Zephyrene Can Inspire Outdoor Exploration, Curiosity, and Connection

What if getting your child excited about the outdoors was as simple as introducing them to an adventure buddy that can travel anywhere with them or for them?

Meet Zephyrene—The GO Deck mascot. 

But Zephyrene isn't just our mascot. Ze, for short, is a part of our family...joining us on adventures and trying new outdoor activities.

And when we can't travel, Ze zips up the coast, across the country, and even around the world to visit with friends and family, who write to us about the places they're in and share photos to help us learn about Earth.

Here's Zephyrene on a road trip in Utah with my daughter's babysitter.
My daughter is sad to be separated for the summer, but Ze is keeping us connected!

This summer, we'll be sharing more photos and videos of Zephyrene embarking on road trips and exploring parks, trails, beaches, gardens, rivers, and other outdoor spaces across the United States. Along the way, Ze will be trying new activities, meeting new people, and discovering an incredible variety of nature experiences.

Here are ways you can have your own Adventures with Ze:

Introduce Children to Ze

Children naturally connect with stories, characters, and imaginative play. A simple paper buddy is someone they can talk to when they feel left out of adult conversations, someone they can teach when they have knowledge to share, or just someone to share moments with if they're feeling alone.

Ze can transform an ordinary walk into a mission, a scavenger hunt, or an adventure waiting to happen. Instead of asking, "Do you want to go for a walk?" You can ask: "Where should Ze explore today?"

Suddenly, children have a reason to look more closely at the world around them.

They begin searching for birds, interesting leaves, animal tracks, wildflowers, bugs, and hidden treasures, turning what might have been a forgettable afternoon walk into a lasting memory or moment of discovery.

Turn Any Outing Into An Adventure

Whether you're embarking on a big vacation this summer or just staying close to home, Ze is a way to help your kids create memories.

Take Ze anywhere and everywhere! Encourage your child to take photos of Ze, draw pictures of places you visited together, or keep a journal of Ze's discoveries.

Here are some sample questions to help you get started:

• If you took Ze around town to run errands, you might ask over dinner: "What was the most surprising thing Ze saw today?"

• If you're at a petting zoo, you might ask: "What animal would Ze want to meet here?"

• While you're at a nature space or out on the trail: "What would Ze tell a friend about this place?"

• On your drive home or over dinner: "What should Ze explore next?"

These simple prompts help children practice observation, storytelling, creativity, and curiosity. 

A Fun Way to Stay Connected With Far-Away Family

One of our favorite uses for Ze is helping friends and family stay connected.

Print a copy of Zephyrene and mail it to grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, or family friends who live far away.

Ask them to take Ze on adventures in their hometown or on their own travels and send back photos, text messages, letters, or emails describing where they went:

• A grandparent in Tennessee might take Ze fishing at a local lake.
• A cousin in Washington might bring Ze to a forest trail.
• An aunt in Florida might introduce Ze to a beach you've never visited.
• A babysitter details car camping adventures across the West!

Children get to learn about different places while strengthening relationships with people they love.

The result is part pen-pal project, part geography lesson, and part outdoor adventure challenge.

Learning Through Adventure

Without realizing it, children develop a variety of skills when they take Ze on adventures or follow Ze's adventures with others.

They practice:

• Reading and writing through emails, texts, letters, journals, etc...

• Geography by learning about new places

• Observation and critical thinking

• Storytelling and creativity

• Social connection and communication
  

Most importantly, they are building a habit of exploring and observing the outdoors. Fostering love and appreciation for the outdoors will inspire a desire to protect and preserve the precious place we call Earth.