At the IERCD we believe that every family should have the opportunity to enjoy and connect with nature. To make it easier for families to recreate outside we have launched the "Take it Outside" campaign. Our goal is help families find opportunities to enjoy spending time outdoors. Explore the resources provided on this page for ideas on how to spend more time outdoors.

Spending time in nature has been shown to offer the following potential health benefits:

  • Reduced anxiety and stress
  • Increased physical fitness
  • Better sleep
  • Increased appreciation for nature
  • Family bonding

Click Here to Learn More

IERCD Beginner Friendly Hikes

Explore our list of suggested easy hikes that the family can enjoy. This map is a collection of known and recommended hiking locations. Check weather conditions and look for landowner updates before hitting the trail.

IERCD Hiking Backpacks

A teal backpack with nature guides, colored pencils, a first aid kit, and binoculars on a table in a garden setting.

The IERCD has partnered with local schools to bring hiking backpacks to school libraries. Our backpack consists of a safety kit, an Inland Empire hiking guidebook, binoculars, wildlife ID guides and more.

Each backpack includes a scavenger hunt meant to help inspire the young and young at heart to observe and appreciate nature, if the scavenger hunt is successfully completed and returned to the IERCD or the participating school librarian then the participant earns a free day pass to the San Bernardino National Forest and will be entered into a yearly raffle to win a larger prize.

If you do not have a child attending a school with one of our hiking backpacks, we offer the same backpack at the IERCD main office in Redlands. Our public backpack can be reserved for up to 14 days and needs to be checked out and returned between 8am-4pm Monday - Friday. To request a backpack please visit the link below.

Reserve an IERCD Hiking Backpack

To recommend a school library for us to partner with in the future please email us at education@iercd.org