Losing a Child: it’s every outdoor parent's worst nightmare – something distracts you momentarily and you turn around to find your child nowhere in sight. Calls are unanswered. A hasty search of the immediate area yields no sign of them. You don’t know where they are – do you know what to do?
The first thing you must do is remain calm. Science has proven that when we panic, our thinking brain ...
You've scouted the trail and picked the perfect night according to weather. Now there's just the children's temperament on that evening, the alignment of the stars and it's time to head into the woods at night with the hope that you'll keep the interest of the munchkin masses.
I imagine that while many of our children are comfortable hiking in the day, some may not be so excited about doing so...
The most meaningful and formative moments in my life have been spent outdoors. I grew up having outdoor adventures nearly every day on the quiet, rocky coast of Long Island Sound in Southeastern Connecticut. During spring and summer, I’d wake up, walk the few hundred yards down to the beach and spend all day fishing and crabbing. In fall and winter, I’d hike into the thick woods behind my house...
Some of the more gratifying moments as a parent are when our kids emulate our better tendencies and qualities. One day I rounded the corner to find my daughter pushing her plastic shopping cart down the hall at high speed, crashing into the corners at every turn. I was instantly annoyed until she informed me that she was out for a run and was taking her stuffed animals out in their running str...
When I first found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I was instantly overwhelmed, so I proceeded to do what I normally did to process any new information in my life – I went out for a run. The miles cleared my mind and gave me the space to solidify my emotions. I came back joyful about the new chapter in my life, though apprehensive about the things that I would lose. Running was at th...
Shortly after our daughter was born, we splurged and invested in a used pop-up camper, setting a goal of camping once a month during the season. That first year, we learned some valuable things about camping with an infant, applicable whether you’re in a tent, pop-up or RV.
Tips for Camping with an Infant:
1. Getting there is half the battle with a baby. Start by exploring near...
Have you read any good books lately? We like to share reviews on books that our members have read that are hiking- or outdoors-related. From infants board books to adult page-turners, we love to hear about what you are reading! Share a book review with us on this form and we may feature it in an upcoming blog post!
Reviews:
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Shannon McDonald, from...
Wife. Mother. Naturalist. Author. Adventurer. Conservationist.
Mardy Murie has been called the “Grandmother of the Conservation Movement.” Along with her husband, Olaus, she played a key role in preserving forever some of the country’s last wild places.
Who is Mardy Murie?
Margaret Elizabeth Thomas was born on August 18, 1902, in Seattle, Washington, to parents who divorced when she was young...
Guest Blogger Melissa Morrison talks about finding nature close to suburban Detroit and what makes certain trails her favorite.
When we moved back to Michigan five years ago, hiking trails and outdoor time played a big role in where we would live. Like others, we had to be centrally located to our jobs, which ruled out much of the lush National Forest that Michigan has to offer, but thankfully...
Adrienne Brand would consider herself an upbeat person most of the time. But when she had her son, something shifted. She remembers feeling disconnected from him in the first few months of his life. She went to a new mama group to help get herself out of the house and it was there that someone told her about Hike it Baby.
Once she started hiking with the group she realized that what she had be...
