by Kristin Wognild - My headlamp shone like a beacon on the five children who pedaled bicycles furiously through the 1.6-mile Taft Tunnel buried deep beneath the Bitterroot Mountains of Lolo Pass, the designation point of the Idaho-Montana state line. The Hiawatha Trail air was cool and the sound of water dripping from stalactites was magnified by our limited … [Read more...]
Two Great Ways to Explore Your National Parks: Just Ahead app and a parks guide
by Outdoor Families Magazine editorial team The App Gregory Morse had no idea that a summer 2013 trip to the USS Midway aircraft carrier in San Diego would be a life-changing experience. The Long Beach, Calif., father of three had opted for an audio tour of the ship for his family, including his two oldest kids, then ages eight and six, despite skepticism it would hold … [Read more...]
Mountain Biking With Kids, the 101 Version
by Kristen Bonkoski - Mountain biking with kids is a fantastic way for families to get exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and spend quality time together. Youngsters in particular take to the sport easily, because who doesn't love the outdoors, dirt, and wheels? Despite the family-friendly nature of mountain biking, many parents find the sport intimidating or overwhelming to get … [Read more...]
Five Places to Burley the Bay Area
Images courtesy Melissa AveryBy Melissa Avery Ride the wiggles out of kids and burn some calories at these great Bay Area parks with the help of Burley bike trailers. My kids love water, so all of these parks have a water feature where they can take breaks from riding to throw rocks in the water or enjoy watching the many species of birds in the area. These rides are … [Read more...]
“In His Element:” Traveling and autism
by Jean Grant Oh yes, Ewan loves volcanoes, I say with embarrassed pride at a parent preschool conference, while my son scribbles May 18, 1980 and a drawing of a volcano on a white board with a dry-erase marker. Certainly all children have their obsessions. For Ewan, they are volcanoes, weather and drawing complete U.S. maps, but starting in kindergarten? I chalked it up to … [Read more...]
5 Hiking Tips To Inspire Teens and Tweens to Hike
by Traci Lehman - Like most outdoor activities, hiking offers limitless fun that can be tailored to all ages. From easy nature walks to tiring mountain climbs and challenging multi-day treks, hiking promotes fitness, entertainment and hands-on education to anyone who partakes, especially kids. Why Is Hiking Important For Kids? For tweens and teens, the outdoors is less … [Read more...]
Avid4 Adventure – Boosting Kids’ Confidence at Summer Camp
by Heather Mundt - For many kids, summer means trading school drudgery for summer-camp fun. And if they're lucky, they'll experience an Avid4 Adventure camp, where fun translates to visiting recreation areas and learning to climb, bike, paddle or hike, for starters. Little do these kids know, however, they'll be learning just as much outdoors as they would in a classroom, … [Read more...]
Troll Forest – Expert Advice For Hiking Norway’s Most Whimsical Trail
by Ania Krasniewska - Before children, an ideal holiday for me consisted of visiting cities without doing much of anything, lying on great beaches with a stack of books to lose myself. As any parent who's tried to read more than two consecutive sentences in the presence of small tots knows, that vacation style changes when you have children. Our style changed even more when … [Read more...]
Prompting Without Pushing: Guiding children through fear
By Bridgett Ross "Use the brakes! Use the brakes!" I shouted, watching my son soar downhill on his bike and into a parked car. Per my hopes, he took a chance, tried something new, and risked falling. I ran to my crumpled, crying boy. Thankfully, he was not hurt, but the fall shook him. In rock climbing, overcoming fear has always been my biggest challenge. I have some pretty … [Read more...]
America’s National Park Service: Gifting the future
by Erin Kirkland - Most national park memories are vivid collections as diverse as the locations themselves. Waking to the sound of a crackling fire and the smell of frying bacon at a campground. Watching a waterfall tumble down a steep canyon trough far, far below. Observing an intricate science of fossils and painted hills. Feeling the solemnity of a ceremony for those lost … [Read more...]
The Case for Napping Outdoors
by Linda McGurk - Winter. The season to enjoy snow sports, drink hot chocolate, light candles, and let your baby nap in a stroller on the back porch. Wait, what? If the idea of letting your baby or toddler sleep outdoors in freezing temperatures seems counterintuitive, irresponsible, or downright dangerous, consider that parents in the Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, … [Read more...]
Celebrate the National Park Service Centennial
The National Park Service celebrates 100 years of protecting, promoting, and preserving the natural spaces set aside for generations to come. But who uses them? How many are there, and how can we get there? In 2016, Outdoor Families Magazine will be exploring national parks, popular and not-so-much. During this centennial year, we'll delve into the history of the National Park … [Read more...]
Sharing Memories as Gifts: Treasures to Last a Lifetime
by Suzanne Solsona Without thinking too much about it: What is your most vivid, cherished memory of childhood? Your teenage years? As an adult? I would wager a significant sum of money that your favourite memories centre around something you did, rather than something you had. Or, if it does involve a thing, memories about what you did with that thing and who you were … [Read more...]
Eco-Friendly Gifting for Outdoor Families
by Kate Koch-Sundquist Ask children what's on their holiday wish lists this year and you're bound to get an earful. It runs the gamut from video games and iPads to plastic cars and dolls, and everything in between. And who can blame them? American kids are growing up in a nation of consumers where it's easier to buy something brand new than it is to repair something old or … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Secret Lives of Animals
by Erin Kirkland Any book that offers "tidbits, oddities, and amazing facts" is bound to be a winner with kids. I mean, really, who wouldn't want to learn about a salamander that shoots poison from behind its eyes? Or, maybe, the reason for horns versus antlers??The answers are surprising, enlightening, and downright incredible. Outdoor authors Stacy Tornio and Ken … [Read more...]
“Rocks in the Water” and Other Life Lessons
by Jackie Semmens My son hikes with one goal in mind - to throw rocks in the water and watch them splash. When we hike, we walk slowly. Every rock we pass must be examined for suitability, and if it passes inspection (which it always does), it is then carried along until another more appropriate rock is found only a few feet later. The type of water does not matter. In my … [Read more...]
Urban Oasis – Boston’s Belle Isle Marsh
by Laura Spark Plumpkin is dead, and we have to get out of the house. Our neighbor Lila won Plumpkin in a school lottery. A squeaky-voiced, black guinea pig, Plumpkin was much loved by Lila and my twin 12-year old daughters, Lea and Naomi, who don?t have a pet of their own. Our usual solution to the no-pet problem is to get outside. Hang out on the front porch and admire … [Read more...]
