for this program proclaims, “Come to the mountain and see the geologic wonders and abandoned pyrophyllite quarry.” Sounds Barnumesque, but it is is pretty cool. Saturday at 10 a.m., only 15 hikers allowed, so pre-register before it’s booked, by calling 919.383.1686.

More on Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area here.

2. Another fave: The night hike. Walk on the wild side at night at Lumber River State Park. Look and listen for nocturnal critters by land, by sea by air. (The listening part is especially cool: What the heck was that!? Bring a flashlight (which you’ll probably use sparingly), starts at 8.

More info by calling 910-628-4564 or visiting here.

********

Interested in what else is going on statewide? We’ve collected some calendars from around the state for your consideration.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.

The pool was a pre-existing condition.

OK, to be fair, that pool you see was already there. We lucked into a house with a small backyard pool that we have made good use of. The kids use it to whip themselves into an early bedtime, my wife swims laps in it, and I use it for 15 minutes a day to tread water. Actually, it’s more than just treading water: it’s 15 minutes a day of weightless physical meditation that does as much for my mind as it does for my body.

What’s new in the past two weeks is the climbing wall, which isn’t so much a climbing wall as it is a kind of rock climber’s monkey bars. Ever since we moved in, the kids and I have been looking for ways in incorporate a climbing structure into the house. They saw the two-story chimney as a natural; I saw it as a series of lawsuits stemming from my long history of not being able to drill and install firm anchors into mortar. Instead, we settled on the underside of our second floor deck, where a series of 2 x 8 supports and end beams seemed to offer a multitude of low-climbing (and thus, low-falling) options.

The easy part was finding the climbing holds. If you’ve been to a climbing gym, you know that climbing holds come in all kinds of shapes (some whimsical)  and sizes (some requiring the finger strength of a Vulcan Nerve Pinch). At our neighborhood REI, I scored a set of 5 Metolius Drips Holds for $34.95. It’s a good starter set because, as prefabricated climbing holds go, these are big and easy. As our under-deck climbing gym blossoms, perhaps we’ll add a Vulcan Nerve Pinch or two.

The not-so-easy part was the installation. We were planning to anchor our holds into the 2 x 8s, but the hex bolts that came with the holds were only two inches long, long enough to anchor through a 3/4-inch sheet of plywood, the typical surface of a home climbing gym, but not long enough for our 2-inch-thick (1 1/2-inch in reality; a quirk of the lumber industry). We concocted a variety of schemes that involved building out a thin plywood fascia around the lower deck, schemes that all would have been laborious and all in violation of numerous local homeowner covenants. Then a friend said we just buy longer bolts.

So now we have the beginnings of our under-deck climbing gym. As funds allow, we’ll add holds (including some of those itty crimpers) which will allow us to work our upper bodies, especially our  fingers, our hands, our forearms. The best thing: Most of these climbing workouts will be impromptu. Come back from a trip to the store — drop the groceries and climb for 10 minutes (5 if there’s ice cream). Head out to water the flowers, work in a 15-minute routine. Need to blow off some steam? Twenty minutes under the deck oughta do it.

It’s the best kind of workout: one you don’t even know what you’re doing.

* * *

So far, our backyard playground is coming together cheap. To date, it includes a pool (included in the cost of the house) and climbing wall ($34.95 for the holds, another $9.95 for anchor bolts and nuts). As we contemplate our next move, we want to hear yours. Tell us how you’re turning your under utilized backyard into your personal rec zone.

I was reminded of my cul-de-sac-as-adventure-park youth Sunday by a New York Times story on UCLA’s CLEF project. The Center on Everyday Lives of Families was created in the wake of September 11 to take an in-depth look at the lives of middle class Americans. Researchers, in the form of graduate students in the school’s Department of Anthropology, spent nine years following 32 dual wage-earner families in the Los Angeles area to document and analyze a dizzying array of family life, from how chores are divvied up to how our rampant consumerism has created a critical storage crisis for most families. (American families, with 3 percent of the world’s children, own 40 percent of the world’s toys; Among other things, that means the family car(s) has been kicked out of the garage to make way for a plethora of playthings.)

The study finding that caught my eye — and prompted my frolic down memory lane — was this: Despite the fact our houses are crammed with stuff, we spend virtually no time in the least cluttered are of our domicile: The yard.

This doesn’t come as a complete shock. Previous studies have documented our growing reluctance to go outdoors, especially to let our kids go out unchaperoned.

A movement to convince kids — and parents more so — that it’s OK to go outside was spawned by Richard Louv’s 2006 bestseller, “Last Child in the Woods.”

What’s curious is that we have the antidote to our ailment literally in our own backyards.

Parents are reluctant to let their kids venture from the neighborhood for reasons real (inattentive drivers who make base jumping seem safe compared to crossing the street) and perceived (an increase in crimes against children, dubbed by Louv as the “Bogeyman syndrome” and debunked in the book “Damned Lies and Statistics“). And yet we have these backyard playgrounds that we rarely set foot in. Concludes the study: “Very few families put these spaces to much use … other than for viewing pleasure.”

Indulge me and go back 45 years to South Boston Court, in what was then an emerging suburb of southeast Denver. Here’s why we never needed to leave the block (although we frequently did):

• The Stoffels two-car garage. One late fall day in 1963 I heard a rhythmic thumping coming from a house up the street that had just sold. I walked up the street to discover Mike, Steve and Dave in the garage, playing basketball. Granted, the indoor hoop was only six feet off the ground, but we were barely four. For a couple years, at least, it was our sports sanctuary when the weather was bad.
• Cul-de-sac Athletic Park. Our 10-house block culminated in a cul-de-sac, a dead-end for cars, a perfect arena for baseball and kickball contests. With a streetlight at the end, night games were as common as day.
• Tightrope walking. Most of the fences in our neighborhood were a little over three feet high, made of wood and were topped by a tempting two-by-four. Instant tightrope.
• Hide-’n’-seek. In a paper addressing “Changing American home life: trends in domestic leisure and storage among middle-class families,” CLEF reports that, “During the early 1900s, new fence laws had the dramatic effect of making front yards for the first time into open, parklike spaces; in essence, a street became bordered by a long and uninterrupted expanse of yard.” Homeowners suddenly felt that their portion of this “uninterrupted expanse” had to be picture perfect: “Lawns are evaluated by passersby from the sidewalk or street, translating into an unending series of judgments about each household’s standing.” But to the neighborhood kids, these “parklike spaces” were just that, parks to be played in. We often extended that interpretation to the neighbors’ backyards as well, making for intriguing games of hide-’n’-seek.
• Sledding (a couple houses had sloping front yards), trampoline (the Stoffels again — what great friends they were), tackle football (what else to do on a level street with curbs for sidelines and driveways for end zones?) intricate bike routes (sidewalks, driveways, front porches to bunnyhop on my Stingray — our block had it all.

And, in all likelihood, so does yours. Just your backyard, that vastly underutilized space that we only view from our cramped and cluttered indoors, holds untold recreational opportunities. All you have to do is take a minute to seek them out — which is your homework for next week.

Go out, explore your grounds. Keep an open mind, think about what you like to do, think about how you might be able to make that happen in your yard. We here at GetGoingNC will do the same. Let’s reconvene next week in this space and share what we came up with.

I wonder if the neighborhood covenants say anything about zip lines …

Photo: These guys have a pump track in their backyard.

The boards and paddles.

A couple weeks later I’m in the GOPC in Raleigh’s Cameron Village when I notice three rows of oversized surfboards in the back of the shop. “Hey,” I ask sales guy Chris Garrett, “aren’t those, um … ”
“Stand-up paddleboards,” he politely fills in.
Stand-up paddleboarding — begun by the Polynesians as basic transportation, converted to adventure sport by Laird Hamilton — is pretty much what it sounds like. You have a big — 11 to 14 feet in length — slightly puffy surfboard, you stand on it, you use a seven-foot long paddle for propulsion.
Garrett and I talk a little about the boards — the wider boards tend to be more stable and beginner friendly; the longer, narrower ones are built for speed and touring; some are built to perform in waves; some are good for placid lake and sound paddling; you can strap a dry bag to them; they don’t like rocks.
Garrett says he’s paddled several times and the way he describes it it sounds almost beginner friendly. I have my personal litmus test, however.
“Have you ever windsurfed?” I ask.
He laughs. “I’ve tried windsurfing,” he answers. Standing up on one of these boards is easy, he assures me. “It’s nothing like trying to stand on a windsurfer.”
Later, I talk to Chad Baird, stand-up paddleboarding’s Victor Kiam. Though he didn’t buy a SUP company after getting hooked on the sport, he did quit his job at GOPC earlier this year and begin selling SUPs full time.
“I’m an ex-whitewater paddler, I have a paddling background, I grew up skateboarding and snowboarding, and I spent four years surfing,” says Baird. “The stand-up paddleboard is the best of those worlds.” Better, he claims because with surfboarding you need waves, with other paddleboard sports such as windsurfing and kiteboarding, you need wind.
With stand-up paddleboarding, Baird and Garrett say, all you need are abs — which you’ll develop if you spend much time on a board.
“It’s a great core workout,” says Garrett, because you’re constantly working to maintain balance.
Working, but not too hard, promises Baird.
“It’s one of the easiest sports to pick up, period,” he says. With a 35-inch-wide board, he  says that practically anyone can get up on the board — on flat water, at least — and make it go. (The boards also have fins, further helping to keep them stable.)
Stand-up paddleboarding isn’t cheap to get into. Baird says a new board will run anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. Baird suggests starting with a board at least 30 inches wide; as you become more comfortable and crave speed and performance, you’ll likely want something narrower. (As a result, used beginner boards in good condition can be picked up for a decent price online.)
A lightweight (key, considering their length) carbon fiber paddle can run $150, and because a SUP is considered a boat in North Carolina, the law says you’ll need a pfd on board (Baird suggests an unobtrusive inflatable fanny pack pfd, activated by a CO2 cartridge, which runs around $100).
Garrett and Baird like the unique perspective a stand-up paddleboard offers.
“It’s kinda surreal,” says Garrett, “standing on water.”
Baird likes the view.
“It allows you to see so much more of what’s going on,” says Baird, who’s been stand-up paddleboarding for two and a half years. “In a kayak, you can only see what’s immediately around you. On a board, you can see all around.”
It’s easy, it builds six-pack abs, it’s the sport of messiahs (the “standing on water” part). I’m sold — when can I try it?
Turns out, tomorrow.

* * *

About tomorrow
That would be Thursday, May 20, when Great Outdoor Provision Co. will hold a stand-up paddleboard demo at Lake Crabtree County Park. It’s free, just show up between 4 and 7 p.m. at the first parking lot in the park for some quick instruction and a chance to paddle. More info, call (919) 833-1741.

Can’t make it tomorrow? Another demo day is scheduled for June 17 at Lake Crabtree.

Live in Charlotte? There’s a stand-up demo scheduled for May 27 from 4-7 p.m. at the Gar Creek Canoe Launch at the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. Call the GOPC store at (704) 523-1089 for more information, here’s a map to the site

Think about that. In less than nine months, she moved from the Big Apple, started a new job, moved into a new place, set up utilities — and thought up and spearheaded Bull City Summer Streets.  From 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday afternoon, nine Durham streets will be closed to motor traffic so we can bike, skate, skateboard, scooter, Trikke, walk — whatever, just as long as a motorized vehicle isn’t involved. It will be a cycling Shangri-La, if only for four hours.

“It’s patterned after an event in Bogota, Columbia, where 70 miles of downtown streets are closed to traffic every Sunday,” says Landfried, transit education specialist for Clean Energy Durham. That event, called a “ciclovia,” was begun in the 1980s by Enrique Penalosa, a Duke grad student, and has since been adopted in Guadalajara, Mexico, and various U.S. cities, including New York City, where 7 miles of Park Avenue, from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, are closed to traffic summer Sunday mornings as part of that city’s Summer Streets program.

It was in New York, where Landfried spent two years studying alternative transportation, that she got the idea for Bull City Summer Streets. (My lead aside, Landfried is actually from Durham and is back here working on a masters in environmental management at Duke’s Nicholas School for the Environment.) Shortly after unpacking her boxes, she started discussing the idea with various community groups. Turned out the Active Living Committee of Durham CAN (short for Congregations, Associations and Neighborhoods), a grassroots nonprofit, was looking for ways to help combat obesity, heart disease and related health problems locally. Thus began a marriage and a marathon sprint to pull Bull City Summer Streets together by the start of the 2010 outdoor season, a sprint whose biggest obstacle would seem to have been dealing with the red tape required to close nine downtown streets to traffic on a Sunday afternoon.

Fortunately, she was put in touch with Durham Police Capt. Anthony Marsh. Landfried met with Marsh, showed him a video of what she had in mind, they looked at a map and he said, Here, you can do it here (see map). Further aiding the cause: a group of Durham reserve police officers have volunteered their time to man traffic barriers. And while you might think that the notion of pedestrians taking over the streets could freak out a local or two, Landfried said that none of the 20 or so property owners she approached about the event (she was required to get each property owner affected by the street closure to sign off) balked. Some didn’t fully get the concept, she said, but no one said no.

Cyclists rule on Park Avenue as part of NYC's Summer Streets program. Photo by Eric Harvey Brown.

So on Sunday for four hours, perambulators will rule. They’ll be able to walk to the Durham Athletic Park (the historic ballpark will be open) and play catch. They’ll be able to visit the Scrap Exchange, which will have an outdoor cafe set up. They’ll be able to take outdoor aerobics classes courtesy the Downtown Durham YMCA. They’ll be able to shop the Durham Farmer’s Market, and they’ll be able to “dance, salsa, zumba, jump, skate, blade, bike, jog, walk and laugh” in the streets without having to worry about cars.

In addition to a day of playing in the streets, Landfried sees the Bull City Summer Streets as a boost for the local economy. “People walking will buy things in a way that people in a car never will,” she says, referring to the intimacy and slower pace of foot travel. To that end, she hopes some of the nearby businesses — restaurants, in particular — that normally close on Sunday will stay open.

Landfried wants to see Bull city Summer Streets become part of Durham’s weekly summer scene. She also sees it as a quick and inexpensive alternative to another popular mode of perambulating pavement, the greenway.

“Building a greenway is expensive and they can take a decade to build. This,” she adds, “is an automatic greenway.”

Specifics
What: Bull City Summer Streets.
When: Sunday, 2-6 p.m.
Where: 1-mile loop of downtown Durham streets (and three streets within that loop). The loop is made up of Fenway Avenue, Liggett Street, W. Corporation Boulevard, Washington Street, W. Greer Street, Foster Street, Hunt Street, Morris Street. (See map.)
Cost: Free.
More info: Go here.

There is one alternative that gets short-shrift in this discussion. You can avoid the issue altogether, this lack of healthy choices in the cash-strapped school cafeteria, by having your kids take their own lunch. Make it a joint effort: You lay out the various healthy/fun choices available, they decide what they want to take, you buy it, they pack it and eat it. End of parental hand-wringing and kvetching over what they’re feeding our poor children at school. No more listening to your kids daily recital of the yellow food they had for lunch (corn dog, fries, Mountain Dew).

Don’t say you don’t have time to deal with lunch: You have to go to the store anyway. Don’t say you can’t get your kids to make their own lunch: Once they discover the alternative — no lunch money + no bagged lunch = no lunch — they’ll come around. They can spare 10 minutes of Cartoon Network in the morning to make lunch.

And there’s lots of good advice on the Web about healthy lunch choices and strategies. Here are three sites to get you started:

About.com Key tip: Let your kids take “fun” food — cold pizza, pasta, chips — just keep an eye on portion size.

FamilyFun.com Key tip: Psst, wraps.

epicurious.com Key Tip: Once the kids get used to the idea of taking their lunch, encourage them to get creative with the likes of the Peanut Butter Berry-Wich and Mini Whoopie Pies.

Photo: Back in the ’60s, lunch was always an adventure with Admiral Nelson and Commander Crane.

Grueling Triathlon of Doom? Such truth in advertising, I thought. Triathletes are well-conditioned not to view what they do as “grueling,” nor to entertain notions of “doom.” My mind raced; shortly, my fingers followed, on my own keyboard to see what this Grueling Triathlon of Doom was all about.

It is, I soon discovered, about triathlons for the antitriathlete.

“This is a beginners practice triathlon designed for nontraditional athletes, couch potatoes, under dogs, fathletes, hard workers, grownups or you,” proclaims the event’s home page. “If you’ve completed a triathlon, can swim a 500, run a half marathon, or own some aerobars this is not for you. If you think you might have a shot at winning this race then this race is not for you. This race is for the rest of us normal folks who think that, given enough time, and the right kind of environment, that we could probably finish a triathlon. (Maybe. If we worked really hard.)”

Navigating the post-race pot luck is about as grueling as its gets at the Grueling Triathlon of Doom.

It’s a triathlon, in short, about doing things you might enjoy — running, biking, swimming — in doses you would enjoy doing them: Five laps in the pool (as opposed to the 2.7-mile ocean swim required of an Ironman), a nice six-mile ride on the bike (not 112), a 1.5-mile run (not a marathon), just enough to get a good glow going but not enough to invite leg cramps, nausea, heat stroke or any of the other maladies associated with the last leg of a triathlon.

The Grueling Triathlon of Doom — which is June 6 at the Downtown Durham YMCA, fyi — is one of a growing number of events once reserved for hard bodies and folks with all the time in the world to train (meaning: no family, no social life, no fondness for the appetizer and desert menus). Triathlons, runs, bike rides — no longer do you have to have the intense resolve and commitment of a Dave Scott to pin a number-bearing bib on your chest.

Quick quiz to see how up you are on this trend: After a 100k training ride, how should you handle the “glycogen repletion window that follows four hours of vigorous exercise”? Would you “aim to drink or eat 3 grams of carbohydrate per kg of body weight,” probably in the form of some convoluted and none-too-tasty drink mix? Or would you have a giant ice cream sundae? If you were taking part in the 11-year-old Ice Cream Ride sponsored by the MSFITS Bike Club of the Triangle, you would be replenishing with Rocky Road slathered with Fluff,  hot fudge, nuts and a maraschino cherry. (This year’s ride is June 19 and requires riding through RTP, Durham and parts of Chatham County before handling the ice cream scoop.)

Maybe you’re divided on the issue. Maybe you like the notion of competition, you just don’t have the time or inclination to train for the front of the pack. Rides such as the 44-mile Poker Ride give just as much of a chance of winning to folks who ride a 12 mph pace as those who ride at 21. Ride the course, pick up three random playing cards along the way, best hand wins up to $300.

Foot races have excelled at embracing this inclusive policy. Take the Thin Mint Sprint May 22 in Charlotte: There’s no sugar-coating a race dedicated to arguably the most addictive cookie ev-er. Yes, there’s a 5k that may involve heavy sweating. But there’s also a 1-mile Fun Run/Walk as a carrot for everyone to get out and move in support of financial assistance programs for girls who can’t afford to join the Girl Scouts.

Quick warning: Don’t judge the intensity of a race by its name. The inaugural 3 Little Pigs Triathlon June 19 in Smithfield is a legit sprint tri. Porkers be advised that when the starting gun goes off at 8 a.m. you’ll be expected to swim 250 meters, bike 12 miles and run 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).

The good news: Such information isn’t tucked away in the fine print; you’ll know upfront what you’re getting into. The better news: There are all sorts of Ice Cream Rides, Thin Mint Sprints and Grueling Triathlons of Doom to give everyone a chance to see if they might be a runner, a biker or, yes, even a triathlete.

Your training begins by finding one at this extensive rundown of regional events at SportOften.com.

“We feel we’ve achieved our goal if no one sees this as a park for kids with disabilities, but rather as just a park,” Marla Dorrel said early yesterday morning. “Our goal was to integrate, not separate.”

The “our” she refers to is Kids Together Inc., the non-profit formed in 1995 to make reality the vision of then 7-year-old Kristin Holcombe and 6-year-old Helen Rittelmeyer. Both had sisters with special needs, both wanted a playground where they could all play together. Thus was formed the non-profit Kids Together Inc., which raised $300,000 toward the construction of the popular playground near Cary Parkway and Tryon Road, which opened in 2000.

Marla Dorrel talks with Katal the Dragon prior to Saturday's Kids Together Family Fun and Fitness Walk.

The urban park is popular with kids of all abilities (and ages) because of its innovation.  There’s Katal the dragon, who snakes his way through a hillside, extensive climbing structures, a variety of swings (from infant, to traditional to chair swings designed for kids with physical challenges), playhouses and your typical playground fare. The park is peppered with original sculpted art (“Botanical Benches” by Baltimore artist Rodney Carroll, Oracle and Dinosaur benches from Greensboro’s Jim Gallucci) and features a hand-picked array of plant life “specially chosen to be child-friendly, with a stimulating variety of colors, textures and fragrances.” Weaving it all together is a flowing path that provides easy access to the entire 16-acre park. It’s a design, created with the help of world-renowned park designer Robin Moore of N.C. State University, intended to let kids make their own adventures.

Those adventures can present themselves in curious ways.

Katal the dragon (pictured at top) bobs in and out of a hillside, it’s various serpentine sections exposed every 10 feet or so. Today, the surface around Katal is a fall-absorbing rubber but in the early days Katal was surrounded by earth. One day, Dorrell, who is Kids Together’s president, noticed a small boy with a pail and shovel determinedly digging at the base of Katal’s neck. Dorrell watched the boy for a couple minutes, then had to ask: “What are you looking for? He told me, ‘I know the rest of the dragon is under here; I’m trying to find him.”

Greensboro sculptor Jim Gallucci's Dinosaur Bench.

Dorrel spoke about the park, which was since been renamed in her honor, Saturday morning prior to her nonprofit’s annual fundraiser, the Kids Together Family Fun and Fitness Walk. (The group continues to play an active role in the park, having raised an additional $15,000 over the past decade for various improvements. Currently, they’re raising funds to build a misting station opposite the dragon.)

The park is a parent’s dream: Kids can entertain themselves here for a morning, an afternoon, or both.

“We wanted to create the kind of environment that doesn’t tell a child what to do,” says Dorrel. “It’s free play. We want to encourage kids to explore.”

* * *

Marla Dorrel / Kids Together Park: To get there, go here.

Most involve a short hike, followed by a little talk, maybe another short hike a little more talk. They are not strenuous. They will, however, get you moving.  And if they get you moving to the point you want to move more, I’ve included an option for doing that as well. Events are free unless otherwise noted.

For even more events, visit the state Office of Environmental Education web site.

Friday

Star gazing at the Boulders
Crowders Mountain State Park
Kings Mountain (Charlotte area)
8 p.m.

Doesn’t the weekend technically begin at 5 on Fridays? Which slips this event at the lone bouldering area in the state parks system under the deadline. Meet at the parking area, take a short hike (bring a flashlight or headlamp for the hike out) and check out the constellations.
Move more: You’ll have to come back Saturday to check out Buzzards Roost, where climbing on low rocks without anchors and other protection is allowed. Also: the 6.2-mile Ridgeline Trail, which will take you northeast to King’s Pinnacle, southwest into South Carolina.
Directions here, more info here.

Saturday

2010 Piedmont Earth Fair
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

There’s no specific physical component to this event (although there are directions for biking to the fair), but you’ll easily put on some miles visiting the 100-plus exhibitors and teaching tents, rambling over to hear the live music (six bands representing everything from Old Time music to “Appalachian Punk”) and checking out the kids exhibits. And yes, while there’s the temptation of food, “The food vendors at the Fair are trying to use as much local produce as possible …” which should translate to fresher and healthier than normal fair fare.
Move more: Stay longer.
Directions here, more info here.

Hike to Sandy Cliff Overlook
Lake James State Park
Nebo
10 a.m.

What better incentive to hike than a vista at trail’s end? This half-mile hike (one mile roundtrip). A ranger shows you the way and shares insights about the lake.
Move more: Lake James has two longer trails, the 1.5-mile Lake Channel Overlook Trail and the 2.2-mile Den Loop Trail.
Directions here, more info here.

Nature Journal Hike — Spring Animal Tracks
Lake Waccamaw State Park
Lake Waccamaw
2 p.m.

The chance to record what you find in the wild — another good incentive that might take your mind off a potentially hot, potentially sweaty hike. Focus of this month’s monthly journal hike is on animal tracks.
Move more: Nothing makes an aspiring walker feel better than racking up the miles, and nowhere is it easier to rack them up than on flat trails, such as the 3/4-mile Sand Ridge Nature Loop, the 2.5-mile Pine Woods Trail or the mile-long Loblolly Loop.
Directions here, more info here.

Environmental Education Week Nature Hike
Mount Mitchell State Park
Burnsville
2 p.m.

In contrast to racking up the flat miles, there’s a certain cache in being able to say you climbed the highest peak east of South Dakota’s Black Hills, something you can say that after attending this 1.5-mile hike on the crest of the mighty Black Mountains.
Move more: Definitely don’t visit Mount Mitchell without heading out on the Black Mountain Crest Trail to 6,637-foot-foot Mount Craig and 6,568-foot Big Tom (the view from which can be seen above). They aren’t far, less than two miles, but it’s challenging hiking.
Directions here, more info here.

Wildflower Walk
Reedy Creek Nature Center
Charlotte
1 p.m.

Pretty things — another reason to hike. Take a “liesurely walk” with a naturalist and discover the story behind all those wildflowers poking through the forest floor.
Move more: In addition to nature, you’ll find an 18-hole disc golf course, two volleyball courts, a basketball court, a playground and swing garden, two softball fields, a soccer field — if you can’t find a reason to move more here, you aren’t looking hard enough.
Directions here, more info here.

Celebrate Earth Day: Get Your Green On
White Deer Park
Garner
9 a.m.-3 p.m.

One of the newest parks around (it opened in November), there’s lots to do here to celebrate Earth Day. Then, play on the new playground, or walk the greenway,  or — just go here to see some of your options.
Move more: Did you watch the video?
Directions here, more info here.

Sunday

Spring Tree ID, Ribbet-ing Frog Calls
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Seven Springs
1 p.m., 4 p.m.

Older nature lovers will like the short hike to check out the trees in bloom this spring and for the younger ones who appear glued to the video screen it’s hard to resist the prospect of tromping around in a creek and getting muddy.
Move more: Four hiking trails, all less than a mile, snake out from the parking area.
Directions here,  more info here.

High Shoals Falls.

The 10 Essentials
South Mountains State Park
Connelly Springs (south of Morganton)
2 p.m.

Afraid to go on even a short hike in the woods because you don’t know what to take and how to dress? Learn the 10 essentials from a ranger, then …
Move more: South Mountains is covered with trails; test your mettle on the High Shoals Falls Loop, which goes up and around an 80-foot waterfall. Lots of climbing but you won’t feel a thing thanks to the scenery.
Directions here, more info here.