Growing Up Outdoors (Part 2)

Blog Growing Up Outdoors (Part 2)
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OutGrown Admin

Jan 25, 2022

Welcome to Part 2 of a three part series from our guest blogger, Mary Finley! Mary Shares her story of raising her kids to be outdoorsy through all of the challenges and changes that life has thrown their way. Missed Part 1? Check it out here!

Having spent much of our own childhood enjoying nature and the outdoors, I knew when I gave birth to my son in 2001 I wanted us to be active in the outdoors as much as possible. We spent the days of his early childhood enjoying long hikes and enjoying running free in nature without a care in the world. If this sounds a bit too easy and natural of a transition to parenting outdoors, it’s partly because it turned out to be exactly that. I had raised a mini-me with my dad’s love of the great outdoors. For my son, it was in his blood.

Eight years later, I was married to someone new, and living on a rural property twenty minutes from the Shenandoah entrance station I was excited to be expecting my second child, a baby girl! I envisioned us, girl power style, hiking all those same trails, her brother leading the way! Funny things happen when you think you’ve mastered parenting. You get a second child… I found myself once again coming off bedrest, but this time I was also injured from a difficult birth experience (breech births are not mom friendly) and now with an active eight-year-old and a newborn. I will spare you the levels of difficulty it took to get through that first year, but know that if you are a struggling new mom, you are not alone, and you will get through this, mostly because you can and every day the sun rose I got up and forced myself to keep going.

Days turned into months, and slowly I crept toward the end of the hardest year of parenting I had faced. I slowly began being able to walk further, this time using the stroller as a walker helping me creep toward normalcy rather than running through a natural recovery like I did the first time. See, that’s the thing about parenting. Each and every experience is unique. We all trudge through our mental and physical struggle and balance it with the days we soar on parenting victories.

In our best moments we create a village of other parents who lift each other up and create a community of love and support, and let’s be honest, on our worst days we criticize, judge, and struggle to continue, and all too often that criticism and judgment falls on ourselves as well as others. Each day we get through and pick ourselves back up and recommit to that community of love and support, to and for ourselves as well as others, we win. That includes forgiveness and acceptance. Something that took a long time to get a hang of for myself, coming off the birth of my second child. I had to accept what I could and couldn’t do physically and forgive and accept what life had handed me.

Slowly but surely, it came, and with it a greater depth of complicated understanding of myself, parenting, and life. By the time my daughter was school aged, I had recovered enough physical ability to start hiking again. In those in between years, I satisfied myself with long drives to overlooks where I could still see out at the world I loved to hike and explore, desperately waiting and working slowly toward a time where I could physically do it again.

If you are new to getting outside, or physically easing into or back into physical exercise, don’t give up. Start small, it will come slowly, but in time you will amaze yourself. Slowly that time came for me, and it coincided with the realization that my oldest was suddenly going to be in dual enrollment soon (the last two years of high school taken with community college credits). It was now or never to fulfill those dreams I had of traveling, van life style, with my kids. Seeing all the world had to offer, sleeping under the stars, and hiking across new unseen places. I discussed it with their dad (my second child’s biological father).

He was a teacher working full time, we had a dog, and truthfully, obligations, but I had switched to homeschooling my kids several years earlier and it appeared it was now or never. We got his blessing, and he begrudgingly agreed to walk the dog as soon after work as possible, water the plants, and basically make sure the house was still standing upon our return. Their dad had agreed, with the promise that we would be back by his birthday, June 3rd.

I discussed it with my mom and am privileged to have the most adventurous parents ever. My mom’s response was, admittedly, not typical of most parents, but so typical of mine. She responded, “You are finally going to travel again!!! I didn’t think I’d ever get you back out on the road. What can I do to help? I know! You are turning 40! How about I give you gas money for your trip and maybe a bit to stock food? I am so glad you are finally going to do something again!”

I wasn’t expecting to get called out for my struggle with recovery, fear that I wouldn’t physically be able to do it anymore, and my fight with anxiety and depression over my recovery after the birth of my daughter that had dragged on for years, but her financial support meant my “dream” trip had suddenly become a reality trip.

Stay tuned for the final installment of Mary's story!

ABOUT OUTGROWN

OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonproﬁt that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental beneﬁts of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their ﬁrst steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, beneﬁt from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org

EDITORS NOTE:

We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you.

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Have You Heard About the 10-Minute Walk Initiative? Suppose you believe that access to parks and green spaces improves physical and mental health, especially during times of crisis, or that life simply feels better when nature is close by. In that case, you are already aligned with the vision behind the 10 Minute Walk Initiative. Photo by Monique Vargas What Is the 10 Minute Walk Initiative? The 10-Minute Walk Initiative is a nationwide effort to ensure that everyone in the United States has safe, easy access to a quality park within a ten-minute walk of home by the year 2050. This is not just a goal for green-friendly states like California or Colorado. It is a promise for every city, every neighborhood, and every family. Want to know if your city is part of it? Visit the 10 Minute Walk website to see if your mayor has signed on. If you do not see your city listed, you can do what some of our community members have done: sign up for updates and learn how to get involved. You may even be able to encourage your local leaders to take part. If you are part of the OutGrown community, you already know our roots go back to the Hike it Baby movement and its guiding value: Leave No Family Behind. That means no matter your pace, parenting moment, or personal identity, you belong here. Whether you are changing a diaper, feeding your baby, managing a meltdown (yours or theirs), or just starting, we will not leave you behind. But here is the hard truth: Some families are being left behind simply because they do not have access. Parks are too far, sidewalks are unsafe, and transit is unreliable. That is why OutGrown supports the 10-Minute Walk Initiative. Ensuring every family has access to nature is the first step in building an inclusive and equitable future outdoors. OutGrown exists to be a hub of tools, stories, and support for families with babies and young children who want to grow up outside, together. Learn more about our mission and how you can be part of it at WeAreOutGrown.org. About OutGrown OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families. Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions. We are glad you are here. We are growing something meaningful together

5 Tips for Trail Cleanup Safety

Trail cleanups can be a powerful way for families to give back and connect with nature at the same time. With little ones in tow, safety and simplicity are key. Whether joining a group event or picking up trash on your usual stroll, this guide offers practical tips to help make your next cleanup effort safe, age-appropriate, and meaningful for everyone involved. Winters can be hard on trails. Many will need both cleanup and maintenance come springtime. You can contact your local or state park system to see if they have anything planned, or you can plan your own trail cleanup hike with your Hike it Baby branch! Hike it Baby offers lots of information on organizing a trail cleanup, and safety is a consideration when participating in a trail cleanup. Some of these things may seem like common sense, but it’s always nice to double check your preparedness whenever you try something new (or for the first time in a while). 5 Tips for Trail Cleanup Safety 1. Bring proper cleanup supplies Certain supplies will come in handy during a trail cleanup. This would include gloves, trash grabbers and bags. It’s a good idea to have the littles carry the trash bag instead of picking up trash. They may not know what they should and shouldn’t touch. 2. Work in pairs or groups Sticking together and staying in communication with the organizer are very important. Make sure you have a charged cell phone or walkie-talkie with you. A compass could also come in handy if you're off the beaten path. Make sure someone knows exactly what area your group will be working in. Check in often with the organizer and stay close to your partner or group. Or, if you're hosting the hike, help the group stay together and communicate the meet up locations and times. 3. Bring your normal safety supplies All normal hiking injuries can occur on a trail cleanup. In fact, after winter, the trail will likely be in worse shape than usual, so be prepared. Make sure you pack your typical first aid kit, plus plenty of water and snacks. 4. Give the kiddos simple tasks The concept of trail cleanup is super important to share with our kids beginning at a young age as it teaches them to be stewards for our trails and parks. It’s even better to reinforce as they get older. That being said, not every trail cleanup is organized with young children in mind. If attending a hike organized by another group or parks department, speak to the cleanup organizer before deciding whether or not you will bring young children. Make sure there will be tasks suitable for their age and ability. With supervision and proper gloves and grabbers, tiny people are great at holding trash bags, spying trash, and they love to use trash grabbers! Older kids can also be great to pair with younger kids. If hosting your own hike, make sure you communicate what supplies to bring and provide safety tips during Welcome Circle. 5. Use caution Don't ever touch anything sharp or lift anything too heavy. While you will typically feel totally awesome after participating in a trail cleanup, you might not if you cut yourself and get an infection. After winter, there could be trees or large branches across the trail. Don’t try to be the hero and lift something too heavy on your own. Even professional bodybuilders use a spotter to lift. Bring a notepad with you and document anything you can’t handle. Then give this list to the trail cleanup organizer so that the proper crew can address it. (Or, if you're hosting, contact the parks department with the information.) For toddlers and little kids, have them spot the trash ("I spy!") instead of picking it up. This will ensure they aren't picking up anything dangerous or unsanitary. What are your safety tips for trail cleanup? Have a question about safety while participating in a trail cleanup? Leave a comment or a question below! Read More: 11 Tips for Safety on Trail 3 Trail Safety Tips You Must Know Photos by Vong Hamilton. Hike it Baby hikes are hosted by volunteers who have no professional training and are not experts to guide families on hikes. They are people who want to raise a generation to love the outdoors and they accomplish this by facilitating outings for all to join. Our tips are gathered from collective experience. As with any physical activity, please be sure to check with your healthcare provider and other experts when hiking with your children. About OutGrown OutGrown is a national nonprofit working to ensure that every family, especially those with babies and young children, can experience the benefits of time outside. Since our grassroots beginning in 2013, we have supported more than 300,000 families with the help of thousands of volunteers across the country. We believe nature belongs to all of us from the very beginning. That means creating opportunities, removing barriers, and supporting families in finding their way outdoors, whether that starts with a stroller walk, a community outing, or a quiet moment under the sky. You can learn more and explore our programs at WeAreOutGrown.org. Editor’s Note Thank you for reading. At OutGrown, we believe content should offer more than information. It should create a connection, support real-life caregiving, and reflect how families grow together through nature. Everything we share is made with care by our team and volunteer community. If this piece inspired you or helped you feel more confident in your outdoor journey, we invite you to support our work by donating today. Your contributions help us keep resources free and accessible to all families. Please remember that the experiences and tips shared in this article are for general information only. They are not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or safety advice. Always consult with a qualified provider if you have specific concerns or questions. We are glad you are here. We are growing something meaningful together.