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Reconnecting families through outdoor activities and adventures.

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Getting Families Outside, One Adventure at a Time

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  • BEACH, CANOE/KAYAK, FAVORITE GEAR, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    How to Stand Up Paddleboard with Kids

    • August 21, 2020
    hot to paddleboard with kids

    Summer will soon be coming to an end soon, but right now there’s still plenty of time to get out on the water! One of the most fun outdoor water activities for families is stand up paddleboarding (SUP). Not only is stand up paddleboarding a great work-out, but standing upright on a paddleboard lets you […]

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  • HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Hiking Safety and First Aid 101

    • August 18, 2020

    You probably already know the benefits of spending time outdoors; healthier minds and healthier bodies. We want everyone to spend as much time as possible outdoors,  and hiking is a great way to get immersed in nature and get some exercise. However, it is important to be familiar with hiking safety and first aid, especially […]

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  • BEACH, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER, WATER

    Packing Tips for a Day at the Beach with Kids

    • August 12, 2020
    kids swim suits

    Spending a day at the beach with family is an incredibly fun and enjoyable outdoor activity. However, packing for a beach trip with kids is no easy feat. If you tend to get overwhelmed with how much one family needs for a day at the beach, this post is for you! Today, we have Annie […]

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  • FAMILY TRAVEL, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota with Kids

    • August 10, 2020

    The Black Hills are a small and isolated mountain range in western South Dakota. The name “Black Hills” is a translation of the Lakota Pahá Sápa. They were called “black” because of their dark (tree-covered) appearance from a distance. With over five million acres of forest and mountain lands, you’ll also find rich western history, […]

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  • BOOKS, NATURE SCHOOL

    10 Diverse Nature Books for Kids

    • August 7, 2020
    Diverse nature books for kids

    Nature is full of color and diversity…children’s books about nature should be, too! Diverse books are incredibly important, not only for children who are looking to see their own lives reflected in literature, but to introduce new thoughts and ideas to all children so they know there is so much more to our beautiful world. […]

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  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, INFORMATION, LESSONS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PRINTABLES, SUMMER

    Fun with Fireflies

    • August 4, 2020

    Fireflies (or lightning bugs) are one of my all-time favorite things about summer in the Midwest. It can be brutally hot and humid here during the long summer days, but something magical happens at dusk. As the heat fades away and the sun casts long shadows over the yards, you can start to see the […]

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  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES, SUMMER

    Making Healthy Fruit Popsicles with Kids

    • July 30, 2020

    This summer is a hot one! But luckily, there are so many fun ways to cool off and beat the heat. Whether you need tips for staying cool, ideas for playing in the water or a cold healthy snack, we’re here to help! Today, we have Gaga, a professional photographer and mom of two from […]

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  • HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Cultivating a Love of Adventure in Homebody Kids

    • July 28, 2020

    As parents, we all want to instill a sense of adventure in our kids and a love for the outdoors. But, what happens when your kids would rather stay home? What if you’re a homebody, too? What if you know you should be getting outside, but the struggle to get out the door is more […]

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  • BIKE, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WATER

    Exploring the Outdoors with Medically-Complex Children

    • July 21, 2020

    Exploring the outdoors with a medically-complex child can seem overwhelmingly hard and scary. There are so many considerations to take into account concerning the health and safety of your kid. However, getting outside and into nature has been proven time and again to help both children and adults lead happier and healthier lives. The benefits […]

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  • BIKE, FALL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, SUMMER

    How to Get Started Mountain Biking with Kids

    • July 17, 2020

    Mountain biking with kids is not only a great way to get outside and immersed in nature, but the benefits go above and beyond. Mountain biking is great for kids’ physical and mental health, improves their coordination and balance, and helps instill confidence. Today, we have Creative Team member Jared Ryan, Oklahoma dad of 2 […]

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  • CAMP, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    Overnight Camping Made Simple

    • July 15, 2020

    If camping with kids sounds like fun, but also a lot of work, you’re not alone! Camping is a blast, but the planning, packing and prep work that parents have to do to go camping sometimes feels overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be. Short and simple single overnight camping trips are perfect for families […]

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  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, BEACH, FISH, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    Exploring California Coast Tidepools

    • July 13, 2020

    Tidepools are incredible little shallow puddles of seawater with a life of their own! Each one is a microcosm – a tiny little rocky world filled with fascinating creatures and sea life. Exploring tidepools with kids provides endless hours of entertainment and learning for the whole family. There’s so much to observe and discover. Today, […]

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  • OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, RECIPES, SUMMER

    Blueberry Picking with Kids

    • July 7, 2020
    blueberries

    Blueberry season is in full swing and U-Pick fruit farms are the perfect place to go with your little ones! U-Pick farms are exactly what they sound like – you pick your own produce. Children will love this hands-on learning experience and will be asking to go back year after year! Today, Megan Rigdon, Maryland […]

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  • FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    Exploring Capitol Reef National Park with Kids

    • July 3, 2020
    Hickman Bridge Trail, Capitol Reef National Park, June 2020

    Exploring national parks can be an amazing experience for families. One of Utah’s most beautiful and underrated parks is Capitol Reef National Park. This park is great for hiking, learning about new cultures, camping, appreciating natural beauty, bonding as a family, finding yourself, and so much more. Today, we have Katie Fox, a full-time RV-traveling […]

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  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    Poison Ivy, Mosquitoes, and Ticks, Oh My!

    • July 1, 2020
    kidsoutside9

    Poison ivy, mosquitoes, and ticks sure do make it less pleasant to spend time outside in the summer, but not impossible! Getting outside is always worth it and more important than ever for kids right now. This time of year, we get a ton of questions from concerned parents about how to keep these summertime […]

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🌿 Helping busy families connect through OUTDOOR activities, adventures & travel!
☀️ Tag #RunWildMyChild
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You don’t have to look like the internet’s version You don’t have to look like the internet’s version of “outdoorsy.”

You don’t have to homeschool.
You don’t have to camp.
You don’t have to live near mountains.
You don’t have to own expensive gear.

You can work full time.
You can love sports.
You can live in the suburbs.
You can hate bugs.

If you’re getting your kids outside in a way that works for your real life, you’re doing it right.

The outdoors is not exclusive.

It’s available.

Share this with an “outdoor mom” who needs to hear this and let her know she’s crushing it!!
Most nights I fall into bed completely spent... O Most nights I fall into bed completely spent...

Overstimulated.
Touched out.
Behind on laundry.
Sunburnt with bug bites.

I am tired.

But it’s the kind of tired that comes from full days.
From kids who ran hard.
From fresh air and late sunsets.
From trying.

And then I remember; there was a version of me who wanted this life so badly.

The kids.
The noise.
The chaos.
The responsibility.

What a privilege to be tired from the very life I once prayed for.

If you’re exhausted tonight, you’re not failing. 

You’re living.

📸 credit: @mrs.st.clair
We’re not raising bubble-wrapped kids. We’re rais We’re not raising bubble-wrapped kids.

We’re raising capable ones. Confident ones. 

Kids who know how to handle a little risk.
Who get dirty.
Who try, fail, adjust, and try again.
Who feel the heat of a flame and learn to respect it — not fear it.

At Run Wild My Child, we believe childhood should feel like childhood.

Less hovering.
More exploring.
Less scrolling.
More doing.

Not reckless.
Not careless.

Just brave enough to let them grow.

If that’s your vibe, welcome. 🌿
If your kids hate hiking… hi. 👋 Same. I cannot s If your kids hate hiking… hi. 👋 Same. 

I cannot say “let’s go for a hike” in my house without at least one child acting like I’ve suggested a 12-mile forced march across the tundra.

Immediate whining and collapsing onto the floor, refusing to leave the house.

And honestly...I kind of get it.

A “scenic 2.8-mile woodland loop” is just not a compelling pitch to a 9-year-old.

Kids don’t hate nature. They hate boring.

So I stopped selling hiking.

Instead, we take a nature walk to a creek, go looking for waterfalls, explore the woods looking for rocks to climb, etc. 

We add missions, ask crazy questions, look for geocaches, hunt for treasures.
We let them lead.
We keep it shorter than we think we should.
Sometimes we bail early.

And sometimes… we just don’t hike.

We bike.
We fish.
We explore.
We sit by water and throw rocks for 45 minutes.

Raising outside kids doesn’t mean raising trail-loving robots. Once we’re out on the trail, they always end up having a great time, but sometimes I don’t want to deal with the effort required to get them there.

If hiking isn’t working right now, that’s ok. Change the destination. Lower the mileage. Add water. Add purpose. Call it something else. Or do something else entirely!

You’re not failing if your kids hate hiking. My guess is that they’ll come around someday (check back in with me in 10-15 years). 

Tell me... are your kids HIKERS or HATERS?
Your April doesn’t need to be jam-packed. It just Your April doesn’t need to be jam-packed. It just needs a little planning and thoughtful intention.

Every spring I see moms try to “do it all.” The festivals. The sports. The Pinterest crafts. The garden. The big trips.

Ideas are great, but what you really need is a plan to do just a few things and commit.

A few water days.
One memory-maker.
Short easy resets.
Age-appropriate adventures.

That’s how spring starts to feel meaningful instead of chaotic.

If this kind of seasonal planning helps you, this is exactly how we approach every issue of the magazine — realistic rhythms, not overwhelm. 

The Spring issue leans hard into that and is filled with “close-to-home” adventures and how to root your kids in nature. 

But for now, let’s start with one thing this week…

What’s going on your April calendar first? 🌷
Getting outside with kids takes effort. It takes i Getting outside with kids takes effort.
It takes intention.
It takes sacrifice.
It takes choosing it, over and over again.

And if you’re doing that...even a little bit? You’re doing something really special.

Because raising kids who love the outdoors isn’t about big trips or national parks or camping weekends.

It’s about the small, consistent choices you make on the days you don’t feel like it.

It’s the walk you almost skipped.
The park stop on a busy afternoon.
The “just 10 minutes” that turns into something more.

So if no one’s told you lately— you’re doing better than you think.

Keep going. 🌿 We’re here to help.

Be honest…how many times have you wanted to stay inside this week instead of going out?
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RUN WILD MY CHILD

Helping you raise confident, curious, capable kids… one outdoor adventure at a time.

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