Wisconsin winters are usually cold and dark, and it can be hard to gear up and get outside.
But finding an activity that we as a family love to do together has been a great motivator to get us outside all year round. With the 2022 Winter Olympics right around the corner, it might be a great time for your family to dive into some winter sports!
SLEDDING & TUBING
Grab your favorite toboggan, sled or tube and head to the nearest hill! Or make your own sled — we made a cardboard bobsled that was lots of fun (and a little wild!). No snowy hills close by? Wisconsin is full of tubing runs where they make their own snow. One of our family favorites is to pull each other around in a big ice fishing sled — fun on the snow or ice! Our ultimate sledding experience was getting to go on a dogsled ride way up north.
SKIING
I have been on cross-country skis since I was singing, “My name is Lee. I’m almost three. Come ski with me!” It has been a joy to bring the rest of my family out on the trails. We are lucky to live within walking distance of a nice public cross-country ski trail, but know there are tons to explore all around the state, with some making their own snow, too. Watching the Olympic skiers — both nordic and alpine — is always impressive and gets us excited to get back out on the trails and hills.
SKATING & ICE FUN
Whether you feel comfortable on skates or prefer to explore the ice in your boots — there is tons of fun to be had on frozen lakes, ponds and neighborhood rinks. Beginning skaters have tons of options for skating aids; I grew up using my great-grandmother’s walker, but my own kids have had success with stacked milk crates, five-gallon buckets and the metal aids available at our local parks. Adults in boots (or steady skaters) can also offer a steady hand. Whether in boots or skates, it can be fun to add a puck, ball or even a snowball to the ice to pass around with a hockey stick, broom or just your feet!
GET INSPIRED
One of my favorite books for winter is Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro; a sweet mouse named Lucy works to bring her friends out into the joys of winter. And I can’t get enough of all of the cheesy (literally) puns in this lovely picture book! My family also loved watching season two of All-Round Champion together; this show celebrates elite teen athletes trying all of the other winter sports in which they do not excel. It is a wholesome reality show, emphasizing friendship perseverance — plus it is fun and inspiring to see Wisconsin represented within the athletes!
– Lee Alliet
Photos by Lee Alliet.
Lee Alliet is a co-founder of Naturing in Madison, a wildschooling mama and an outdoor enthusiast. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two kids and many dogs. You can follow her outdoor adventures at @naturinginmadison and @adventureschoolingalliets