by Brian Curtice - I can still recall the first time I saw the bright yellow Salt River Canyon 'Watch for Horses' sign. It stood in stark contrast to a landscape muted in greens and browns, immediately catching the entire family's attention. Watch for horses, in the middle of the desert? All eyes were on equine lookout as I slowly drove on the empty, twisty, hilly … [Read more...]
My Outdoor Family: Muddy Waters, a canoeing story
By Christopher Tupa This past weekend I decided my family should have ourselves a little canoeing adventure. My wife and I woke the kids up and told them about our awesome plans for the day. They were less than thrilled and I won’t bore you with the details but it involved a lot of moaning and groaning and hiding under the overs. Once everyone finally got out of bed, ate … [Read more...]
Backyard Explorers
Editor note: Welcome to a new column by mother and writer Kristin Wognild. Kristin lives, works, and plays in the forests of Central Oregon and is an advocate of place-based learning. Thus, this new regular column's title "Nature's Place" should appeal to those families who desire to have a deeper connection to how, when, and where their kids learn. We hope you enjoy it. ~Erin … [Read more...]
Two Moms, Four Boys, and an RV
by Rina Nehdar What could possibly go wrong? Four boys jostling in a small space, no husbands upon which to pawn them of for a few seconds of peace? Much did. Over and over again. But that's not the whole story. The idea was born after my husband told me he was going away on a surf trip with our oldest son, Kyle. He chose to go the one week of summer when there would be … [Read more...]
The Healing Power of Nature
by Erin Kirkland Greek healer and writer Hippocrates, considered by most to be the father of Western medicine, often relied upon the outdoors as a salve for what might ail his fellow man. “Nature cures,” he wrote in one of his many volumes of instruction. “Not the physician.” Hippocrates practiced then-unconventional methods of observation and diagnosis during his life and … [Read more...]
Great Gear: Epic Wipes keep this mom’s crew clean
by Erica Lindberry If your family is anything like mine, then you have probably wished for stock in baby wipes once your children were born. Although I haven't taken the time to count, I?d say we go through approximately 167 wipes during a typical weekend adventure. Climbing, camping, or somehow even just sitting in the backyard, my kids sure do have a knack for bringing in … [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...]
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...]
My Outdoor Family: Meet Lauren Gay
by Lauren Gay The great outdoors has been the gift that keeps on giving to my unique family of two. I am mom to a 15-year-old son. Exposing my son to outdoor activities at an early age has not only enriched him, it has also led to a very special bond. Unlike many who love outdoor activities, I grew up very much a city girl, with no exposure to outdoor activities as a child. … [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...]
My Outdoor Family: Beauty and Tragedy
by Andrea Friederici Ross I believe in wonder. Daily life is filled with the mundane: laundry, oil changes, dentist appointments, filtering spam. Routine. Over time, it erodes my spirit, eating away at the core of well-being. So whenever I have an opportunity, I grasp at the concept of wonder. It can be a mother bird feeding her young, beak-to-beak; a particularly … [Read more...]
New River Gorge | Bridges, Camping, & Climbing in West Virginia
by Erica Lineberry - When will we get to go over the bridge?" my 5-year-old son chirped from the backseat, as shadows grew long across the highway. The bridge he was speaking of was none other than New River Gorge Bridge, also known as the second-longest steel arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. It was just another Friday evening in September, which, for our family, meant … [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...]
Before and After: Hiking with Kids in 7,982 Simple Steps
by Elizabeth Small I was the sort of not-uncommon-but-woefully-ignorant pregnant lady who believed I could somehow do this parenting thing differently. Yes, I was familiar with the entirety of human history and the overwhelming evidence that "different" was impossible. But I thought, "Hey, I'll just do this my way." It's not exactly that I thought other people were doing … [Read more...]
