I've written before about the desperate need to get kids outdoors ... to play, unwind and form their own connection with the natural world.  And it seems the U.S. Forest Service is making it their mission to see to it that kids find their way to the forest. Their new website, DiscoverTheForest.com encourages kids to "imagine a place where they can be different, or be themselves." The site is a great resource for finding where to go (enter your ZIP code to find the best places to hike, bike, fish or camp) and what to do when you get there (parents and kids alike can learn how to use a compass, identify animal tracks, create leaf rubbings, or howl at the moon.)  You can also download a free copy of The Book Of Stuff To Do Outside for more cool ideas.