by Jennifer Fontaine - Children are the future stewards of the earth. Starting in childhood, it's important that they learn to appreciate and take care of nature, so why not nurture that with vibrant and informative nature books? This list of children's books gently discusses critical subjects like what we can do to help preserve our natural resources, how to investigate and … [Read more...]
Search Results for: Jennifer Fontaine
10 Best Outdoor Gifts for Mom
Whether she's your adventure partner for life, your audaciously courageous sibling, or your resolute mother-in-law, if she loves experiencing the world, this outdoor gift guide was curated just for her, by women just like her. ~The OFM Gear Editors It can be tricky to find the perfect outdoor gift for an adventurous mom. We get it. You want to buy something … [Read more...]
29 Eco-Friendly Tips Ideas to Lower Your Carbon Footprint
by Jennifer Fontaine - Do you ever feel weighed down by your environmental footprint, but then get overwhelmed with taking that all-important first step to a greener, more sustainable life, not just for your health, but for the environment? Research already tells us that green dwellings, particularly those that make use of efficient and natural light, have a positive … [Read more...]
8 Reasons Why Glamping at Capitol Reef Resort Should Be on Your Family Travel Bucket List
by Jennifer Fontaine - Capitol Reef Resort has been hosting travelers from around the globe for decades on the doorstep of Capitol Reef National Park. And as good hosts do, they up their game with more creative accommodations each year. From teepees and family cabins, to decked-out tents and authentic 19th century Conestoga Wagons, there’s a glamping experience likely to … [Read more...]
[Great Gear] EcoVessel Portable Water Bottle Review
by Jennifer Fontaine - There is literally nothing more exciting than finding a portable kids water bottle that actually works. We don't ask much of our kids water bottles. We need durability and we need for it to not leak. It doesn't seem like too much to ask, but as a mom who has purchased no less than a million different water bottles for my daughter in her short 8 years on … [Read more...]
26 Best Outdoor Gifts for Kids
There’s an ever-growing body of research which supports the importance for kids to regularly get active, get outside, and get in touch with mother nature. We now know that fresh air is not just good for the well being of an adventurous kid, but fundamental to their development, helps them connect to the world around them, and provides beneficial … [Read more...]
Starting a New Family Holiday Baking Tradition
By Jennifer Fontaine - As a kid growing up in New Orleans with a tight-knit family of over 200, my life was steeped in rich traditions. Remembering the holidays conjures up thoughts of coffee and chicory, Cajun music, and warmth of an-oven-on-overdrive emanating throughout the house. In a southern home, the kitchen is its heartbeat, connecting clans to customs that have been … [Read more...]
11 Nature Books for Kids (Plus, 2 for Adults)
by Jennifer Fontaine - It's summertime. 'Tis the season for exciting, less structured opportunities to engage children in exploring and discovering the world around them. Whether in a city or out in the countryside, scenery is constantly changing. The trees are getting greener, birds are carrying twigs for nest-building, bees are pollinating, and every puddle and pond is filled … [Read more...]
Road Trip Planner: 5 Best USA Family Road Trip Ideas
Why spend a fortune on flights when you can visit the best destinations in the USA by taking a family road trip? Don't repeat last year's staycation... you know, the one that got all Lord of the Flies by day two. Use our road trip planner, gas up the car, and go on one of these epic family road trips, instead. Whether you're looking for a new favorite beach, … [Read more...]
Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary – 14 Must-Stops Along Route 1
by Jennifer Fontaine - An epic summer Pacific Coast Highway road trip is as American as warm apple pie ala mode, but the intricacies of planning accommodations and outdoor activities along the famous Route 1 one can prove a bit more challenging than simply following grandma’s recipe. Complex itineraries, careful budgeting, and a thousand hours of in-car entertainment can take … [Read more...]
6 Outdoorsy Families Tell Us What They Really Think About REI
by Jennifer Fontaine - Outside-minded families are happier families, and while most of our readers already know this, a growing pile of research supports what a legion of parents, grandparents, coaches, and caregivers already understand. When people go outdoors, attention and focus sharpen, family relations improve, moods become lighter, and everyone, regardless of age and … [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...]
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...]
My Outdoor Family: When three-nagers meet intentional parenting
by Lindsey Lebowitz - In 2005, my husband and I moved to Colorado from Florida. We moved across the country for a change, a sense of adventure, and the Rocky Mountains. Our 480-foot studio apartment was only $500 a month. Our jobs were not serious, and with limited responsibilities, we explored this great state together. We hiked over 12 hours to summit and descent Long’s Peak. … [Read more...]
An Adventurous 3-Day Arizona Road Trip For Families
by Jennifer Fontaine - Summer is here and as a traveling family we rate family road trips pretty much at the top of the list. They’re practical, affordable, and the perfect way to bond and create lifelong memories, so we hope our 3-day Arizona road trip itinerary inspires you to pack up the car, juice up the gadgets, and grab the paper maps. Yes, paper maps are still a … [Read more...]
Australia Vacation Ideas: Top 5 Outdoorsy Stops In The Land Down Under
by Jennifer Fontaine - Australia is built for family travel – an extraordinarily distinct country sprinkled with neon reefs, laid-back beaches, and snow-covered mountains. An Australia vacation is the stuff that dreams are made of for any outdoorsy family with a need for adrenaline. We've rounded up the top five Australia vacation ideas for your family, filled with adventure … [Read more...]
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Accepting Public Comment On Offshore Drilling Proposal
by Jennifer Fontaine - The Interior Department announced yesterday that it wants to allow drilling in nearly all U.S. waters, the single largest expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing ever proposed by the federal government. The agency said it will hold 47 lease sales in every region of the outer continental shelf but one between 2019 and 2024. The updated five-year plan, … [Read more...]
