Wildschooling, noun; a progressive parenting philosophy which encourages the creativity, curiosity, and joy that children naturally express. by Nicolette Sowder - When my oldest daughter turned preschool age, my husband and I began having conversations about what we wanted her schooling to look and feel like. We found that aspects of the local school system and … [Read more...]
Hiking in Asheville – 15 Must-Hike Trails For Kids
by Stephanie Harper - Asheville is the epitome of a mountain town complete with endless eateries, urban jaunts, and organic living--but it's the hiking in Asheville that will entice your outdoorsy family to stay forever. With the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains surrounding the city in all directions and one million acres of protected forest and park land, there is no shortage of … [Read more...]
VIP Vail | Exclusive Outdoor Adventure Awaits At Sonnenalp
by Heather Mundt - Hiking along Cross Creek Trail in the Holy Cross Wilderness area near Vail, Colo., my two sons—ages 12 and 10—are trailing closely behind Kara Hasbrouck-Schmidt, guest-activities supervisor at the Sonnenalp Hotel, when she stops at the edge of a sun-dappled meadow. “Look down at this, boys,” she says, kneeling to pick up what appear to me as tiny wisps of … [Read more...]
My Outdoor Family: We stopped living the “dream” to live OUR dream
by Jessica Sueiro - When Will and I first met, he was an accountant and I was a graphic designer. We loved adventure and outdoor activities, but we were limited solely to weekends and two-week vacation adventures. At the time we lived in Los Angeles and our normal weekend outdoor activities consisted of hiking Runyan Canyon in LA with our dog. We had very few vacation weeks … [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...]
Colorado’s Sylvan Dale Ranch Offers Outdoor Fun for All Ages
by Tami Mittan - Guest or dude ranch vacations are gaining in popularity as a top choice for family travelers. All-inclusive properties like Colorado's Sylvan Dale Ranch offer a taste of Western lifestyle, along with plenty of outdoor activities. If you are looking for some refreshing, unplugged fun, it just may be the perfect fit. Are dude ranch vacations well suited for a … [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...]
Forest Bathing Connects Us to Nature and Better Health
by Jennifer Fontaine - According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Americans on average spend over 90 percent of their time indoors. All that time indoors generally means less exercise and more exposure to toxins from synthetic building materials, home furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, household cleaners, and more. Enter forest … [Read more...]
[Great Gear] Play Line Slackline Balances Independence and Fun
by Kate Spiller - You just want to kick back and relax while enjoying the outdoors, and your kids are either bored or running amok. Does that sound familiar at all? For me, the campground scenario comes to mind (but this also just applies to hanging out in the backyard or at a local park). You want to get to all the fun and adventuring that comes along with spending a few days … [Read more...]
Holiday Gift Guide for the Adventurous Dad
If your dad is an outdoorsman, buying him a gift doesn't have to be a daunting test of how to find the one thing he doesn’t have and will actually want. We know that a love of the outdoors has quite a spectrum. From hunting trips out to the mountains to simply finding an excuse to spend an entire Saturday out in the yard grilling, we understand that the adventurous dad is … [Read more...]
Best Kids Bikes Under $100 | 2019 Bicycle Buying Guide
by Tina Kusal - Looking for the best kids bikes under $100? Well, you've come to the right place. Every kid needs a bike. They are an essential part of independence that children crave. The best kids bikes come in all shapes and sizes and fit within all kinds of budgets. There are several things you need to consider when researching kids bikes such as size, weight, … [Read more...]
[Great Gear] TreePod’s Portable Treehouse
by Melissa Edge - For any nature-loving kid there is something immediately appealing and imagination-igniting about a tent that is suspended in mid-air. No hard ground beneath their bum, no easy access for creepy crawlers; just top-secret hideout bliss. Such is the idea behind the TreePod portable treehouse, a quick and easy playtime structure that can be erected without … [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 … [Read more...]
Twin Peaks, WA: Outdoor Adventure In A Famous TV Town
by Beth Swanson - Twin Peaks is the home to mystery, intrigue and a damn fine cup of coffee. People come to the Snoqualmie Valley to see the site of the fictional Twin Peaks; they have for years. In real life, the Snoqualmie Valley, tucked into the Cascade foothills in Washington State, is an area with outdoor recreation at its core. Yes, it offers must-see sights for true Twin … [Read more...]
Rafting with Kids: The 411 for getting out on the water
by Melynda Harrison - We are bumping down a river, rafting with kids, on the border of Bosnia and Montenegro clad in wetsuits, PFDs (personal floatation devices or life jackets), and helmets. Our Balkan guide has our eight- and ten-year-old boys on either side of him, so he can keep them involved and safe. While our family owns a raft and floats down local rivers near our home … [Read more...]
Pacific Crest Trail: One teen’s epic solo hiking adventure
By Amy Whitley - My son Nate, age seventeen, was 50 miles into his goal of hiking the 457-mile Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail when I received his expected nightly text via his Delorme InReach: Camping here for the night. I cross-checked his GPS location with our topographical map, noting that he’d decided to hike three miles farther than we’d discussed earlier. … [Read more...]
