by John Soltys - For many of us, dogs are family. We celebrate their accomplishments, we fear for their safety, and we mourn their passing. And, just like we do with human children, we enjoy adventuring together. In many cases, it's dogs that begin our adventures in life and in the outdoors. Some of my earliest memories are about time spent as a child with the family dog in … [Read more...]
17 Outdoor Birthday Party Ideas For Fun In The Sun
by Lindsey Lebowitz - When I think of summer with my kids, I think of popsicles, running barefoot through the sprinkler, sun-kissed cheeks, and outdoor birthday parties. Both my kids’ birthdays fall in the summertime, and as an outdoor family, we enjoy celebrating outside. This year, I’ve gotten a head start on researching outdoor summer birthday party ideas. Varying among … [Read more...]
Outdoor Safety for Kids | An Outdoor Expert’s Essentials
by Jennifer Fontaine - Recent studies have revealed the benefit— perhaps even the necessity—of spending time outdoors. For both kids and adults, spending time in nature's great outdoor spaces makes us smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than those who spend more time indoors, and while it’s unclear exactly how the brain and mood improvements occur, there are a … [Read more...]
27 Best Fall Foliage Destinations To Visit In The USA
Fall is officially here. The time is here, to choose pumpkins for carving and start baking pies. The weather is tranquil and cool and that means you can pull out your comfy cozy sweaters and scarves, and zip up your favorite boots. But, the best part of autumn is Fall foliage. You don't have to travel far to experience America's awe-inspiring natural beauty. Check out our top … [Read more...]
An Outdoor Dad’s Tips For Raising Adventurous Girls
by John Soltys - As an outdoorsy father of two girls I'm often asked for tips about raising adventurous daughters. The implication is that girls are somehow inherently different than boys and require some special care to ensure they grow up loving or at least appreciating the outdoors. The truth is that when it comes to being adventurous, girls are no different than boys, … [Read more...]
Kids Walkie Talkies: 10 Best Under $50
by Stephanie Harper - Having the safety and comfort knowing your kids are doing great whether during a hike or on vacation is something as parents, we don’t take for granted. That’s why investing in a two-way radio system, aka walkie talkies, can be both a beneficial and fun way for kids to build their self-confidence and communication skills outdoors. Deciding which walkie … [Read more...]
18 Ways For Families To Get Outside This Summer
by Jennifer Fontaine - There's a great, big, awe-inspiring world out there just waiting to captivate, provoke, and intrigue our kids, all while making them healthier and happier. There is an ever-growing pile of evidence that tells us, time spent outside reduces stress, encourages cooperation, raises compassion, and has even been shown to improve focus, creative thought, and … [Read more...]
From Canada to Mexico: Father and daughter ride bicycles to support childhood cancers
by Erin Kirkland - Most teenagers plan a summer of sleeping late, hanging out with friends, or a combination thereof. Katelyn Cardoza, however, has had a different agenda for months. Katelyn, 13, and her dad, Jerod are currently somewhere along the narrow, hilly Oregon Coast, bicycling to Mexico in support of kids with cancer. I caught up with Katelyn and Jerod by phone. … [Read more...]
Alabama Outdoors | Family Adventure & Fun Eats On The Gulf Shore
by Nicky Omohundro - A beach vacation is an outdoor adventure in and of itself. Whether you are building sand castles on the beach, playing in the waves, or just enjoying the warm sun overhead, it’s easy to see why “any day at beach is a good day.” If you are looking for adventures outdoors, make plans to visit the sugar white sand beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, … [Read more...]
10 Easy Crafts For Kids Inspired By Mother Nature
by Leah Fanning - There are many ways to bring nature into your child’s life and these ten easy crafts for kids, made with all natural elements, might just be the perfect summer activity. We all know, it doesn’t matter where you go - the beach, the forest, a walk around the block - kids always come back home with their pockets filled with magical treasures from nature. So, why … [Read more...]
Snake Bite Prevention & Survival Guide
This week, outdoor blogger and mom Saskia Cameron from SniffOutdoors.com joins us to discuss snakes and how best to protect yourself and your children from a snake bite. As any outdoorsy person knows, there’s always a chance you will encounter a snake on your trek, so it’s important prepare yourself, especially when you’ve got kids with you. Do’s And Don’ts Of Hiking With Kids … [Read more...]
Camping Packing List: Expert Advice Camping Storage & Organization
Looking for the ultimate camp hack? Need a new camping packing list? Or maybe you're looking to start a new outdoor-themed family tradition. Car camping can be the perfect place to begin and we're going to give you a jump start with camping bin organization, a complete camping packing list, and family camping tips. With a vehicle, parents and kids can be cheerfully deposited in … [Read more...]
Hiking in Los Angeles – 15 Must-Hike Trails For Kids
by Jennifer Fontaine - Just because your tiny explorer hasn't found their hiking feet yet, doesn't mean you can’t still get outside and hit the trails. With the vast swaths of green space all over LA, from the Pacific to the valleys, there's fresh air and vitamin D on tap, and tons of kid-friendly hiking in Los Angeles. 15 Top Trails For Hiking In Los Angeles Many … [Read more...]
Camping For Beginners: 23 Money Saving Tips And Tricks
Camping for beginners is not only a great way to get outdoors and bond with family members, but it's also a fantastic way to take a budget-friendly family vacation to some of the top destinations around the world. We've invited Susan Strayer, our colleague and friend from MountainMomandTots.com and camping for beginners guru at Outdoor Mom Academy, to help get you geared up … [Read more...]
Solar Eclipse with Kids: 12 Tips For Once-in-a-Lifetime Viewing
This August delivers the once in a lifetime phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. This year the path of totality (the locations where daytime will essentially be turned to night) is a 70 mile wide wave running across the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. See the NASA map here. Get the #1 Selling Solar Eclipse Guide There will be solar eclipse festivals, events and … [Read more...]
26 Outdoor STEM Activities For Kids
by Sarah Benton Feitlinger - Outdoor STEM activities for kids are all around us and sometimes easier than you ever thought. Getting outside in nature is always a learning experience in one way or another. There are the obvious links to learning like the biology and ecology of flora and fauna, geology and geography. However, you may not have ever considered that outdoor STEM … [Read more...]
20 More Outdoor STEM Activities for Fun Summer Learning
The world needs kids who treasure science, can conquer the latest technologies, and engineer brave solutions to solve the challenging problems of a new world. Outdoor STEM activities create the next generation of inventors, innovators, and leaders by opening up their minds to the complexities hidden in the beauty of nature. The basic concepts of STEM learning surround us … [Read more...]
