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...]
Great Gear: Butler Rockhopper Overboots Keep Mud at Bay
By Kate Spiller - As much as we want to clear our calendar and rid our weekends of errands and other obligations, the reality is, we’ve got stuff to do! On a recent Saturday, besides the main event of visiting the pumpkin patch, we were also in and out of shops and restaurants and checking things off our grocery list. The kids would absolutely need rubber boots for the muddy … [Read more...]
Our New Normal: Type 1 Diabetes in the Outdoors
by Kate Woodruff Felton - My dad used to take me camping, just the two of us. He told me that learning to be a good camper was a critical life skill. I had a purple whistle with a unicorn painted on it, and he told me as long as I had my whistle around my neck, I could go wander the campsite free and clear. If I ran into any trouble, all I had to do was blow my whistle. I … [Read more...]
Tweens and Teens and Fearless Behavior
By Bridgett Ross, PsyD With a wild glint in his eyes, your 11-year-old son jumps into the water. You nervously watch, hoping he doesn’t get hurt. You’ve taught him how to be safe, right? When you check your teenager’s climbing harness, she rolls her eyes with an unconvincing “I know what I’m doing.” You want to trust that she does, but you leave the conversation feeling … [Read more...]
Troll Forest – Expert Advice For Hiking Norway’s Most Whimsical Trail
Images courtesy Ania Krasniewska. 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 … [Read more...]
Diversity in the Outdoors: Starting a conversation
by Jennifer Fontaine The definition of DIVERSITY: di?ver?si?ty | d??v?rs?d?,d??v?rs?d?/ | noun The quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc. A Clemson University Master Teacher and Alumni Distinguished Professor in wildlife ecology, J. Drew Lanham is a naturalist and conservationist with strong interest in integration of game and nongame … [Read more...]
Love in the Outdoors: Encouraging reluctant partners to embrace outside activities
by Mae Kiggins My husband Ryan doesn't like the outdoors. Of all the men to fall in love with, it had to be one who doesn't do outside stuff, but what can I say? I couldn't resist his charm. In his defense, he does suffer from allergies, and insects seem naturally attracted to him, so maybe it's more of a survival thing. My husband is willing to head outdoors with me … [Read more...]
Finding Nature in Urban Spaces
by Shanti Hodges I still remember the ?Oh, no? look in my husband?s eyes when the doctor confirmed a June due date for our son?s delivery. I knew Mark?s mind immediately skipped from ?We?re having a baby!? to ?We?re going to miss out on a whole summer of mountain biking and rafting.? And so there it was, the reality of a summer spent within concrete confines of Portland, … [Read more...]
