Explore a New Hobby - Outdoors

Bird Watching and Birding

Bird watching is a casual activity, while birding is a more focused hobby that involves actively pursuing birds. Birding just isn't a hobby, it is saving birds. Birders volunteer their time to ID and track birds for the NC Bird Atlas. Watch Mossback's Northwest - The Bird Woman and see how a Seattle educator sets out to teach that birdwatchers make good citizens.

Rudy Mancke, SCETV's longtime naturalist, read about habitats to find out what types of wildlife to expect when going on an outing. Knowing what birds, he might expect to see in the swamp helped him to tune in to what was there. Check out the Side Notes section of this article for some books that might help you in your quest. For those of you who like to frequent the coastal areas, check out the What's Wild Coastal Birds Trivia Quiz!

Visit the PBS Must Watch Bird Documentaries to learn about penguins, raptors, hummingbirds and so much more! Check out PBS Birds and Birders showcasing the birds of South Texas. If there are young children in your family, introduce them to PBS Backyard Birds | Everyday Learning Early Child.

For bird-watchers, find birds like the prothonotary warblers, which look like yellow canaries, and the Blue Heron at Aiken State Park.

Cycling

Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other types of pedal-powered vehicles such as bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Like to bike? Your knees will thank you and you may live longer, too. NPR has tips for how to get into biking as an adult. For biking on a road without cars, you want to visit the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville County.

Take a spin and explore the science of cycling and learn more about mountain biking in Harbison Forest, which has been a go-to area for avid mountain bikers of all ages for many years. Baker Creek State Park also has a mountain bike trail.

As with all adventures, when going to any of the parks in the area, check their websites for hours and up-to-date information.

Geocaching

According to Google trends, Google searches for Geocaching peaked in 2011 and have been dropping ever since; however, there are 747 geocaches around Columbia, and all you have to do is sign up to play. 

Hiking, Walking and Nature Walks

Hiking, taking nature walks or even walking about in your neighborhood can yield positive benefits. "Rudy could turn an old, abandoned parking lot into an ecological treasure chest. At best, he traveled 5 feet every twenty minutes with marvels to the left and right to talk about. Here we see Rudy with a group at Forty Acre Rock. For inspiration of places to visit, check out this veritable tour of Rudy's travels in the early years. Rudy Mancke also left his mark on KnowiItAll.org where you can watch Short Takes on a vireo, calcite crystals, the life cycle of polyphemus moth, and more.

A good guide book is indispensable, and you may want to refer to one before you go to a given area. Many of the national parks, such as the Congaree National Park, have visitors' centers where not only can you obtain guides about local trees, birds, plants, snakes and other wildlife you might see, but the trails are set with markers to identify trees and areas of interest. At state and national parks, if you schedule ahead, you can likely get a guide from one of the rangers. 

Technology note: There are apps that you can have on your cell phone to help you identify some of the things that you might see on your hike. Check Side Notes for some helpful guide books as well as a listing of state parks and their websites.

As with all adventures, when going to any of the parks in the area, check their websites for hours and up-to-date information. In areas where local rivers are prone to flooding, check the path conditions before walking a river walk trail.

Kayaking and Canoeing 

Many of the state parks in South Carolina, such as Devils Fork State Park, pride themselves on their freshwater activities, which include fishing, skiing, scuba diving, kayaking and canoeing. Canoeing and kayaking are also popular on some of South Carolina's rivers, such as the South Edisto. 

On Go For It, Devyn takes us to Congaree National Park to paddle in a kayak. The small lakes at Sesqui, Table Rock and Oconee state parks are perfect for beginners who want to hop in a kayak or canoe and familiarize themselves with the basics of paddling.

Given the nature of these water activities, it is a good idea to get some training in proper safety when canoeing and kayaking.  There are group kayaking opportunities usually found at places selling canoes and kayaks. There, you can hone your techniques, as well as find like-minded friends to paddle with.

For more advanced kayakers, the Goodale State Park website suggests paddling across the lake on Canoe Trail for the best view of the abundant wildlife in the area.

Rock and Wall Climbing

Rock climbing is the sport or activity of climbing rock faces, especially with the aid of ropes and special equipment. The concept of rock climbing is to reach an endpoint, or a summit, of a rock face or structure.  This Dragonfly TV segment demonstrates how the properties of different types of rock affect levels of difficulty for climbers. The creators of "Free Solo" talk about their "risky burden" (PBS). NPR airs a segment about how a man started rock climbing after he lost his eyesight, and what it taught him.

Every year, rock climbers gather at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site (PBS) for the Hueco Rock Rodeo, a rock climbing competition amongst some of the best bouldering in the world. In this program, we meet a few climbers as they experience the challenges and natural beauty of this climbing mecca.

Wall climbing simulates rock climbing. Venues can be indoors or outdoors, and provide challenges for all ages and skill levels. Children with Disabilities (NJTV) learn skills by rock climbing. Several venues that have rock climbing walls are available in the Midlands. For one source, check out the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School.

Before embarking on a rock face, I would recommend starting with a climbing wall to get some pointers, and to become familiar with safety paraphernalia and climbing shoes. As with all adventures, when going to any of the parks in the area, check their websites for hours and up-to-date information.

Sailing

Nothing holds the lure of sailing like having an ocean nearby for both young and old.  Watch the story of a Charleston toy sail boat named "Carolina Dreamer" that traveled for nine months, winding up being discovered off the coast of Britain. From NPR, learn how a couple quit their jobs to sail the Caribbean.

Learn about Cole Brauer, the first American Woman to sail Nonstop, alone Around the World and PBS Second Wind, The Tale of a Sailor. Finally, check out the PBS Outside Beyond the Lens High Sierras Sailing.

Wherever you find marinas, you will usually find a local sailing club that can help you to follow your dreams. 

Stargazers

Check out the Star Gazers series on naked eye astronomy and for a Crash Course about the Cosmos join Phil Plait. For additional information, view the PBS Space Time Show with Matt O'Dowd, astrophysicist. 

Visit the Side Notes section at the bottom of this story page to learn more about the Planetarium at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia, South Carolina.

Swimming

On PBS POV Shorts: A Swim Lesson, we learn that more than half the world's population does not know how to swim. Not only is swimming a great hobby, but it can help save your life. 

PBS News Hour provides a glimpse into the benefits and risks of swimming out of doors in the winter.

To learn about South Carolina State Parks that offer old-fashioned swimming holes, see Side Notes. Calhoun Falls State Park offers a swimming beach, which is different from what the other state parks offer.

Whitewater Rafting

There are many important safety considerations when choosing a location for a whitewater rafting experience. You need to consider the skill level required to manage the rapids and safety for all members of your family or entourage.  Sections of the river with rapids classed at lowest or lower difficulty levels are the best choice for families, whereas rapids higher class ratings are more challenging and require greater experience from the rafters. A guided trip can offer a variety of rafting opportunities and is the best way to go when you are first starting out.

America Outdoors (PBS) with Baratunde Thurston shares tips on making whitewater rafting accessible.

This DragonflyTV segment on Whitewater Rafting demonstrates how the placement of rocks and changes in elevation effect the flow of a river, and illustrates why water is calm in some parts of a river while it is rough in others. 

PBS Get Out of Town highlights River Riders at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, while Wisconsin PBS brings us Prairie Sportsman, Whitewater Rafting and Nature's Lessons. Devyn teams up with the Wildwater crew and shoots the rapids on the Chattooga River.