HIKE

FALL, GOOD FOR NATURE, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARK, SPRING, SUMMER, WINTER
The Roosevelt Walk
- November 23, 2020
Hiking with kids is always an adventure. But, is it a challenge? Can taking a hike teach your children problem-solving skills, creativity, ingenuity, and grit? Have you ever purposely taken a hike to get off the beaten path in order to encounter obstacles? That’s just what today’s post is all about! Jared Ryan, Oklahoma dad of two is here sharing his family’s experience with Roosevelt walks. Inspired by President Teddy Roosevelt, a Roosevelt walk is an intentional hike where, when confronted with an obstacle, you must go over, under, or through it…never around. These walks can be quite an adventure and lead to teaching kids skills and values in new and creative ways.

A new spin on traditional hiking

Have you ever found yourself looking for ways to boost your kids’ enthusiasm for hikes? One of our family’s favorite activities, regardless of the season, is to go venture out onto a hike. Our kiddos always love it. They have tramped hundreds of miles and have worn through countless pairs of little Merrells. From hardpacked clay, tough granite rocks, or supple loam, they’ve hiked it all. Needless to say, sometimes my wife and I are tasked with trying to change things up on them in order to make sure they still experience that wonderful feeling of adventure when we step off the concrete and into the wild. Our favorite way to spruce up the average hike is by doing what we have dubbed as the ‘Roosevelt Walk’.

The inspiration behind the hike

The 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt is known for his deep love of nature and his establishment of our National Parks system. But, he is quite possibly equally know for his relentless pursuit to maintain a ‘strenuous life’. So much of a pursuit, in fact, that within his first year of presidency, reporters associated ‘strenuous’ with his name over 10,000 times. Yeah, for real.

When Teddy wasn’t rustling cattle in the North Dakota Badlands, leading expeditions through the Amazon, or lecturing lawmakers in Washington, D.C., he was leading his six children on walks around Sagamore Hill. (Six!) In true T.R. fashion, Roosevelt had one primary rule for the hikes though:

When faced with an obstacle in their way, the family could only pass it by going: over, under, or through it… Never around it.

What is a Roosevelt walk?

And so we started taking what we called “Roosevelt walks” – hikes where we could go over, under, or through our obstacles. When we hiked, nothing would stand in our way… or maybe it did, but we’d have to find a way over, under, or through it. Our kiddos (and my wife and I) quickly learned that these Roosevelt walks are, well, amazing. I mean, distance no longer matters, and the terrain hardly matters. In fact, the further away from a smooth, well-worn path, the better. I feel that I should also let you know that these short, adventurous hikes are often far more tiring and grueling than a longer stroll on your average trail. After all, you aren’t taking the easiest route.

Where can you Roosevelt walk?

Roosevelt walks can be done nearly anywhere. But, if you find yourself squirming a little at the thought of leaving a marked trail, no worries I do too sometimes. We have actually found ourselves doing our Roosevelt walks both on and off of trails. A lot of trail networks offer the same geodiversity on them as anywhere off of them. So if this is the case for you, your preplanning may have just gotten a lot easier. When the terrain surrounding the blazed trail is calling for you, there can be a whole new world (cue Aladdin theme song) opened up in even your most familiar parks and trails just by stepping off the beaten path and working through unfamiliar obstacles.

*Certain trails and parks do require that you stay on the trail, so make sure and check the trailhead or park office for guidance.

Why you (and your kids) will love it

To me, the dad, there is a never-ending search for ways to show my children how to navigate life. How to problem solve, how to persevere and overcome. To keep myself from inhibiting this process I simply:
- Allow my little teddys to come up with their own strategies
- Refrain from mitigating the difficulty of the situation
- Follow along with their lead and let them be in charge of the situation
Feel free to add additional wrenches to your hike as well. When we are exploring on our family land, I like to reach a point where the kids are not quite sure where we are and then allow them to navigate us back to the cabin. This has taught them new navigation skills along with building their confidence in making decisions. When coupled with our Roosevelt walk, these <1mi hikes can take several hours, but my kids have never complained. Sometimes they get lost on the way, and that is fine, but usually, they’re lost in their thoughts on the task at hand. And that’s perfect.

It’s absolutely satisfying to me watching them ascend a vertical rock wall that is tip-toe height for them or weave their way through the branches of a felled tree. It’s almost like their confidence is visible and you’re watching grow in real-time.

For parents: these obstacles usually bring the same feeling of accomplishment and a boost to our confidence. We all know how quickly and easily we all get so caught up in our infinite emails and our daily Teams meetings and that no matter how hard we resist the mundane. We start to lose that internal feeling of overcoming something, of perseverance, of strenuousness. So, when you have overcome that blocker on the trail or when you’ve faced your fear of what’s new and unknown, you also get to feel a little proud, just like your littles. Plus, you will most undoubtedly use muscle groups that you may not have used since the last time you played tag on the grade school playground.

Working through the barriers as a family always builds our team closer. Because we’ve overcome something together and we collaborated on it. Although, honestly, I usually let the kiddos give their input and I often just go along with their strategy. In my mind, it’ll either work, or it won’t. Either way, they’ve learned something new.

Keeping it safe

To be real, there are definitely times that we do come across obstacles that could put us into real danger. Not just thorn briar danger, but proper emergency room danger. This just is NOT what these hikes are about. When we’ve stumbled into a situation like this I simply explain it to the kids. The purpose of the hike and why it’s okay that we’re rerouting. I mean seriously, my son is far too willing to try and hurl his 4’0″ frame across an 8ft gap. So, I do have to reign them in.

To this point on dangerous situations, my wife and I try to plan ahead in order to find locations that will allow us to safely roam and ramble with consideration of the type of terrain and the time of year. When venturing out, we always have an idea of where we’re going, what we are getting into, and a sense of the severity of any situation.

Where we live, in the central United States, we know the following truths:
- There is a venomous snake in every brush pile during the summertime (at least in our heads).
- Loamy woods are much more forgiving after a rain than the slick sandstone bluffs.
- Creeks that are dry in February are deep and flowing in April.
- Poison oak leaves look a heck of a lot like normal oak leaves.
- In July, whatever water you brought isn’t enough.
Regardless of how intense or how chill your family’s version of the Roosevelt walk is, make it your own. Roosevelt walks are such an easy way to bring some fun and excitement to your short hikes.

Keep your eyes on stars and your feet on the ground” – Theodore Roosevelt

Have you ever heard of a Roosevelt walk?
Are you ready to give them a try?

About the author

Jared is a husband to a talented and beautiful wife, Kristen, and a father of two fun-loving and adventurous kiddos. He enjoys leading family adventures to both near and far destinations. Whether it is hiking, camping, climbing, bike riding, or playing in the backyard, he loves it all. He instills in his family the importance of nature and all the benefits it can bring to one’s life. Jared is a GIS analyst by trade, so he is naturally drawn to creating maps and all things trail related, whether it is creating new trails, recording family hikes, or teaching his kids land navigation, he loves to tie in his own work with family adventures.

You can find Jared online in the following locations:
Instagram: @bikeshikesbiners
RWMC posts: Jared Ryan
BEACH, BIKE, HIKE, LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, OUTDOOR SCHOOLS
How to Cultivate Nature-Inspired Literacy in Children
- November 11, 2020
These days, the adage “not all learning happens in the classroom” couldn’t be more true. The notion of a classroom has been redefined by the pandemic. Kids are learning from home and from school, on the road in RVs, and while at the beach. Learning can happen anywhere! Given the deconstructed school day that exists for many, why not use this opportunity to redefine the classroom a little more? Today, Creative Team member Michelle Garrett, California mom, and creator of Wonder Club Explorers, is here with four fun outdoor activities for kids that will help cultivate nature-inspired literacy.

Nature-inspired literacy

In these crazy pandemic times, it is tough watching children sit for long periods, away from friends, and adapting to school on a computer. Most parents and teachers will tell you the same thing…kids should be active, socializing, and outside! One way to provide balance to a child’s day is to introduce nature-inspired literacy as a supplement to textbooks and tablet learning.

Literacy is an ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Nature is a great learning tool and can be used to help kids grasp large concepts. Outdoor nature-inspired activities like tide pooling, stargazing, hiking, and biking have foundations in physics, astronomy, and geography. Using tools, materials, and resources while participating in a fun outdoor activity can help your child become literate in these complex subjects and explain things in ways children can understand and appreciate.

Today, I’m going to show you how simple outdoor activities can help to expand your kids’ horizons outdoors and in nature. Here’s how to use tide pooling, stargazing, hiking, and biking to help cultivate nature-inspired literacy in children.

Teaching marine sciences and physics through tide pooling

Tide pooling is an excellent activity to expose your child to marine science. Tide pools can be found in intertidal zones and they give kids an up-close experience with marine life. As tides recede, animals and algae are exposed in craggy rock pools at the ocean’s edge. Within these rocky crevices, kids can usually find sea urchins, sea stars, hermit crabs, sea anemone and so much more. In just one square meter of a tide pool, your child could find dozens of different animals, a remarkable display of adaptation and survival. How cool is that?

In order to teach your kids about the cycle of the tides, you’ll also want a basic understanding of physics. In particular, you’ll want to be familiar with the relationship between the gravitational pull of the moon and the Earth. If you need a quick primer, here’s the basic premise. The moon’s gravitational field is significant, and it causes the rise and fall of the ocean level as it orbits the Earth. When the Earth faces the moon, a tidal bulge occurs and it results in a high tide on the opposite sides of the Earth. When the face of the Earth is perpendicular to the moon, low tide occurs.

The best tool for making the most of a tide pooling experience is a tide chart. Tide charts contain data for local water levels, tide predictions, and other oceanographic and meteorological conditions. High and low tides both appear twice in a 24 hour day. Tides occur at different times each day depending on where the moon is in its cycle. Understanding how to read tide charts is essential for a tide pooling excursion. And it’s relatively easy to do. Kids will love using a local tide chart to help determine when to visit the tidepools. This will not only teach them about tides but about timing and lunar cycles, as well.

A good source for information to learn more about the tides is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Teaching astronomy through stargazing

Who doesn’t love a starry night? What makes stargazing such a wonderfully fun activity is that anyone can do it. All you have to do is look up! Stargazing is an introduction to understanding the universe outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is also an excellent primer for the scientific field of Astronomy.

Some 400 years ago, stargazing developed as a scientific pursuit. The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei designed a telescope to enable the close observation of the night sky. The rest of his astronomical pursuits were groundbreaking. Gallileo’s credits include such things as being the first person to spot the four moons of Jupiter (a.k.a the Galilean moons), as well as his discovery that the surface of our moon contains mountains and craters.

The best time to stargaze is on a moonless night. Once outside, close your eyes and count to 100 to acclimate to the dark. As you slowly open your eyes, stars will appear across the night sky. Stars are not the only things you can spot in the night sky. To differentiate all the lights in the sky, you need to know that stars twinkle and steady lights are planets. Other fun things to spot on a dark, moonless night are things like meteors (shooting stars), satellites, and aircraft.

To help your child learn astromony through stargazing, there are some really great online tools. Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. Star finder apps like SkyView can help your child find and identify constellations using your phone’s camera. NASA’s Spot the Station Website gives you a list of upcoming space station sighting opportunities for your exact location. A constellation chart is another great resource for astronomy.

Keep in mind that while stargazing is easily done with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope will enhance the experience. We like this beginner portable telescope.

Teaching topography through hiking

Two super handy things to have for a hiking adventure are a good sense of direction and knowledge of your environment. Without these things, even a simple hike can go sideways. It’s always a good idea to carry a map to help you make sense of your position in the outdoors. However, carrying a map is only half of the equation. Your child should also know how to read one. This is a skill that many children are losing due to GPS access and phones. Teaching kids to read a map is a skill that any outdoor child should learn – it could save their life.

Topographic maps are pretty standard fare amongst seasoned hikers. Topographic maps are graphic representations of natural and man-made features of the Earth’s surface. They show the shape of the land, lakes, streams, roads, and provide a complete inventory of the terrain, including elevation. When you know how to read a topographic map, you’ll have a better chance of locating a good camping site or water source, distinguishing main trails from minor ones, identifying trail connections, and estimating elevations. Each of these skills will help your child to be mentally prepared for a trek.

Reading topographical maps requires practice. You’ll want to teach your child to understand how to decipher all of the technical information that appears on a map. In addition to reading a map, you may also want to teach your child how to use a compass. The pairing of map reading and compass reading will require basic navigation skills. If you need to brush up on your navigation skills, check out this great article from Backpacker Magazine to learn the basics of compass navigation.

Teaching geography through biking

Did you know that there is a U.S Bicycle Route System? In fact, there are likely designated bike routes in your own cities and towns. If you’d like to go on a biking adventure outside of the neighborhood with your kids, then you will want to teach them the ins and outs of reading a bike map. Rest assured, the same map reading and route planning skills involved with hiking apply to bike riding as well. Again, being able to read a map is an important skill.

It is worth noting that not all bike routes are the same. A bike map will distinguish between the classes of bike paths. A Class I bike path is a completely separated bi-directional right-of-way designated for bicycles. Class II bike lanes are striped lanes for one-way bike travel. Class III bike routes are travel ways for bicycles through a community denoted by signs). Finally, enhanced bike routes are a superior route based on traffic volume and speeds, street width, directness, and cross-street priority. Each of these bike routes results in different road conditions. Cyclists should know the difference between the types of routes as they are important for a bicyclist’s safety.

Transportation planners take a holistic approach when mapping out bike routes. For that reason, you will often see bike routes integrated with public transportation. Knowing how to navigate these connections it is an added benefit of bike map literacy. For a peek at what the USBR’s National Corridor Plan will look like, once complete, visit Adventure Cycling.

Make nature-inspired literacy part of your school day

Nature-inspired literacy is easily attained by taking the time to familiarize oneself with the charts, maps, and resources that are part of outdoor activities. By taking the time to learn how to use these tools, kids will learn more about the activities both in a practical and academic sense. As with anything, once you understand the concepts behind an activity, the more enjoyable they become. As parents and caregivers, let’s make the most of these unprecedented times and incorporate nature-inspired literacy into our children’s school days. Don’t forget to have fun exploring and be sure to tag #runwildmychild in your outdoor adventures!

Which of these activities would your child like the most?

About the author

Michelle spends her days working on projects to improve the quality of life for the citizens of her community and her nights reading books to her 6 year-old about every kind of dinosaur there ever was (there are 900 validated species, in case you’re wondering). Together with her son, Michelle created Wonder Club Explorers, a company to inspire wonder and curiosity in kids. She carves out time for herself on the weekends as an early morning exerciser and metalsmith of fine jewelry. She resides in Altadena with her husband and son amongst California Oak trees and a stone’s throw of the San Gabriel Mountains.

You can find Michelle online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wonderclubexplorers
Website: http://www.wonderclubexplorers.co
RWMC posts: Michelle Garrett
CRAFTS, FALL, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Five Simple Autumn Nature Adventures
- October 21, 2020
Getting kids outside this fall is more important than ever. As we continue to navigate unprecedented times and deal with stress and anxiety, kids (and parents) desperately need fresh air, sunshine and Vitamin N (nature!). However, we also know that parents are maxed out in terms of what they can plan, research and execute. That’s why we’re here! We want to help busy and exhausted parents come up with fun and EASY ways to get outside with your kids. Today, Katie Fox, a full-time RV-traveling mom of 2, is here sharing five really simple autumn nature adventures that you can do with your kids with little to no planning! These ideas are easy to implement, fun for kids of all ages, adaptable for wherever you live and many can even be done in your neighborhood or backyard.

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” – George Eliot

Finding the fun in fall

Is anyone else’s soul wedded to autumn? The fading summer heat, beautiful autumn colors, cozying up to a good book, pumpkins, apples, scarves, and tasty warm beverages, all really delight my body and soul. Autumn is my favorite time of year.

This autumn, however, also brought with it the challenges of distance learning, working from home, and Covid-19 restrictions. With new restrictions on what we can do safely indoors and out, traditional fall activities look different or aren’t available. Now, maybe more than ever, it is important to take mental breaks to help with the stress and anxiety a lot of us are feeling. And nature really is one of the best ways to easily do this.

Yet, finding time to plan and implement fun nature adventures can be so hard when you are busy juggling all the other things life is throwing your way. Who has the time to do research on what can be done and what the restrictions are and when to schedule? So let me help make it easier with these five simple autumn nature adventures for kids.

Five simple autumn nature adventures

These five outdoor adventures are simple to do and easy to implement. They can easily be done during a virtual learning break, after school, on a weekend or any time your family needs a quick romp in nature to restore your mental equilibrium. They require little to no advanced planning and can easily be done in your own neighborhood and some even in your own backyard!

1. Rainbow hike

There is no doubt about it, autumn is a colorful time of year. So why not enjoy the colors with a fun rainbow hike to see if you can find all seven colors of the rainbow? The first half of the rainbow is fairly easy in North America in autumn. But those last three colors – blue, indigo, and violet – may prove more difficult.

Preparation:

This is one super easy to prep for because it can be as simple or elaborate as you want to make it.

Don’t have time to prepare anything? This hike is perfect. Indeed, all you have to do is take a walk through your neighborhood and look for the colors of the rainbow. Nevertheless, if you wanted to prepare something, you could simply grab a piece of scratch paper and some markers draw a simple box for each color of the rainbow. Or print a rainbow. And there is always the option to have your children create their own rainbow hike worksheet making rainbow-colored squares or use my free rainbow hike worksheet.

Hike implementation ideas:

Once you get out the door, the fun really begins. Try one or more of these ideas to make your rainbow hike super successful!
- Just start searching for all the colors and try to find all seven!
- Go in rainbow color order! This will add a little extra challenge, especially for those children already very familiar with their colors.
- If you are bringing a printed worksheet for your children to use on the hike, bring one for each child. Each child having their own printed worksheet will likely avoid some sibling bickering (trust me, I know).
- If you want to keep your findings, bring some tape (to tape them to your paper) or a small bag to collect them.
2. Spiderweb hunt

Get into the spooky autumn spirit with this engaging adventure and nature activity. Spiderwebs are everywhere, probably even in your backyard or patio. They are simple enough to find and children delight in being able to spot them. A spiderweb hunt is a great way for your kids to become observant of their surroundings and aware of the nature all around.

Preparation:

Again, this one requires little to no preparation. You can simply walk out the door and exclaim, “we are hunting for spiderwebs today!” Then, all you need to do is explore your neighborhood, searching nooks and crannies for spiderwebs. However, if you have time and energy, you could also pair this nature adventure with a book (we love The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle) or a nature journaling exercise. And if you are feeling really ambitious, you could even dive deeper into how spiderwebs are made, what web material is made out of, the strength of the web material, and so much more.

Hike implementation ideas:

For this hike, I recommend bringing along a misting spray bottle to gently spray water onto the spiderwebs. This makes some of the more difficult webs easier for little kids to see and observe. An added benefit is you get to see the water droplets form on the web too, exposing all the incredible designs. Just be careful not to disturb or destroy the webs. These intricate webs took a spider a long time to make and help them catch food. Be respectful and observe with eyes only.

3. Autumn leaf hike

Once those autumn leaves begin to fall it is almost impossible for children to not enjoy them! They find delight in all aspects of the colorful leaves. And what better way to enjoy your autumn nature adventures than to explore the autumn leaves with your kids.

Preparation:

I cannot stress this one enough, this can be as simple as you want it to be! There is zero need to prep for a leaf hike! But, if your children are anything like mine, you may want to consider the following:
- Bring and bag or basket to carry the many colorful leaves your children fall in love with.
- Collect any art supplies you may want to use with your autumn leaves for art projects.
Hike implementation ideas:

As you meander through your neighborhood, local park or down your favorite trail, keep these ideas in the back of your brain. You may want to try them (or you may not), there is no right way to do an autumn leaf hike.
- Simply enjoy the view of the leaves. Maybe point out the colors and stop to examine the colorful leaves you find.
- Try to match the leaves on the ground with the tree they fell from. Identify the type of tree and what color(s) that tree’s leaves turn.
- Collect a variety of leaves to display in your nature display in your home. (you can dip them in beeswax to preserve the color longer)
- Let your children lay down and make autumn leaf angels in the leaves.
- Rake the leaves into a pile and jump into them!
- Toss a handful of leaves in the air and enjoy their faces as the leaves fall down around them. Let them follow suit.
- Use the collected leaves to make a variety of art pieces. Create fall leaf crowns, make leaf rubbings, construct these adorable leaf wreaths from the Artful Parent, create these neat leaf lanterns, or use them to create a multimedia abstract art piece.
4. Costume hike

Autumn is the time of year when many dress up in costumes for Halloween. Whether you celebrate this particular holiday or not, dress-up clothes are likely a regular occurrence in your home. So why not bring the dress-up fun outdoors? People enjoy seeing children dressed up and children love the added attention the costume brings them. Besides, a stroll through your neighborhood is bound to bring smiles to faces all around.

Preparation:

All you need for this autumn nature adventure is a costume! Costumes don’t have to be spooky or scary. They can be fun and creative! Anything from a simple princess dress to a superhero cape would work. The point is to make a regular nature walk a little bit more exciting with costumes.

Hike implementation ideas:

As with the rest of these ideas, this one can be as simple as you want it to be. There is no need to add anything else into the mix. Just dress up and go for a walk around your neighborhood. But, if you want to add to the adventure, consider some of these ideas for fun costume hike day adventures.
- Have a costume tea party. Pack some snacks, a book to read aloud, some tea, and a blanket. After your costume hike through your neighborhood or favorite trail, find the perfect spot in your backyard (or near the end of your trail hike) to enjoy some tea and a story together.
- Create a simple DIY nature-inspired costume for your autumn nature adventures. For added fun see if you and your children can find the nature creatures they are dressed up as while on your hike.
- Dress up with your kids and make the whole hike extra special! Even just a silly hat or a mask goes a long way.
5. Trash pick-up hike

Autumn is the time of year when the trees make themselves look beautiful! But, it is also typically the start of the rainy season in many parts of North America. So let’s help keep the trash out of the waterways by going on a trash pick-up hike! This autumn nature adventure is not only good for kids, but great for the planet!

Preparation:

All you need for this hike is a container to place the collected trash and a method of picking up trash. We usually use a PikStik and gloves. But we’ve also used a plastic bag around our hands as the barrier between our hands and the trash we are picking up. Again, just like the others, there is no need to travel to a local park for this adventure either, as neighborhoods are often littered with trash as well.

Hike implementation ideas:

Grab a couple of plastic bags, or some gloves and a bucket, and head on outside to make your neighborhood or favorite park beautiful and trash-free! Here are some tips for collecting trash with children.
- Set some basic ground rules based on the age of your children. For example, we let our 5-year-old and 3-year-old pick up anything that is not broken glass, sharp-looking, or cigarettes. However, if they see those things, they let us know and we pick them up.
- Sometimes, trash hunting becomes so much fun that children want to keep going and going. This is amazing, but also not practical. So we’ve set time limits and also have a rule that if we fill up our bag, we will take a break.
- Again, there is no need to travel for this hike. Just walk out your front door and collect the trash you see in your neighborhood. Garbage trucks often accidentally lose pieces of trash on garbage day and sometimes people drop (or toss) trash on the ground, too.
- Finally, consider taking some time to briefly talk about why you are cleaning up the trash. No need for a deep discussion on the topic or environmental activism, just let your children know that there is only one Earth and we need to do what we can to keep it clean.
Enjoy autumn easily

Truly, there are so many ways to enjoy autumn. Outdoor activities with kids don’t have to be elaborate or require a bunch of planning. The activities featured here require not much more than a plan to get outside a few household items. We want to make sure that getting out with your kids is a priority and we’re here to help make it as simple as possible!

Autumn is an amazing time of year to get outside and have fun with the kids. Sometimes, I enthusiastically agree with George Elliot and wish I could remain in an eternal autumn to enjoy all the wonderful bits of the season forever. These are only five simple autumn nature adventures, but there are so many other ways to enjoy the season!

What are your favorite autumn nature adventures to do with kids?

About the author

Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snail. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness for the adventures her family enjoys in state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can. As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California and tries to encourage families to get outside whenever possible. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.

You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @familyinwanderland
Website: http://www.familyinwanderland.com
Facebook: @familyinwanderland
RWMC posts: Katie Fox
ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, LOCAL GEMS, NATIONAL PARKS
Kakadu National Park, Australia with Kids
- October 8, 2020
Kakadu National Park is Australia’s largest terrestrial national park, situated in the Northern Territory’s tropical north. It would be hard to find a place that is more unique or diverse as this Aboriginal-owned World Heritage-listed National Park. It’s an incredible place. Today, we have Jodie of Territory Mama here to take you along on a trip through Kakadu and give you all the recommendations, tips, and advice you need to plan a trip to Kakadu National Park with kids.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park spreads across almost 200kms from north to south and over 100km east to west. The diversity of landscapes it covers range from coastal and estuaries to billabongs and floodplains, through to the rocky ridges and stone country of the Arnhem Land Escarpment. These landscapes are home to more than one-third of Australia’s bird species and one-quarter of it’s freshwater and estuarine fish species. Not only does Kakadu extend across such spectacular landscapes and diverse wildlife, but it’s home to the oldest living culture on earth.

But, the best part about Kakadu National Park is that it’s easily accessible for families. And there are lots of amazing outdoor experiences for families to discover together. It’s a truly magical place and you can’t understand quite how incredible it is until you experience it for yourself, but I’ll do my best to capture a little bit about what makes this place so special.

Things to do in Kakadu National Park with kids

There are so many things to do in Kakadu National Park with kids. I’ve broken activities down by a couple of different categories: cultural experiences, waterfalls, and magical sunsets. These three activities encompass a lot of other activities that can be done at these locations (hiking, swimming, animal sighting, camping, etc.).

Cultural experiences at Kakadu

The traditional owners Bininj Mungguy have lived and cared for this country for more than 50,000 years and you can experience firsthand their connection to the country through many of the cultural experiences and tours on offer within Kakadu.

Guluyambi Cultural Cruise – Kakadu Cultural Tours

The Guluyambi Cultural Cruise is a scenic boat tour upstream of the majestic East Alligator River. Your Aboriginal guide will provide insight into their culture, traditions, and beliefs. You will experience traditional hunting and gathering techniques and learn about the many uses for the plants and animals that call this area home. You may also spot many of the local saltwater crocodiles that inhabit this spectacular river. The cruise operates between May and November and is owned and managed by the traditional owners of Kakadu.

Yellow Water Cruises

Ran by the Indigenous-owned Kakadu Tourism, the Yellow Water Cruises offer a year-round boat cruise along the ever-changing Ngurrungurrudjba (Yellow Water) Billabong. It is recommended to take the cruise during sunrise or sunset when the wildlife is most active but many visitors undertake more than one cruise during their stay to experience the changes in wildlife at different times of the day. While cruising along the tranquil wetland there is an abundance of wildlife to encounter, up to 60 different bird species, saltwater crocodiles, wild horses, buffalo, and wallabies all in their natural habitat.

Warradjan Culture Centre

Warradjan Culture Centre was developed by the Aboriginal traditional owners of Kakadu to help tell their story. Displays include artifacts, bush tucker, and local artwork. During the dry season (April – September) local Aboriginal artists often conduct demonstrations here from painting to traditional weaving techniques and the kids are always welcome to join in.

Waterfalls at Kakadu National Park

There are so many stunning waterfalls to choose from at Kakadu National Park its hard to know where to start. Some can be a little more difficult to access than others and depending on your family’s level of hiking, its always a good idea to check with the Bowali Visitor Centre to see which falls would best suit your family. Here are our picks that are easily accessible but still have spectacular views and perfect swimming holes.

Gunlom plunge pool

Only a 100 metre walk from the carpark this sandy beach-like pool is perfect for young families. A shallow entry means the smallest members can splash by the edge while the more adventurous can swim to the waterfall. Gunlom is a seasonal waterfall and best visited in the early dry season (May – June); however, the bottom pool remains swimmable usually until August-September. (Gunlom waterfalls pictured below)

Maguk

Maguk requires a little more of a walk-in with a rocky 2km track. However, the effort is worth it when you reach the stunning turquoise pool. This waterfall is spring-fed so it flows year-round, which makes it a perfect stop even for travelers visiting later in the year when other falls start to dry up. Seasonal closures do still occur due to crocodile movement, so always check with the visitor centre before your visit.

Igoymarrwa

Igoymarrwa is a small crystal clear plunge pool located in the southern end of the park. Although a short drive in from the main Kakadu Highway, you will still require a 4WD. The waterfall however is just a short walk from the carpark opening up to a lush little oasis. (Igoymarrwa pictured above)

Jim Jim and Twin Falls

If you happen to visit Kakadu during the wet season (October – April) a scenic flight over Jim Jim and Twin Falls is an experience you will never forget. You can choose between a light aircraft or helicopter, with flights leaving from both Jabiru and Cooinda airstrips.

Magical sunsets at Kakadu

There’s a number of sites to take in the incredible Kakadu sunset but here are our top three.
1. Gunlom Top Pools – Gunlom is perched at the top of a waterfall. You can take in not only some of the best views in Kakadu but watch as the sunset lights up the bush and surrounding escarpment.
2. Ubirr Rock Art site – This point is overlooking the Nadab floodplain. It’s a stunning cultural site where you’ll feel as though you’re on a set from a movie scene. Channel your inner Lion King while watching the sun set into the horizon and the birds find their way to roost for the night. Ubirr is also home to some of the oldest artwork in the world, with galleries dating back thousands of years.
3. Nawurlandja Lookout – Nawurlandja overlooks the mighty Burrungkuy rock and Anbangbang billabong. The sun here sets behind you but you have front row seats to a spectacular display as Burrungkuy escarpment transforms before your eyes with the setting sun. (pictured below)
How to get to Kakadu National Park with kids

Kakadu National Park is approximately 250km south of Darwin. If you fly into Darwin you can hire a car to explore the park on your own terms. Alternatively, you can join one of the many tours on offer, but be prepared these are often rushed and on a strict time schedule. We recommend 5-7 days to explore the park at a leisurely pace and to really explore all Kakadu has to offer.

When planning your visit keep in mind the scale of the Park, 200km from North to South. Many attractions are a full day out. If hiring your own vehicle, we highly recommend a 4WD. While much of the park is still accessible via 2WD, it will limit the sites you can visit, particularly, the waterfalls.

Where to stay at Kakadu National Park with kids

Kakadu National Park has a range of accommodation options to suit most budgets. Cooinda Lodge Kakadu, Aurora Kakadu Lodge and Caravan Park, and Anbinik Kakadu Resort all offer a range of air-conditioned cabins, eco tents or unpowered and powered campsites. For those looking for a little more luxury on their visit be sure to check out the Mecure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, which has been built to resemble a crocodile!

There are, of course, many campgrounds throughout Kakadu if you have your own camping gear. We love the campgrounds at Gunlom, Mardukal, and Garnamarr.

It is always a good idea to check in with the staff at the Bowali Visitor Centre before your visit to get the most up to date reports on road conditions, site openings. You can also get more in-depth information about the walks, level of difficulty, and whether they are suitable for you and your family.

Our land has a big story. Sometimes we tell a little bit at a time. Come and hear our stories, see our land. A little might stay in your hearts. If you want more, you can come back.”

Jacob Nayinggul, Manilargarr Clan

About the author

Jodie is a mum of two little adventurers living in the Top End of Australia. With a passion for nature and a lust for adventure, she is always exploring with her two littles in new and exciting places or special old favourites.

You can find more from Jodie online in the following locations:
Website: territorymama.com
Instagram: @territorymama
GOOD FOR NATURE, HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Ways to Reconnect With Nature as a Family
- September 29, 2020
This year has tested and challenged us in more ways than we ever could have imagined. There’s been so much uncertainty, stress, and exhaustion over the last six months and that’s taken a toll on our physical and mental health. As parents, we tend to feel the effects more deeply and have experienced more unprecedented change and pressure than ever before. Today, we have a beautiful story about what happens when a mom in healthcare experiences burnout. Amber of @PlayLiveBe and her kids dive into the science of nature where they find renewal and healing. In these wild spaces, they reconnect with nature as a family, create food memories, and tap into an overflowing wellspring of life. Here’s how they’re doing it and how you can reconnect with nature as a family.

Adjusting to a new normal

This year has been so unique and challenging in ways we ever anticipated. Every day is the same and also completely different and unique. Yet, I am aware of one consistent thread woven throughout 2020…the anticipation of change. Change comes in the form of news updates, illness, and job revision. It can be a family reorganization, new budget constraints, modified educational delivery, and more. For someone like me, change can be unpredictable and unsettling.

I am every bit a Type-A planner who schedules time for “exploration and adventure”. While I appreciate spontaneity and last-minute adventures, that’s not usually the way we head out the door. However, thanks to some awesome nature research, the last decade has helped me regain my life balance. Translated, this means I can now hike without planning too far ahead.

I am also an Emergency Medicine Provider on the frontlines. While I am accustomed to the usual stress of my job, nothing could have prepared me for this year and the changes and challenges 2020’s brought with it. In fact, these last 6 months have been a blur. While the world has shut down in many ways, health care has not and we are busier than ever.

Some days I work a “normal” shift. Other days I work in a parking lot. By noon, temps on the asphalt are nearly 140°F and the gauges inside our PPE suits read 20° higher. Today, I lose 10 pounds of sweat and am thankful for a short, 8-hour shift.

I survive the initial pandemic waves on pure adrenalin, coffee, and dark chocolate. But it isn’t long before sleep deprivation and exhaustion set in…and that is when my emotional state deteriorates. My organized, well-planned life is unraveling.

The healing power of nature

Disappointment, sadness, anxiety, anger and stress begin to predominate my mental state. And then I feel nothing at all.

After weeks, why can’t I remember how to rescue myself and reach for a sense of calm?

I don’t know, but I can say this: nature’s infinite beauty calls me. The power in her waterfalls, the melody of her twilight crickets, and the hum of her honeybees. Nature’s unparalleled ability to persevere is astounding.

So I do what speaks to my soul: I reach out to the natural world and find myself embraced by her seasonal rhythms. I reconnect with nature to heal and soothe.

The moon continues to scroll through phases, wildflowers bloom on cue, fruit hangs low on the vine, and rivers flow. It is how it always has been…recurring, stunningly beautiful, and healing.

Ways to reconnect with nature and heal as a family

Now, reconnected to something greater than myself, I feel my perception of the world begin to shift. I begin to experience positive emotions in abundance: calm, peace, focus, happiness, optimism, motivation and inspiration. This is what it feels like to come alive!

Time outside is sooo good for our brain. Not surprisingly, it also improves our physical health. A staggering amount of research supports the following:
- Time spent surrounded by nature improves vitamin D levels and reduces obesity.
- It lowers cholesterol and decreases our lifelong risk of heart disease.
- Nature calms ADHD and anxiety; it alleviates depression and makes us more creative.
As a mom, we know internal journeys are rarely afforded personal space in which to grow. 😊 So, let me tell you about some of the family-friendly nature adventures that helped pull me…and all of us…back to center. Here are a few ways you can reconnect with nature as a family and help heal your spirit, minds, and bodies.

Daily interaction with green spaces

I love the Scandinavian phrase “there is no such thing as bad weather only bad clothing”. It’s an expression I quote as my kids complain of being sent outside in the rain or heat. The same phrase we say before hiking…we walk through the woods in all kinds of weather; except of course during lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes. (10 out of 10 do NOT recommend.)

In her book, The Nature Fix, Florence Williams promotes a concept called the nature pyramid as a recommended guide for ensuring adequate doses of nature to all humankind. It is comprised of gradually increasing time in nature…and it works along a dose curve. Meaning, the more time we spend in nature the more beneficial returns we are afforded.

Williams says daily interaction with green spaces in the form of a park bench or water fountain “help us destress, find focus and lighten our mental fatigue.” This has been our daily routine for the last 7 years: breakfast followed by outside free play. It is during this time when my kids make mud pies, dig trenches and collect acorns. This is so beneficial but according to the nature dose curve, we can do better.

The next level of the pyramid is similar to the Finnish model of weekly, hour-long outings in quieter spaces. This is when we visit a regional park with a natural water source. We pack lunch, sit by the river and enjoy time away from responsibility. By frequenting the same natural space we are able to observe seasonal rhythms in the plants and animals where we play.

Moving further up the nature pyramid we find monthly excursions to natural areas, time here is measured in hours. Scientists who study interactions between our immune system and forest immersions like this are completely inundated by positive research. The results are astounding and cannot be replicated by streaming a babbling brook on your big screen TV.

Hike near water

At the very top of Williams’ research-based nature pyramid are the rare but essential multi-day bursts of wildness we need once a year. Intense bursts of immersion in nature, near a natural water source, will “rearrange our very core, catalyze our hopes and dreams, fill us with awe and offer reassurance of our place in the universe.”

This is our brain on nature and it’s breathtakingly amazing.

As scientists quantify nature’s effects on our mood, well-being, and ability to think we are reminded of the numerous aspects of life a hefty dose of nature can help. These include memory, planning, ability to create, daydream, and focus.

It is no surprise that my self-prescribed intense nature therapy is transformational to my outlook on life. I have been pulled to a happier, healthier, more content mental space after spending time outdoors.

Of all the places my family wanders, acorn collecting and backyard mud pits are the most common. However, hikes near water remain our favorite! Hiking is so incredibly beneficial to your physical and mental well-being. It’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in your environment and reconnect with nature. Add some water, whether it’s a babbling brook, a little pond, a beautiful lake or a river and it elevates the experience for you and the kids.

Slippery rocks and uneven surfaces provide massive stimuli to a growing brain while the sound of running water soothes us all. Throwing rocks is a blast for the kids and can provide endless fun. Plants and animals that live in and near the water add to the excitement and provide opportunities to learn.

Connect outside with food

Some of my most compelling childhood memories exist at the intersection of food and emotion. These moments of consciousness are packed with incredible detail. Each given $1 a week, my brother and I bought chocolate coins and bubblegum cigars; very rarely, we saved the money. Sometimes we were able to snag our favorite treats…those sold in frozen form.

My memory of the Pink Panther ice cream is inexplicably linked to grass-stained feet and mosquito-bitten legs. We chased the unforgettable sound of an ice cream truck, muddy arms waving enthusiastically over our heads, a wrinkled dollar bill clutched in our fist.

That incredibly delicious frozen bar tasted more like cough syrup than cherry, but it was all I ever wanted. Round ears set atop a light pink face with not one, BUT TWO gumball eyes. I tried in vain to make that purchase last all night; I even licked the drips running down my arm.

This is the junction of food and emotion; it is what scientists refer to as “the strongest associative memories you can make”. These food memories are not just an illustration of intersectionality they represent a critical juncture that invokes powerful memories of lived experience.

It is my hope that some of our outdoor family adventures will converge with our time in the kitchen to create some of the most intense memories my children’s subconscious will ever establish. One way we help our kids understand seasonality is with a backyard garden. Growing your own food in an incredibly powerful way to reconnect with nature.

Though small, we care for this space with great responsibility. We tend the soil, plant the seeds and all the tiny sprouts then we wait with great anticipation for harvest to begin. We reconnect with nature through growing a garden and caring for the earth. It is here we find that kids are more willing to try new fruits and veggies if they have established a connection before it lands on their plate.

We watch cucumber plants unfurl their vines and attach tendrils for support. We celebrate the first yellow flower and pollinator arrival. Because of this connection, my kids now love cucumbers in all shapes and forms…munching them fresh off the vine, as an acidic pickle or sprinkled with sea salt and eaten as a snack.

Our nature walks remind us that the first honeysuckle drenched breeze of early summer means blackberry vines are flowering too. It won’t be long before we will walk, buckets in hand, along a path covered in wild berries. We taste as we go and learn to look for ripe fruit that has turned from tart red to sweet purple.

Through berry stuffed mouths I hear my Little People ask: “Mama, can we make kid-sized pies with some of these?”

Yes, we certainly can! Back in the kitchen, we work together. As flour and butter combine, somehow ingredients find themselves everywhere. How does that even happen?! Again, we taste as we go and talk about the importance of keeping this dough cold…heat from the oven hits ice-cold pockets of butter and creates steam.

This is the science that magically creates flaky layers in our pie crust. Before long we pull delectable little pockets of summertime goodness out of the oven. Handpicked blackberries tucked inside crisp little shells. These hand pies practically dance on the pan…glittered with demerara sugar you might start dancing too!

Perhaps one day when my kids are fully grown they will pick fresh berries alongside honeysuckle flowers, bite into a crisp pastry shell, taste blueberry cheesecake or drink sumac-ade and acquire some serious gastronomic déjà vu.

Remember your why

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as the world gets busy again. In those weeks where I existed mainly in the blue, the pressure was mounting and I had to withdraw from nonessential tasks. What started as an innocent attempt to learn from groups with great ideas quickly became something larger than myself.

I was no longer forming my own thoughts so I hit pause and removed social media platforms from my phone. During my social media fast, I worked on listening to myself think and on cultivating real relationships. What a wild thought!

These incredible people supported me, held me accountable, felt my loss, and celebrated victories. Rather than stare at a screen, I strengthened bonds with my family. We immersed ourselves in nature, became allies with the land and the food it provides.

We visited farmers’ markets, walked in rivers, danced in the rain, enjoyed an isolated beach, picked tomatoes, read tons of books and we played. Golly jeepers, we played; never before has fun been so important. We reconnected to nature and the physical beautiful world around us. The best part…I began to feel again.

Throughout this time of reflection, I was able to sort through my emotions and remember my why, my raison d’être, my reason for existence.

As it turns out my heart was there all along; but as I increased the noise in my life I lost touch with her voice.

I returned to the world of social media, not surprisingly my first action was to delete anything toxic: people, groups, organizations. I even deleted entire social platforms. But I added so much more.

The people, food, locations and ideas on my feed are more colorful now than ever before. I follow more National Parks and organizations committed to preserving these incredible spaces. I follow mamas who are getting it right: those who share real stories…real images…demonstrate life balance…and immerse their families in nature.

Importantly, I share an authentic version of myself.

All of these changes have given me a new way to reconnect with nature in a way that feels genuine and refreshing.

The beginning of a new opportunity

Just as the moon moves across the sky in phases, so too was this walk with emotions in my life. Tonight is a New Moon; a dark sky, perhaps symbolic of the season from which I just emerged.

But this is a sky filled with incredible promise. Tonight will be dark but the stars will shine brightly in celebration of a full moon to come. My family and I have been given a new beginning; an opportunity to reimagine the framework of our life. A chance to reconnect with nature in new ways and fully appreciate and understand the significance of the world around us.

The future will have uncertainties but one thing is sure: we will remain connected to nature and each other. These wild spaces and the food memories it provides deliver energy to our soul; for that wellspring of life, we are incredibly thankful.

These are the elements that sustain us, maintain our focus, and fill our hearts with contentment.

So now the real questions…

How are YOU doing this year?
Are you and your family reconnecting with nature?
How can we help?

About the author

Amber is a seeker of moments and a dream chaser. She is a lover of wild spaces, good food, red wine, and dark chocolate. She worldschools her two kids (2^nd and K), volunteers a bit too much, and is an Emergency Medicine Provider working with the Southeast Region’s largest COVID-19 response team. For more real-life adventures you can follow Amber and her family on Instagram @PlayLiveBe or check out their website at http://www.playlivebe.com.
CRAFTS, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Wildflower Hike and Homemade Bookmarks
- September 23, 2020
Have you ever gone on a wildflower hike with your kids? Not only is a fun way to get outside and explore, but wildflowers can also be used in so many fun crafts and projects! Today, we have Robin Lloyd, Colorado mom of three, here sharing tips on how to make the most of your wildflower hike and how to turn your wildflower treasures into beautiful bookmarks with your kids. Enjoy!

Wildflower hike expectations

One of the most important lessons I am learning as a parent is that we can do great things on a small scale. For so long I’ve been wanting to take my children on a wildflower hike and collect wildflowers to make beautiful bookmarks. However, I wanted our experience to be just right; the perfect winding path chock-full of vibrant wildflowers set against stunning mountain views and dappled golden light. I didn’t want to go until I had researched exactly what types of wildflowers we’d find so I could amaze my children with my wildcrafting knowledge. I wanted to be able to name and teach them about each unique bloom was as we placed them carefully in our beautiful handmade flower press. In my mind, I could picture it so vividly and wanted desperately our adventure to look just like that.

But, the reality was that these ideals of a perfect moment were holding us back from having the actual experience. We’re all busy and sometimes it’s more important to have any experience rather than wait for the perfect one. I realized I didn’t want my perfect vision of our outing to keep us from having fun and creating memories.

Have the adventure anyway!

Finally, I was tired of waiting for the time to make our wildflower hike perfect. One evening I did some quick research on my AllTrails app, and found a nearby trail that mentioned wildflowers. The next morning I threw prepackaged snacks into our backpacks and a cooler pack for the flowers and we took off. (I will say that I highly recommend doing a little trail research as there are unforeseen closures during this time due to COVID!)

The next day, we went on our wildflower hike and had a wonderful time! No, I didn’t know all the flower names, but that was ok! We looked them up later (which was really fun for all of us). I believe it’s important to also do the big adventures, but don’t let the fear of an adventure not being perfect hold you back from enjoying all the little ones! We opted for action over perfection and now we go on intentional wildflower hikes quite regularly. Sometimes every couple of weeks! Once wildflowers are no longer in season, we collect leaves and grasses. I have found a few things that help us make these hikes fun and easy and I’m excited to share them with you today.

Wildflower hike tips for parents

Cooler – Bring a soft cooler pack or reusable silicone bag for the flowers you collect on your wildflower hike. If you have young children as I do, your flowers are going to get squished. It’s ok, it doesn’t affect the outcome of the bookmark keepsakes.

Photos – Take pictures as you collect your blooms! I am learning wildflower knowledge right along with my kids, and it’s much easier to look up and identify pictures of intact blooms than the “well-loved” specimens we take home with us.

Press – Use a flower press or book to place flowers into upon returning to the car. I use our giant Webster’s dictionary. Every time I go to order a flower press, I decide to wait. Maybe one day I will order one (or make one), but for now, our Webster’s has never let me down. A handy tip is to keep it in the car, ready for spontaneous pressing of treasured finds! In complete honesty, I have often forgotten to place our flowers in the book before driving home and ended up digging them out of various backpacks upon our return. They still turned out fine. Fair warning, you might find some crawling friends in there as well.

Scissors – Bring small scissors along on your wildflower hike. We don’t always remember these, but occasionally they help when trying to take just a bloom and not the whole plant. A great part of the fun is picking the flowers, and I like to let them do it themselves. I carry these in my personal backpack.

More – Collect just a few more flowers than you think you’ll need (but please don’t take them all). See above about flowers being well-loved! Not all flowers will make it home, and that’s ok. Petals will fall off, and stems will get crushed. This does not always render them unusable! We typically use our “leftover” bits and pieces to make collage bookmarks. Make sure that you’re allowed to collect/pick/keep wildflowers in the area that you’re visiting (not all parks or nature preserves allow you to pick or take anything). And be sure to leave plenty of flowers for the birds, bees, and butterflies (and other people to enjoy).

Anything! – You don’t have to only use wildflowers. We collect and make bookmarks with all kinds of things we find on hikes, like leaves and feathers. You can find all kinds of different items and objects on your hikes any time of year. Anything remotely flat will work!

Let the flowers dry out first

If you want to turn your wildflower hike treasures into bookmarks, the first thing to do is to let the flowers dry out. If possible, let them sit for a couple of weeks to remove all moisture. Sometimes the colors will fade a bit. That’s to be expected. I’ve heard of people microwaving their flowers to dry them out and preserve the colors, but we haven’t tried that yet.

While the flowers are drying, we use our photos from our wildflower hike to identify which species we found. It’s a lot of fun to see the kids learn new things about the plants and flowers in their area. A lot of times they remember a flower name from our last outing. Sometimes we will write the names of each flower on the bookmarks, sometimes little quotes, and sometimes nothing at all!

Making wildflower bookmarks with a laminator

When we first started making wildflower bookmarks, I used my laminator for this process. However, after a while, it resulted in a ton of plastic waste. Since we do this activity frequently, I wanted an option that was less wasteful. So, I started using the wax paper method. Using a laminator is easy, however. And you’ll get no judgment from me if you choose to use that method. It is far less messy and results in a much “tidier” finished product.

If you do choose to laminate, simply have your kiddos arrange the flowers on construction paper. Slip each flower-covered piece carefully into laminating sheets and run them through the laminator. Have the kiddos cut out when cooled!

I will say, if I am sending bookmarks to distant friends or family we will still use our laminator as it makes for a sturdier bookmark. The wax paper laminating method does eventually fall apart, but in my house, that’s a good thing. We would have far too many treasures if everything we collected lasted forever!
Waxed paper wildflower bookmarks

Now, instead of using the laminator, we make our wildflower bookmarks using wax paper and glue. They’re not quite as study, but they do just fine and the kids get to be very hands-on throughout the process. Here’s what you’ll need:
- wildflowers
- clear waxed paper (I have used the brown natural kind too, it makes for a vintage-looking bookmark!)
- plain paper (we love using colored construction paper so everyone can personalize their own)
- washable glue
- kid-safe scissors
How to make wax paper wildflower bookmarks

Have each child arrange their flowers on a piece of construction paper. I have them cut out the flowers AFTER laminating. You can draw outlines on the paper first, but I prefer to let them just have at it! We end up with very interestingly shaped bookmarks, and that is part of the fun!

Drizzle glue* over the flowers on the paper and then place waxed paper under each piece of flower-covered construction paper.Place another piece on top, (right on top of the glued flowers) and then set the entire thing on an iron safe surface covered with a thin towel (I like using tea towels).

*We did try it without the glue, and it didn’t work as nearly as well. The waxed paper does melt to the flowers and paper, but without fail it falls apart when little hands try to cut out the flowers.

Place another tea towel on top. Iron the flower-covered side of the paper first. Iron on medium to high heat for a few minutes until the wax has adhered to the paper, checking periodically to make sure it’s not burning. Flip over and repeat the process. A delightful smell of wildflowers will waft from the papers!

Once the glue has dried to clear and the papers have cooled, let the children cut out their wildflower bookmarks! We usually let them dry overnight, or place them in the sun to speed the drying process.

Now, if you’re like me and somehow always manage to leave them out in the rain, just hang the flower papers up overnight and they’ll be fine in the morning.
The beauty of a bookmark

These lovely little bookmarks are so fun to make and have so many great uses. They are easy to slip into envelopes and mail as surprises. They make wonderful gifts for grandparents, relatives, teachers and friends! You can hang them on walls as decoration. My kids love having them over their beds where they can see them every day. Hang them on windows and let the light shine through them like stained-glass. And of course, they’re perfect for using as bookmarks in your favorite nightly read! The flowers and the bookmarks stimulate exciting “remember when” conversations about our adventures every time we look at them.

Have you gone on a wildflower hike with your kids?
Are wildflower bookmarks in your future?

About the author

Robin Lloyd is a Colorado mama of four year-old boy-girl twins and a one and a half year-old boy. Her family are second-generation homeschoolers and strive to spend every moment possible outdoors!

You can find more from Robin in the following locations:
Pinterest: @ThisLittleMustardSeed
Website: The Mama Playbook
Facebook: @thislittlemustardseed
BEACH, BIKE, CAMP, FISH, HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
9 Character-Building Outdoor Activities For Kids
- September 17, 2020
Technology is everywhere these days. Our children are growing up as digital natives in an era where screens are pervasive and they’re plugged-in to multiple devices throughout the day. It’s no wonder why kids today are so adept at technology. However, the last thing parents want is for their kids to be screen-addicted or penned inside. Now, more than ever, it is important for families to make spending time outdoors and off-screens a priority. There’s no better way for kids to build character, confidence, and improve their physical and mental health than being outside. Today, we have Creative Team member Michelle Garrett, California mom, and creator of Wonder Club Explorers here sharing nine character-building outdoor activities to get your kids outside and having fun in the sun.

Overcoming the challenge of getting kids outside

2020 has been a hard year in so many ways. The challenge of spending time outdoors right now is compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, pervasive wildfires, diminished air quality, and more. With education shifting towards an online and virtual format, kids are spending their days inside and in front of a screen. Plenty of education and mental health professionals (and parents) are concerned about the long-term effects of remote learning environments. Now more than ever, it’s important to ensure that children have opportunities to spend time playing outside and in the fresh air.

Being cooped up and inside the house has the opposite effect of being outdoors. Between obesity and Vitamin D deficiency, not to mention higher stress levels, spending too much time indoors is detrimental to a child’s physical and mental well-being. If society’s goal is to raise healthy and happy kids, then it’s time to unplug, power down devices, and head outside. We owe it to our kids to give them the benefits of nature and outdoor play time.

Character-building benefits of being outdoors

So what’s a parent to do right now? In the era of virtual learning, the lure of electronics is strong. Screens provide kids constant new information, a changing view, and countless things to do. But guess what…so does being outside! As parents, it’s our job to take the lead and demonstrate that outdoor activity is a non-negotiable, essential activity.

Start small, but make outdoor time a priority. Don’t give up after a few minutes or the first time your child says they’re bored. Boredom means that they’re going to have to get creative! After a while, kids will begin to develop new habits, start thinking outside the box and reap all of the benefits that come from playing outside. Benefits include physical exercise, lower stress levels, better temperaments, better sleep habits and lower anxiety.

Playing outdoors also helps to build character. Certain intangible qualities can be fostered thru particular character-building outdoor activities. From confidence and resilience to respect and kindness towards others, these are things that children can develop by playing outside.

We are builders of our own characters. We have different positions, spheres, capacities, privileges, different work to do in the world, different temporal fabrics to raise; but we are all alike in this, — all are architects of fate.”
John Fothergill Waterhouse Ware

Exploring, bouldering & climbing trees

During a child’s formative years, they learn about their relationship to their physical environment. They learn about their limits and how to push past them. Kids learn how to take risks, problem-solve, compromise and overcome obstacles. Character-building outdoor activities such as exploring, bouldering, and climbing trees are a few easy ways to get children moving and taking healthy risks. Other than a good pair of shoes, water, and sun protection, these activities do not require much equipment and don’t need a lot of planning. They just need a parent willing to get them outside and let them play!

When kids explore, they are fueling their curiosity about new places and things. Exploring allows kids the opportunity to build confidence and courage as they work through frustrations and challenges. Figuring things out builds problem-solving skills and promotes independence. This teaches kids that they can tackle bigger challenges the next time they encounter them.

Hiking, backpacking & fishing

Fostering a love and appreciation for nature is just one of the benefits of being outside. Hiking, backpacking, and fishing are three activities that require minimal equipment and can lead to lifelong loves of these activities and the outdoors. Each activity helps to teach survival skills. They also bring real-life science and ecology lessons to life so kids can learn about ecosystems and where their food comes from. They turn kids into tiny naturalists that instinctively want to protect their planet and the nature around them.

But beyond these practical skills, activities like hiking, backpacking, and fishing are character-building outdoor activities as well. Through these activities, kids learn patience, perseverance, diligence, and resilience. To land a fish, kids have to wait and be patient until they get a bite. To go the distance on a trail, kids have to put in the effort step-by-step and be tenacious. With each activity, there are sure to be challenges; overcoming adversity and doing hard things helps to develop resilience and grit.

Youth sports, water sports & bike riding

There are plenty of benefits of playing sports that are reason enough to encourage kids to run, jump, and play outside. Physical benefits include reducing the risk of obesity, increased cardiovascular fitness, and the healthy development of bones and muscles. But outdoor activities like youth sports, water sports, and riding a bike have character-building benefits as well.

Kids who are drawn to the camaraderie or competition of sports will cultivate certain character-building traits. When children participate in sports they learn social skills like sharing, respect for others, communication, teamwork, and self-advocacy. Youth sports expose children to situations that help foster these important social skills.

While swimming is regarded as a life skill, it has character-building benefits, too. The adage sink or swim helps to illustrate that a person must succeed by their efforts or fail. Waterborne kids learn to be attentive and hardworking if they want to stay afloat, both in the water and in life.

Cycling is another great character-building outdoor activity for kids to engage in to reap all of the physical, mental and emotional benefits of being outdoors. Developing proficiency in bike riding is not only a rite of passage but a way for kids to be independent. For kids to take their two-wheel adventures away from home, they have to prove their trustworthiness and demonstrate responsibility. They also learn skills such as navigation, awareness, and observation.

Programs that encourage outdoor time

It’s never too early to encourage children to reap the character-building benefits of being outdoors. If you’re looking for a program that encourages outdoor adventures and character-building activities, check out Wonder Club Explorers. I created Wonder Club Explores a few years ago to encourage my child to explore outdoors. It’s an independent scouting program for young children where they earn merit patches by completing nature-inspired activities. We’ve found that kids are delighted to get outdoors and love the bonus of earning a patch that they can proudly display. Parents love that we help facilitate activities and give them a reason to get outside and play.

Older kids looking to socially distance and be physical at the same time might consider forming an outdoor physical education pod to stay active once “virtual school” lets out. Outdoor playdates and scheduled activities give parents some help and accountability in prioritizing outdoor time for their kids. Find a few families with children your kids’ ages and schedule a meet-up! Make it a weekly (daily?) thing and watch as your kids gain independence and confidence week after week by playing outside.

Build character through outdoor activities

There are any number of ways to encourage the fun of outdoors without making it seem like it’s a chore or something kids ought to do. Whether you’re doing any of the character-building outdoor activities mentioned above or simply letting your kid run around outside and be free, the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of outdoor activity are clear. They far outweigh any obstacles, difficulties and drawbacks, especially when outside play is approached with the happiness and spirit that comes with being a kid. Now more than ever, we hope you’ll find ways to encourage your kids to get outside and play.

About the author

Michelle spends her days working on projects to improve the quality of life for the citizens of her community and her nights reading books to her 6 year-old about every kind of dinosaur there ever was (there are 900 validated species, in case you’re wondering). Together with her son, Michelle created Wonder Club Explorers, a company to inspire wonder and curiosity in kids. She carves out time for herself on the weekends as an early morning exerciser and metalsmith of fine jewelry. She resides in Altadena with her husband and son amongst California Oak trees and a stone’s throw of the San Gabriel Mountains.

You can find Michelle online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wonderclubexplorers
Website: http://www.wonderclubexplorers.co
BIKE, HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
10 Ways to Make Summer Last
- September 1, 2020
Summer’s last weeks are upon us. The shimmering sunlight dancing on water as your children frolic seaside (or lakeside, or creekside) is fading. Soon, the leaves will start changing, the days will get shorter and the temperatures will drop. While fall is my favorite season, I’m certainly not ready to give up summer yet! The last few weeks of summer have the potential to be the best of the season! Today, we have Creative Team member SarahRuth – Georgia teacher and homeschooling mom of two – here with 10 ways you can make summer last and get the most of the final few weeks of this magical time of year.

10 ways to enjoy the final weeks of summer

With officially only a few weeks remaining of summer sunshine and play, we’re determined to make summer last as long as possible! Grab your children, your sunglasses, and your smile….we won’t let you miss out on those last days of summer. Here are ten ways to make summer last and create memories that will last well beyond the seasons!

1. Chase a waterfall

If you are new to this idea, grab hold and run with it! Remember that song, “Don’t go chasing waterfalls….”? Ignore it – that’s terrible advice. You most certainly should chase waterfalls. When dating my husband, he took me to a new waterfall on every date. The sense of wonder and awe as you trek to along a path and hear the rushing water, continuing until it crests into view – it’s priceless.

Where we live, kid-friendly waterfall hikes are often under one mile. Unless your children are older or more used to hiking for longer periods stick with shorter walks on even terrain. Add some floats and you’ve won summer accolades officially! Buckets, small containers, and scoops are welcomed tools at waterfalls for my sons. Summer will certainly last longer when you and your crew make chasing a waterfall happen!

2. Sit in the sunshine

Yes, just sit. On a blanket, or not. Barefoot, or not. On a sunny day or in a sunshower. The benefits of sunlight and sun exposure are innumerable! The list goes on and on; it eases depression and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, enables the production of vitamin D, and more! Merely basking in the sunlight outdoors is an invaluable experience. You don’t need to do anything more than walk out your door.

But if you’re feeling adventurous, go for a hike. Our family often grabs a favorite book and brings it on hikes. When we arrive at a good resting place, we drop a blanket on the ground, get out a snack, and I read aloud to the kids. Our skin yearns for a good kiss of the sun. Of course, wear a good sunscreen if you intend to show a lot of skin for an extended period. Hammocks also make a great sit spot in the sun. We like to hang some in our yard as well as carry them on hikes. Summer won’t slip away as quickly if you make it sit with you.

3. Forest bathe

Not a bath. Well yes, a bath, but a different kind. The bathing that occurs when you let summer linger on your skin and prickle your senses in the woods. Summer will last longer if you dash into the woods headlong and let the greenery embrace you. Believe it or not, forest bathing is a real thing. The term first emerged in Japan and is taking the world by storm.

Did you know that phytoncides are emitted from plants and trees in the forest to protect them from harmful insects and germs? Some say it is what creates that “forest smell”. When you forest bathe, you literally immerse yourself in nature. But sure to cut off your phone and put down the iPad. Disconnect from the world and reconnect with the natural world.

Want to forest bath in the deep end? May I suggest a barefoot bath? Encourage your children to join you. Connect your feet to the earth and experience grounding. Breathe deeply. Close your eyes. Feel the warmth and the coolness of the woods. Allow the trees and the forest canopy to offer something nowhere and no one else can.

4. Water fight

A water fight is a great way to make summer last a bit longer! Do you need instructions? 1. Splash in a river. Laugh. 2. Throw a water balloon at your partner. Laugh more. 3. Jump into the pool and soak everyone poolside. Laugh. 4. Let your children use water guns to soak you….then bring out your super soaker and get them back! Keep laughing! 5. Get out the water hose and give everyone a turn chasing and spraying each other. Laughter galore!

There really is nothing quite like a water fight to level us onto equal footing with grandparents, babies, and all ages! Whether you do this in the cool of the evening, or in the midday heat, it’s guaranteed to be a favorite! Invite neighbors. Social distancing approved. Everyone wins in a water fight. There is no keeping score, there are no losers. Celebrating with a homemade popsicle is a great finale, by the way. If summer had a magnum opus it would be a great water fight in the back yard, don’t you think?

5. Watch the sunset

Most summers, our family rents a condo on Hilton Head Island. While there, my favorite thing to do is see the sunset and sunrise. Pink, orange, and dusky purple swirl at the horizon. Rain or shine, I ride my bike along the pathways and then onto the beach. I often bring my journal and watercolors along. Every poem I have ever memorized erupts to meet the sunrise and sunset as I watch my children play in the sand.

This year, the current pandemic prevented our summertime escape to the beach. However, our mountains have let us experience new joy. Summer continues to bring us beautiful sunsets as we hike to peaks and watch as another day closes. Not willing that it occur without our happy chatter and watching eyes.

Don’t live in the mountains? No beach trip for you either? That’s okay! The sun sets in the West everywhere! No matter your location, get outside and experience it with your family. Try out a compass. That is a fun way to practice navigating and essential skills while making summer last. Never once have we regretted watching a sunset. Snacks welcome – our favorite is air-popped popcorn, in case you’re wondering.

6. Dance in the rain

Wellies or not, dancing in the summertime rain should be on your making summer last list! Wriggling worms, the pitter-patter of drops hitting trees, and the laughter of your kids are worth this little adventure. What might make this most wonderful of all is that it is usually a surprise and can’t be planned! You won’t know exactly the day or hour of this grand ball – you may have an inkling of suspicion around the weather, but the invitation will be random. Also, no need to leave your house or pack bags. This fun summer activity will meet you at your home, at the park, or wherever you happen to be!

When you hear the drops begin to drip, run outside (sans umbrella) and dance like nobody is watching. Let your inner 5-year-old out! Splash in puddles, let the rain be your music. I can assure you there are nary few children who won’t stop gawking and join you! Also, rainy day hikes are great fun. Don’t let showers deter you from hitting the trail. Instead, pack your gear and plan to enjoy the coolness of a good summer rain. You will make memories that last a lifetime! Plus, this is a grand way to make summer last.

7. Ride bikes at sunrise

If you have a bike, plan a biking date with a new day. Grab a light snack and your favorite cold brew. Put those sleepy babes in the bike trailer (yep, in their PJs) and ride out to meet a new day! A little foresight is needed for this one. Ideally, you would know the local sunrise times and also plan for comfortable weather. A rainy day might make seeing the sunrise less brilliant. Be sure and check your tires and bike chains before heading out. A good flag on your bike trailer is also essential.

Our family loves bike rides because the wind from our speed truly cools us as we pedal. Breakfast picnics are also welcome. Fresh fruit, cream cheese, and good bread taste even better in the summer morning’s first light. Go ahead, ask me how I know!

8. Splash in the creek

Make summer last a little longer by heading creekside. If there isn’t one super close, it is totally worth a day trip. Plan to visit a creek with 2-6 inches of water and not more. A good flow of water is fun, even for littles. So long as the water depth is shallow, the speed of the water is nothing to fear. Lots of small rocks are ideal.

Be sure and bring some small mason jars or a plastic container. When your children get into the creek, they are sure to find some amazing creatures. Crawdads, crawfish, crayfish….how do you say it? These little fellows are summer’s mascots! Carefully overturning rocks is sure to be a favorite past time once they observe a salamander skittering through the shadows. Parents can enjoy some lounging beside the water, toes in. Although this mama enjoys some splashing and creature hunting as well. Summer will last a smidge longer if you linger creekside.

9. Eat a meal outside

In our family, summer is for outdoor eating (well, so are autumn and spring, now that I think of it). Nothing fancy is required for dining al fresco. Your regular food can just happen to make its way to a picnic table in your driveway or a blanket on the lawn. If you aren’t up for a big meal, sandwiches taste better on a blanket in the woods. Promise.

Does summer last longer if ants are guests during meal times? I’m not sure, but you can be certain these bodybuilders will be visitors if you plan to eat out of doors. Kids love watching ants and it truly is amazing to see them carry crumbs 100 times their weight! Also, eating outside means you beat heating up your home by using the oven. Some family favorites of ours include waffles and bacon in the yard, fire-cooked burgers, and fresh fruit. Meals outside mean less clean up. Dripping popsicles, goopy marshmallows, and melty ice cream don’t require mops when enjoyed outdoors. Standing ovation, please! Of course, you do want to pack in and pack out, like all good visitors.

10. Activity of your choice

My last suggestion on making summer last is to choose your family’s favorite summertime activity and enjoy it together one last time. Whether it’s catching fireflies, enjoying a bonfire, watching a movie outside or something not shared here, the important thing is getting out there and enjoying the last weeks of summer. Together is better. Children thrive when experiences include parents, grandparents, and friends. Stay safe. Use caution and wisdom. Our summer may have looked different this year, but it’s still a beautiful season to embrace and behold!

So how will you make the most of these final weeks of summer?
Share your ideas in the comments or tag us in a photo posted on social media with the hashtag #runwildmychild.

About the author

SarahRuth is a homeschooling mother of three boys. She was raised in cities across the East coast, but now resides in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia where her husband grew up. Passionate about inspiring others to shift from the status quo of Western indoor life, she launched a local Free Forest School chapter in 2017. Her family clocked over 2k hours outdoors in 2019 and believes that outside time as a family is vital to a joy-filled life. She collects books, stray children, and as much coffee as her body will permit. When not foraging, chasing waterfalls, or camping with her crew, you can find SarahRuth crossing the globe from her laptop, teaching English full time online! She has two bachelor’s degrees in Education and is passionate about teaching children to love learning through outdoor adventures.

You can find more from SarahRuth in the following online locations:
Instagram: @mountainpaz
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 when you’re hiking with kids. Today, we are so lucky to have our Creative Team member and resident RN, Ashley here with some common hiking injuries and tips on how to avoid them. She’s got helpful and practical advice on how to prevent hiking injuries such as blisters, sunburns and dehydration, and provides first aid advice on what to do if something does go wrong. She’s also included a list of what to pack in your hiking first aid kit to keep your family safe.

Prevention is the best medicine

As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Hiking safety is all about thinking ahead and avoiding simple mistakes. Most of the dangerous situations you are likely to encounter in the wilderness can often be prevented. Obviously, there are other things that are preventable and accidents happen. So, take the precautions that you can and always hike with a First Aid kit for such other situations.

Today, I’ll walk you through how to prevent some of the most common hiking injuries and setbacks – blisters, dehydration, and sunburn. Each of these injuries can be prevented with a little forethought and preparation. When out hiking (by yourself or with kids), it’s always best to think ahead and avoid these common hiking maladies.

How to prevent blisters

Oh, the horror of the stinging, painful, adventure-ending, all-too-common blister. Blisters are miserable and can turn an otherwise lovely hike into a march of pain. Both kids and adults can easily get blisters from improper footwear. Blisters are painful, but luckily, they’re also usually avoidable with the right socks and shoes. We never want getting outdoors to be expensive or overly-burdensome, but sometimes the right gear is worth the cost. Purchasing the correct socks and shoes can be some of the best money you’ll spend, particularly if hiking is something you do (or want to do) often. If you invest in a good combination of sturdy shoes and good moisture-wicking socks, you have less chance of getting blisters, twisted ankles, and sore feet.

We’ve been hiking with our girls since they were newborns and have continued hiking year-round with them. We started hiking with them in a Baby Bjorn, moved onto baby carriers, and then to the beautiful milestone of them hiking on their own two feet! We’ve hiked hundreds of miles together and have tried tons of different brands and styles. The shoes and socks I’m recommending below have been tried and tested by us and I feel confident recommending these items to you.

Hiking shoes

The right hiking shoes can make all the difference between an amazing hike and a miserable one. A good rule of thumb when purchasing hiking shoes is to buy a pair a half-size bigger than your foot (or your child’s foot). With heat, sweat, constant changes in terrain, and pace, our feet swell. Swollen feet = more friction, which equals more risk of blisters. Hiking shoes should also have a hard sole. Trust me, after walking a half-day on granite, your feet will thank you. A good pair of hiking shoes or boots can last you between 500-1000 miles!
- Favorite hiking shoes for adults: Merrell Women’s Moab 2 Vent Hiking Shoe
- Favorite hiking shoes for kids: KEEN Kids’ Hiking Shoe
Hiking socks

Now that you have great shoes, what about socks? Will your everyday cotton, low-ankle socks be fine? Likely no – you might end up with blisters. Good socks are just as important as good hiking shoes. When choosing the right socks, you’ll want to make sure you consider height, padding, fit, and fabric. You need socks that are high enough to protect your skin from abrasions (from your shoes/boots), a decent amount of padding (to cushion your feet and provide warmth), the right size (so your feet aren’t slipping around inside your sock), and the right fabric (usually a wool-blend).
- Best hiking socks for adults: Farm-to-Feet hiking socks. This is such a great brand and they make incredible wool-blend, moisture-wicking socks. They’re fast to dry, with fun designs, and are made in the USA.
- Best hiking socks for children: SmartWool. SmartWool is an amazing brand for kids’ hiking socks. They’re also made from a moisture-wicking wool-blend, are not bulky, and they have fun designs for little kids.
Keep them dry

Wet socks while hiking are a recipe for blister disaster. And kids are notorious for getting their feet wet (creek or stream crossings, lakes, jumping in puddles, etc.). Always carry a spare pair of socks for each kid on a hike, just in case. If your kids feet get wet, sit down, remove the socks and let their feet dry. Once dry, put on a clean, dry pair of socks. You can hang the wet socks on the outside of your pack to dry while you continue your hike.

Stop the spot

While blisters are preventable, they’re not always inevitable. So, what happens when your family is hiking along with great socks and shoes and one of your kids says “My foot hurts!” The best thing you can do is to listen, stop immediately, and assess the situation. Stopping immediately and checking their feet can prevent something minor from becoming a big problem down the trail. It might just be a rock in a shoe or a twisted sock. Or it might be a “hot spot” (red, tender area formed by friction), which is the start of a blister. A bandage or just swapping out wet socks can keep a spot from becoming a full-blown blister. Again, a little prevention and extra attention to the problem early on will go a long way!

First aid for blisters

If blisters happen (and they can…even to the most cautious of parents), here are some First Aid steps to treat the blister and hike out safely.

If a small (intact) blister or hot spot forms, place a moleskin dressing (donut-shaped) or blister bandage over the area. The donut-hole should match the size of the blister (the blister should fit inside the hole). You may need to apply more than one layer of moleskin so that the blister doesn’t protrude out the top and continue to rub. You’ll want to secure the moleskin dressing. The easiest way to do that is with tape.

If a larger blister forms (1″ diameter or larger) and it is inevitable that continuing to hike will pop the blister, you can intentionally rupture it. You can also take the chance and let it rupture on its own. However, letting it rupture on its own has more risk of infection since the blister is unprotected and may be rubbing against dirt, sweat, etc. If you’ve decided that rupturing the blister yourself is the best option, first you should clean the area with an alcohol swab (easiest) or soap and water. Then, take a sterile needle or safety pin (soak with an alcohol swab for 30 seconds) and puncture the base of the blister. Soak up the fluid with sterile gauze. Next, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover the blister with a sterile dressing. You can further cushion the area with another moleskin, if necessary.

It can take a few days or even weeks to heal a blister. Inspect it daily and change the bandage if it becomes wet or dirty. If it becomes infected, seek medical attention right away.

Dehydration

Dehydration is another common hiking malady that’s extremely dangerous and can even be deadly. However, it’s also completely preventable. When talking about hiking safety, drinking enough fluids should be a top priority. Remember, we are basically just complicated flowers – we need water to survive. Water transports nutrients to our organs, helps maintain our body temperature, as well as cleans waste from our bodies. If you don’t drink enough water, you’re likely to fatigue easier, overheat, or worse.

The amount of water you need daily depends on your activity level, environment, and even gender. Men usually need about 4 liters per day, and women 3 liters. Your average water bottle is about one liter. When you’re hiking, you should expect to drink more, especially if it is warm out, if you are at high altitude, or if you’re hiking a long trail or at a fast pace. Preparation is key to preventing dehydration and you should always make sure to have plenty of water with you on a hike.

How to prevent dehydration while hiking

An easy way to ensure you don’t get dehydrated on a hike is to pre-hydrate before your hike. The day before your hike, or even just before you head out, drink a couple of extra glasses of water and encourage the kids to do the same. This will get your body prepared for the hike with fluid.

During physical activity, you should aim to drink about 6-10 ounces of water every 20 minutes. The amount a child should drink per day depends on their age, height, and weight. Consult your pediatrician to find out what is appropriate. Always carry water with you on hikes and make sure you and your children are taking frequent stops for water breaks. Sometimes kids get excited or distracted on hikes and don’t drink enough. If you need to, set a timer on your watch or phone for intentional water breaks every 20 minutes.

Another way to stay on top of your fluid status and make sure you have quick and easy access to water is to carry a hydration backpack. The weight is evenly distributed across your back and hips, and your hands are free to balance or lend a hand to your children, and there is a mouthpiece/ straw connected to the water. If your kids are big enough to carry a pack, there are 1L and 1.5L size hydration backpacks that are perfect for little ones. There’s also enough room in these packs from kids to bring along an extra pair of socks and a few snacks. The packs also have a whistle on the chest strap to use in case of an emergency.

While you should generally avoid sweet drinks while hiking (water is best), on long hikes we will add some sports drink powder to our hydration packs. This provides some additional electrolytes and sodium. It gives everyone a little more energy and it tastes sweet, prompting your little ones to drink more.

Should you run out of water, it is always a good idea to carry a water filter. We use Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter.

Dehydration first aid

Should you notice you or your child is dehydrated (thirsty, headache, dark urine, feeling tired, muscle weakness), find a shaded area to sit, drink water or a sports drink to cool down, and have a salty snack. Should someone become dizzy, pass out, have a seizure, or become confused, seek emergency medical attention immediately. These can be signs of heatstroke, which is an emergency situation.

Sun safety while hiking

A sunburn is inflammation of the skin, caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. We’ve probably all had a sunburn at some point in our lives. They are no fun! When I first moved to Nevada from Alaska, I had no idea that altitude makes the sun more intense. For every 1000′ of elevation, UV exposure increases by around 4%. For example, at 6000′ elevation, the UV exposure is about 24% greater than at sea level. Thus, I got my first severe sunburn at Lake Tahoe. It was miserable and painful and then I peeled for weeks. Now, I wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat on every hike. Our girls do too. Again, sunburns are easily preventable with the right gear and it’s not worth the pain of a sunburn or the risk of Melanoma (skin cancer).

Sunscreen

There are so many sunscreen options out there. The two main types are physical sunscreen (such as zinc) and chemical sunscreen (usually found in spray form). Both work; however, physical sunscreens (zinc-based) stay on better in water, resist sweat, and are a more natural option. We use All Good Baby & Kids Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Lotion – Coral Reef Safe – Zinc Oxide. The sun is strongest between 10am and 4pm. If you cannot avoid hiking in exposed areas during those times, sunscreen should be worn. As a general rule, be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours and use an SPF of 30 or higher.

Sun-protective clothing

Sun hats and long sleeve shirts are also great ways to prevent getting a sunburn. There are tons of companies that make clothing (shirts, hats and pants) with built-in UV protection. These items can be helpful for little ones that are hard to lather up. But even with these clothing items, make sure that any exposed skin is protected.

First aid for sunburn

Should you get a sunburn, there are some first aid steps you can take to assist in pain reduction and skin healing. First-degree burns are burns where the skin is red and painful. A second-degree sunburn has redness, pain, blisters, and may also have symptoms such as fever, chills and headache.

Pain control for first degree burns can be treated with over the counter pain medications. For skincare, aloe vera lotion/gel or a gentle baby lotion can help with itching and cracking. A second-degree sunburn is more serious. In addition to the treatments for first-degree burns, prescription pain medications or steroids may be necessary. Both types of burns, unfortunately, increase your risk of skin cancer, so avoid sunburns as much as possible.

What you should have in your first aid kit

There are many first aid kits on the market. You can buy a pre-assembled first aid kit (and add items as needed) or you can easily put together one of your own. Here is a starter checklist of what I feel are the most beneficial items to have in your first aid kit when you are hiking:
- Blister bandages or moleskin dressings
- Various sized bandages
- Athletic tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Butterfly bandages or Steristrips (for wound closure)
- Waterproof bandages (such as Tegaderm)
- OTC pain medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen)
- Benadryl (for allergic reactions) or an EpiPen (if you or someone in your party has a known anaphylactic allergy)
- Lubricating eye drops
- Multipurpose tool
- Tweezers
- Alcohol wipes or Iodine swabs
- Sterile gauze
- Heat reflecting blanket
- Signaling mirror
- Hard candy or some form of sugar
- Lighter
For more info on what to pack when hiking with kids, check out our full list of hiking essentials for families (which includes a first aid kit).

Additional resources

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post about hiking safety and first aid. Remember, most of these injuries and maladies are completely preventable with a little planning and forethought. Being prepared for the unexpected will give you more peace of mind when you’re out on the trail! I hope you get the chance to get out there soon and have some safe and happy hiking!

If you would like to learn more about Wilderness First Aid and are interested in taking a class – head to http://www.NOLS.edu and http://www.AWLS.org

About the author

Ashley is an RN certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. She’s a nature-loving mother of two who is passionate about outdoor education for parents and their children. Ashley grew up in Alaska, where her family spent most of their time outdoors fishing, camping, skiing, and hiking. She currently lives with her husband and children near the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe, where they can be found outdoors year-round; hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing, and camping. She is also very passionate about photography and owns a small photography business.

You can find more from Ashley in the following online locations:
Instagram: @sage.and.summit
Website: Sage & Summit Photography
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 than you want to deal with right now? You’re not alone. Today, we have the amazing Angie Warmington, Wisconsin mom of three boys, sharing her family’s struggle to get outside and how she’s cultivating a love of adventure in her homebody kids. I think a LOT of us can relate to this. Enjoy!

The struggle is real

Let me be perfectly honest. I am a homebody to the extreme. There is nowhere else on this earth I feel most at ease than in my own home. My three young boys are homebody kids and my husband is right there with us.

My love for home is so deep that it makes me very proud of how comfortable and secure my children feel within the four walls that we’ve provided for them. But I also want them to feel comfortable and secure outside them!

It is no understatement when people say that there’s a big world out there. And I so desperately want them to see it.

The problem is, sometimes they really don’t want to. And the struggle to get my homebody kids out there exploring can be stressful, to say the least.

From homebody to explorer

Let me start at the very beginning of when our love of adventures began. About two years ago when my youngest was old enough to really enjoy being outside we decided we were going to start going on adventures. Ok…I decided we were going to start going on adventures.

At that time, I had been a full-time stay at home mom for about three years. The four walls that created my safe sanctuary were driving me insane. I needed out. And so did my kids.

I knew the importance of children getting fresh air. I knew they needed wide open spaces to explore, to run and burn some crazy off. The benefits of getting outside to their personal growth and development were many. How many studies do we need to read to hammer that home?

And so we made some changes. We started adventuring! I got my homebody kids and self out of the house and we explored new places and tried new things. And for the first summer we did this they loved it! They were begging to go on adventures daily. We went all over our little part of the world and adventured to our heart’s desire.

Adventure strategy

Fast forward a couple of years…all of a sudden, my adventuring kids are back to being homebody kids. They were not so excited about our adventures anymore. In fact, most times they’d really rather not.

I don’t know what happened. Maybe, with this past year of spending so much time in our house the idea of leaving feels foreign to them now? Maybe they’re anxious? Or perhaps they just forgot how much fun we had? I’m not sure. But whatever’s going on, it’s made getting my homebody kids out of the house so hard.

However, I refuse to give up on our adventures. Over the last few months, I’ve developed some strategies to try to help keep their excitement for adventures alive. Here are a few tips for how we’re doing it and how it’s going.

Mix it up

I keep a running list of all the places that we’ve explored that I know my boys love, as well as a list of places we have yet to see. This helps remind me of all the fun places we could adventure that we already know we love, as well as all the places we want to explore.

There’s a wonderful app called All Trails that I use when I’m researching new areas. It has been so handy this past year. It lists all the hiking trails in our area depending on their length, difficulty level, how heavily trafficked they are, as well as if they would be considered kid-friendly.

I build my list right there in the app and I make it a personal goal to cross a new place off at least once a month. We aim for two new places a month, but I figure beggars can’t be choosers, so I happily settle for at least one!

When scouting for new places, I look for areas and features that I know my boys would enjoy. We are fortunate to live along Lake Michigan, so any place that brings us close to water is usually a hit. That doesn’t mean that we always go to the lake. But, when I search for local nature reserves or hiking trails, I try to make sure they run along a lake or river so they have that water play to look forward to.

Tried and true

If trying out a new place just isn’t appealing, I let them pick our adventure from a list of places we’ve tried and enjoyed. Do we want to go throw rocks in the lake? Do we want to go to run through the sand dunes or find all the bridges at Seven Bridges Park? Letting them choose where we’ll go explore a lot of times leads to a great trip.

Eventually, if the trip goes well, we add the new places to our list of favorite tried-and-true places. Those new places that we were so uncertain about in the beginning find their way to our list of awesome adventures and just get added to our rotation. This helps my kids realize that trying new things leads to finding new favorites.

Encourage make-believe

We live the nerd life. We are mad lovers of all things Star Wars, orcs, trolls and yetis. Pretty much all magical beasts top our list of awesome creatures. Sprinkle in some zombies and my boys are in heaven. They have found magic and adventure inside our home. But, I absolutely love it when they find it outside, too.

So, when they ask if we’ll find Big Foot’s house or they tell me that these woods look just like the ones where the Ewoks live, I encourage it like crazy. My boys’ imagination is one of my favorite things in the whole world. If I can get them excited about finding some strange mystical creature on one of our walks, I am all about it! It adds an extra element of fun to our adventures. We’re always hunting for yetis and keeping an eye out for crocodiles.

No shame in the bribery game

Sometimes, the fight to get out of the house and adventure can get very intense. In those cases, I’m not above bribery. In fact, I embrace it.

They’ll walk a short trail with minimal complaint in exchange for a chance to go play at our favorite playground? Done.

They’ll go to the lake if I let them bring home as many rocks as they can fit in their pockets? Deal.

Any wizard staffs (aka giant sticks) that we find on our adventure must come home with us? If it fits in the van, it’s yours.

Any reasonable promise (heavy emphasis on the reasonable) I can make that will get them to happily go on an adventure? I am all over it. If you need to get your homebody kids out of the house, don’t feel bad about using bribery. I’ll help you come up with the bribe, if you need it!

When in doubt, keep it short

If my guys are truly just not feeling it but we really need to get outdoors, we’ll keep it as short as possible. I would rather do multiple short trips a week then drag them out for hours someplace that they would rather not be.

We initially started going on adventures because we wanted to have fun! The last thing I want is for my homebody kids to dread our adventures any time I bring up the word. If twenty or thirty minutes is all we get, then so be it. I’ll make every effort to do that 20-30 minutes a couple of times a week and make it as fun as possible.

But if that doesn’t happen? It’s ok. It really is. I promise. There are days when I have to make the judgment call that maybe that day just isn’t a good day for an adventure. I’ll be honest. I get a little heartbroken when I hear grumbles of not wanting to go explore. But sometimes it’s not worth forcing them to go.

But for every negative response, I usually get an excited one! It really can be a balancing act, so I make every attempt to be as flexible as possible. There are days when my boys will ask me if we can go on an adventure before I have to chance to bring it up! Those are the best days. We’re getting fresh air; we’re having fun checking out a new amazing place nearby or visiting an old favorite. Not to mention, at the end of the day, they sleep so wonderfully!

A lifetime of adventures

My hope is that these small steps will help my boys grow up craving adventures. That someday they’ll come to me with ideas of places they want to explore. My hope is that we’ll eventually be able to go on an all-day trip where we hike across as much ground as our feet will cover. And that they’ll fall in love with getting out and seeing all the amazing things the world has to offer.

Are you or your child a homebody?
How do you encourage adventures?

About the author

Hi, I’m Angie Warmington. I am the mother of three young and active boys. Our home is in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin. I am a full time stay at home mom with a small family photography business on the side. Photography became a hobby of mine when my oldest was born and my love for it has grown right along with my children. It brings me a lot of joy to be able to photograph my boys while they explore our small little corner of the world. It feeds my need for creativity as well as capturing some amazing memories for them.

You can find more from Angie in the following locations:
Instagram: @angiewarmingtonphoto
Facebook: @angiewarmingtonphotos
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 of nature are immense and while it’s never easy to get outside and explore with a medically-complex child, it’s almost always worth it. Today, we have Creative Team member Meghan Garriott, Illinois mom of two, here sharing her story of how their family gets outside with a medically-complex child and how nature has been beneficial for the whole family.

Difficulties of caring for medically complex kids

Caring for a medically complex child can be stressful and isolating. Parents and caregivers often experience intense emotional stress as they navigate their child’s medical condition. Witnessing a child’s pain, discomfort, or limitations can be emotionally draining. Medical care for complex conditions can be physically demanding. Administering medications, managing medical equipment, and assisting with activities of daily living can take a toll on caregivers’ physical well-being. It also requires a significant time commitment. Frequent doctor appointments, therapies, and hospital stays can disrupt daily routines and limit caregivers’ availability for other responsibilities. Plus, the costs associated with medical care, treatments, therapies, and specialized equipment can place a significant financial burden on families.

However, despite these challenges, caregivers of medically complex children also exhibit immense resilience, dedication, and love. Seeking out support networks, accessing respite care, prioritizing self-care, and spending time outside are important strategies to help caregivers cope with the difficulties they face.

The benefits of getting outdoors

The benefits of getting kids outside have been well documented, and the same applies to medically-complex kids. Fresh air, natural light, and physical activity can help enhance their overall well-being, strengthen muscles, and boost immune function. Being in nature can help reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, which is especially important for children dealing with medical challenges.

Medically-complex children often have limited social interactions due to their conditions. Outdoor activities can provide a platform for them to interact with family members and other children, improving their social skills and emotional well-being.

Nature also provides a rich sensory environment that can be particularly valuable for children with medical complexities. Different textures, sounds, smells, and sights in the outdoors can help stimulate their senses and promote cognitive development. Medically-complex children can engage in various activities that stimulate their curiosity and cognitive abilities. They can learn about plants, animals, geography, and more, fostering intellectual growth.

Benefits for the entire family

Exploring the outdoors with medically-complex children is not only beneficial to the child but for the whole family. As a family, getting outside can help to reduce stress and increase physical activity for the whole family without a financial burden. Caring for a medically-complex child can be emotionally taxing. Spending time outdoors offers a reprieve from stress and caregiving responsibilities, allowing family members to recharge and rejuvenate.

Engaging in outdoor activities can promote a positive outlook on life. It’s a way to focus on what the child can do rather than their medical challenges, fostering a sense of optimism within the family. Outdoor activities provide quality family time away from the distractions of daily life. And sharing outdoor experiences creates lasting memories and strengthens family bonds.

Learning how to get outside with a medically-complex child

Learning when and how to introduce children to the natural world can be daunting. Understanding your limits as a caregiver and your child’s limits may be a slow process, but it will be well worth it. Understanding your own limits as a caregiver involves acknowledging your capabilities and resources.

No matter what you’re doing, it’s essential to prioritize safety at all times. Medically complex children may have specific medical needs or mobility challenges that need to be taken into account when exploring the outdoors. By recognizing your own limitations and seeking guidance when necessary, you can ensure that you’re well-prepared to handle any situation that might arise.

Every child is unique, and medically complex children often have varying levels of tolerance for different outdoor experiences. By taking the time to understand your child’s limits, you can tailor outdoor activities to match their comfort and abilities. This might involve starting with short and simple outings and gradually increasing the duration and complexity as your child becomes more accustomed to the natural world.

Introducing your child to the natural world doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. It’s a slow process that involves gradually exposing your child to different outdoor environments and activities. This allows them to adapt to new sensory experiences, sounds, and textures at a pace that feels comfortable for them. Here are some fun activities and tips my family has found throughout our journey with rare disease, bone marrow transplant, and isolation.

Get started in the backyard

Getting started adventuring outdoors with medically-complex children can be the hardest part. Where do you even begin and how do you know if it’s safe? There are a lot of precautions to take when exploring outdoors with medically-complex children, but the good news is that you don’t have to go far to enjoy some good quality outdoor time. Your own backyard is a great place to start while staying within your comfort zone. This is a great place to start that allows you the safety of home, combined with fresh air and sunshine.

Start a garden

One of our favorite backyard activities is gardening. Planting and weeding a garden is a simple and wonderful way for children to get outside and learn. Growing their own food, and being proud of their harvest, may help with picky eaters or those with food aversions to be more open to trying new things. As long as the dirt stays out of cuts or sores, it’s perfectly safe for kids to handle. You can use gloves, waterproof bandages or Tegaderm to help keep out dirt and germs when handling dirt. Letting kids pick out their own gardening gloves can get them excited for the job while also teaching them about safety.

Backyard fun

If the maintenance of a garden is too much for your little one, consider going outside each morning to stretch or do some yoga. Sit in the backyard on a blanket and read or listen to music. Watch the clouds drift by or have a picnic. These are simple ways to fit in that backyard outdoor time and get kids comfortable with nature in a safe environment.

Outdoors in your community

Exploring the outdoors with medically-complex children doesn’t mean you have to go deep into the woods or to exotic locations. If you are ready to get out and away from the house, but aren’t sure how to safely start, consider local parks.

Many community parks offer safe activities that don’t involve coming into contact with people. Going to the park at non-peak hours of the day will also help. Non-peak hours may differ depending on the time of year and where you live, so you may have to do a bit of research on this (or trial and error).

Explore local parks and trails

Most community parks have paved or gravel paths for walking or bike riding. Bike riding is a fun way for the whole family to get out and be active. If a child isn’t physically able to ride a typical bike, that’s not a problem!

Try asking a physical therapist or occupational therapist about adaptations that can be made to a bike to allow your child to ride. Enclosed bike trailers are also a good option for kids that can’t ride themselves or for longer/harder rides. This way they can still sit and enjoy the ride and nature all around them. Don’t forget the helmets no matter which option you choose.

Searching for wildlife

Observing wildlife is a great way to help your medically-complex child explore the outdoors get your kids interested in nature. When you’re outside, bring along a pair of binoculars and a journal for birdwatching and wildlife sighting. Have your children write down or draw a picture of the different birds that they see. Pick up field guides to help you identify birds, bugs and other local wildlife. For younger kids, turn this into a game to keep their attention and interest.

Some community parks have small ponds that are really fun for kids to explore and find wildlife. These ponds are great for searching for minnows, fish, tadpoles, frogs, and toads. There are also usually interesting birds and bugs around water. Remind your child to look but don’t touch and keep a safe distance from the water, if they can/shouldn’t swim or get wet.

Hiking with medically-complex kids

Hiking is one of our family’s favorite outdoor activities. Hiking with medically-complex kids involves a little more planning than the previously-mentioned activities, but it’s worth it. Many state and national parks have handicap-accessible trails that are great for medically-complex children. Check out this helpful like for info on national parks accessibility.

Paved paths make it easier to avoid bugs and poisonous plants. Knowing the types of trails that are available and their length is important when choosing a hike. Make sure to set realistic goals for both you and your child. Start on short flat paved (easy) trails to get a feel for how fast you can do them. Work up from there.

When preparing for the hike, long pants or socks are a must. A long sleeve shirt is also a good option if the temperature allows. While these items are good for kids in general, they’re especially important for medically complex children. Skin is the first defense against infection. You’ll want to protect your child’s skin from being cut by twigs or stones, getting bug bites or touched by poisonous leaves.

You’ll also want to avoid the crowds and the hottest time of day when hiking. Usually, the best time to go hiking while avoiding contact with others is in the early morning. After your hike, be sure to check for ticks, bites, scrapes, cuts and rashes. Treat immediately, if necessary.

Water activities

Water activities such as swimming, boating, and water sports can be a lot of fun for medically-complex kids when done safely, with certain precautions taken. However, lines like ports, central lines, and feeding tubes can make water activities more difficult.

When my son had his Broviac line, we used aqua guard for a while but found that Press ‘N Seal worked the best for keeping water away from his line. We simply wrapped it around the end, then wrapped it around his chest where the line entered him. Now we use Tegaderm to cover infusion sites and small abrasions to keep dirty water from causing infections.

Unfortunately, lakes and rivers aren’t always the cleanest or safest for medically-complex kids. You’ll want to be cleared by your doctor before participating in any water activities, just to be on the safe side.

Talk to your doctor about new things

Don’t be scared to ask your doctor if you can try new things outdoors with a medically-complex child. I assumed that swimming in a lake would be a hard NO for my son after his bone marrow transplant. I asked his doctor if he would be allowed to swim and surprisingly (at two years post-transplant), his doctor said YES!

He was allowed to swim in the lake as long as he understood the importance of not drinking the water. We definitely talked to him about this and stressed the importance. Now, swimming in the lake is one of my son’s favorite activities and it keeps him very active! I’m so glad we asked about it!

Sprinklers and splash pads

Sprinklers and splash pads are other fun places to visit to enjoy some water fun. Most splash pads are handicapped accessible or have accessible activities. As with other activities try to go at non-peak times to avoid crowds and the high heat of the day. Also, try calling the park to see if they allow private rentals or have certain dedicated hours for disabled or medically-complex kids.

If you don’t have access to a splash pad, you can turn on the sprinkler in your yard and let the kids run and play with the water. Sometimes, something as simple as a sprinkler will bring your kids hours of fun and enjoyment!

Activities around water (but not in it)

Exploring the outdoors with medically-complex children doesn’t mean you have to get wet and dirty. There are so many activities that can be done around water without jumping in. Fishing is a fun activity that can be great for kids of all ages. Depending on where you live, fishing can be done all year round in any number of locations. You can fish off a boat, the bank, or a dock. Some places require a fishing license for adults but most do not for kids.

Birdwatching and rock skipping are also fun active activities to consider if you are near the water. When visiting the ocean/beach, don’t let the sand slow you down. There are all-terrain stabilizer tips that can be placed on the ends of walkers, crutches, and canes to make walking on sand easier. You can find these at most medical equipment stores or even Amazon. There are also places that will allow you to rent wheelchairs that go on sand!

What to bring when adventuring with a medically-complex child

Before setting out on your adventure outdoors with medically-complex children, make a list of all the things you need to bring the night before your outing. Medically-complex kids can need quite a few things that aren’t on your typical outdoor adventure list. On the day of, make sure you check everything off that list. If you will be bringing medicine, injections, or feeds, try to have them pre-portioned and ready to administer. This way, it can be done easily while you were out and about.

Bring a cooler. Not only for water but so that you can keep medicines in there too. Diaper bags that have built-in coolers or insulated bags work best for us. Set your alarms so you don’t miss a medication time. When you are out and about, time seems to move differently than when you are at home on your own schedule. Set alarms to remind you when to give medicines or feeds.

Lastly, bring some extras of everything – extra bandages, extra Tegaderm, extra socks, extra clothes, extra snacks. Whatever you may need, having extra is a great way to ensure peace of mind for parents and makes your outing more enjoyable when you’re not stressed about time or not having everything you need.

Climate-controlled learning about nature

If you are interested in teaching your child about nature but aren’t ready to go out in it, there are still options. Give your local conservation office or nature preserve area a call. Most of these offices will allow you to have a private tour when you explain your individual circumstances. Both of our local conservation offices have large bird-viewing windows. These are great because they allow you to sit inside in a controlled environment and still enjoy nature and wildlife.

A lot of small local nature centers also have injured or rehabilitating animals that they use for demonstration and teaching. These animals can include birds, turtles, lizards, snakes, and small mammals. Many nature centers will bring these out so that kids can see wildlife up close in a safe environment. Permanently disabled or rehabilitating animals are also a great way to teach children about their own disabilities and how to adapt and thrive.

Gettting outside helps the entire family

Having a medically-complex child with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or rare disease can be stressful. Isolation from people for health reasons doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Sometimes, it just takes a little extra planning, some accommodation (and compromise), and some practice to keep the fun going.

Getting outdoors and enjoying nature has been proven to decrease stress, increase happiness, and improve children’s development. Outdoor adventures can teach children not to put limits on themselves or their abilities.

Exploring the outdoors is not only safe, but it’s a great way for the whole family to learn and grow together.

How do you explore the outdoors with a medically-complex child?

About the author

Meghan is a country-living mom of 2 boys in rural central Illinois. She is a Physical Therapist Assistant by trade but spends most of her time outside with her family. At home, she has large flower, herb, and vegetable gardens to tend and 3 large dogs to play with. As a family, they enjoy hiking, camping, boating, fishing, and helping their in-laws show and raise livestock. Photography became a hobby while in isolation after her oldest son’s bone marrow transplant. It has since become a passion to capture her family’s daily life. Throughout her family’s journey with rare disease and transplant, the outdoors has been a safe space for the whole family to grow, learn, and thrive.

You can find more from Meghan online in the following locations:
Instagram: @meghangarriott
FAMILY TRAVEL, HIKE, NATIONAL PARKS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER
Exploring Capitol Reef National Park with Kids
- July 3, 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 mom of 2, here with everything you need to know about exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids.

Exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids

Our family loves exploring national parks. However, one big problem with national parks is that they’re usually huge and have so many neat places to explore. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you are anything like me, the list of things to do and places to see can be daunting and overwhelming when trying to plan your adventure. This is especially true when you factor in planning a trip that accommodates the needs and desires of small children. Never fear! I’ve got your back. I’m here to share everything you need to know to plan a successful, family-friendly weekend adventure exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids.

Capitol Reef kid-friendly hiking trails

There are numerous hiking opportunities at Capitol Reef. The options can feel overwhelming if you don’t know much about the area. Here are a couple of kid-friendly hiking trails in Capitol Reef that are easy to squeeze into an adventure-packed weekend in the park.

Sulphur Creek Waterfall Trail

Sulphur Creek Waterfall Trail in Capitol Reef National Park is a 1.8-mile round trip hike. It’s easy and, while it is a full sun hike, it’s a really great way to beat the heat! The trail begins right behind the visitor center and follows the shallow Sulphur Creek as it meanders through red rock canyons. We walked in the creek almost the entire time. The water helped keep us nice and cool.

If that isn’t amazing enough, it ends at a large swimming hole and small waterfall. The swimming hole is murky brown because of the red clay bottom. The water temperature is perfect! There is just something surreal and wondrous about taking a dip surrounded by the lovely red rock canyon walls. The best part? Even if you don’t make it to the waterfall and swimming hole, you and your little hikers can still play in the creek and enjoy the amazing views.

Hickman Bridge Trail

Hickman Bridge Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Capitol Reef National Park. If you are looking to avoid crowds, this one may not be for your family. Full disclosure, this 1.8-mile round trip hike is in full sun and has some elevation gain that is sure to tire little legs. If you’re up for it, I recommend hiking this one in the morning, when the temperatures are cooler.

The trail does offer stunning views, such as the ruins of a granary and the foundation of a pithouse used by the Fremont Culture, as well as the smaller Nels Johnson Bridge. If you, like our family and many overly ambitious parents before you, attempt this hike and find you aren’t up for finishing it, just know you are not alone!

Gooseneck Overlook

This .2 mile round trip hike (yes, you read that right), is at the end of a washboard dirt road. If you and your vehicle are up for the bumpy ride, the overlook is beautiful. We even saw an adorable snake chasing a lizard, which obviously captivated the children more than the beautiful view.

Capitol Reef kid-friendly activities

There are lots of other kid-friendly activities to do at the park besides hike. These are the experiences that really make Capitol Reef distinct from the other nearby national parks. They really add that extra something special.

Fruit picking in historic pioneer orchards

Yes, that is correct! There are fruit trees in the historic town of Fruita. You are able to meander through them and pick fruit to your heart’s content. They have apricots, cherries, apples, mulberries, plums, peaches, walnuts, and more. They bag and charge for what you leave the orchard with, so be prepared with cash. Check the Capitol Reef website to find out which fruit is ripe for the picking when you go, because orchards are notoriously finicky. Avoid my mistake and speak with a ranger or call ahead to double-check which fruit is available. We went in early June and nothing was ready yet. My kids were expecting a fruit picking experience and it was unfortunate to have it end up being unavailable.

Pies at Gifford House

Nothing lifts people’s spirits quite like pie, right? If you do happen to follow in my footsteps and the orchards are not available, grab a fruit pie at Gifford House! Gifford House is a restored Mormon pioneer house that operates as a small storefront. Inside the store, you’ll find delicious fresh-baked pies, cinnamon rolls, sourdough bread, homemade ice cream, replicas of items pioneers would use in daily life, and more. Once you purchase your pie (or various other goodies), there is a lovely grass area right out front where you can sit and enjoy your treats while taking in the spectacular red rock walls.

Be on the lookout for marmots

Have you ever seen a marmot? I realize marmots are not just in Capitol Reef National Park, but we’d never seen them before. These adorable little creatures inhabit the area of Fruita. There are signs along the Capitol Reef Scenic Drive warning of their frequent road crossing. If you happen to see one, count yourself lucky. Plus, a sighting may also lend itself nicely to learning more about the chunky little creatures.

Capitol Reef Scenic Drive

If your little hikers are tired of all the walking, or if it’s too hot to be outside, consider a driving tour of the park. The Capitol Reef Scenic Drive is a sixteen-mile round-trip drive and is absolutely stunning. It offers a lot of different views of the park and all the areas. Not to mention, there are weather permitting offshoot dirt roads you can venture down and explore. Capitol Gorge Road and the highly recommended Grand Wash Road meander through tall rock canyon walls and provide more beautiful views. Even if you skip the detours, the drive is lovely and has pull outs for you to stop and take photos or just linger to soak in the views.

Earn a Junior Ranger badge

The chance to earn a Junior Ranger badge is available at almost all national parks and is a great way to round out your trip. With my kids, this experience always adds some additional fun (and learning) to our park adventures. The Junior Ranger booklets are chock-full of information about the park, including geology, plants, animals, Leave No Trace practices, and the former peoples and cultures to inhabit the land.

As part of the Junior Ranger program in Capitol Reef, you must attend a ranger talk. There are so many amazing options, including bats, geology, the Fremont culture, and more. Plus, if you turn in your completed booklets, you get a badge and sworn in as a Junior Ranger. If your little ones are like mine and struggle with the end of a trip, the swearing-in process is a wonderful send-off and makes leaving a little easier for everyone.

Explore the cultures at Capitol Reef National Park

One of my favorite things about national parks is how they try to incorporate information about the cultures and people that inhabited the land before it became federally protected land. Here are a couple of kid-friendly activities and options to incorporate cultural learning and bring awareness to your adventures at Capitol Reef.

Explore the historic town of Fruita

If you have time, Fuita is a little pioneer town full of buildings to explore and things to see. An old-school house, a barn, Gifford House (as mentioned above), a nature center (which due to Covid-19 we were unable to explore), and more. There are signs to provide some information about each building too. I found it really neat to share with my children how the Fremont people lived in the area before the Mormon pioneers and how each culture was different. I am a total history nerd and very much enjoy learning these types of things.

Petroglyph Point

Petroglyph Point is a short trail right off the main road. This is such a lovely stop and I highly recommend it. There are several spots to view the petroglyphs created by the Fremont culture and some are in amazing shape. My little ones tried to guess what each symbol meant and we looked them up later in a petroglyph handbook we picked up at the visitor center.

Capitol Reef National Park resources

There are so many amazing things to do while exploring Capitol Reef National Park with kids. This is a small list of all the amazing things Capitol Reef has to offer. The Capitol Reef website provides a variety of other options, and even has a section for visiting with children.

Looking for some more information to make your trip the best it can be? Read up here for some more tips from Run Wild My Child.
- A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids
- Hiking With a Toddler
What’s your favorite place to explore in Capitol Reef National Park?

About the author

Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snail. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can. As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.

You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
Instagram: @familyinwanderland
Website: http://www.familyinwanderland.com
Facebook: @familyinwanderland
HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PHOTOGRAPHY
Tips for Photographing Family Hikes
- April 29, 2020
Hiking is one of our family’s favorite ways to spend time together outdoors. Along with our traditional outdoor hiking gear (backpack, water, snacks, etc.), I always bring my camera along to document our adventure. Some of my favorite photographs of my kids are from family hikes, as they explore and play. Today, we have the amazingly talented Kristen Ryan, Oklahoma mom of 2 and photographer extraordinaire, here to give us some tips, tricks, and advice for photographing family hikes. Whether you’re shooting with a big fancy camera or your iPhone, these tips will help you capture some incredible moments outdoors with your kids and take your hiking photography to the next level.

Hiking with kids
Setting out on a hike with the family can be a great way to get outdoors and explore together. It can be a way of getting exercise while also enjoying some great views. Sometimes we need to get a little creative to keep the little ones enjoying the moment and pushing forward, there are so many fun activities to keep kids entertained and engaged while hiking. The Run Wild My Child website has some great resources for doing just that, check out some of these great articles:
Family hiking photography tips

When it comes to taking hiking photos, sometimes it’s at the top of my to-do list and sometimes it takes a back seat to just keeping my kids going. Hiking with kids tends to be all over the place and you never know what each day and hike will bring. I try to keep my expectations low and go into our hike armed with my camera, but willing to wait for the right moment. Today, I want to share with you some tips for easily capturing beautiful photos from the day and still allowing everyone to enjoy the hike uninterrupted.

1. Let everyone forget you have a camera

If your family is like mine, they don’t want to have to keep stopping for photo ops. In fact, the more you ask for pictures the less likely they will be willing to pose for you. My way to work around this is by letting them forget I have a camera. I try to set myself up for candid photos so that they don’t have to be moved or directed or interrupted from what they’re doing.

To get the shot I want without interrupting, I will pause a moment on a winding trail and wait for them to spread out along the turn to capture them in a line. If they stop to enjoy a view I will make sure I’m ready to capture the moment quickly before enjoying it with them. I will run up a little further on the trail to be ready for them to pass by then join in at the tail. My family is much more tolerant of my photo-taking if they don’t have to be interrupted during their hike.

2. Take advantage of the breaks

The next best trick for capturing great family hiking photos is to take advantage of your breaks. Need to stop for a water break or did you find a beautiful view? Use these pauses to capture the full scene. If we find a beautiful view I love to stop and take a water break at these spots. It gives the kids a moment to rest and it gives me some time to capture the beautiful surroundings as they enjoy and explore. I will have the kids sit in a safe spot where they can sit and have a drink and I will walk around them snapping a few photos with the beautiful scenery in the background.

3. Use nature as a leading line to your subject

Getting a great family hiking shot is all about the perspective and the angles. You can change so much just by changing your own position or using the natural elements around you to frame your subject. There are lots of opportunities to do this when you’re hiking. I just love how nature can so easily frame my subjects and that trails make great leading lines. Using natural elements is an easy way to draw your eye straight to your family even with a busy background.

When capturing your family, let the trail be a natural leading line through your photograph. I love to get low and allow the trail to guide my viewer’s eye through the frame right to my family and the story I’m wanting to tell. If you are in a tree-covered trail, try using branches and logs to help to frame your subjects. When having a scene full of similar colors and patterns, your family will stand out among the crowd just by contrast.

4. Stand out with color

Another way to get great photos of your family hikes is to have them stand out from the background. I don’t mean physically, but visually, with bright pops of color. This takes a little forethought, but it can be really helpful in photos. When we’re getting ready to go hiking, I try to keep my kids in bright solid colors. This helps them stand out a bit from the trees and bushes along the trails and brings your eye to them in a photograph. It is also a bonus when my kids like to run further up along the trail away from me. They still stand out and helps me to keep an eye on them while also giving them some freedom. This lets them enjoy the hike even more, because they feel like they are in charge of it.

5. Let them climb

If your kids are like mine, then they love to climb. They’re fearless and I sometimes have to regulate what they want to take on. 🙂 But climbing, even the smallest of rocks, is actually a great photo opportunity. I love it when we come across a place for them to try it. This is another great way to get them to stand out from the background and set them apart from the scene. You can do this by allowing them to get higher than the horizon. This doesn’t necessarily mean letting them go rock climbing up a cliff, but even a small little hill or boulder will do the trick.

You can make any hill or incline look much bigger by bringing your camera all the way to the ground and tilting your camera up to them. This will bring your horizon line down and make them appear higher. It also makes them stand out from the background! This is a great family hiking photography tip because they’ll be so proud of themselves and impressed when you show them the photo later.
Family hiking photography

I hope these tips and tricks will inspire you to get outside and go for a hike with your family. Don’t forget to take your camera along and try taking some images of your kids while you’re out and about. Not only will you capture moments in time you’ll want to remember forever, but you will get a little better with your photography skills with every photo you take! So grab your camera and hit the trails!

More photography resources

If you’re interested in more photography resources, download our FREE guide with our best tips and tricks for taking better photos of your kids’ outdoor adventures with the camera on your PHONE! From creative composition tips to our favorite editing apps, this guide includes everything you need to know to make the most out of the camera in your pocket!

Do you take photos of your family hikes?

About the author

Hello, I am Kristen. I am a wife and mother to two kids and three dogs. We love to be outside as much as we can. Our family loves to go camping together and have made it a goal to visit all of the Oklahoma state parks. We are over halfway there! I am a hobbyist photographer who enjoys documenting my family in creative ways. You can find me on Instagram at @kristcx.
BEACH, BIKE, CRAFTS, GARDENING, GOOD FOR NATURE, HIKE, HOLIDAYS, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SPRING, WATER
15+ Activities to Celebrate Earth Day with Kids
- April 14, 2020
Earth Day is next week and the world needs you and your actions! There are so many things parents and kids can do to help protect, preserve and restore our planet – from cleaning up, to recycling, composting, planting a garden or just enjoying the beauty of nature! Today, we have Chelsea Furlong (professional photographer and eco-conscious mom of 2) here with 15+ eco-friendly activities kids and families can do together to celebrate Earth Day. And bonus that all these activities can be done at or around the home, while socially distancing.

15+ Earth Day Activities With Kids

Earth Day 2020

April 22, 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. On that historical day, 20 million Americans filled the streets with protests to stop the destruction of our precious planet. This essentially started what became the planet’s largest civic event and an environmental movement. Since then, Earth Day has been celebrated annually worldwide on the 22nd day of April.

While this year is a bit of an anomaly and we’ll have to celebrate at (or close to) home and away from others (no marches or protests this year), there’s no reason why this can’t be the best Earth Day celebration ever! Use this as a way to avoid shopping/purchasing anything new (especially plastics) and use what you’ve already got on hand in new ways. Get creative and make the most out of the things you already own or can find in nature close to home.

Celebrating Earth Day with kids

Getting kids involved in taking care of the planet when they’re young encourages them to continue the tradition as they get older. It’s a parent’s job to teach kids to be good stewards of the earth encourages them to love and respect their planet and nature. There are so many amazing ways you can celebrate this day with your kids and family while being conscious of your carbon footprint. Here are some of my favorites!

1. Nature scavenger hunt

Make a list of things found in nature around your home, neighborhood or a local park. Then go out for a walk or hike with the family and see how many items you can find. In order to save paper, you could make the list on your phone or a reusable dry erase board or reusable writing board. We love our Boogie Board writing tablets for things like this!

2. Neighborhood clean up

Grab some gloves and garbage bags and beautify your neighborhood by removing all the trash humans have tossed around. My kids actually love doing this because they almost always find treasures they want to clean up and keep. Our oldest son keeps a whole lot of other people’s discarded items to use in creating art and sculptures, and we don’t mind one bit! We get to enjoy his creative mind while giving the trash a second life before it’s tossed into a landfill for decades, centuries, or possibly forever.

3. Family bike ride

Going on a family bike ride is a great way to get the family outside enjoying what Mother Earth has to offer while being active and adventurous! Head to your favorite bike trail or try a new one. You can enjoy your town or city without polluting the air and you’ll feel so great afterward!

4. Get out on the water

Spend the day observing nature from the water. Instead of using something motorized, try a kayak, rowboat, stand-up paddleboard, or other pollution-free water vehicle.

5. Make a bird feeder

There are TONS of ways to DIY a bird feeder using recycled materials. We made bird feeders using recycled toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks, and even pine cones! We have a great post on making ec0-friendly bird feeders with kids using materials you already have at home! No need to leave the house!

6. Practice Earth Day yoga

My kids love doing yoga! Celebrate Earth Day with kids by doing a special outdoor kid-friendly yoga session. Stand barefoot in the grass so you can feel the earth under your feet and are grounded. Breathe in the fresh air and feel the sunshine and wind on your skin. You can pick some earth and animal-related poses to do. Tree, turtle, butterfly, lotus, and frog are some of my children’s’ favorite yoga poses.

7. Make seed bombs or seed paper

Another great activity to celebrate Earth Day with kids is to make seed bombs (with clay) or seed paper using recycled paper scraps you have lying around the house or in your recycling bin! You can bomb an area in your yard or neighborhood and see how they grow over the spring. Or give them out as gifts to friends or leave them on a neighbor’s doorstep as an Earth Day present. Feel free to use my seed paper valentine instructions as a guide, with a few swaps. Change the color (to blue/green) and shape (to a circle like the Earth) to match the Earth Day theme.

8. Start a garden

Kids love playing in dirt! Have them help you make a family garden. You can plant a flower garden or edible garden, and work together to take care of the plants. If you don’t have a lot of space or live in a city, you can always do a potted garden or patio garden! We don’t have a lot of space to plant edibles where we live, but we still try to grow some herbs and vegetables every year using pots and containers. Here are some recommendations for easy vegetables to grow with kids and a great post on how to make gardening enjoyable for kids.

Eco Tip: Be sure to buy the pots/containers pre-loved at a thrift store or from someone else!

9. Plant a tree

There’s no better time than Earth Day to plant a tree! Spring is a great time to plant and Earth Day is a great reason. Pick a special spot to plant a family tree that you all can visit for years to come! If you plant a fruit tree, you’ll also have the added benefit of beautiful blossoms and fruit you can enjoy once your tree is mature.

10. Make earth art

Doing an art project is always a fun way to celebrate and document any holiday. Making art from natural materials is so much fun to create. Plus, there’s a fun added benefit in that other people will find joy when they come across your artwork! You can use any kind of materials you find in nature to create a masterpiece on the ground. We like to use shells, sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, petals, nuts and sand.

11. Start composting

Starting a compost is something that has been on my list to do for years now and I think Earth Day is when we’ll start! My oldest son has been bringing me food scraps daily, asking to put it in a compost instead of the garbage. I promised him we would do some research and begin one soon. We don’t live in a rural area and don’t have much of a backyard space so our compost will need to be small. However, there are plenty of great options for composting in small spaces and in the city! A friend uses this composting tumbler in their backyard and adds the finished compost to their flower beds. You could research composting with your kids and start this year, too! And when you start your compost project, make sure to include a few bins for little hands so the kids can help out, too!

12. Have a picnic

A great way to get outside and enjoy nature is by having a picnic. You can have a picnic inside or outside! But be sure to keep it earth friendly by:
- packing your picnic in reusable containers,
- bringing reusable utensils/straws/water bottles, and
- bringing cloth napkins/hand towels.
Bonus: Try to reduce your picnic carbon footprint by preparing a vegan meal!

13. Take a hike

One of our favorite outdoor activities is hiking. Hiking always inspires us to take care of our beautiful planet by reminding us just how impressive nature can be! This year, if you can safely get out to a place away from others, take a fun Earth Day celebratory hike. Bring along a bag to pick up any trash/litter you see and some binoculars to do some birding while you’re out!

14. Make nature crowns

Nature crowns are a really fun and easy craft you can make and wear in celebration of Earth Day! No need to buy anything, just use whatever you can find in nature. You can make nature crowns out of just about anything – flowers, grasses, clover, vines, sticks, dandelions or wildflowers! Be creative and have fun with it!

15. Make nature paint brushes

Head out on a nature walk and collect different materials to use as paintbrushes! Pick up things like sticks, leaves, long blades of grass, flowers, etc. Take them home and dip them in paint to make a family piece of artwork to hang up forever. It’s a great way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. You’ll be able to look at the art you made and remember the time you spent with your children for years to come.

16. Earth Day puppet show

Another fun way to celebrate Earth Day with kids is to make puppets with materials from your recycling bin. Or, you could make sock puppets from all those single socks you have lying around! You can have your children do some research online or read some books about ways to protect our planet. Then they can share what they’ve learned by putting on a puppet show! This is also an amazing activity to share with family and friends on FaceTime or other video chatting app during quarantine. You don’t have to leave your house and you can bring some joy to others in isolation from a safe distance!

17. Make sculptures, art, or robots using items in your recycling bin

My kids love making art from trash! It gives those items one more life before they get tossed into the recycling bin or trash can. Use materials you would normally throw away or recycle and repurpose them into art, a sculpture or a robot (or a monster or an alien or anything!). Let them paint and decorate their creation. Display it proudly!

18. Build a fort

Another great way to celebrate Earth Day is to head out into the woods with your family and make a fort together! Use materials found on the ground to design a shelter. (Do NOT take down anything alive! I’m sure you’ll have plenty of options that are no longer alive and that have fallen to the ground without the help of humans!) You could have a picnic inside your fort, read some books, or just sit in the quiet and observe Earth’s gifts surrounding you.

How will you celebrate Earth Day with your family?

About the author

Hi there, I’m Chelsea! I’m a photographer, mother of two busy boys, and sunshine and fresh air addict. We live in Virginia Beach and spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can! We spend most of our time exploring the beach, inlets, and nature trails nearby. Our family loves biking, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, building forts, and playing in the sand! During the warm months, you can find us enjoying the Chesapeake Bay almost every night until long after the sun goes down. We’re doing our best to reduce our carbon footprint and always try to leave every trail cleaner than it was when we arrived.

You can find Chelsea online in the following locations:
Instagram: @dimples.and.the.blonde
Client work: @chelsea.lyn.photography
Website: dimplesandtheblonde.com
RWMC posts: Chelsea Furlong
FAVORITE GEAR, HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Hiking With A Toddler
- January 27, 2020
Hiking with kids of any age is always an adventure. But, hiking with a toddler (age 1-3) presents its own set of unique challenges and obstacles. However, we believe that hiking with our kids, even in those difficult toddler years, is incredibly beneficial, rewarding and (dare we say) fun! Whether you’re hiking in national parks or on local trails close to home, making the extra effort to go hiking with a toddler is worth it and sets your family up for years of amazing adventures together. We’re here to help you get started and answer all your questions about hiking with toddlers.

How to go hiking with a toddler

Hiking has always been a favorite activity for our family. Long before we had kids, my husband and I loved to hike together. We like challenging ourselves, discovering new places, and that feeling of getting immersed in nature. Once we had kids, we didn’t want our adventures to end and decided to bring the baby on hikes with us. At first, we stuck to trails close to home and used a baby carrier. It slowed us down a little, but we didn’t mind. He slept in the carrier or happily took in the sights, kicking and cooing along the way. But then, he turned into a toddler and everything changed!

Toddlers have a mind of their own. They’re often assertive and stubborn, opinionated and demanding. They’re learning what they like and how to assert their independence. These are good things, but they can certainly make any activity much more difficult. After three kids (the youngest still squarely in the toddler years), we’ve learned how to hike with a toddler so that it’s enjoyable for everyone. In this post, we’re sharing our top tips and tricks for hiking with toddlers.

Choose the right trail

Choosing the right trail for your toddler is half the battle. Before you attempt a hike with kids, you’ll need to do a bit of homework to make sure the trail is safe, not too long and enjoyable for the little ones. Be realistic about what kind of hikes you can do with a toddler and what is safe/best for your little hiker. Not only consider the length of the trail, but make sure the hike’s not too steep or has lots of uneven terrain. Stay away from unprotected sheer cliffs, mud, swift rivers, etc. For your first few hikes with your toddler, try a short flat paved trail. As your kids get older and more experienced, you can add tougher and longer trails to your hiking adventures.

If you’re not familiar with the trails in your area, there are plenty of resources where you can ask questions and find answers. Travel guides and local websites are great. The AllTrails app is also very helpful and provides information such as trail length, elevation and difficulty. Plus, there are detailed maps and you can search your area for “kid-friendly” trails. If you’re hiking in national or state parks, ask the rangers and park employees for advice and recommendations for appropriate trails.

Dress for the occasion

When hiking with a toddler, make sure you dress them in appropriate clothing for the season and weather. If you’re hiking in the winter, we recommend layers. Start with a warm base layer, then add on from there. Your toddler may get warm if she’s running around, hiking on her own and playing. At this point, you can remove layers so she’s comfortable. However, if she gets tired and needs to be carried, she may cool off and need to put the layers back on. For winter hiking with a toddler, we also recommend a warm hat that covers ears, mittens, wool socks, and waterproof shoes. Toddlers can’t resist a good mud puddle and nothing will ruin a hike quicker than cold wet feet!

Shoes matter

Speaking of the proper shoes, they matter when hiking. Toddlers in particular benefit from wearing proper shoes when hiking. We know it may seem like a waste of money to buy hiking shoes for toddlers when they’ll outgrow them in a few months. However, sturdy shoes with good treads are essential for a successful hike. Cold feet, uncomfortable shoes or blisters will kill a child’s enthusiasm for hiking.

For winter hiking with kids, we love the waterproof and insulated boots from See Kai Run. They’re seam-sealed and waterproof, with thermoplastic rubbles soles for maximum grip on wet and snowy terrain. They have a 3M Thinsulate thermal lining to keep feet extra warm in cold weather. Because of the thicker lining, we recommend sizing up at least one full size (or even 2 sizes) for a proper fit with thick socks, allowing extra wiggle room for toes.

When investing in good outdoor gear for kids, we also recommend buying gender-neutral gear, so that you can hand down gear and clothing among siblings without issue. This has saved us a lot over the years, as kids tend to outgrow seasonal gear much quicker than they can wear it out. Particularly when you get good high-quality products like these See Kai Run boots.

Invest in a good backpack or carrier

And since we’re talking about gear, we also recommend bringing along a quality backpack carrier when hiking with toddlers. Very rarely will a toddler be able to finish a hike completely on their own. At some point, you’re probably going to have to carry him. When this inevitably happens, you’ll be super grateful for that carrier or hiking backpack.

When just getting started hiking with a toddler, we started out using the ErgoBaby carrier. For short hikes with small kids, this worked out great. However, as our toddler got a bit bigger and our hikes got longer, we upgraded to a structured hiking backpack. There are lots of options out there for quality hiking backpacks and you should definitely try a few of them out at the store to decide which one you like. We highly recommend the Osprey Poco AG carrier. It’s got an anti-gravity suspension system with a lightweight aluminum frame and a mesh harness and back panel to keep you cool and comfortable.

Make your toddler walk

While carriers are great, make sure you let your toddler down to walk and explore as much as they can! One of the best things about hiking with a toddler is watching them explore the area around them. For kids, hiking is less about getting somewhere than having fun and playing along the way. The more your toddler can walk/hike on their own, the stronger they get and longer they’ll be able to go the next time. And if you don’t rush them or force them down the trail at your speed, they’ll be much more excited about your next hike.

Pack a bag

When hiking with a toddler, you need to make sure you bring all the proper and necessary supplies for a successful trip. You’ll not only need to pack hiking supplies, but you’ll need regular “toddler supplies” like diapers, wipes, etc. Here’s what we usually pack in our bag when hiking with a toddler:
- Water (we really like these water bottles for kids)
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Snacks (see below)
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Bug spray
- Phone
- Plastic bag (for hauling out trash and/or dirty diapers)
- First-Aid kit (band-aids, tweezers, etc.) (hiking safety tips)
If your toddler is strong-willed and independent (aren’t they all?), try giving them their own small backpack to carry. Not only will they love feeling helpful and grown-up, but it’ll lighten your load. Put a few of your child’s essentials in their backpack, along with a small toy or lovely. Keep it small and light – you can add more once your toddler gets bigger and stronger. Pack the bag together so that your child figures out what he/she needs for hiking, knows where it is and will know what to pack for future hikes. This is also great for when your toddler finds a particular rock or leaf they love and can’t live without. If she wants it, she has to carry it!

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

Pro tip: Keep additional snacks, water and a full change of clothes in the vehicle for the return. You don’t want to carry it all, but there’s a good chance they’ll be wet/muddy/thirsty/hungry when you return to the car.

Don’t skimp on the snacks

You should never underestimate the power of snacks for a toddler! Just the word is magic and can get a toddler to do just about anything. When hiking with toddlers, use snacks strategically and wisely. Bring along some fun snacks that you normally give them. That way, when they need a little extra motivation, energy or excitement, you’ve got something special. Also, if they absolutely LOVE hiking snacks, they’re going to be much more willing to go hiking again! Stop often for snacks along the way and again when you get to your destination. That’s a good place to have a bigger snack or even lunch.

Some snack ideas my toddlers have loved are apple sauce pouches, yogurt melts, granola bars, fruit snacks or roll-ups, freeze-dried strawberries, pretzels, crackers with peanut butter, frozen grapes, apple slices with caramel sauce, cereal, bananas, Goldfish, trail mix, mixed nuts, granola, etc.

Play games

My kids love exploring the area around us when we hike, but when they (inevitably) get bored or need some extra motivation, we play games as we hike. Fun games have the ability to turn a boring monotonous activity (walking on a trail) into a fun adventure. You don’t need anything other than your imagination to come up with a fun hiking game.

Here’s a list of a few of our favorites:
- Follow the Leader – Young kids and toddlers really love Follow the Leader. We all take turns being the leader on the trail and everyone behind the leader has to do what he/she does. The leader chooses to do things like walking backward, whistling a song, skipping, weaving like a snake, flying like a bird, grapevine walking, hopping, etc.
- I Spy – We take turns “spying” something and give a clue (“I spy something yellow. I spy something that’s triangular.”) The person who spies the correct thing goes next.
- Scavenger hunt – Scavenger hunts are really fun for kids of all ages to play and work great on hikes. You can either print off a list/pictures of things you want the kids to look for on their hike or just tell them. Set them up for success by making sure the things on the list will be present on your hike. Include some hard and some easy to find items. They can be specific items (find a bee, red flower, mud puddle) or more abstract (find something soft, something that makes noise).
- Alphabet game – If you have older kids that know how to spell, you can go through the alphabet and try to find something that begins with each letter. A is for aspen tree. B is for branch. C is for caterpillar.
- Timed trials – Never underestimate the power of a timer for toddlers. They are all about doing things fast and faster. If your toddler’s having trouble getting down the trail, tell her that you’ll time how long it takes for her to get to the next bench/stump/marker. Then pick the next thing and try to see if she can beat her time! You may even end up with a record-breaking hike!
Geocaching

If you have a smartphone with you, try geocaching on your hike! There are tons of fun caches hidden along trails that give kids an extra incentive to keep going and find treasure. We’ve got a great beginner’s guide to geocaching with kids post if you’ve never tried it.

Have a destination in mind

Going on hikes with a predetermined destination in mind gives kids a goal for the hike and helps keep them going. When hiking with toddlers, start with easy hikes that have a fun destination for them, like a creek to explore, a waterfall, a pond where they can skip rocks or a meadow where they can see cows.

If there’s not a natural destination on your hike, create one! You can do this by choosing a spot to call the destination before hitting the trail. When you get there, break out a picnic lunch or a special snack. Your “destination” can be just a place to stop and play for a while or having a treat! The destination doesn’t have to be anything fancy or super exciting, but just knowing that they have a goal and something to look forward to at the end (or mid-point) of their hike will help keep toddlers motivated to move.

Choose the right time

Consider your toddler’s schedule before planning any day hikes. Most toddlers need at least one (if not two) naps a day, plus lots of frequent small meals and snacks. Try to schedule hikes around your child’s schedule to prevent meltdowns, hangry tantrums and over-tiredness. Make sure to bring snacks and water to fuel your child. If your toddler gets too tired, try putting them in your carrier. Our little ones loved napping in the carrier on hikes, which lets the rest of us spend more time on the trails.

Tired and cranky toddlers are a force to reckon with and can ruin a perfectly lovely outing at the drop of a hat. Do you best to choose the right time to hike with your toddler, but know that meltdowns are going to eventually happen, no matter how much planning you do. Give yourself (and your little one) grace and patience. If your toddler melts down on the trail, do your best to calm her down and get back to your car. Don’t worry, it’s happened to all of us! Hang in there and try again another time.

Go slow & explore

Whether you’re hiking to a destination or if you’re just hiking for the fresh air and sunshine, make sure you go slow and let your toddler explore along the way. When my kids started hiking, sometimes it would take us an hour or more just to go half a mile. While this was initially frustrating to me, I learned to embrace the pace and take pleasure in hiking with kids. Consider the trail from their perspective and find joy in the reprieve from going 1000 mph.

Before you even leave your house, be prepared to go SLOW and take your time on the hike. Little kids love stopping along the way to look under rocks, find the perfect stick or throw rocks in a puddle. Setting yourself up for a very slow hike will keep you from getting frustrated or antsy. Be prepared for a million questions, a very slow pace and lots of stopping along the way. While going at your toddler’s pace won’t get you very far, it will do wonders for your child’s imagination and give you the chance to answer questions about nature and connect with him/her.

End with encouragement

At the end of your hike (and along the way), make sure to give your toddler praise for doing such a great job. Compliment their pace when keeping up. Praise them for things they find/spot along the way. Celebrate when they finish a hike, no matter how long it took. Making them feel like a million bucks when they finish a hike is a sure way to get them to want to do it again. Toddlers love praise and a sense of accomplishment. Be sure to tell them how proud you are of them, how hard they worked and how far they went.

Winter hiking with a toddler

Winter weather adds a whole new complexity to hiking with a toddler. Winter hiking can feel a bit harder than hiking in other seasons, just because of the added gear, layers and precautions you have to take. However, we highly encourage you to push through those, because winter hiking with kids is so incredibly beneficial to them. Not only will they get the fresh air, sunshine and exercise they need in these long dark winter months, but they’ll see things they can’t see any other time and hopefully (eventually) develop a love for all seasons for their unique personalities.

A few safety tips when winter hiking with a toddler: (1) keep an eye on the weather and be aware of winter warnings and advisories; (2) always tell someone where/when you’re going and when you’ll be back; (3) bring extra layers, extra gloves and extra socks; (4) take your fully-charged cell phone with you on hikes; and (5) warm treats on a cold hike are delicious! Consider packing a thermos of warm chicken noodle soup, oatmeal or hot apple cider.

What’s your best advice for hiking with a toddler?

* Photos by the amazingly talented Tiffany, mountain mama of three (+) from Texas. Find more of her gorgeous images at @dear.wildlings.
* For more tried, tested and practical info on this topic, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Hiking with Kids.