1000 Hours Outside 2025: A Year of Wonder, Challenge, and Hope - and Looking to 2026
The Skinny With Ginny #9
Hello friends,
As I sit down to reflect on 2025, my heart is full. This year was a tapestry woven with wide-open skies and deep questions; it challenged us, surprised us, and ultimately reminded us why we do what we do in the 1000 Hours Outside movement.
We hit a huge milestone this year: 650 (and counting) episodes of the 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, with over 15 million downloads. That number, with millions of conversations shared, blows me away. Because behind every download is a parent, a teacher, an adventurer, a family who chose to step outside instead of scrolling. That’s real life, lived with curiosity.
But as we celebrate, we also confront a theme that has quietly, and not so quietly, become one of the defining threads of 2025: artificial intelligence and chatbots shaping childhood in ways we never expected.
It’s been everywhere in the news with experts now talk about how AI is rewiring childhood, and how kids are interacting with AI companions, toys, and tutoring tools that are blurring the lines between technology and relationships. According to recent reporting, about 33 out of every 100 American adolescents now say that chatting with AI feels equally or more rewarding than talking with another person. The Cool Down
And that statistic stopped me in my tracks.
The AI Question: Tool or Trouble?
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe there’s a place for AI. - though that list of ‘places’ I once thought were good outlets seem to be shrinking continually. In classrooms, research labs, and even in helping teachers with planning and preparation, thoughtful AI can support learning. Educational technologies can personalize learning, fill gaps, and help kids explore on their own terms. (see here > Harvard Graduate School of Education)
But what we’re seeing in real-time feels different than a tool. AI can mimic conversation. It can generate stories, games, and seemingly deep responses. AI-powered toys and digital companions are popping up in homes this holiday season. (see here > The Cool Down)
