Sara

BOOKS, FALL, GARDENING, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER, URBAN NATURE, WINTER
Creating a Nature Window for Bird Watching
- January 7, 2019
If you’ve ever taken the time to observe birds in your own backyard, I guarantee you’ll find them fascinating! Birds are incredibly social, intelligent, crafty, clever and funny. They are such a joy to watch. Over time, you can even get to know the local ones and their personalities. Today, I’m thrilled to have Nichole from Luckey Wanderers here sharing how she created a Nature Window in her home for watching and studying birds with her family. What started out as an easy way to observe local birds has turned into a passion project for the entire family. She’s here to share her experience and give you tips and advice for creating your own nature window.

How the nature window began

The most beautiful rhythm has developed in our home over the last year. It all began with a bird-focused nature study for my homeschooled children, which grew into an ongoing observation that we as a family enjoy daily. It all started through happenstance. I happened to enter a contest on a social media site. That happened to be through our state chapter of the Audubon Society. Then, I happened to win! We won the most wonderful beginner bird watching kit, with bird information, along with a suet feeder, handheld hummingbird feeders, and some native plant seeds. The rest is history!

The beginning of a beautiful friendship

I entered the contest because we were studying birds for our fall term nature study. I thought the prize would pair well with our study. Within a few days, we had our suet feeder up, full of fresh food. (Suet is a cake made from animal fats and bird seed, usually in a square form.) The suet feeder hung from a pole just off our deck, observable from our kitchen window. Then, we hung a hummingbird feeder from a nearby tree and waited.

We spent the next few days watching and waiting for birds to arrive. During each meal, our eyes were drawn to the feeders. The first hummingbirds soon showed up and we all screamed in excitement, which scared the darling little creatures away! Thankfully, they are persistent and came right back.

My husband brought home another feeder for different food, sunflower seeds this time. These quickly grabbed the attention of the squirrels. Squirrels are acrobatic little buggers, and we soon had to find a way to keep them from getting into the feeder. After a bit of research, put a metal slinky over the pole, which seemed to do the trick. It also gave us one of the most hilarious things I’ve ever seen! An unknowing little bird flew onto the slinky expecting a solid landing, but instead, he bobbed up and down helplessly on the Slinky for a minute or two. Sadly, I was not recording this, but my children and I laughed about that for at least a week!

All birds, large and small

We were all surprised how many birds began to show up at our feeders. In our yard or nearby, we had a family of downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, cardinals, and American bluebirds. They came with such regularity that we could almost tell the time based on when we would see them. We watched that window at breakfast, lunch, and at our family dinners. The children excitedly gave a daily report to my husband about what we had seen each night at dinner.

Mid-winter, I had the great delight of seeing a pair of Indigo buntings fly through; pausing only briefly in our trees. The sight of them lingers in my memory. It’s a sight that I would not have seen if we hadn’t spent the previous few months attuning our attention to our little slice of the natural world sitting just outside of our kitchen window. And as winter warmed away and signs of spring began to show, we began to see the baby woodpeckers and baby cardinals accompany their parents to the feeder. It was such a special sight!

Variety is the spice of life

It wasn’t long before we decided to expand our nature window to include other species. My husband and son took to the garage to build a wood home to hang on the tree. While this was originally intended for birds, a squirrel took up residence. Watching its little face peering out of the circular hole melts me every time. We allowed what was left of our raised bed gardens to grow wild! Soon, they overflowed with native grasses and plants. Of course, this attracted pollinators and insects of all kinds, which help the birds.

Due to our location, we are quite lucky to see a wide range of species fly through. Our city lies directly in a migration path, which gives us the opportunity to see a variety of birds. I didn’t realize that before, but now we want to be prepared for it. We have plans to expand our bird feeders to attract Baltimore orioles, my husband’s favorite bird. From what we have heard, oranges should do the trick. We are also doing our due diligence in researching native plants and plan to fill our yard and garden with helpful and purposeful plants. A bird bath is also on our to do list!

So much more than just a nature study

Over the course of the academic year, we were thrilled to see so many birds come and go. My children delighted at spying the brilliant red flashes of the ruby-throated hummingbird. My camera found a new home: on the window sill waiting for moments to snap photos of the birds that passed through our yard. We started checking off lists for the species of birds we spotted. My children colored in their bird coloring books when they saw a certain species. They delighted in imagining that Jenny Wren came visiting our home regularly, thanks to the wonderful book The Burgess Bird Book for Children.

Our nature window is a continually evolving and changing thing. It started with a simple bird feeder placed where we could see it from our kitchen table and has become a full-on observation station. We have a windowsill full of bird guides, checklists, nature finds, jars of found bird feathers, nature journals, binoculars, magnifying glasses, nature journals and colored pencils.

Choose your own nature window

If you homeschool or just have curious littles at home, I highly recommend creating your own nature window. It’s brought so much joy to our lives, I’d love to pass the love and experience on to you. To begin your own nature window, take a few days and observe your household patterns and the layout of your home. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Where do you eat your meals?
- Which room does your family gather most often?
- Where do you spend time relaxing?
- Where do the kids study?
Once you have considered those things, choose your window based on where you’ll have the most opportunities to observe the happenings outside. And while a window is not necessary for setting up bird feeders (you can do that anywhere), it will allow you to observe your feeder from inside the house regardless of the weather.

Start simple

We started with a simple, double-sided suet feeder. There are many recipes available for making your own suet feed, however, for simplicity’s sake, I prefer to buy them in bulk from our local retailers. The Audubon website has a recipe available for vegetarian suet if you’re interested. Next, add a feeder with traditional bird seed or sunflower seeds.

A hummingbird feeder is another wonderful way to observe wildlife from your window. There are a variety of window hung feeders, although ours is hung from a tree. While I buy other types of bird food, making hummingbird food is quite simple. It’s also far better for the birds than store-bought. A basic formula is made from 1 part sugar to 3 parts warm water. Mix until dissolved and allow to cool. Do not add any dyes to the water. Dyes are not necessary and can be harmful to hummingbirds.

Certify your space

One easy way to assure that your yard or nature space is set up well for wildlife is to certify it. You can certify your space through the National Wildlife Federation website. I certified our yard about two years ago, just prior to starting our nature window. It is a very easy (and very educational) process that will help you look at your yard from an animals’ perspective. The certification process will show you how to make simple changes that will positively impact the wildlife around you.

Your yard will first need local native plants. The best practice is to try to stick with native to your area plants. These plants will help support the wildlife around you. If you have questions, speak with a master gardener in your area or find a local chapter of your native plant society. Both of the organizations are great resources for learning about what to plant. You’ll also need a source of water and places to build shelter, in addition to a food source.

The National Wildlife Federation has provided a wonderful program in their wildlife habitat certification process. Our family learned so much through it and are continuing to reap the benefits daily, through our nature window observations. The cost to certify is minimal and includes a wonderful sign to acknowledge your work. Certifying your yard would be an excellent family project, as there is something for everyone to help with.

Let it evolve

Allow your window to morph into your own over time. Find what works for your family and what types of nature excite you and your children. Then, place things in or outside of your window that fuel your passions. In a world dominated by screens, this family past time of observing the natural world through your own window will have a profoundly positive effect on relationships, learning, and even your own peace of mind.

Recommended reading

Here are a few book recommendations to keep near your nature window.
- A Bird Guide – Audubon/Peterson/Kaufman – any of those guides will do well to help with identifying your backyard birds in you’re in North America. You can also get some free local guides from your local chapter of the Audubon Society. I would recommend having a broad spectrum guide as well as a more specific local guide.
- A Bird Journal – This can be as simple as a piece of paper where you log what you see, or a birders journal which has lists to check off what you see and when. We like this one from the Audubon Society.
- A local or regional guide to the natural year – there are some wonderful books out there that will guide you through a season in your area. A simple internet search using the keywords “the natural year” or “seasonal guide” should render some helpful books.
- The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady – this book is a beautiful nature journal containing poetry, nature observations, and drawings. Not regionally specific but a jewel of a book to have in your nature window.
- A book of poetry – a collection of great poems by famous poets on birds. This is handy to pick up and search for a certain topic and any poetry collection will do. Try this one.
Window to the world

Our little nature window (well it’s actually a large window) has become an enduring learning opportunity for all of us. Our attention has become fined tuned to the natural world that exists even beyond it within our little patch of the city. We are amazed by the flickering red of the ruby-throated hummingbird and now recognize the woodpecker we hear in our treetop. We know which birds like sunflower seeds and which bird species favor the suet feeders. This nature window has become a profoundly powerful tool for focusing our attention, feeding our souls, and teaching lessons to our entire family.

Nichole is a homeschooling mama to two incredible adventurers. She has been married to her best friend for nearly eleven years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a gypsy-hearted, fearless, road tripper, known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Favorite family activities are hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety). She swims competitively and enjoys showing her children what it means to live a healthy life. Coffee is her drink of choice (all day long, and black). You can find her in the woods, probably up a creek, jumping off waterfalls.

You can find her at the following locations:

Instagram: @coleyraeh
Blog: Luckey Wanderers
FAVORITE GEAR, GIFT GUIDE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Creative Gifts that Promote Outdoor Play
- November 19, 2018
The gift giving season is officially upon us and we know what’s on your mind! Obviously, we’re all about getting kids outdoors. We want your children to spend as much time outside playing and exploring as possible. Therefore, this year we’ve put together a fun list of creative gifts, toys, games and sporting gear that will encourage and promote outdoor play. Some of these things can be played, made and enjoyed indoors as well, but they were all chosen to promote a love of the outdoors and to foster a connection with nature. These gifts are perfect for the active outdoorsy kids that love to run, jump and play and kids that want to learn more about nature. We hope you’ll add a few of these items to your child’s wish list this year.

Or, if you’re more into giving gear, activities and experience gifts, last year we published the Ultimate Guide to Non-Toy Gifts for Outdoorsy Kids, which will give you even more (50+) ideas to add to your list!

(affiliate links below)

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Remote control car – A remote control car (or airplane or boat) would make a great gift for a kid that likes to race and compete. Choose a vehicle made for outdoor play that will stand up to rough terrain and perform well off-road to encourage your kid to explore. This car has a 30+ minute battery life, easy pistol grip transmitter and spring wheels made to support accidental falls and unstable ground.

Telescope – We love this travel/portable telescope with a tripod and carry bag. It’s a perfect beginner telescope for kids with a 360mm(f/5.1) focal length and 70mm aperture. The fully coated optical glass has high transmission coatings to create stunning images with increased brightness and clarity. Interchangeable eyepieces make locating objects easy. It allows for many different viewing positions and the tripod adjusts for the smaller star-gazers. It’s easy to set up and take outside on a clear night or use during the day to watch wildlife. Perfect for encouraging any kid that’s interested in space, science or astronomy.

Walkie-talkies – My kids received walkie-talkies for Christmas last year and use them all the time! Not only are they great for play in, out and around the house, but we also take them on camping and hiking trips, to the grandparent’s farm and every time we go fishing. Great for those places you might not have strong cell service, as well. This set of walkie-talkies is perfect for kids because they’re extra easy to use. Voice-activated means your child doesn’t even have to push/hold a button to send their voice (great for preschoolers). The long-distance range spans over 3 miles and the scan function searches 22 channels and 99 subchannels. Durable and rechargeable.

Bicycle wheel lights – If you’ve got a biker in the family, consider getting her some fun accessories for her bike. How cool are these amazing Monkey Light wheel lights that attach to bicycle wheels and light up your tires in 2 themes and 16 colors with hundreds of combinations! They’re 200 Lumens with 32 Full Color LED lights. Rugged, waterproof construction designed for daily use in all weather conditions and lasts up to 20 hours on 3 x AA batteries.

Wildcraft! board game – Wildcraft! is a nature-based educational board game that teaches kids about 27 important healing herbs and edible plants. The game also teaches teamwork and features beautifully illustrated cards and game board. This cooperative game was created in the tradition of the classic board games with waterfalls to slide down, logs to cross and deer trails to wander. It’s icon-driven, so can even be played by little ones that can’t read. No prior knowledge of plants is needed. Wildcraft! purchases go toward a good cause A portion of the proceeds from sales of the game benefits United Plant Savers, a nonprofit with the mission to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitats.

Model rocket launch set – For older kids, this model rocket launch set will reach new heights! This huge rocket stands 30in tall and can reach heights over 650 feet! For recovery, it has a colorful 18-inch preassembled parachute. This set includes two rockets: (1) the Crossfire ISX is a Skill Level 1 rocket that streaks over 1,200 feet into the sky; and (2) the E2X Amazon is just short of 3 foot long and flies over 600 feet. Recommended for ages 10 and up with adult supervision. Be advised that the tools, construction and finishing supplies are sold separately. In order to launch, model rocket engines, starters and recovery wadding are required – also sold separately.

Stomp rocket – For younger kids not ready for a “real” rocket, try a stomp rocket! My kids LOVE these. Run, jump and stomp to launch these fun stunt planes which are 100% kid-powered with no batteries required. This set includes three different planes (looper, glider and wildcat) designed by aeronautical engineers to perform a variety of amazing stunts. Adjust the angle of flight with the adjustable launch stand, fly into the wind or with the wind and change how these planes fly.

Lawnmower – If you have a little one that wants to be just like mom/dad and mow the lawn, this adorable mower is perfect for little ones. We’ve had this exact mower for years and it’s withstood the abuse of two kids and countless hours of mowing up and down our yard, street and sidewalk. It has popping beads, a pull cord and a little gas can for refueling. If you want one that also blows bubbles, check out this bubble mower.

Mini Frisbee golf game – This mini Frisbee golf game lets your kids (or the whole family) play a par 3 round of disc golf. It features six mini Frisbee discs and one Frisbee golf target. It’s designed for ages 5 and up – even adults love it! The metal chains are designed to catch the Frisbee discs so throw your favorite, tossing, hyzers, etc.

Bubble machine – My kids are obsessed with bubbles – blowing them, chasing them and popping them! They love their bubble machine. This one generates more than 800 bubbles per minute by powerful motor and spinning wands. It’s portable, lightweight and small sized. Comes with an 18-month warranty and a lifetime customer service.

Nest swing – If you have a tree to hang a swing in, I highly recommend this nest swing for kids. Our neighbor has one and every kid in the entire neighborhood is drawn to this swing. Hours and hours of playtime! Its large frame (40 inches) is made of steel with tight weave rope platform seat and two 4” monster spring clips for easy install. It’s super sturdy with a weight rated to 600 lbs for swing and spin motion. Fun for kids, teens and adults!

Root viewer garden – I love the idea of using this root viewer garden to spark kids interest in growing vegetables indoors, so eventually they’ll want to grow them outside! This root viewer lets you see how vegetables grow underground and serves as a great year-round indoor experiment for all ages. The kit includes a 9-inch x 11.5-inch clear plastic planter with removable top and handle, premium soil, radish, carrot, green onion seeds, and instructions on how to construct and plant.

Metal detector – Get your kids outside and exploring for buried treasure with a metal detector. This metal detector can be used anywhere (park, beach, fields, backyard) to search for all kinds of valuable metal from gold coins to iron relics. It identifies all metal coin-size objects up to 6 inches deep underground and senses larger items up to 2 feet deep. Includes headphones for private searches in crowded places.

Weather lab – There’s no such thing as bad weather, right? Teach your child about all kinds of weather with this fun weather lab. Kids can build a mini weather station to record everyday weather changes and conduct experiments to discover the science and facts about climate change, the water cycle and other weather phenomena. With a variety of weather measuring equipment, record and measure wind, rainfall, and the temperature outside. In addition to the weather, learn about topics like acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and the water cycle with these experiments. Recommended for ages 8-15.

Pitching machine – There are so many great sports for kids that encourage them to get outside and play. Baseball is a big hit (pun intended) at our house and my son loves this pitching machine. It has 3 speeds: 10mph, 15mph & 20mph and an adjustable 3 position pitch angle. There’s a red light that flashes to indicate pitch release, which occurs every 5 seconds. It holds up to 9 balls and includes 4 foam balls. Requires 4 size C batteries or a power adapter (both sold separately).

Golf clubs – Another great sport to get your kids outdoors is golf. This set of beginner golf clubs is designed for ages 4-7 or 8-12. The set comes with a driver/fairway wood, 7 iron, 9 iron and putter, all with graphite shafts and flexible soft grips. Carry your clubs in the deluxe junior stand bag with double shoulder strap, 4-way divider, 4 exterior pockets, umbrella holder, Velcro glove tab & rain hood.

Soccer goals – Soccer is another great outdoor activity that burns a lot of energy, encourages teamwork and strengthens coordination. These collapsible soccer goal nets set-up and can be taken down in seconds with no assembly required. They come with 2 goals, 6 cones, and a carrying case so you can take them anywhere. They can be secured with plastic or metal stakes to any grass surface in your backyard or park.

Kickball and bases – Nearly every day after school, there’s a kickball game going on in our neighborhood. This is the perfect set for any kickball fan and comes with an 8.5-inch kickball, three rubber bases, home plate, a pitcher’s rubber and inflation pump (with a needle). That’s everything you need to play this super fun and simple game. A great outdoor sport for all ages and abilities.

Underwater camera – Every little fishy will love taking pictures with this underwater camera. It’s built tough for active kids, submersible up to 10 feet, dustproof and shockproof. Rugged, compact, and lightweight, it goes anywhere and can handle every challenging journey, from the bumpiest, dustiest desert road tour to underwater selfies amid the coral reefs. Photo shooting and video recording underwater. Built-in LED flash with a 10-second self-timer. Two dual-action screens: a rear-facing, 2.7-inch full-color LCD display and a secondary, front-facing 1.8-inch full-color LCD display – the perfect viewfinder for taking selfies.

Stepping stones – Making your own stepping stones is a great way to promote creativity and give your child something to be proud to put in the yard or garden. This stepping stone kit gives your child hands-on fun by creating a 7-inch stepping stone from scratch. Mix and mold simple ingredients and then design your finished project in a variety of colors, patterns and designs using ceramic paint and gemstones. Your child can add a personal touch such as handprints or writing their name. The kit includes 4 bags of mix (1 lb. each), a 3-D molding tray, assorted plastic gems, 10 ceramic tiles, stickers, gloves, mixing stick, protective mask, paintbrush, ceramic paint strip, and directions.

Sidewalk chalk – There’s something so simple and perfect about gifting sidewalk chalk to a kid. It’s the perfect gift for kids of any age and encourages creative outdoor play. It can be used for all kinds of games, drawings, activities and adventures. This pack of 72 chalk sticks comes in 48 unique and different colors! Comes in a squarish anti-roll shape to keep kids safe. It washes out of clothing and cleans up outside with water or rainfall.

Bow & arrow set – This set from Marky Sparky is unique with over-sized arrows that are ultra lightweight providing safety, without compromising distance power and fun! The sports fiberglass bow shoots arrows over 200 feet! Arrows have foam tips that are designed to bounce off and ground any target you create. Aim and try shooting a pyramid of cans 200 feet away! Recommended for ages 10 and up. (not a toy)

Croquet set – A croquet set is a perfect way to get your kids outside and playing games. This set comes with 6 deluxe mallets, 6 multi-colored balls, 9 steel wickets and 2 scoring posts. It comes with an official rulebook and a nylon carrying bag for easy transport and storage.

Outdoor playhouse – We have this fun cedar playhouse in our backyard and can barely get our kids to come inside! It takes time and effort to get assembled (make sure you start WAY before Christmas if you want it assembled beforehand), but it’s truly worth it. Our playhouse has a sink, working doorbell, windows, flower boxes, side benches and chalkboards. Just add a few kid kitchen supplies and you’ve got an outdoor restaurant perfect for entertaining the kids for hours!

Jump rope – This adjustable jump rope from Green Toys is perfect for teaching littles the lost art of skipping rope! It’s suitable for age 5 and up and adjusts with your child as they grow. The handles are made with 100% recycled plastic and rope with US-100% cotton. Made from non-toxic, BPA-free, PVC or Phthalates-free materials — safe for the earth as well as your child. Jumping rope is a fun outdoor activity that improves health and coordination.

Fairy garden kit – This fairy garden kit from Wild Pixy contains a set of 13 miniature fairy garden accessories and is beautifully crafted to attract fairies, gnomes and magic to your garden. It comes with a cute dollhouse, fairy figurine, bridge, bench, chair, toadstools, stepping stones, glow pebbles and fairy house featuring a working door. Mystical LED lights charge by day and bring your solar powered fairy garden house and stones to life at night. It’s high quality, safety tested and designed to last. The set is packaged in a stunning designer box. This is a fun tool for families to learn together about soils, plants, and water use. Plus, it encourages creativity through planting and caring for your fairy garden.

Bug Bingo – This beautifully illustrated bingo game features 64 species of bugs from around the world and brings a fun and educational twist to the traditional game. Players learn the names and colorings of both favorite species like the Honey Bee and Kissing Bug and more exotic bugs like the Vampire Moth and Giant Hawker Dragonfly. Contains 64 superbly illustrated bug tokens, one board, 12 bingo cards and brightly colored counters for you to mark up your card, as well as a leaflet containing basic information and a few quirky traits for all of the bugs featured. (Not into bugs? There’s also Bird, Dog, Ocean, Cat and Monkey versions of the bingo game!)

Sticklets – Encourage your child’s creativity and engineering skills with this set of 18 connectors for fort building with sticks! Outdoor kids will love using these Sticklets to build forts, torys, animal habitats, shapes and more. Comes in a variety of bright fun colors or camo.

Tent – This 4-person dome tent would make a great gift for kids. It’s relatively inexpensive (only $53!) and can be used on camping trips or set up in the backyard for camping. Let your kids learn how to set up the tent by themselves and practice putting it up and taking it down at home.

Sled – There’s no better way to get your kids outside in the snow than to give them a sled! We love this 2-person classic rider toboggan sled with a rope lanyard for pulling. The bottom is slick for speed and it has handle cut-outs on the sides for holding tight!

Bodyboard – If you’re anywhere near an ocean, I highly encourage you to try body boarding with your kids. We tested this out over the summer and our kids were hooked after catching their first wave! This bundle comes with 2 body boards, each with an innovative crescent tail and slick bottom, designed for all wave conditions. The boards have excellent control, more maneuverability, and increased speed and strength. They’re lightweight, durable and buoyant – ready for action! Each comes with a leash and perfect for kids up to 110 pounds (2-5 feet tall).

Sunglasses – Protect your children’s eyes while they’re outside playing with these Babiator sunglasses. They come in 2 styles (the Navigator UV and the Aviator) and a variety of colors. They’re designed to withstand the strains of children in everyday life. Frames are made from rubber, making them strong and flexible, shock and impact resistant. Whether your child twists, bends or treads on these sunglasses, they will not break! In addition, these UV400 lenses stop all UVA and UVB rays and protect the eyes of your child against the bright sunlight. Available in baby and toddler sizes and polarization.

Fitness tracker – Encourage your kids to get outside and active with this waterproof fitness tracker. It syncs via Bluetooth with your phone or tablet and tracks steps, sleep, calories burned and more. Promotes a healthy lifestyle and sleep habits in your kids. Set goals and challenges for the family, work on math skills, track improvement over time. So many fun ways to use these little devices.

What’s your favorite gift to encourage outdoor play?

And don’t forget to check out our “Ultimate Non-Toy Gift Guide for Outdoorsy Kids” from last year:
HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids
- November 13, 2018
Lately, I’ve received a lot of questions about how to get started hiking with kids. Parents want to know how old kids should be when they start, what to pack, where to go and how to motivate their kids. I’m here to provide some answers! My husband and I have been hiking with our kids since the time they could walk. Actually, we started well before that with babies in carriers! We’ve definitely learned a thing or two about hiking with small kids over the years. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to get out on the trail with your kids, no matter what age they are. If you have a question that I don’t answer, please leave it in the comments below and I’ll respond.

Benefits of hiking with kids

Hiking is such a wonderful way to get children outdoors, immersed in nature and burn some of that boundless energy. It can teach them so much about their surroundings and instill an appreciation for nature deep in their soul. Hiking can build confidence, foster independence and encourage curiosity in children. It gives them opportunities to explore your local area, learn about local plants and animals and other natural teaching opportunities. Hiking can help push kids out of their comfort zone and accomplish something they can be proud of. Plus, hiking provides a distraction-free environment for quality time with your children…and what could be better than that?

Easy or hard hikes?

Depending on the parent’s definition of hiking, it can be one of the first or last outdoor activities that parents want try with their kids. If a parent thinks hiking is merely a walk through the woods, they’re probably more inclined to try it than a parent that views hiking as scaling steep mountains. Luckily, hiking is both of those things and everything in between.

Hiking can be done nearly anywhere and (a lot of times), you don’t need any fancy gear or very much experience to do it. However, there are a few things you should know/do before you go to ensure you have the best possible experience. The more fun the kids have hiking, the more likely they (and you) will want to do it again. We’re here to set you up for hiking success, which we hope will lead to even more outdoor adventures for you and your kids.

When to get started hiking with kids

There’s no perfect age to start hiking with kids. The perfect age is RIGHT NOW. You can get kids started hiking any time, from baby to teen. I think a lot of parents will tell you that it’s always beneficial to start them young, but that’s certainly not always the easiest. Every age has its own difficulties to consider and challenges.

On the one hand, babies are relatively easy to hike with. For short hikes, all you really need to do is put them in a wrap or backpack carrier, strap on your shoes and go! Most babies love being outdoors and close to a parent. However, hiking with babies can be intimidating for beginners and new parents and logistically difficult depending on how much you need to pack to feed, clothe and diaper them. The good news is that every hike with your baby will get a bit easier. You’ll soon figure out what you need and what you can leave in the car. The hard part is just getting out of the house in the first place.

Hiking with toddlers

Hiking with toddlers is a bit easier and more difficult, simultaneously. Personally, I think this is the hardest age to hike with (see above) Toddlers can walk on their own (less for you to carry), but they usually can’t go very far and tire quickly. Some toddlers also have very strong feelings about what they wear, where they go and how things are done. They wear out quickly and aren’t easy to coax when you’re ready to move. Meltdowns on the trail will happen, but trust us, it does get easier. If you check your expectations at the door, hiking with toddlers can be done successfully. After the age of 4, hiking with kids gets much easier!

Choose the right hike for kids

One of the most important things you can do when starting to hike with children is to choose the right hike. In order to set them up for success, you want to choose a hike that won’t be too long, difficult or dangerous. If your kids are small or you’re just getting started, don’t overestimate how much they can do. While they seem to have endless energy, hiking will take it out of them in a whole new way. Choose a short trail with easy terrain. Paved trails are great for little ones and unstable walkers who have a tendency to trip over things. There’s a lot to look at other than where their feet are going. Expect a few spills and plan accordingly.

As your kids get older and more experienced, you can do longer and more difficult hikes. With school-aged kids, we love going on hikes with rocks/boulders to climb, creeks to play in and more rugged terrain. The kids like the challenge and are extra proud of themselves when we get to the end of a hike. Don’t be afraid to challenge them! They might surprise you with how well they do and quickly they catch on. But also don’t be surprised if you end up carrying one of them for a while if they’re having trouble keeping up. You just never know!

Also, consider choosing a hike that has a destination or goal to get to (a creek, waterfall, lake, swimming hole, or picnic area). Kids are motivated by the end reward. Give them something to look forward to and strive for.

Dress appropriately for your hike

The right clothing and shoes will go a long way ensuring your hike is a success. Nothing will make your kid hate hiking more than being uncomfortable in their clothing, too hot/cold or getting blisters on their feet from wearing the wrong shoes. Layers work great for kids so they can adjust the amount of clothing to the outdoor temperature. Tennis shoes with socks are great for hiking, but not so great if they get wet or dirty. Consider bringing a back-up pair or some water shoes if you know they’re going to jump in the creek the first chance they get!

And be sure to keep a set of dry clothes in the car for each kid to change into before getting in their car seat to go home. I can’t even tell you how many times my kids have ridden home naked because I forgot to restock after our last adventure!

Hike early

The best time of day to go hiking with kids is usually in the morning. Everybody’s energy level is full and you can beat the heat of the day by getting an early start. Kids are usually at their most hyper in the morning, so taking a morning hike gives you a breather and lets them channel their energy productively. While I can’t guarantee it won’t happen, there’s usually less whining and fewer demands to be carried in the morning than if you go later in the day as the kids get more tired and cranky.

Plus, the earlier you start, the fewer people you’ll have to deal with out on the trail. And getting an early start means you won’t have to rush the kids through their hike to make it back before dark.

Let your kids set the hiking pace

When you first start hiking with your children, let them take the lead. Hiking with kids is very different than hiking with adults and you have to go at their pace or they’ll hate it. Children walk much slower and need lots of stops and time to explore. If your kid is more interested in climbing rocks and chasing butterflies than making it to the next mile marker, that’s ok! It may take you two hours to walk a half-mile, but at least you’re outside having fun! Be patient with them and always give yourself WAY more time than you expect to take. And just remember, the goal when hiking with children is not to get to a destination, it’s about the journey.

Let them explore

Giving your kids plenty of space, time, and independence to explore out on the trail will help them fall in love with hiking and nature. Try to find trails with interesting features or have a lot of varying terrains. Natural elements like creeks or rivers, waterfalls, boulders or caves will keep kids entertained and occupied. In addition, bridges, stairs, rock formations, boardwalks, ladders, and fallen logs can encourage adventure and imaginative play while you’re hiking. As long as these things are all safe for your kids to play on (and permitted in the area), allow them ample time to play and explore off the trail.

Trails are teaching opportunities

Use hikes as a way to teach them about their surroundings and how to respect the environment. Teach kids which plants to avoid and which are safe to touch. Point out the stingy, itchy, scratchy plants, so they know to stay safely away from those. If you’re not sure, get a book at your local library or download a plant ID app and learn together! Take in all the nature you see around you on your hike. Identify flowers by their colors and trees by their leaves and bark. Look for animals, bugs and birds. Pay attention for animal tracks on the ground.

And just as importantly, teach children to leave no trace. Always take nothing but photos and leave nothing but footprints. Take all your trash to a trash can or home with you and leave none on the trail. If you have older kids that can safely pick up trash they find on the trail, encourage them to clean up after others when you’re out hiking.

Play to their strengths

As the parent, you know your kid better than anyone. Consider their personality and strengths when planning your hike and play to those to make it enjoyable for them. If your child loves being the leader, let them walk up front and lead the way. Give one kid the job of reading the map and choosing which direction you’ll hike. Have a kid that needs extra motivation? Give him the role of the encourager/cheerleader to get everyone else motivated. Let your voracious snacker choose when and where you’ll stop for snacks. Have a singer? Let her pick the songs you’ll sing along the way. Give your artistic/creative kid control of the camera and have him document the adventure. It’ll be fun looking back at those images and seeing the hike from his perspective.

Know their weaknesses

Along the same lines, watch for their signs to head off any issues before they happen. Watch for signs that they’re getting tired and know when it is time to head back home. Exhausted kids are more prone to accidents, so be aware of their energy level. If you have a child that gets tired easily or gives up quickly on adventures, bring a carrier and expect that going into the hike so you’re not disappointed.

Pay attention to their cues to avoid meltdowns before they start. Children can have meltdowns over all kinds of thing: exhaustion, boredom, injury, frustration, jealousy, etc. If you have little ones, it’s like to happen. But it doesn’t have to end your hike. Address the situation and move on quickly. Children can feel your stress and anxiety, so don’t sweat the small stuff and try not to dwell. If you have to turn around and go home, that’s ok!

Play games, all sorts

Hikes are a great opportunity to really get to know your kids and have some really wonderful conversations with your child. If you keep their minds engaged while they’re hiking, you’ll get more miles out of them and it’ll go by in no time at all. Here are a few simple games you could play while you hike that lets you get to know your kids and their amazing imaginations:
- Play “I Spy” with a variety of clues (something red, something that eats worms, a place where an animal lives, etc.)
- Play “Would you Rather” with everyone taking a turn asking and answering (Would you rather live in a place with a lot of trees or live in a place near the ocean? Would you rather be funny or smart?)
- Use hikes as an opportunity to have more intimate conversations about their friends and school or their accomplishments and struggles
- Help your kids work through some math word problems without them realizing it’s studying! (If we hike 0.75 miles west, then 0.5 miles north and then hike back, how far did we go in total and in which directions?)
- Let your kids get creative by asking them open-ended questions (Describe your ultimate birthday party. If you could create your own holiday, what would it be like?)
- Teach your kids your favorite silly camp songs and sing along the way.
- Do a nature scavenger hunt on your hike (there are tons of free printable ones on Pinterest) or pick 5 items to look for before you begin the hike. Winner gets a prize!
- Geocache one your hike! You’d be amazed at how many caches are hidden along popular hikes and perfect for little ones to find. If you need a primer on geocaching, we’ve got a great Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching with Kids on the website!
Bring snacks on your hike

Food and water are imperative to have on hand when hiking with (or without) kids. Little ones burn fuel and get dehydrated quickly, so stop frequently for breaks. Hiking burns lots of energy for kids and adults, so it is important to replenish it regularly with nutritious food and lots of water. We like fruits, nuts, bars, jerky, granola bars, graham crackers and maybe a little chocolate (for mom). If your kids are old enough to carry their own packs, let them make/carry their own snacks and water bottles, too. They’ll feel extra responsible having their own gear and refreshments. (Although you should definitely supervise to keep them from eating it all in the car before you even get to the hike! Speaking from experience.) Small treats also make handy bribes if you need to coax a kid to do just 10 more minutes!

Be prepared

We hope nothing bad will happen out on the trail, but it’s best to be prepared for anything. This could mean a scraped knee, an insect bite, or a sudden change in the weather. Make sure you pack your first aid kit with the standard supplies and any medications you may need. Hopefully, you won’t ever need anything more than a band-aid, but better to be prepared. Also consider packing bug spray, sunscreen, poncho, spare, cell phone and a map. And before you go, always let someone know where you’ll be hiking.

For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families.

Take a friend hiking

Allow your child to bring a friend along on a hike and double the fun. Having a buddy there to play with and talk to will make any hike more enjoyable for your kids. The kids will challenge and encourage each other to keep up and the miles will fly by. Bonus points if another adult comes along as well! If you don’t have friends that enjoy hiking, check out a local Hike it Baby branch and go on a group hike.

Hike often

While hiking with kids may sound intimidating at first, the more you get out on the trails with your kids, the easier it’ll get. Every time you make it a priority to your kids out into nature gives them an opportunity to fall in love with it. Your first hike (or even your first 10 hikes) may not go according to plan, but they’ll be an adventure and fun. Give it a shot! Get outside!

More resources for hiking with kids

If you’re interested in more great content about hiking with kids, be sure to check out the following posts:
What’s your best advice for hiking with kids?
GARDENING, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How To Design A Backyard Dinosaur Garden & Mud Kitchen
- November 5, 2018
Have you ever wanted to create an outdoor play area for your children? Today we have an incredibly creative New Zealand mom of two here giving us all the details on how to design a backyard dinosaur garden and mud kitchen for kids. From idea inception to reality, Catherine and her husband designed and built a fun and unique space for their son to play. This dinosaur garden and mud kitchen combines his love of dinos with getting dirty. It incorporates natural elements and fosters independent play and creativity. Perfect for kids of all ages and can adapt as the kids get older.

Creating a dinosaur garden

When our son was turning 3, we wondered what to give him for his birthday. Our family values experiences and gifts that are not just toys. In theory, this a lovely idea. However, in reality, it can often leave us scratching our heads to come up with a special gift to mark the occasion. My husband and I focused on our son’s areas of interests and the things that have been quite sustained in his play. While there are many things our busy, curious 3 year-old is interested in, we decided to hone in on two of his favorite things: dinosaurs and playing outside in the water and mud!

We wanted to combine these two passions into a flexible play space that could evolve and grow with him, but we weren’t quite sure how to go about bringing those ideas together. I turned to good old Pinterest to do some research and create an inspiration board. I found some beautiful images of sensory gardens and natural play spaces for children. Many of these spaces incorporated the same elements we were thinking about. Thus, the idea for a dinosaur garden with mud kitchen was born!

Coming up with a plan

In our vision for a flexible play space we wanted to encourage:
- imaginative play
- sensory experience
- exploration of natural resources (e.g. wood, rocks, plants, water, dirt, etc.)
- language development
- independence in his play (not relying on us to play with him)
- social play opportunities (when friends visit)
Planning began in earnest, which to be fair was the exciting part of the process for me. I love dreaming, researching, collecting inspiration and drafting plans! Our budget for this project was fairly tight (under $200) for the entire space and all materials. While we were really inspired by the elaborate setups we saw online, we knew that we had to be resourceful with things we already had or that we could buy cheaply.

Location, location, location

One of the first things we did was to pick out a location for the dinosaur garden. I think this was a really important part of the process because the size and scale of the space guided our decision making on the design of the garden. Originally, I envisioned a large scale garden, complete with water feature and all the bells and whistles. However, we quickly realized that this would encroach too much of the rest of our yard and would go beyond our budget. We reined in our design to fit the space we chose and planned accordingly.

Designing our space

After we picked out the location for the garden I drew up a design plan. We knew we wanted to have varying levels, greenery, mud, and water. We also wanted to include open-ended resources such as rocks and tree stumps in the space to encourage imaginative play. This sketch was the first of many plans we drew up as we talked through the practicalities of bringing our vision to life.

Adding natural elements

Once we had a rough idea of the design, it was time to get resourceful. We looked through our garden and garage to see what materials we already had that we could incorporate into the garden. Around our property, we have many large pebbles and stones. We decided to paint them and use them in the garden. The rocks promote color recognition, counting, physical strength (moving them around) and imaginative play (i.e. they could be used as dinosaur eggs). We also found old bricks that we could use to build a mud kitchen. This would compliment the dinosaur garden.

Our final list of materials for the dinosaur garden and mud kitchen included the following items:
- pebbles
- bricks
- plants (ground cover)
- sheet of wood
- wood pieces
- soil
- sand
- paving stones
- acrylic paint
- coat hooks
- kitchen utensils
- dinosaurs
Prepping the garden

My husband created 3 mounds of dirt onto which we planted various types of moss and ground covering plants. We visited our local garden center and easily found the types of plants we were after. We bought about 15 plants (5 per mound) of various sizes. Some plants were more expensive than others. We tried to purchase the cheapest, hardiest ones we could.

Around each of the 3 mounds of dirt, my husband created a central space and miniature pathway. These paths wound around the mounds and give our son plenty of space to be in amongst the garden. He covered this small pathway with sand to create a different texture and to combat the issue of the space becoming overly muddy or waterlogged.

To paint the rocks, I bought 5 test pots of paint from our local hardware store. I asked at the paint counter for advice on what kind of paint to use. They recommended a general purpose acrylic paint. I didn’t want to have to use multiple products to paint the rocks, so this was an easy one-step solution. My only preparation was to wash and dry the rocks, then apply 2 coats of paint!

Adding a mud kitchen

We decided to create a mini mud kitchen next to the dinosaur garden so that water and mud could be used in the imaginary play. To create the mud kitchen, we built 4 stacks of bricks approximately 5 bricks high and placed a sheet of wood over the top to create a table top. Above the mud kitchen “sink,” we screwed a coat hook rack to the fence to hang various utensils. In front of the mud kitchen, my husband laid 2 large stone pavers with a brick border. This stable surface is perfect for the children to stand on and prevents the area from getting water-logged.

Future plans

We wanted to create a space that our son could enjoy and get a lot of pleasure out of right now, but also give ourselves the opportunity to add and adjust the garden as he gets older. The structures and creations are not permanent and everything can be moved or added to in the future. We have a large tree next to the dinosaur garden that I would like to encourage the children to use more in their play. We may try to incorporate the tree into the space (a small platform perhaps) as we see how it’s used. Over winter, we plan on creating and adding some bird feeders to hang in the trees to attract bird life to our garden. We have also thought adding other sensory elements to the space such as a natural wind.

Words of wisdom

If you’d like to create your own outdoor play space for your child, my parting words of encouragement to you is to go for it! I suggest you start by considering the age and interests of your child and come up with an idea that is “unconventional” and customized for your little one. There are so many possibilities and the inspiration is endless! Overall, our project was straightforward and simple to execute. At the end of it, we felt like we had created something really unique and special for our son. It gives us so much pleasure seeing his genuine love and enjoyment of the space and will provide endless hours of unstructured outdoor imaginative play.

Have you ever considered creating an outdoor space for your child?

I’m Catherine, wife and stay at home mum to two beautiful boys who are 3 years old and 10 months old. We live in New Zealand and spend our days outside playing in the garden, reading and visiting the zoo. I’ve dabbled in photography since I was 17, but I’ve been properly using my Canon DSLR camera for about 2 years now. You can find me most days on Instagram @everydaymamma sharing my thoughts on photography and being a mum, come and say Hi!
BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
40+ More Beautiful Nature Books for Kids
- October 19, 2018
Books are a big deal at our house! I have a 1st grader learning to read and a preschooler that would listen to 500 books a night if I had that kind of time. We voraciously go through books. I’m always on the hunt for fun new (to us) books for my little readers. Since we’re an outdoorsy family, we naturally love children’s books about nature and animals. Picture books are favorites since both kids can follow along – my son reads the words he knows and my daughter enjoys the illustrations.

(This post contains affiliate links. We make a small commission on each purchase made using our links. Thank you for supporting a small business.)

Below we have compiled a list of more than forty beautiful children’s picture books about nature. This list was curated from our personal favorites and those of a number of family, friends, and fellow nature-loving parents. These books will inspire, educate and help your children develop a deep sense of love for nature and the outdoors. They have beautiful pictures and beautiful words. They teach lessons about nurturing, love and compassion. This list is perfect if you’re looking to add some beautiful books to your shelves at home, give them as a gift or add them to your library wishlist.

This is part 2 of our series on beautiful nature books for kids. If you want even more recommendations, make sure to check out part 1 of the series: 30+ Beautiful Children’s Books About Nature.
1. As an Oak Tree Grows by G. Brian Karas
2. Mice Skating by Annie Silvestro
3. On a Magical Do-Nothing Day by Beatrice Alemagna
4. Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White
5. Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
6. A Hippy-Hoppy Toad by Peggy Archer
7. Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
8. Animals in the Outhouse by Anja Frohlich
9. The Forever Tree by Tereasa Surratt
10. Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
11. The Skies Above My Eyes by Charlotte Gullain
12. We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger
13. Elmore Hardcover by Holly Hobbie
14. Little Butterfly by Laura Logan
15. Pond by Jim LaMarche
16. Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
17. A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell
18. Step Gently Out by Helen Frost
19. Bruno Munari’s Zoo by Bruno Munari
20. Wendell the Narwhal by Emily Dove
21. The Tiptoeing Tiger by Philippa Leathers
22. Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden
23. All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
24. Shy by Deborah Freedman
25. This Is Sadie by Sara O’Leary
26. Moon, Gorgeous Moon by M.H. Bradford
27. Roly-Polies (Mini-Animalist) by Mónica Carretero
28. If You Hold a Seed by Elly MacKay
29. Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins
30. Night Animals by Gianna Marino
31. Guess Who, Haiku by Deanna Caswell
32. Apples and Robins by Lucie Felix
33. Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl
34. Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan
35. The House of Four Seasons by Roger Duvoisin
36. Looking for a Moose by Phyllis Root
37. Prickly Hedgehogs! by Jane McGuinness
38. Adventures with Barefoot Critters by Teagan White
39. Baby Wren and the Great Gift by Sally Lloyd-Jones
40. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse by Mac Barnett
41. Kate, Who Tamed the Wind by Liz Garton Scanlon
42. Tiny, Perfect Things by M. H. Clark
43. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
44. And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano
45. The Story of Charlie the Coyote by London Michaels
46. The Things That I LOVE about TREES by Chris Butterworth
47. Bunny Roo, I Love You by Melissa Marr
48. Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler
49. Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht
50. Where is Bear Going? by Mark Janssen
And be sure to check out part 1 of this series
30+ Beautiful Children’s Picture Books About Nature
for even more books!
FAMILY TRAVEL, PHOTOGRAPHY
Lessons Learned while Traveling with Kids
- October 16, 2018
Traveling with kids is never easy and takes lots of preparation, planning, and patience. Today, I’m excited to bring you a wonderful post all about the lessons parents learn while traveling with kids. Andrew Song is a photographer and father of three from Toronto. He’s here sharing packing tips and travel advice, plus some relatable travel mistakes they’ve made along the way while traveling with 3 kids. If you’re planning a trip with kids anytime soon, you’re going to want to read this post about learning to roll with the punches, because traveling with kids is not for the faint-hearted!

Traveling with kids

Let’s be honest, when you’re a parent and traveling with kids, the thrill of a vacation rarely comes without the anxiety of preparation. You’re exhausted and sleep deprived. The kids just went to bed after an hour of telling you no. Only then do you realize you need to start packing! Cue the panic.

If no one has told you this yet, no matter how much time and thought you put into preparing, you’ll never be prepared for every single scenario. Over the course of a year, my wife and I traveled with our three kids (twin daughters and their big brother) to France, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, and most recently, California. Not once did we find ourselves being prepared for everything! The good news is…there was nothing we could not solve. And we learned from each mistake we made. Today, I want to share with you some of our learnings that will hopefully help you be better prepared for traveling with your kids and for taking photos of them along the way!

Car seat and stroller decisions

If you have small kids that require car seats and a stroller, undoubtedly, you’ll have research to do on what to pack, what to rent or what to buy. The options are fairly universal: you can bring your own, rent, or buy new ones locally when you reach your destination. Your decision will be based on price, convenience, availability and how much other stuff you need to pack. Sometimes the choices seem overwhelming or they all seem costly and inconvenient. That’s just part of traveling. Make sure to budget for these expenses ahead of time and plan in advance for different scenarios.

Rent or buy

When we traveled to California, after much discussion and unneeded debates, we decided not to bring our own car seats or strollers. For those of you who have backpacked a car seat on a trip, you can imagine the challenge it would have been to carry two of them through the airport, along with all our other luggage and the kids! Since we were renting a car for the trip, we chose to rent car seats from our car rental company. We were able to rent car seats for $100 each for 10-days. Yes, it’s a little pricey, but the convenience of having the car seats at the airport car rental ready for us far outweighed the cost of us lugging around the heavy car seats through multiple airports. (Did I mention we also had a layover?)

As for the strollers, we decided to leave our beloved larger, more expensive and comfortable stroller at home and purchase new strollers at a local Target once we arrived in California. That way we didn’t have to lug a giant double-stroller around or risk damaging or devaluing it. While it probably sounds cheaper to rent a stroller, we needed a double stroller for 10-days. It ended up being the same price as buying two separate umbrella strollers from Target. We bought them when we got there and then got to keep them afterward for future travel!

Learn from unexpected mistakes (we all make them)

Picture this…it’s go time. Our cab arrives on time. We throw our luggage and carry-on bags into the cab, remind the kids to go potty, and we’re out the door. On the freeway there’s no traffic, so we get to the airport in record time and well ahead of schedule. The kids are fascinated by the airport so they are on their best behavior. We use the self-check-in kiosk and there’s an error. Typical (insert eye roll). Technology never works at the most inconvenient times. We try again…error. OK, maybe there’s something wrong with how we checked in online?

And that’s when they told us, “You cannot have 5 people sitting in a row of three seats.” To which we replied, “Yes, we understand, however, our twins do not have their own seats, they will be sitting on our laps and want to sit together.” To which they replied, “It is against FAA regulations to have 5 persons sitting in a 3-seated row because there are only 4 air masks available in the event of an emergency. We’ll have to separate your family.” No!

Pack multiple bags

The problem was that we only packed ONE bag for our kids’ entertainment. OK, don’t worry, don’t panic, we thought. We’ll just split up the toys…no big deal. Turns out, it was a big deal. Our twins were not cooperating on the flight, constantly wanting the other parent or what the other twin was playing with. They started to scream, cry and kick the seats. As much as you read online to ignore the naysayers and head shakers in the rows around you, you can’t help but feel bad that your kids are the reason why people around you cannot relax. No parent wants to be in this situation. But when the going gets tough (and it will at some point), concentrate on taking care of your kids and ignore those around you.

Next time, book seats across the aisle so you stay somewhat close together. Or pack multiple bags of entertainment and snacks. Lesson learned.

Pace yourself

Our California trip itinerary was packed full of sightseeing which included Hollywood Blvd, Griffith Observatory, Disney Concert Hall, San Diego Zoo, Santa Monica beach, Laguna Beach, Venice Beach, Melrose Ave, Urban Light sculpture, and most importantly, Disneyland!

Disneyland was by far one of the best experiences in California, but the most challenging as well. We all know why it’s the best; the attractions, the rides, the Disney characters and the feeling of being in a fantasy world you never want to escape! But on the same token, it takes a toll on both the parents and the kids. We purchased a three-day pass because we wanted to experience everything it had to offer. In hindsight, that was our mistake. We underestimated the sheer exhaustion of walking for 10+ hours under the hot California sun, the lines and the crowded atmosphere.

Go slow

Not knowing any better, we went out hard and did way too much on the first day, instead of pacing ourselves. We learned our lesson quickly when we weren’t even sure we wanted to go back on Day 2. So, if you have three days, use them wisely and spread out the activities as much as you can. If you only have one day there, prioritize the attractions for your kids but still take it slow and enjoy the moment without feeling rushed or trying to cram so much in that the rest of your trip suffers.

Choose activities wisely

Coming from Toronto Canada, we don’t have easy access to gorgeous beaches. While in California, we wanted to spend as much time by the ocean as possible. The waves, sand and fresh breeze are something we do not get to experience a lot of so we definitely wanted to take advantage of it. Our son must have been a fish in another life because he loves the water. He even has dreams to compete in the Olympics! Needless to say, he loved the beach and our time there.

Our girls, on the other hand, not so much. They were apprehensive at first and unfortunately for us, they fell into a wave as they tried to escape it from touching their feet, resulting in sand and salt water everywhere. Needless to say, that was game over for them. The only way they’d get close to the waves after that was in our arms. Takeaway lesson: exercise caution when trying new things and ease kids into new situations.

Packing tips for the photographer

Let’s switch gears and talk photography, shall we? In my opinion, there are three main tips that are vital when traveling as a photographer. (You with the camera, yes you…you’re the photographer!)

Tip #1 – minimize your gear

And then minimize some more. When I first started to travel with photography gear, I wanted to bring everything. I had major FOMO (fear of missing out) of an opportunity because I didn’t have the “proper” lens. I packed a backpack full of lenses, tripod, gimbal, microphone, filters, etc. The list goes on. As I traveled, the burden of carrying so much gear started to weigh on me physically. I began to reduce my load each trip until I was down to one camera body and one standard zoom lens.

And guess what happened? I never had FOMO. I realized it’s much more important to focus on the subject (my family) than stressing the importance of having the right gear. In fact, worrying about proper gear is a crutch and distracts me from my family. That’s the exact opposite of what a vacation is about. Pick your favorite lens and you’ll learn to use it in ways you never thought possible.

Tip #2 – location scout with Instagram

When you choose the location(s) you will visit, use Instagram to scout out what’s there to see, do and explore. Instagram can show you beautiful photos based on a location search. This allows you to plan your family trip to incorporate the highlights. Instagram is an amazing resource for inspiration. I do this ALL the time even when I’m not traveling. Not because I want to recreate the same images, but it gives me a visual sense of the environment and gets me started thinking of compositions that appeal to me.

Tip #3 – bring a backup drive!

If you’re using a camera with only 1 memory card, it is vital you bring an external hard drive to back up your photos. This may seem excessive, but imagine something WERE to happen to your memory card, those memories you would have cherished for years to come can suddenly vanish in an instant. Not worth the risk. Back up your images on your external hard drive every night when you’re back at the hotel/house.

Relax, enjoy, repeat

When your day is done, take time to unwind and relax! As much as we parents may think it’s only exhausting for us, constantly being on the move is also exhausting for the kids. Now that we’re a little more experienced in traveling with our kids, we plan our days better. We always try to sight-see in the morning and then dedicate a large portion of the afternoon and early evening to one or two areas. And mainly, we just try to relax. Consider staying at places (hotel, vacation home or Airbnb) that have kid-friendly amenities. Pools, board games, puzzles, movies or other activities kids can enjoy in their down time.

The one piece of advice I want you to remember from this article is to enjoy the moments you share with family. Find time to enjoy the little things, just as much as the grand and extravagant events you’ve planned. Look around and take it all in. Just noticing a garden on someone’s front lawn can be a moment to share and cherish. When I think back to when I was a child, the most memorable moments weren’t about the places we visited. I remember the random moments with my family. The karaoke contests between my siblings in the car going to the restaurant. The races downhill to see who can still stand after being dizzy from spinning. Let your vacation be defined by the moments you share with your family and loved ones, not the physical places you visit.

About Andrew Song

I am a Family & Lifestyle photographer from Toronto, Canada. Together with my wife, we are raising a trio of misfits who always seems to get us to smile. Watching them grow up is definitely our favorite past time. Living in a country where half the calendar year is spent in the cold, we try to travel and spend as much time outdoors as possible. The camera comes along everywhere we go. Life happens so quickly and pictures help preserve those moments.

Personal Instagram @andrewsong_
Family & Lifestyle Photography @storiesbysong
Website http://www.storiesbysong.com
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARK, URBAN NATURE
Finding Nature in Urban Settings
- September 19, 2018
Show of hands of all you city-dwelling parents that want to incorporate more nature into your child’s life, but feel inhibited due to your urban surroundings. Today’s post is for YOU! Being outdoors and immersed in nature isn’t just for kids that live in the country. An outdoor lifestyle and love of nature are possible to foster no matter where you live. I’m thrilled to have Amber Richcreek of The Playful Learner here today sharing all kinds of ways you can find nature in the city. Because one the of benefits of living in a big city is easy-access to so many wonderful things — nature should be one of them! Today, we’ll show you how to make that happen.

City vs. nature

I’ve spent a lot of my life completely immersed in natural settings. I grew up in the middle of nowhere on an acre of land, right by a national forest in the mountains of New Mexico. My husband and I fell in love while traveling the United States and hiking through national parks. Spending time outdoors is one of our favorite things to do together.

However, before having kids, immersing myself in nature felt like an all or nothing thing. I lived in the city; nature was something I visited on the weekends and on vacation. We were living in Seattle when we had our first son. Shortly thereafter, we moved north to a smaller city with a population 87,000 residents. It’s not as urban as Seattle, but it’s still substantial. We live about a 15-minute walk to downtown and just a couple blocks off from a major street.

Prioritizing outdoor time

This past year when choosing my New Year’s resolution, I sat down and reflected the things that are most important to me and the values I want to instill in my children. I then wrote out a schedule of the things we actually do every day to see how the two listed compared. At the top of my “values” list was spending time nature and instilling a sense of love and responsibility for Mother Earth in my kids. However, while spending time in nature was at the top of my values list, I realized we almost never went outside! That’s when I knew that I needed to make nature a part of our daily lives, no matter where we lived.

We are a one-car family and my husband uses that car to commute every day, so driving into the country with my children isn’t an option on the weekdays. We needed to figure out ways to incorporate nature into our daily lives with just walking nearby, or maybe a bus. I no longer wanted the excuse of living in a city to stop us from connecting with the environment and spending time outdoors. I realized that being immersed in nature couldn’t be all or nothing anymore. It’s too important and shouldn’t have to wait for the weekends or vacation. We need more nature every day!

Ways to find urban nature in the city

When you live in the country it’s easy to immerse yourself in nature. It’s obvious…nature’s right there! But when you’re in a city it’s easy to forget that nature is still all around you and never far away. Research has shown that having even just a little bit of natural settings in an urban environment can help with anxiety and depression. Finding those little pockets of Mother Earth for our children isn’t just a nice idea; it’s essential for their mental health!

Today I’m here to share some simple ways we’ve put urban nature into our every day lives in the city. I hope these ideas will inspire more city-dwelling parents to get outside more with their kids and explore. Because nature really is all around, you just have to look for it!

Look up

We live in the Pacific Northwest so we have plenty of clouds. I’ve taken to pointing them out to my son. Looking for familiar shapes in the clouds, and telling the weather. Now, instead of only looking up for airplanes and helicopters, we look up to find birds, bees and butterflies. We lay under trees in the park and watch the sky shine through the leaves, soaking up the sun and enjoying the fresh air.

We also love looking up at the night sky, too. While city lights may block out some stars, the moon is almost always visible. We observe the phases of the moon and watch for special lunar events, like new moons, supermoons and blood moons.

Look down

Nature is literally right there at your feet! Make sure to look down occasionally and your child will be delighted to find a variety of insects, crawly critters, worms and even flowers growing through the pavement. Little ones are so close to the ground already, it gives them a great vantage point for discoveries. I only had to point out natural novelties on the ground a couple times before my son started finding these things (and more) on his own.

And while your child is looking down, let them turn over stones and look for rolly-pollies. Point out any mushrooms your find or pinecones that have fallen from trees. There are all kinds of discoveries kids can make just by being observant of what’s right at their feet.

Watching a favorite tree through the seasons

My son has a cherry tree right outside his bedroom window. We started watching it when it was beginning to sprout new buds and leaves after the winter. It was a beautiful pink in the spring, and so we call it “Solomon’s Pink Tree.” Now, this tree is part of our morning ritual. We look out his bedroom window to check on his pink tree every day, observing it through the seasons and watching how it changes. Sometimes in the afternoons we’ll go outside and sit under it, have a picnic or read a book. We hung a bird feeder on a branch and now we love watching the birds eat, communicate and chase each other. Our tree is located on that strip of grass between the sidewalk and the street, but it’s our own little slice of Mother Earth, right in the city.

Parks aren’t just playgrounds

Almost every city has hidden away parks filled with nature. We are lucky to have a lot of parks in our city. Before my New Year’s goal to spend more time in nature, we would go to the park just for the playground and then head home. However, I recently discovered that parks have so much more to offer than playground equipment! Now, we make a point to walk around and explore the whole area, including any wooded areas, creeks, and streams.

Some of our parks have perfectly landscaped nature that’s not meant for exploring. In that instance, we just look. We listen for bird songs, look for nests, point to the different flowers and plants, watch for squirrels, etc. Sometimes we’re lucky enough to find a city park with some wild nature we’re allowed to explore! I usually do a quick visual check that there are no homeless people sleeping in the bushes (we are in a city, after all) , and then allow my son to explore around as he chooses.

Neighborhoods

We feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful neighborhood surrounded by neighbors who love to garden. On days when a trek to the park isn’t in the cards, we’ll stick closer to home and just circle the block and enjoy our neighbor’s yards and gardens. One of our neighbors even has chickens! My son constantly requests to “visit the chickens.” Some of our neighbors have vegetable gardens, and that sparks conversations about how much of our food comes from Mother Earth.

We love playing iSpy in our neighborhood or going on a neighborhood scavenger hunt. It’s amazing how much nature you can find on your own street if you’re actively out looking for nature.

Community gardens

We rent, so, unfortunately, we cannot plant our own garden, but we’re on the waitlist for a plot in the community garden. Lots of cities have community gardens for those that rent or don’t have space in their yard. Community gardens are a series of plots where you can rent out a garden box or two and grow your own flowers, fruits or veggies.

When we lived in Seattle, I worked at a preschool with a drab, metal, green-less playground that jutted out into a parking lot. However, across the street we had a large plot in the community garden. Together, our school community and the children built a beautiful little oasis in the city with climbing peas, lush greens and potato buckets. It’s amazing how children will eat kale by the handful when you tell them, “You can eat that plant!” If you have a yard or garden, encourage that! And if not, look into your city’s community garden options. Even if you have a black thumb like me, the experience of digging in the dirt and trying is worth it.

Making small changes

That realization about my imbalance of values and time followed by implementing these simple changes has impacted our lives dramatically for the better. Getting outdoors and into nature is no longer an all or nothing thing for us; it’s a part of our daily lives. It’s had a huge effect on my older son and how he views the outdoors. Two-year-olds are like little mirrors, they mimic our habits and phrases. I’ve found that now on walks my son will say things like “Look at this flower, mama!” or “What’s this, mama?” as he picks up a pinecone, rock or leaf. It’s not sweeping mountain views or acreage of pasture or long hikes through national parks, but it’s still impactful. Even just small changes of getting outside a few minutes every day or a few times a week can make a huge difference. Every time we go outside my children are learning to cherish nature, and pay attention to it in their everyday lives. And that’s the best way to start.

Hi, I’m Amber! I’m a preschool teacher by trade but currently a stay-at-home-mom of two boys (8 months and 2 1/2). We live in the Pacific Northwest, where I spend my time playing, writing, reading, and taking photos. I blog about play-based learning in the home at ThePlayfulLearner.com.

Find me on Instagram @AmberRoseCreek.
CAMP, FALL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES
Outdoor Cooking with Kids: 7 Kid-Friendly Ways to Make Camp Cookouts Fun and Fuss-Free
- September 5, 2018
As the weather finally starts to cool down, we’re entering my all-time favorite time of year to go camping and have family cook-outs. Today, we are so lucky to have the amazing Julia from Culinatour here with her tips on how to make camp cookouts with kids fun and fuss-free. Julia is not only a mom, but she runs a business all about helping families eat delicious and healthy food while outdoors and exploring the world! Talk about my dream job…I can’t believe I didn’t think of this first!

Camp food

Mmmm…camp food. Those two words make my heart sing with joy!

There’s something about outdoor cooking that adds a whole new flavor to food, right? As an outdoor adventure-loving mom, I’m constantly on a mission of sorts to pass on this love to my daughter. She may be just 2 years old, but that’s not going to stop me from equipping her with culinary skills. If, like me, you’d love your kids to be enthusiastic about outdoor cooking when you go camping the next time, you’re going to love this post.

Why teach outdoor cooking to kids

First, let’s look at why children of all ages can (and should!) learn outdoor cooking.
1. Increase self-sufficiency: When you know how to cook, you know you’ll never starve. Right? Equipping your kids with outdoor cooking skills gives them a solid head start on their self-sufficiency quotient.
1. Add more fun to family travel: Family travel is all about enjoying activities and time together. There’s nothing better than getting everyone involved in cutting, chopping, stirring and sautéing. Cooking is a fun bonding activity and perfect for when you’re traveling.
1. Encourage responsibility: When you assign a meal to a young chef, you’re instilling incredible responsibility in them. Even if it’s something as small as an evening snack, you’re sending a positive message to your child about your belief in their abilities to do the work and contribute to the family.
1. Foster creativity: Cooking is the ultimate art form and a fabulous way to foster creative thinking in kids. Let them use their imagination when plating a dish or even tweaking a recipe and enjoy their creative culinary experiments!
1. Excellent all-round education: Cooking is a great way to learn and master concepts for math, science and comprehension. That’s right. Reading and understanding a recipe is comprehension; making sense of measurements and portions is all about math; and, the process of cooking is the best way to learn about science! Plus, when you cook outdoors, you can teach the kids about foraging and plants as well!
Tips for enjoying outdoor cooking with kids

Now that I’ve sold you on the importance of teaching kids the art of outdoor cooking, let’s look at how you can get started without getting stressed (or umm… screaming your head off at them)! Yeah, mamas can have meltdowns, too!

1. Plan to succeed

The first and most important part is planning your camp meals. Sit down with the kids and involve them in deciding what you’ll make for the different meals.

If you have kids of different ages, let the younger ones pick snacks which are usually the easiest and encourage the older ones to decide on the major meals.

Cookbooks are a great way to make this process interactive and fun. For instance, I have Luisa sit with me and go through the photos in my cookbooks. She chooses her favorites and we menu plan together.

2. Shop before you chop

Once you’ve made your menu plans for your camping and outdoor adventure trip, it’s time to make a shopping list. Involve kids of all ages in the shopping process as well.

If you have older kids, then you can definitely send them off to the supermarket with a shopping list. For younger kids, take them with you to the store and encourage them to help you pick the produce and food products.

Since Luisa is 2 years old, this works best with picture cards. Before we go to the supermarket, I make a set of picture cards showing some of the key ingredients of the foods we plan to make at camp. I hand her one card at a time and then, help her find the ingredient. It’s like a mini foodie treasure hunt for her! SO much fun.

3. Prep work is key

Once you’re in your outdoor kitchen, get kids to help with food prep. Younger ones can help with washing the produce, lining up ingredients, measuring and counting. Older kids can help with chopping, peeling, dicing, grating, and slicing.

Be sure to pack kid-friendly chopping boards, knives, and graters. The Curious Chef makes a great set of kid-friendly cooking tools.

4. Kid-friendly recipes, for the win

If your kids are old enough, have a stash of kid-friendly recipes that your children can either make independently or with very little help from you. This is a step you may want to include when you’re doing the menu planning with your kid(s). Being able to contribute to the group will make your child feel both proud and helpful. And if they’ve made the recipe before and know what to do and how it’ll turn out, you’re setting them up for success.

Waffles are a family favorite for our camping trips so I have an easy orange waffle recipe that Luisa helps me mix. Need more inspiration? I got you covered. Check out these 8 campfire recipes that kids can make from the folks at Active Kids.

5. Yes, we did start the fire

You may not want to involve young kids in lighting the campfire but you can definitely get them to help collect and pile up the kindling. It’s a great physical activity and gets them involved with the cooking process. Older kids will love helping to select your fire site, digging the fire pit, lining it with stones and collecting wood and kindling.

6. Messes are welcome

Remember, when kids cook, messes will happen. Don’t stress about it and definitely don’t tell them to not make a mess because you’ll only curb their enthusiasm and creativity. Yes, I know that easier said than done, but trust me on this one.

Instead, make cleaning up any mess their responsibility as well so they know that if they spill, they wipe up!

Having said that, one of the joys of outdoor cooking is that the mess doesn’t hurt since the ground soaks up the liquids. Win-win!

7. Service, please!

Finally, don’t forget to involve kids in serving the food as well. Your kids will be proud of the food they cook. so allow them the opportunity to help dish and serve it. They can answer questions about ingredients and the cooking process. Cheer them on when they hand out their dishes and encourage them to get creative with the plating. My daughter Luisa beams like a ray of sunshine when we ask her to serve the food and share with others. It’s a wonderful way to allow kids to give the gift of service and sustenance to those they love.

Cooking with kids

Outdoor cooking is a wonderful activity for the whole family. Get your babies involved in outdoor cooking right from the start without fretting or fussing over them. You’ll be amazed at how much they enjoy it, how much they learn and how proud they are of their creations. Not to mention how wonderful you will feel when you don’t have to worry about cooking breakfast or dinner!

Do you cook with your kids when camping?
Share YOUR best tips with me in the comments below!

Julia is an outdoor culinary business consultant based in Frankfurt, Germany. She is super passionate about spending time outdoors with her loved ones. She’s made it her mission to help families worry less and enjoy more when it comes to traveling and eating outdoors.

You can check out Julia’s website and blog on https://culinatour.com or find out more about Culinatour by visiting Julia on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest
FRIDAY FAVORITES, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PRINTABLES
Friday Favorites: Little Pine Learners
- August 17, 2018
For today’s Friday Favorites post, I’m sharing one of my favorite resources for fun, educational and nature-centered printables and activities for kids, Little Pine Learners. Little Pine Learners is run by Tara Rondinelli, an early childhood educator and mom to two adorable boys. She believes learning should be hands-on, fun and outdoorsy. She has an amazing talent for coming up with new and fun ways to get kids learning outdoors and incorporating natural materials into a learning environment.

BONUS: We’re doing a fun giveaway at the end of the post. Make sure you scroll all the way down for the info!

We had the opportunity to try out a few of her favorite printables (all available in her Teachers Pay Teachers online shop) and absolutely loved them. These printables have been such a big hit at our house this summer. The kids ask to play with them all the time. It’s not only a great way to keep them busy during the long hot summer days, but it keeps them sharp and their little brains active.

Today I’m going to share some of the ways we’ve used two of her activities and why my kids love them so much. Plus, we’ve got a great interview with Tara all about her passion behind these products and why incorporating nature into learning is so important.

Story Stones

My all-time favorite Little Pine Learners product has to be these printable story stones. The Story Stones for Writing & Storytelling package includes 50 colorful graphics to cut out and Mod Podge onto stones, 7 writing prompts to help spark the writing process and 2 story mats to help sequence events and organize writing. All for $3.00!

To begin, the kids needed to collect rocks to make the story stones. This meant a trip (or three) to our local creek was in order. Stones were evaluated by size, shape, color, and texture to determine if they’d be suitable for our purpose. I love giving kids a mission when we’re out exploring because it gives them something to do and makes them more observant. There’s way less whining and fighting when they’ve got a project to focus on. Once we’d collected enough stones, it was back home to wash them and prep them for the graphics.

My kids are little, so I took it upon myself to cut out all the graphics to put on the stones. If your kids are a bit older, this would be a great project to help with fine motor skills. When we had the graphics cut out and ready, we used clear Mod Podge to adhere them to the stones. Then another light coat on top to protect and let them dry overnight.

The next day we took a hike at one of our favorite nature centers. It was going to be a million degrees out that afternoon, so we went as early as possible and took advantage of the tree canopy cover and the cool creek. I told the kids to be as observant as possible and remember what we did and saw because we’d be using our hike as story inspiration later that day.

When we got home, I pulled out the story stones and set them out in front of the kids. I asked them to choose a few pictures that correlated to something that happened on our hike. My 6 year-old worked on the story mat, since he’s old enough to write a short story about our adventure. The 3 year-old did a sequence mat, so she could tell her story in sequential order. Having both options for different ages and skills was really useful.

The kids told and retold the story of our hike using as many applicable stones as they could. Each time they got more creative and remembered more things that we saw and heard along the way. They remembered what we talked about and how things felt. What an incredible way to relive a fun experience! And I know that the next time I tell them we’ll be using the story stones after an adventure, they’ll go out of their way to remember even more.

Other ways to use story stones

The brilliance of story stones is that you can use them in so many amazing ways. They provide endless possibilities for writing and storytelling and can be used as a prompt to create and inspire all kinds of stories or retell adventures!

Storytelling – Storytelling is an important skill for kids to learn. It encourages creativity, helps sharpen memory, and improves communication and listening skills in young children. Storytelling with stones can be done as an independent activity, with a classroom of children or sitting around the dinner table as a family.

Have everyone sit in a circle and pass around a basket filled with story stones. The first person draws a stone and starts the story centered around that graphic. When that person is ready to pass the story on, the next person/child picks a stone and uses the image to inspire a new line in the story. Children love this activity. It encourages creativity, public speaking and it helps build community! Plus, the smooth surface of the stone will calm any anxious storyteller.

Want more story stone ideas? Tara has a whole blog post dedicated to other ways kids can use story stones: 4 Ways to Use Story Stones in the Classroom

Alphabet & Beginning Sound bundle

We also had the chance to try out the Alphabet & Beginning Sound bundle from Little Pine Learners. This bundle is only $8.00 and comes with 4 awesome activities for kids, which includes:

(1) Hands-On Learning: Alphabet and Beginning Sound Center;
(2) Playful Learning: Alphabet and Beginning Sounds;
(3) Sensory Tray Writing Prompts: Alphabet and Beginning Sounds; and
(4) Say It, Find It, Make It, Write It with Letter Cards and Beginning Sound Stone Graphics.

Combined, these are four great ways to teach preschoolers about letters, sounds and words, using a variety of techniques.

This entire package was a big hit with my 3 year-old, who is obsessed with beginning sounds and matching. Her favorite was the Hands-On Learning center. For this activity, I let her choose a letter and handed her the corresponding printable. We went around the list of objects and she had to decide if the object started with that letter. She’d sound out the word and if it did, she’d cover the picture up with a shell, bead or pom.

She was surprisingly good at determining what the object was and what letter it started with. She got through the entire alphabet without stopping! I had no idea she had that much persistence.

We’re still making our way through the rest of the activities in this packet. There are a ton! It should definitely last us all summer.

About Tara

Hello! I am Tara and I live in Wisconsin with my husband and two children. Our boys are two and five years old, so we have a very busy household at the moment! My husband stays at home with our boys and I am a second-grade public school teacher. My boys and husband stay busy taking care of our yard and home while I’m teaching. I love coming home at the end of the day and doing an activity with my boys. They usually ask me what I have planned right when I walk through the door! I love going on nature walks with my boys. This is when I get the most inspiration for new activities and it’s such a joy to watch them explore nature! My oldest will be going to kindergarten this school year so that will be a big transition for us!

I have a Bachelors and Masters in Early Childhood Education. I’d love to get some sort of nature certification sometime down the road in the future. Education is so important to me and I consider myself a lifelong learner. I am constantly reading literature to stay current on the research in my profession and interests.

About Little Pine Learners

Once I had my boys, I quickly realized how important it is for children to spend time outdoors. When we were outside, I noticed that the fighting and whining stopped and they seemed more content and happy. I also noticed that I felt calmer and more relaxed in an outdoor setting so I started doing some research on the benefits of spending more time in nature. After a while, I began to want to inspire other families to get outside more through fun nature crafts and other outdoorsy learning activities, so Little Pine Learners was born!

Importance of outdoor education

The intellectual, emotional, social, and physical benefits of exposure to nature have been well documented. Spending time in nature gives children the opportunity to think creatively, problem solve, regulate stress, resolve conflict, learn through play, and so much more! Along with these learning opportunities, early experiences with nature often leave lasting memories that children carry with them for a lifetime.

Getting outside

For most parents, I think the weather is the biggest obstacle to getting kids outside. It’s easy to get outdoors on a nice day, but rough weather always presents extra challenges. It’s important to invest in some dependable kids’ outdoor gear and have it available in an easily accessible spot. Some of our best days of exploring were in the rain when my boys were wearing their Oakiwear rain suits!

If you can’t get out, reading nature-inspired picture books is a great indoor way to connect with nature. This is an everyday activity in our home. Children will read books over and over again and can inspire a sense of adventure and a love of the great outdoors! We have a large collection of books and reading outdoors has become one of our favorite activities.

If you need ideas for things to do outdoors, check online. I love the community of nature-loving mamas and teachers that I have found on Instagram! When I first started my account on Instagram, I had no idea that this movement existed and then slowly I found inspiring accounts and started searching through different hashtags. I do read blogs and check out Pinterest and Facebook, but Instagram is my favorite spot for inspiration!

Giveaway!

As a little added bonus (and a thank you for being here), I’m giving away 10 sets of story stone printables from Little Pine Learners to 10 of you wonderful readers. All you have to do is subscribe to our newsletter and leave a comment below saying you did so! Good luck! I’ll email the winners in a week!

In the meantime, make sure you check out the Little Pine Learners website and the online store, full of fun activities and printables for kids of all ages.
HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hiking & Creeking Little Missouri Falls with Kids
- July 31, 2018
If you know me and my kids, you know we love nothing more than exploring a good creek. Creeks offer so many opportunities for educational lessons, outdoor adventure and good old-fashioned fun. Which is why I’m super excited to share this post with you today from another creek-loving mama. Nichole Holze and her family spent some time exploring Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachita National Forest, near Hot Springs, Arkansas. She’s here sharing their adventure, recommendations on what to pack when creeking and her thoughts on raising outdoor children.

Creek stomping

I have nothing but fond memories of my sister and our stomping our way up a creek in a nearby county park. My mom took us there many times to play, climb, explore, and adventure. Then as I became a nanny for the summer I took the kids to that park nearly every week. And every week we returned home with sand in our shorts, mud between our toes, smiles on our faces and epic stories in our memory bank.

As a parent now with my own two adventurers, I have made it a point to continue with the creek stomp tradition. From a very early age, my husband and I exposed our children to the natural world and gave them the freedom to fully experience it with all of their senses. Dirt in the mouth was a common occurrence. That early exposure to the natural world allowed them to grow in their confidence and ability to navigate nature now as children. In addition, they are strong, bold, curious, but also with a healthy respect for the dangers that do exist in nature.

Little Missouri Falls, Ouachita National Forest

It is not uncommon for my kids and me to load up our car and head out to explore for the day. We are very fortunate to live within a few hours drive of some of the most beautiful places to be found in Arkansas, a state which is far underrated for outdoor pursuits. So a three-hour drive hardly makes us flinch for a day trip.

On one particular day a few weeks ago, we decided to chase down some waterfalls. It had just rained (heavily) the day before, which in Arkansas, means that the falls would actually be flowing. We quickly packed up some snacks, lunch, towels, goggles, life jackets and a camera. A short two hours later through windy mountain roads, which gave way to bumpy and dusty forest roads, and we arrived at our destination: Little Missouri Falls in the Ouachita National Forest.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the area, the Ouachita National Forest is located in Southwest Arkansas, about half-way in between Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. This national forest has over 1.8 million acres of wilderness and spans from Central Arkansas through Eastern Oklahoma. So it’s not only wilderness but mountains, bluffs, rivers, fields and streams for hunting, camping, hiking, biking, fishing and camping. If you’re in the area, this is definitely a place worth checking out.

Hiking into the falls

Strapping on my backpack filled with towels, my camera, lunch and loads of fresh water, we raced off for the trail. The kids were dressed in their swimsuits, sun shirts, life jackets and water shoes. They are both fantastic swimmers, but I always take life jackets when rivers or lakes are involved, until I know the water situation and depth.

A short hike gave way to steep stairs to head down to the river. At the sight of water, the screams and shouts of my excited kids filled the valley. Within moments we were scrambling over rocky riverbed to the falls. The water, which was actually cold (an impressive feat for hot Arkansas summers) cascaded from an upper pool into lower pools and quite literally took our breath away. My son quickly scampered over to the edge of the larger waterfall and begged to go down. I love that he shares my same thirst for adventure.

Navigating the terrain

I decided it would be best to work our way down to the lower falls first instead of going over. A quick scuttle through the woods and over large boulders brought us down to a pleasant rocky beach area where laid out our blanket then made for the water. The blue-green water, typical of this area of Arkansas, flowed into a deep pool with large boulders. A massive fallen tree laid in the perfect spot to climb back up to the top of the falls. We discovered a wolf spider hiding on the underside, but we let it be as it seemed to content to hide out under the log.

My daughter splashed and played, then grew bold and swam out to a rock island to perch. My son scurried up the log and was ready to slide down the waterfall. I stood at the base to catch him due to the large boulders just under the water in the deep pool below. He most likely would not have been injured, but when it comes to large rocks underwater, I prefer to not take chances. Over and over again my son giggled his way down the waterfall. And over and over again I dunked my head under the rushing falls; delighted to have found such a wonderful nook.

Break for lunch

A little later and ready for a little calmer pace, we hiked downstream to where the river opened up to a large shallow pool. I laid out our picnic blanket and we were all soon munching away on our still cold lunch. It was so relaxing listening to the sound of the waterfall intermingled with bird calls and the buzzing of insects. We all sat in contented silence, gazing around at the huge boulders against the blue-green water and the green trees against the azure sky.

Catch something!

After lunch, my kiddos took off their life jackets and headed into the water to explore. Within moments my son exclaimed that he had found a big fish. I splashed over and shared in his excitement, but it was not a fish — it was a tadpole! And probably one of the biggest tadpoles I had ever seen. A quick group effort ensued, my kids standing next to me to watch it move, and I caught it!

One thing I forgot to bring was a net. So we used a baseball cap as a temporary home for the tadpole as we examined it. My son was nervous at first, but his curiosity overtook him and he was soon gently handling the incredible creature in his own hands. The bullfrog tadpole had it’s back legs but had yet to grow it’s front. It filled up my son’s hands with its massive size. The magic of that moment will forever be etched in my memory.

Appreciate your surroundings

Hiking up a creek. A seemingly simply endeavor. But an adventure, for certain. As always, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in southern Arkansas during the summer. We were fortunate to not have any snake encounters on this outing. However, I have taught my children to always be aware of where they are moving and what is moving around them.

The natural world is a wonder to behold, especially when experienced alongside our children. Educator Charlotte Mason said it most wonderfully “We are all meant to be naturalists, each in his own degree, and it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plant and animal life and to care for none of these things.”

What to pack

Here are a few things to pack for a successful creek outing:
- Water shoes – (I have a pair of Teva sandals that I’ve worn each summer for 7 years and they still work great). Any waterproof shoe with a gripping sole will be great.
- Life jackets for children, especially if they cannot swim
- Goggles – for underwater exploration! Take your exploring to the next level by having a look underwater. We always have our goggles if there is any water involved.
- Swimsuits – rash guards and waterproof shorts work great for all day exploring and protection from the sun.
- Snacks and picnic lunch
- Sturdy lunch boxes – For day trips, packing lunches in reusable containers is important to me and highly recommend PlanetBox lunch boxes. They are made of highly durable stainless steel. They are a bit heavy but hold up well to all of our adventures. I have loved using Planetbox lunch boxes for the past few years. We have one in each size and they work great for us, including the “no food can touch” preferences of my daughter.
- A sturdy backpack
- Towels
- A net and maybe magnifying glasses
- Field guides to creeks in your area
- Plenty of fresh water to drink – perhaps take along a water purifier if you have one
- Sunscreen
- Sunhats – I really love the kids’ hats from Sunday Afternoon Hats
- A small first aid kit – I recommend Adventure Medical Kits
- Your sense of adventure and a childlike wonder!
Are you a fan of creek stomping with your kids?

Nichole is a homeschooling mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl. She has been married to her best friend for nearly eleven years. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. This is their 3rd year homeschooling, and after a rough first year, Nichole discovered the mash-up of styles that suited her, and the rest is history. She is a gypsy-hearted, fearless, road tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moments notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) are their favorite family activities. She still swims competitively and enjoys showing her children what it means to live a healthy life. Coffee is her drink of choice (all day long, and black, please). You can usually find her in the woods somewhere, probably up a creek, jumping off waterfalls.

Follow her adventures here:
Instagram: @coleyraeh
Website: http://www.luckeywanderers.comSaveSave

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CAMP, FAVORITE GEAR, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Camping with Kids: 101
- July 18, 2018
If camping with kids sounds fun but overwhelming, this post is for you! Today, our friend Tabby is sharing her very first camping experience with kids, since becoming a parent. She’s here to tell you that while it might seem intimidating, camping with kids is easier and more fun than you can imagine! If camping with kids is on your summer bucket list, here’s everything you need to go before you go. And if it’s not on your list, here’s why it should be!

Reasons to camp with kids

Kids need nature. I don’t feel like access to nature should be a privilege for children. Being immersed in nature is a necessity. Have you heard that quote floating around, “Children can’t bounce off the walls when you take away the walls”? I think that quote is so perfect and completely describes one of the biggest benefits of getting children outdoors and into nature.

Camping is one way to give kids the space they need to play and learn. Camping gets us away from the noise, the TV, the Wifi and all the constant begging for the tablet. We go camping and trade tablets for smores and TV for making stick-men and women. Camping allows us to tune out all the things that don’t matter in exchange for quality family time and memories that will last a lifetime. I pinky promise you, camping with kids isn’t as intimidating as you may think it is and it’s more important than ever.

Why I was intimidated

Before this experience, I was under the impression that camping with kids would be stressful, exhausting and expensive. I was convinced it would not be worth it while the kids were so young and overall not fun for us parents. I am a classic over-thinker and I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed by the idea of camping with kids because I literally had no camping gear. However, now that I have camped as a parent, I can promise you that it is so much easier than I imagined.

One thing I learned is that you don’t need nearly as much as you think you do. You don’t need to plan elaborate activities for the kids. You don’t need to go somewhere exotic. Your gear doesn’t need to be expensive. Camping with kids is not only easy, but really fun for everyone! In fact, after our first camping trip as parents, we decided to go back out into the wild only two weeks later and we have two more trips planned for next month. I already know each trip will get even easier now that we gave it a shot and have one experience under our belt.

What to pack when camping with kids

I know myself well and I know that I tend to overthink things. I make everything more complicated than it needs to be. When coming up with a packing list, I purposely tried my best to avoid Pinterest and all the millions of articles about EVERYTHING you need to pack. Instead, I thought about what we really needed. Then I asked for personal opinions from groups I am in with like-minded people (Hike it baby, Wildschooling). I also met one new friend at a park to talk about camping with kids. It was seriously so helpful to hear from someone who had done it successfully.

Here’s what we packed:
- Weather appropriate clothes for the whole family (check the weather where you are going beforehand)
- Rain boots, we use Lone Cone boots (they are affordable and durable)
- Sand toys
- Tent (preferably with rain cover)
- Camping chairs for the whole family
- Cooler with food and ice
- Flashlights and/or headlamps
- Glow stick bracelets or necklaces for the kids to wear at night (to keep track of them and because they’re fun!)
- Paper plates and paper plate holders
- Utensils, roaster sticks for smores or hotdogs (or you can find and use a stick)
- Firewood (a lot of campgrounds will also sell firewood, but you will want to find that out first) (be aware of restrictions on bringing your own)
- Sleeping bags (Our first trip it got to 32 degrees at night and we used 3 comforters and were toasty all night. If you’re camping where it gets cold at night put a blanket UNDER your air mattress or sleeping pad, on top of it and then 1 or 2 more blankets on top of you.)
- Bug spray (I just found out they make bug repellent WIPES! There are wipes with DEET OR wipes without DEET)
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof matches for starting a fire
- First Aid kit just in case (I bought a standard one and added Benadryl, children’s ibuprofen, a $3 snake bite kid because it eased my mind)
- One or more hammocks and hammock straps! (Man, this was a huge hit…the kids couldn’t get enough of the hammock. Our second trip we had 7 kids total at the campsite and they all had so much fun with it.)
I may be forgetting some things on this list, so before you go, just think “What do we really NEED?” Basically, you need somewhere to sleep, food and weather-appropriate clothes. Everything else is for fun and comfort.

Where to go camping with kids

If you have young kids that don’t know how to swim I suggest not camping close to water. This way you don’t have to worry about turning your back on the kids for a second. Finding a great campsite is as simple as Googling “campsites near me” and looking at a map. I highly suggest camping with friends who have kids around the same ages as your kids. We’ve done that twice now and it’s a blast! The kids love playing with friends, its endless fun for the kids and the parents! Another resource to look into is HipCamp, it’s the Airbnb for camping. <— By clicking my affiliate link we both get $20 after your first camping trip towards another stay!

What to do when camping with kids

If you’re camping at a campsite with a camp host, use their knowledge! Our host told us about a hike nearby and helped guide us to a hot spring that was also close. Otherwise, you can do your research on Google when you’re planning your trip. For us personally, we mainly like to relax. I don’t go camping to be on a rigorous schedule.

Above, I mentioned bringing sand toys. The kids will love digging and playing in the dirt. I was against bringing too many other toys, but that’s just me. Try a scavenger hunt or set up a slackline. Go collect wildflowers or splash around in a creek. One of our favorite activities was making Stick-Men. I found a tutorial in the CAMP bundle from Wild and Free. Basically, the kids use their imaginations to make stick people. So simple, yet it was a huge hit for us!

The moral of the story

Overall, camping with kids is so much more fun and easier than I ever imagined. All you have to do it go and have fun! If you are an anxious person like me, fight those feelings that tell you to fear everything. Try not to be a Debby Downer and kill the fun vibes while camping! Instead, give it a try and you’ll be sure to create some happy memories in nature with your kids and spouse. Make a list, bring the necessities (and a camera), relax and have fun!

Also…drown out your fire after use! Make Smokey the Bear proud!

Additional camping resources for parents

If you’re looking for even more info on how to camp with kids, we’ve got you covered. Check out these great camping resources below:
Printable camping gear lists for families

To make it easier for you to get started on your next family camping trip, we put our ultimate camping packing list for your family in a free printable 2-page PDF for you! Use this as the perfect start to create your own master packing list. You’ll also be signed up to receive our AMAZING weekly newsletter, filled with fun outdoor activities and inspiration for getting your kids and family outside! You can opt-out anytime (although we’d hate to see you go).

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”https://mailchi.mp/6ad1ea8208c2/fw0osm9qnr” text=”PRINTABLE CAMPING GEAR LIST” ]

We hope you’ll consider a camping trip with your kids this year!
What’s your best advice for camping with kids?

My name is Tabby, I am homeschooling mama of two little wild ones. I love photography, being outdoors, dogs, podcasts and rollerblading!

You can find me on Instagram @sunshine_and_kewpie
BEACH, FAVORITE GEAR, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
8 Tried & True Tips for a Successful Beach Trip with Kids
- July 12, 2018
As we get closer to our family’s upcoming Florida trip, I’m so excited about spending time on the beach with my kids. I envision hours of fun in the waves, building sand castles and flying kites. However, I’m also aware of the meltdowns and non-stop action required to keep the kids entertained. In addition, this will be our first time taking a 4 month-old to the beach. A baby adds a whole new element of preparation and packing.

This is why I’m so excited for today’s post, by the fabulous Dr. Autumn Hanson of Permission 2 Move. Autumn is a physical therapist, blogger, mom of 2 and Florida-native. She’s here to share her tried and true tips on how to make your next beach trip with kids stress-free and fun! Not only will she help you prep for your trip, but she’ll get you moving out on the beach and making memories to last a lifetime.

Meet Autumn

Hello everyone! I’m excited to be here on Run Wild My Child sharing some tips and advice on how to make a beach trip with kids as successful and stress-free as possible. As a Florida native, I’ve spent a lot of time at the beach over the years. I was fortunate enough to grow up within walking distance to the beach in beautiful Treasure Island, Florida. With 3 girls in my house growing up (ranging in ages from 6-16), it was challenging to find activities we could all enjoy doing as a family. It was always a struggle just to get out the door. However, we were always happy to be at the beach once we got there.

Not much has changed since I began my own family years later. Now, as a parent of two girls aged 3 and 1, I appreciate the effort that makes a beach trip enjoyable for both the parents and kids. Without adequate preparation, the happy beach trip you imagine will likely end with one (or all) of the following: sunburns, crying children, a miserable spouse, sand covering everything, or even a strike from a stingray (as my husband suffered through and ranks as one of his most painful experiences)!

With dozens of family trips to the beach under my belt, from Hawaii to Bermuda and back to Florida, I’ve got boatloads of experience in what works and what doesn’t. Here are my 8 tried and true tips to make your beach trip run smoothly and enjoyable for everyone!

Timing is essential

Make sure that you choose the right time to hit the beach when going with little kids. While mid-day might sound appealing, there are two elements working against being at the beach mid-afternoon: the intensity of the sun’s heat and nap time. Those two factors, when combined, are exponentially harder to overcome and can lead to major meltdowns, both figuratively and literally. The best times to beach are mornings and evenings when the sun and heat are less intense.

In order to get to the beach early, pack the car the night before and plop your kiddos in the car as soon as their eyes open! The longer you spend in the house getting ready to go, the later you get to the beach. If you are like me and get great ideas of what to pack and clean and rearrange at the last minute…don’t! JUST LEAVE! (see below for more info on prepping the night before)

If you miss the window of leaving early or the day is heating up quickly, don’t despair. Going to the beach in the evening is wonderful! Usually, the crowd disappears shortly before the sun does, so you’ll have more space to run free. You can enjoy the beautiful sunset with cooler temperatures and without worrying about getting the sand on the lady next to you when your child uses her towel as a superhero cape.

Protect yourself from the elements

There is nowhere to hide from the sun at the beach. Long gone are the days where your sole purpose to go to the beach is to get tan. Little children need the shade, not only to protect their skin but also to hide their meltdown from the rest of the beachgoers. Trust me on this one.

Whether you choose a sun shelter, a giant umbrella or tent, you need something to protect your littles from the harsh sun and any sand-blowing wind. We have tried several options for beach protection from the sun and we love the Ikea Sommarvind. Once you master the folding process (after watching a few dozen YouTube videos), this pop-up tent cannot be beaten for its simplicity, storage size, and function.

Bring a cooler with hydrating snacks

Just before you anticipate a meltdown, call everyone over for a refreshing treat. The most enjoyable snacks are those that cool you off under the summer sun. Pro tip: these almost always include some sort of dripping liquid, so bring napkins or wet wipes, too! Our family favorites are watermelon, frozen grapes, coconut water, sparkling water (or bubble water as my 3 year-old lovingly refers to it) and popsicles.

If you are concerned about the amount of sugar in your children’s beach snacks, I have a great popsicle swap idea for you! Fill a silicone popsicle mold with water (or healthy juice) and fresh fruit, then pop it into the freezer. My girls really enjoy their own fruit popsicles at the beach and I love not having to constantly say, “NO MORE POPSICLES!”

To keep everything cool, you’re going to need a good cooler. Our favorite cooler is the Yeti Hopper Flip 8, but simpler options will also suffice. We also pack insulated water bottles to keep our water icy cold even when it is out of the cooler. Our favorite water bottle is this 64-ounce Hydroflask.

Prepare the night before

In our house, preparation starts the night before. Since we have a habit of doing ‘just one more thing’ before we leave, we have better luck getting out of the house on time without a mess if we prepare ahead of time and leave as soon as we wake up. Pack a bag with your sun protection, accessories and beach activities the night before and put it in the car. Tidy the house and check everything off your list as you pack. Leave the delicious snacks in the refrigerator until it is time to go.

Prepping the night before ensures we get out the door with everything we need at a decent time. We love the feeling of coming home after a long day on the beach and walking into an unusually clean house with overtired kids (and adults). The sigh of relief from everyone is quickly followed by a smile, as well as a lighter-hearted approach to showers and rest.

Play with your kids!

If you are in the mindset of going to the beach to ‘sit back and relax,’ you’re in for a shock! That’s the mindset of your former pre-family self. With little kids, those days are over! Sorry! Save that thought to motivate you to take a trip with your girlfriends later in the summer and instead switch gears to being active at the beach with your family.

If you are active at the beach, you will feel twice as successful. An enjoyable family outing and a full body workout all wrapped into one beautiful day at the beach! Think of the calories you’re burning as you drag that overflowing wagon through the sand. Try walking barefoot in the soft sand to strengthen your lower legs. Chase the kids (or the birds) for excellent cardio! But most of all, just play with your kids. That typically includes activities like shoveling sand, tag, body surfing in the waves while attempting to keep your kids’ faces out of the water and hauling buckets of water for the amateur sand sculptors. This is when the best memories are made!

Bring activities, but not many

Don’t go overboard packing entertainment for the kids. After all, the great thing about the beach is that it serves as its own entertainment. I do suggest bringing some activities though. My mother used pre-planned activities to achieve the family bonding she was interested in cultivating. While the rest of us were focused on what we like to do individually, she was focused on what activity drew us together as a family. These activities will vary on the age and interests of your family. Try to think of activities that promote teamwork like playing soccer, baseball, kan jam, Frisbee, or bocce ball together. These activities transfer your focus from the heat to the game.

Explore & make friends

Remember how I mentioned early that the beach serves as the entertainment as well as the destination? Use that to your advantage. Grab a shovel from your sand castle building crew and start digging. Have a contest to see who can find the most unique shell. Then head over to the edge of the water where the coquinas lay buried just below the surface, until, like magic, they resurface as the sand gets pulled away with the tide. Walk the beach for sea treasures. Cue the kids to find out what items float or not and why. Explore why you need water to make a sand castle or why a bucket of water gets heavier each subsequent one you carry.

You can also use your beach time to make new friends. Maybe it is as simple sitting near a family with kids your children’s ages. Kids make fast friends at the beach and then they’ll have new friends to explore and play games with. Plus, they’ll likely be much more understanding of the sand in the face from the superhero cape…I mean, towel.

Change your perspective

Little kids have a different idea of fun than parents do. I challenge you to view your beach trip from their point of view. Spend a whole day focusing on what’s important to them and you’ll be so pleasantly surprised at how much fun the beach can be.

Your kids won’t remember that you forgot the organic sunscreen and had to use the aerosol stuff you swore you would never use. They just know that you made sure they were protected. They don’t remember their meltdown over saltwater in their eyes. But they will remember you surrounding them with a towel and blotting it out. They won’t remember that the blueberries were covered in sand, but rather that you packed their favorite snack. They won’t remember the time they fought with their sibling about how big the sand castle has to be. But they will remember that they built the biggest sand castle ever and that you helped them do it.

What’s your best piece of advice
for beach outings with kids?

Hello, my name is Autumn! I am a wife to my high school sweetheart (a pilot in the Coast Guard) and mama to two spunky little girls that are frequently playing with dinosaurs in dress-up clothes. When I am not out adventuring with my family, I work as an outpatient physical therapist and Pilates reformer instructor. I love that my career allows me to help people move and feel better. However, after years of hearing my patients say, “I wish I would have learned the importance of movement sooner in life,” I started Permission2Move. I am grateful to have an avenue to inspire people to move more adventurously!

Learn how to creatively add movement into your daily life by following along at:

Website/Blog: permission2move.com

Instagram: @permission2move

Facebook: permission2move

Email: permission2move@gmail.com
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Arches National Park – 8 Easy Hikes for Kids
- June 26, 2018
Arches National Park in Utah is one of those picture-perfect iconic places that’s destined to be on your bucket list. While hiking through the desert with kids might not sound fun or easy, we’re here to assure you that it is! Today, Stacy Bressler of The Crazy Outdoor Mama is sharing all kinds of wonderful info and advice on visiting Arches with kids, along with 8 Arches National Park hikes with spectacular views that little kids and toddlers can easily do. Happy hiking!

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is just north of Moab in the state of Utah. Bordered by the Colorado River in the southeast, it’s known as the site of more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks. This red-rock wonderland also contains a variety of hiking trails, many of which are considered easy to moderate. Trails provide access to outstanding viewpoints and arches not visible from the road. In some cases, trails travel under arches, affording quite a unique perspective on the park’s namesake features.

When to visit Arches National Park

Overall, the most ideal time of year to visit Arches National Park is probably in the spring or fall. I visited in early April and the weather was perfect! Cool in the mornings, and warmer but cloudy the rest of the day. Summer in Utah can get pretty hot and winters are very cold. If you’re going to do a lot of hiking with small children, I recommend you choose a season with more moderate temperatures.

In terms of time a day, it’s best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Again, it’s the desert, so it can get really hot in the middle of the day. Also, the line can be ridiculous to get into the park, so it’s not worth wasting your kids energy or time sitting in line all day. Particularly if you are only in the area for a short amount of time. I suggest getting there before 9 A.M, or choose to go later in the afternoon, after 3 or 4 p.m.

I personally liked going early as it wasn’t as busy. We were often in the park at around 8:00 a.m. and got a jump start on the hikes before they got busy and crowded. There is a decent amount of driving to get to most places, around 20-30 mins once you’re in the park. Don’t forget to account for this when planning your day!

Cost of visiting Arches National Park

The National Park Service website has a full list of prices for each national park, but for quick reference, the Arches entrance fee is $25.00 for seven day access (as of 2018). If you want to visit the nearby Canyonlands National Park, there is a Southeast Utah National Parks pass that is $50.00 and also includes entry for Natural Bridges National Monument. We decided to buy the “America the Beautiful” pass that gives access to all U.S. national parks for $80.00. It’s a great deal if you plan on visiting more parks!

To save time, buy your pass online. That way you just have to show your park pass at the entrance and move on instead of buying it there. I think that’s partly where the giant line comes from.

Park maps & Junior Ranger program

You can pick up a map of the park and all the trails at the Arches National Park Visitor Center, or download it here. As of 2018, the hours for the Visitor Center are 7:30 – 5:00 daily except for Christmas. Be sure to also get a guide to the park. This will include some fun facts about how the arches in the park were created, as well as more in-depth info about all the trails.

Don’t forget to pick up the Junior Ranger Guide so that your child can get the chance to earn a badge! Most national parks have a Junior Ranger Program, which allows your child to get an activity book from the visitor center and complete it as you explore the park. Return to the visitor center at the end of your visit to be awarded an official Junior Ranger badge from a park ranger. The activities are typically designed for kids 4 and older, but even younger kids can participate. It’s a really motivating way for them to have something to work toward as we hike and explore. Plus, it’s a great way to encourage your kids to learn about the place you’re visiting!

Here’s a little secret: even if your kids are younger than the recommended age for Junior Ranger, take them to the visitor’s center anyways to talk to a park ranger. They love to see little kids excited about hiking and will often give your toddler a badge anyways!

Arches National Park hikes with kids

With enormous sandstone sculptures in every direction, freestanding arches framing snow-capped mountains, precariously balanced rocks, Arches National Park is truly one of the most impressive national parks in the world! It’s also the perfect place to explore with the whole family. We especially love it because there are a lot of fun easy hikes for kids and each one has at least one great reward and breathtaking view. Some of the best hikes in Arches National Park are pretty easy, making it the perfect park for kids.

At the time I visited Arches National Park, I had three children under three. That’s right, a toddler and two twin 8 month old babies! We hike all over and got to know the area pretty well. I promise, it can be done. I’m going to give you the scoop on which arches in Arches National Park are the easiest to get to with young children, and which ones are worth the extra challenge.

Eight easy Arches National Park hikes for kids

Today I’m sharing 8 easy hikes that are all doable distances with big rewards to keep your toddler or little kid pumped about hiking! While we adults might enjoy longer and more challenging hikes to get away from the crowds, I found it very important to keep the hike distance minimal for the kids in order to maximize the fun! This might mean stopping a couple of times on a 0.5 mile hike; that’s ok! You’re setting them up to love hiking as they get older!

Though you should never step off trail (it ruins the very delicate bio-soil that takes years to form!) most of these hikes have many turn offs and rest areas since they are so popular. These areas make the hikes PERFECT for little ones – they can stretch their legs, climb on little rocks, play in the sand, and have a snack to recharge for the rest of the hike!

Just remember, hiking with kids is fun, but it’s also very SLOW. I always think we are going to have time to do more than we actually can accomplish. If you’ve got babies, toddlers or even preschoolers with you, plan to double (or triple) whatever amount of time the park brochure says a hike will take. Take your time and don’t rush everyone. You’ll enjoy the views and the hikes so much more. If all else fails, bribe them with snacks to keep going and you’ll be fine!

1. Balanced Rock hike (0.3 miles round trip)

At only 0.3 miles, this hike is a great hike to begin with and an excellent way to gauge how far the kids can go! It’s a big reward for little effort; what kid doesn’t love rocks?! You can see the giant balanced boulder while driving, but it’s worth getting out of the car and hiking out to look at it up close.

Balanced Rock’s off-balanced shape is something that you’ll need to see to believe! It’s probably Arches’ most unusual attraction! The rock is always eroding away, and one day Balanced Rock will not be balanced anymore! In fact, there used to be a smaller formation called “Chip Off the Old Block” that fell down in 1976.

There is a covered picnic area and some restrooms here so it’s also a great pit stop on the way in an out of the park, if you want to save it until the end.

2. Sand Dune Arch hike (0.3 miles round trip)

Sand Dune Arch hike is probably the BEST hikes in Arches National Park for kids of all ages! It’s surrounded by a giant sandbox! It’s only a 0.3 mile hike in, and it’s tons of sandy fun.

Sand Dune Arch is nice, but all the sand really is what makes this area a must for little kids. There were toys available that someone generously left there, and lots of easy climbing and exploring to be done. The babies got a nice break from the backpack, and our 2 1/2 year old got some much needed free time! (There was a lot of “Let’s go” and “Let’s keep going” on our hike! :P)

We spent probably around an hour in here, and easily could have spent more just letting the kids all play. There are some cool slot-y areas nearby and fun rocks to climb for the adults, so if there’s someone to watch the kiddos, explore around for yourself!

Bonus: If everyone is in a good mood, head over to Broken Arch, which is accessible from the same trail head as Sand Dune Arch. It’s about 2 miles round trip and takes you through some fun rock formations and includes slick rock scrambling! It’s really fun!

3. Skyline Arch hike (0.4 miles round trip)

A short, sandy hike through some cool fins bring you to Skyline Arch. This arch, framing the sky way high up in a tall red rock fin, can be viewed from a scenic half mile trail. A big moment in it’s history was in 1940, when a huge boulder fell out of the arch, doubling it’s size to what is is today!

While not as picturesque as some other arches, it’s a nice short hike for kids as they get their reward (the arch!) quick and easy!

4. & 5. Double Arch + Turret Arch hikes (1.2 mile loop)

This is one of the best “bang for your buck” arch viewing hikes in the park. Only a 25 minute drive from the visitor center, there are multiple arches to choose from here; North and South Windows, Double Arch and Turret Arch. Double Arch was one of my favorite arches in the park and the ENTIRE loop trail is only 1.2 miles!

There is a “primitive trail” marked by cairns that is much less traveled and very scenic you can take if you choose. This is a little longer (1 mile roundtrip) but it’s worth it if you want a more authentic hiking experience. We had our two babies in backpacks and our toddler in tow, and we all made it! I think our toddler only took 2 breaks the whole time this hike. There’s a lot to look at.

There is a staircase and some slight uphill hiking, but it’s pretty doable for everyone. The trail is gravel, so that makes for easy walking. Once you climb up into the base of the arch, the views become even more impressive. You will not want to ever leave this place!

Cool facts about Double Arch – it’s the tallest in the park at 112 feet and the second longest at 144 feet! You might also recognize it from the beginning of Indiana Jones: The Last Crusade movie.

6. Landscape Arch hike (1.6 miles round trip)

The Landscape Arch hike is another iconic arch at the end of a surprisingly easy hike. It’s possibly the most imposing arch in the whole park and is unbelievably long and narrow! The irregular shape of the arch makes it hard to believe how long it has survived through so much crazy weather.

This hike starts at the Devil’s Garden Trailhead, by entering a narrow canyon. A hard packed gravel path turns into a sand trail with little elevation gain making this a perfect Arches National Park hike to take the kids on that has a little more distance.

Landscape Arch is the longest arch in the world and conveniently near other lesser known arches such as Pine Tree Arch and Tunnel Arch. Though people were allowed to walk underneath this arch in the past, it is now blocked off due to the delicate nature of the arch.

7. Double O Arch hike (4.2 miles round trip)

The Double O Arch hike is also accessible from the Devil’s Garden Trailhead. The hike out to Double O Arch is 4.2 miles, so it’s a bit long for little kids, but much less crowded and great for older kids that want a longer challenging hike. It has a very primitive trail, meaning it’s much less crowded and leads to some pretty spectacular views.

8. Delicate Arch hike (3.0 miles round trip)

Finally, we’re to the big daddy of all the arches. If you’re in shape and up for a little more challenge, you HAVE to see Delicate Arch!

The Delicate Arch hike is a fun walk through a canyon, over slick rock and close to some 3-foot cliff edges (it’s not as scary as it sounds; promise!). The hike ends in an amphitheater with the Delicate Arch in view! This is the quintessential arch – that iconic famed arch that is on the Utah license plate!

It can be very crowded, so be aware of that in advance. Go as early as possible and take lots of water. The crowds pick up significantly as the day goes by. However, when I was there everyone moved out of the way of the arch so that each group got a picture in front of it without others around. I hope that you’re as lucky!

The amphitheater is a good resting spot; there is plenty of seating with views of Delicate Arch. Our toddler enjoyed this break, and I was able to take the babies out of their backpacks to feed them! There is hardly any cover from the sun, so this would be a good hike to do at the start of the day so as to beat the heat and the crowds! Also, there are very steep parts of this hike, so it might be necessary to carry very small kids part of the way.

BONUS: Don’t miss the original homestead historic house and several-hundred year old petroglyphs on your way back down!

Now go hike!

Arches National Park is a great place to introduce young kids to hiking. There are many trails that are short with big rewards, as well as lots of areas to take a break! Whether your baby is on your back or holding your hand, get out and explore Arches National Park with your kids!

Or…if you’re in the area and not all that into hiking, check out Stacy’s post on 6 fun things to do with kids in Moab, Utah (that aren’t hiking).

Stacy Bressler is an avid outdoorswoman, wife, and mother of three under three (the youngest being 10-month-old twin girls). She writes about all things motherhood, including surviving it with (most) of her sanity intact, as well as raising mini adventurers. Navigating life through the lens of humor and positivity, she chronicles it all in her blog, The Crazy Outdoor Mama.
LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL
Grow Your Socks
- June 8, 2018
Today I want to share a fun little science experiment with you that’s super easy to do and fun for kids – growing seed sprouts in your socks! I’m sure you’ve all seen the project where you can grow a bean sprout in a plastic bag with a piece of cotton. Well, this is a fun new twist on that concept. Instead of growing seeds in a bag, grow your socks! Not only do the kids get a chance to watch and learn about sprouting seeds, but they get to run around and get dirty in the process! Talk about a win-win!

What you’ll need

This little science experiment is so easy! You don’t need any fancy equipment or gear at all. Everything you need can be found at home already. You’ll need:
- old pair of cotton socks
- plastic bags
- water
- tape
What to do

Instead of putting seeds into the bag, this project encourages kids to get outside, explore the area and get their socks as dirty as possible! Running around in socks is how they’ll collect the seeds – directly from nature. Depending on your location and where you want to do your “collecting,” you can decide whether to let the kids just wear socks or whether you want to put the socks over their shoes. If you’re just running around your yard or neighborhood, I suggest the former. If you want to take a long hike, I’d suggest the latter. Both are pretty darn fun for kids!

Start by having the kids put on a pair of old socks (on their feet or over shoes). Next, since you want the seeds to stick, get the socks wet. Have the kids step in a bucket of water or just spray their feet with the hose. Once their socks are wet, set the kids loose!

Encourage them to explore wooded areas, under trees and bushes and other low traffic areas. Make sure they squish their feet into the ground to pick up as many seeds as possible. Step on dandelions, shuffle through fallen leaves, walk gently through the garden. Finally, have them find a muddy area to squish their feet in! This will pick up a bit of dirt to help the seeds grow.

When the socks are nice and filthy, take them off and place each one in a plastic bag. Tape the plastic bag to a window that gets a good amount of daily sunlight. If the socks feel dry, add a small amount of water. Now all you have to do is wait!

When they’ll sprout

Within a few days, you should notice some sprouting. By two weeks, your socks should have some serious blooms. This is about the peak for growing seeds, so if you have nothing after two weeks, try again in a new location.

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. This was our second attempt at growing socks. The first time didn’t take; possibly because we were exploring close to a creek and the kids kept getting in the water and probably washing all the seeds away! This second time was successful. The kids stayed in our cul-de-sac and just ran through our neighbors’ yards. Three of four the socks sprouted.

Grow your socks

Growing your socks is such a fun and easy science project for kids. It teaches them all about germination and what plants need to grow. You can experiment by growing socks from various locations to see the differences in the types of plants you get. If you want to go a step further, try identifying the sprouts you’re growing and figure out what each plant will look like when fully grown.
CAMP, FAMILY TRAVEL, LOCAL GEMS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Guide to Glamis Sand Dunes with Kids
- June 1, 2018
The sand dunes in Glamis, California are the perfect spot for a family weekend adventure, full of fast-action and moto-excitement, thrills and spills! The amazing Sarah Robinson (an Arizona photographer and mom of 2) is here today giving us the complete lowdown on how to do the dunes right. She’s been adventuring in the Glamis sand dunes for years and has insider tips and advice on where to go, what to do, what to bring and where to camp. Get ready for some “duning” fun, this adventure is going to blow your mind!

The ultimate guide to Glamis sand dunes with kids

Being an Arizona native and growing up in the desert, the Sand Dunes have always been a part of my life. As a child, my family went to the sand dunes in our motorhome and my brothers and I rode around on little Honda 50’s, 80’s, 125’s. My older brother had a three-wheeler, too. As we got older and busier with life and growing up my family just kind of stopped going to the dunes.

However, when I met my husband in the late 90’s, we realized we both had a childhood at the Sand Dunes in common. He and his family were still die hard “duners.” Now, I am able to get back to this happy place of my childhood with him and introduce our little family to the sand dunes. Today, I get to tell you all about how, where and what to do while “duning” with kids in Glamis, CA.

About the Glamis sand dunes

The Glamis sand dunes are located off of Hwy 78 between and Blythe, CA and Brawley, CA. This is about a 3- 4 hour drive from our home in Mesa, AZ. The town of Glamis, CA has virtually no permanent structures, aside from a small store and trading post. These offer limited supplies for the hundreds of thousands of recreational visitors each year who pass through the Algodones Dunes and the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area(collectively called the “Glamis Sand Dunes”), located in the southern portion of the dune system. Dune season begins in October and goes until April, usually depending on the heat.

Dunes Wilderness

The largest section of the dunes (located north of State Route 78) are off-limits to vehicular traffic due to designation as the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness. The federal government protected these 25,818 acres in the early 1980s and closed them to vehicles as part of the California Desert Protection Act. However, much of the area south of this road remains open for off-highway vehicle use. It is the largest sand dune area open to off-highway vehicle use in the United States. The sand dunes are an awesome terrain for many off-road vehicles: motorcycles, sandrails, ATVs, and 4-wheel-drive vehicles.

In addition to the Glamis Sand Dune Recreation area, there are other dune areas that are a little easier to find. They are right off Hwy 8 and have much of the same things to do such as large hills to ride to and sand drags of their own. These areas are called Buttercup, Gordon’s Well and Grey’s Well.

Dunes wildness

In the late 90’s and early 2000’s the sand dunes were a wild and dangerous place. The crowds were a bit out of control due to insufficient ranger and law enforcement presence, specifically, Glamis and Competition Hill. As a young adult, this was great time, but it certainly was not family-friendly. However, over the last few years, ranger law enforcement presence was significantly increased and law enforcement is now in full force in Glamis. Competition Hill was eventually shut down due to winds washing it away from existence. The Glamis dunes are a much safer, regulated, family-friendly adventure land for everyone to enjoy.

Riding the dunes

Glamis Sand Dunes is sometimes called the “Sand Toy Capital of the World,” and it truly is! Trucks, dirt bikes, quads, rzrs, and sand buggies galore! And with the recent popularity of the new 4-seater Polaris RZR’s and Can Am’s, it is so easy to now take your whole family on a fun adventure through the sand dunes.

The best sand dune buggies for kids

Before these Polaris 4-seaters were around, kids weren’t able to really go “duning” unless your family had a Sand Rail or Buggy. These were mostly all custom built and pretty pricey, making it very restrictive for families to dune together. Kids were confined to riding their quads (4-wheelers) around camp until they were old enough to operate something that could make it through the sand dunes.

Now, with these awesome machines, you can buckle them up and take them along! These overgrown quads are the perfect family fun mobile in the Sand Dunes. We call them the wagons… ha ha! My kids are 5 and 8 now and have been duning since they were babies.

How to ride the dunes

There is a “rhythm” to riding the dunes. If you are new to driving in the dunes, the best thing is to follow a leader that knows what they are doing. Never go up and straight over a hill because you don’t know what is on the other side. The way to drive the dunes is to get to the top and then turn and drive along the ridge until you can see what is in front of you, then go down. A good rule of thumb is that if it is round on one side, it will be steep on the other. But that is not always the case.

There are dangerous swirls or bowls that the wind make called witches eyes and you don’t want hit one of those going fast. Razorbacks can be tricky too. That’s where the dune is steep on the both sides. If you drive the dunes right, it can be like the smoothest roller coaster ride ever. The enormous “bowls” are exhilarating to drive around in. The G-forces push you into your seat and you can almost lose your sense of up and down while running the bowls. It’s sooooo much fun!!

Camping in Glamis

It is open camping, meaning you show up and find a spot. You do need a Camping permit as well as registration for your OHV (off highway vehicles). Here is a guide to permits. Make sure you get all your ducks in a row, they check and ticket. Remember that ranger presence I mentioned was in full force earlier? Yeah, get the permit.

There are 4 main camping areas: (1) the Washes; (2) the Flats; (3) Gecko Road; and (4) the Canal. Each of these areas has it’s own unique personalities and features. Depending on what you’re looking for in a campsite, you’ll find one that suits your needs.

The campsites

The Washes camp area runs along the rail road track. These campsites are numbered by the wash that runs under the track are a popular place for the big rigs. The sand is a little more hard-packed and gravel so getting stuck isn’t so much of an issue. While this is a very popular spot, I’m not a fan. Most of the time, the wind blows in the direction towards the Washes so all the dust kicked up gets blown right your way… which sucks, in my opinion. Also, it gets pretty packed in there and you’re basically camping on top of each other. Finding a campsite can be a challenging on a busy weekend. It used to be that you’d have to go to the railroad track, find your wash, and then go from there to find your camp. However, GPS has made this less of an issue than it used to be. Now, you can just ping your camp and go right to it.

The Flats area is located right off Hwy 78 next to the Glamis Store. The Flats area is super easy to find and is right in the middle of the action. This is where all the vendors are located. At “vendor row” you can get food, ice, firewood, t-shirts, souvenirs. You can rent ATV’s and OHV’s here. They also carry all the supplies you’d need to fix any vehicles that break down. I’d say you could rebuild almost anything right there just utilizing the vendors! If you aren’t camped at the Flats, it’s a fun ride to head down there, cruise the vendors and get a hot meal.

Gecko Road is another popular camping area. This area is a long road that turns off of Hwy 78 and goes right passed the ranger station. This road goes for miles and miles. There are camping spots off of the side of the road, as well as paved spaces down towards the end. The camping flats have names and also have restrooms. The nice part about these spots is that you are super close to the actual dunes. However, be advised that these spots fill up quickly on a busy weekend.

The Canal is another campsite for large gear. Right on the other side of the Gecko Road is additional paved camping flats for the Big Rigs. We call it the “Canal” because it’s right next to the canal. These areas are recommended if you have big fancy motor homes and are pulling some big trailers. It’s paved, so you don’t bury your $100k rig!

If you are like us, we can pretty much camp wherever we want. We have conservative camping gear that is more off-road friendly, so getting stuck isn’t a big deal. Our gear consists of trucks with box trailers, smaller toy haulers, tents and vans. This means we can pick a spot away from the crowd and not have to worry about lots of traffic or being stuck next to neighboring campers. In my humble opinion, this is the way to go when camping with kids. A little spot is all by itself means that the kids can ride around camp all day and the only people they are bothering when they fire up their 80’s at sunrise is us!

What to bring

When camping in the Sand Dunes with kids, there are essentials that you need besides the obvious food and drinks. First of all: safety gear. Wearing helmets is the law of course, so each kid needs a good helmet that fits, as well as goggles. Moto helmets can be confining and heavy for little riders; especially if they aren’t used to wearing one. We use skate or snowboard helmets. These don’t have face protection like a moto helmet, but they are light weight and don’t feel claustrophobic. Goggles are very important. Getting sand in your eyeballs isn’t fun for anybody, especially little ones.

When riding in the RZRs, kids don’t quite fit into the seats, so we use Graco car seats. They are buckled into the car seat harness and the car seat is buckled into the RZR seat. This also boosts them higher, for better viewing when riding.

Safety first

Bright colored clothing is always a good idea. I try to always dress the kids in bright colors like neons, bright reds and greens. These colors stand out against the beige background of the sand. Anything that might make the kids easier to be seen by other duners is a good idea. We’ve even made matching shirts for all the kids in camp so they are easy to spot and easy to keep track of. It was actually super helpful.

There are no trails or traffic laws out in the dunes. You make your own trail and go where you please, so anywhere you stop in the middle of the dunes can be the middle of the road for the riders the next dune over. All OHVs are required to have flags so that you can see and know where your fellow duners are when they are not visible behind the height of the dune.

When going on a ride, you should always be prepared for a breakdown or some situation where you can’t get back to camp immediately. Have repair tools, a first aid kit, a blanket, and warm clothes in case you are out past dark. As well as snacks and drinks in your cooler.

Bring the fun

Some other fun things to bring for the kiddos are glow sticks, S’mores fixings, fireworks, sparklers, wish lanterns, sand/beach toys (shovels, buckets, etc.), toy trucks and quads. The kids can play for hours duning their toy monster trucks in the sand. They also love their own camping chairs and picnic tables. Sunscreen is also a must. The desert sun is pretty powerful and if it’s a cold day you can’t even tell you’re getting burned. I just slather it on first thing in the morning and apply a second coat after lunchtime. If you have really little ones, a pack and play and a baby carrier are a must to bring. And of course, don’t forget your camera!

Where to go and what to do

For the most part, when we’re at the sand dunes, we stick to the same tentative schedule. First, the kids wake up at the crack of dawn and ride their bikes around camp waking everyone up! We either get up and go on a breakfast ride to the vendors at the Flats (where they have the best waffles and breakfast burritos you could ever ask for) or make breakfast at camp.

Next, to keep them entertained, we find or make tracks for the kids to ride on. There is a great track about a ½ mile from our camp that the kids love to ride around and around on. These are great because they stay confined to the track and they usually don’t run into each other since everyone is all going the same direction. These tracks are the stuff of childhood memories learning how to ride your quad and pushing yourself to go a little faster each time.

Explore the swingset

After breakfast, we all head out for a “ride.” We pack everything up and plan on being gone all day. From our camp we ride to the “Swingset.” The swingset is exactly what it sounds like, a giant swingset in the middle of nowhere! This is a relatively new family-friendly destination, built as a Memorial. It is out in the middle of Dunes, so you have to know how to get there and have something to ride/drive that will make it across the sand. The dunes swingset is a perfect destination to take the kids. They get to get out, run around, and of course…swing! The adults get a refreshment break while we hang out and watch the kids have fun for a bit.

Oldsmobile Hill

When the swing set gets old, we load up and head to Oldsmobile Hill. There are a few stops or destinations you can hit along the way to Oldsmobile Hill, if you want to lengthen the trip. There is a memorial flag pole in the middle of nowhere, a slide, and a few smaller hills that people like to race up and down (China Wall and Brawley Slide).

“Oldsmobile Hill” is kind of the epicenter of Glamis. It is a huge hill where everyone goes to hang out and watch the show. The show being everyone racing up and down the hill and cruising the rows. People park in rows down at the bottom and hangout, have lunch, and be social. Usually some of the trucks from our camp will meet us there by taking Sand Highway, which is just what it sounds like… a sand road. Almost any 4 wheel drive can make it to the hill by taking sand highway.

Sand Drags

After the midday Hill session, we either ride back to camp to regroup or ride straight to the Sand Drags. The “Sand Drags” is an area similar to the Hill except, there is no actually hill. It’s a flat drag strip that runs parallel to Gecko Road where people race. There are no set lights or flags to tell you when to go. The races start going about 3 or 4 pm and go until sunset.

We park along either side of the drag to watch and participate in the races. We usually prefer to go back to camp to get the trucks so we can put the kids up high in the back where they can see the show and are a little safer in case anything loses control and comes flying into the crowd. I know, it sounds crazy, but it occasionally does happen! The Sand Drags go until sundown, then it’s back to camp to make dinner.

Dinnertime

Around dusk is dinner time. There are a couple of restaurants to ride to like Boardermanville and Duners Café. But honestly the kids have a ton of fun just playing at camp, so there’s no need to leave. They make ant farms, dig in the sand, roast s’mores, ride around and around and just play and get dirty. We usually do a big camp potluck meal. And let me not forget to mention how epic Glamis sunsets can be by the way. Carne Asada and Pollo Asada burritos are the most popular with our group.

We eat dinner, make s’mores around the camp fire, play with glow in the dark Frisbees, have glowstick dance parties, burn some sparklers, let off a few fireworks, then clean the kids up and put them to bed. They are usually so tired that they literally sleep through everything. The adults can have adult time by the campfire and do adult stuff (or in my case I usually pass out right with the kids)! And then we wake up and do it all over again!

Insider tips

The biggest tip I can give to highway vehicles going off-road in the sand dunes is to let a little air out. Actually, not just a little air…a LOT of air. You want a PSI of no more than 20. Trust me, this is the ticket to getting through the soft sand without getting stuck. The trucks can bring chairs and easy ups for shade and anything else we might need (firewood, coolers, etc.). We usually hang out at Oldsmobile Hill for a couple hours. The kids can race up and down the Hill, have lunch, and even take a nap on a blanket or in the RZRs if they need to.

Breaking down in the middle of the dunes happens, but it isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. It can actually be a great time! RZRs are notorious for burning belts, but if you have a spare and your tools… no problem! We usually have a lot of unexpected fun when this happens (or at least the kids have a blast). The sand is so soft and clean out in the middle. They can climb to the highest peak and look out and see the entire sand dune area. It is a beautiful intriguing wondrous site. It makes you wonder how all this sand got to the middle of a rocky mountain landscape.

Ice cream truck, for the win!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention…the ICE CREAM TRUCK!! How many of you remember the sweet sound of the ice cream music coming down your street when you were a child? We don’t hear that anymore. However…the ice cream truck is alive and well in Glamis! There are actually multiple ice cream trucks that cruise around. This is a highlight for all children in the sand dunes.

Some people actually complain about the trucks’ music being too loud (particularly those people in their $100k rigs who have freezers full of ice and bring their own ice cream). They just don’t fully appreciate the excitement of the ice cream truck. We have broken down on the side of Gecko Road before and the sweet sound of the ice cream man coming down the road is music to our ears. We get bags of ice for our coolers and the kids get their favorite ice cream treat, literally in the middle of nowhere. It’s such a luxury… ha ha!

Kid-friendly Glamis

The Glamis Sand Dunes are such a fun adventurous thing to do with kids. If you are smart, have the right gear, and always pay attention to your children, it can be the absolute best time! Like most outdoor adventures, there are accidents and owwies and things out of your control. The only thing you can do is pay attention, be aware of your surroundings, buckle them up and make sure they have everything they need to have a great time. Before hitting the dunes, I always have the talk with my kids to remind them that there are a lot of stupid people out there that aren’t looking for little kids (I probably should come up with a better word, but it’s true) and that they have to look out for everyone. Prepping them ahead of time has made a big difference.

Plan your trip

I hope this gives you some insight about how to do the Glamis Sand Dunes with children. If you are hesitant to take them for whatever reason, I encourage you to give it a chance. It opens up a whole new world of trucks, dirt bikes, quads, rzrs, sand buggies. Kids LOVE that stuff! And letting them learn the lessons on how to ride and drive these machines, be brave and careful, will be lifelong skills and amazing memories that they will have forever. And as I always say, “falling or crashing in the sand isn’t bad at all. It’s a nice soft cushion to fall down on.”

Sarah Robinson is mom of two awesome kids, photographer, blogger, model and outdoor adventurist in Arizona. You can find her at any of the following locations:

Sunshyne Life Blog

@Sunshyne.Diaries on Instagram

Sunshyne Pix Photography

@SunshynePix on Instagram