OutGrown Blog

There is no denying this has been a tough few months for everyone. We are all playing a role in getting through this pandemic. Even by staying at home, you are helping to keep the world that much safer, so thank you. But, there are those who are in occupations where they have greater exposure to COVID-19, and therefore a greater threat to their health and the health of those in their households. We wanted to recognize the members of the Hike it Baby community that are working in healthcare, keeping our food and other essential products stocked and delivered, ensuring public safety, and performing other essential services during this time. If there is someone in your life (or you) that you would like to recognize for their contribution during the COVID-19 pandemic, please fill out the form here. We'll shine a light on their efforts and hold space for them in our community.   Name Hike it Baby Branch Role Christian Herrington HiB Colorado Springs Firefighter/paramedic Kate Youngberg Lehigh Valley, Pa Kate is a Physician's Assistant in the emergency room for Lehigh Valley Health Network. She works at 3 different locations. She has worked with COVID-19 patients and has (and continues) to have video consultations with patients. Rosy Kelley Akron OH My sister, Rosy, is an amazing ER nurse in a rural Ohio county and has been testing patients. Her county just had its first reported cases of Covid-19 this week. Elizabeth Kistler Hike it Baby Pittsburgh I take x-rays at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Michael Tilbury Reno-Tahoe As a UPS driver, Michael is out in our community every day making sure others have the much-needed items they need to be able to stay safe at home. Delivering everything from essentials like toilet paper to medicine to art supplies so parents can entertain their kids— he works tirelessly (many times not getting home until 9 when his own son is already asleep) to help others, while understanding he is at risk being out and about all the time. Ashley Cappelletty York/Harrisburg RN at a critical care hospital. Kristine Chieh San Diego RN taking care of general and COVID-19 inpatients, depending on where I am assigned that day. I also obtained and distributed 900 N95 masks to my nursing coworkers thanks to the generosity of my family and friends. Dr. Maria Pia Castillo Lehigh Valley Family Medicine Specialist Mara Gavit-Doyle Colorado Springs ER nurse in Pueblo Christian Herrington HiB Colorado Springs Firefighter/paramedic Kyla Phillips Vancouver Wa Working at the hospital in Care Management to oversee the day to day operations, manage staffing, and gather community resources to support our patients. Most recently this includes staffing to reduce burnout, keeping our team informed on the daily COVID 19 process changes and community collaboration. Nathan Colglazier Fort Wayne Nathan is my husband and he currently works as a pulmonary physician assistant. Part of his time is spent working in the ICU directly with COVID patients. Sarah Young Charlottesville, VA Sarah is a nurse working in the COVID unit at UVA hospital. Christina Cooper Vancouver, WA She is an NP and has been working from home via video visits. Mitchell Davis San Diego, CA My husband is a cardio perfusionist who is helping keep COVID patients alive through ECMO. During the COVID-19 outbreak, Hike it Baby's mission is to provide resources to help those sheltering at home and social distancing to continue to find ways to make the outdoors a part of everyday life. We've gathered informational blog posts, printable activity sheets, and more into a single webpage to make it easy for you to access the tools you need to get outside safely and responsibly - and to hopefully bring some joy into your life during a stressful time. View more at the At-Home Resources page. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Editors Note: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from Hike it Baby. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We do not make this ask lightly, but if you are able to afford it, make a donation and become a Hike it Baby member.  A membership also makes a great gift for that new parent in your life. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. If you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach. Photo courtesy of Krystal Weir.

It’s no secret that our planet needs help. It needs people who will strive to protect and nurture the earth in ways we have failed to do in the past. That’s why here at Hike it Baby, we are striving to raise a generation to love nature and the outdoors. Our children are our future, and teaching them to respect the environment from an early age is the first step to ensuring the future is a bright one for our planet. That being said, it’s not always easy to help kiddos growing up in a technology-heavy lifestyle to step back from the screens and engage in the natural world. That’s why we have compiled this list of books to add to your collection to help you motivate your family to step out into nature, even if it’s the nature you find in your own backyard. Children’s Books Younger Kiddos Spring Hike by Dineo Dowd - This story helps children understand the change of seasons, the excitement of hiking, and the importance of what it means to “leave no trace." This is the third book from Dowd, all of which were created to inspire children to go outside safely and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Get Dressed Sasquatch by Derek Sullivan and Kyle Sullivan - This silly story follows a sasquatch enjoying his home in the Pacific Northwest when a rule-touting forest ranger comes along to tell him to put on some clothes. Laugh along with your kids as you read this fun, rhyming tale about being free to be yourself.  Check out these other great titles for younger children: Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots by Carmela LaVigna Coyle  Fur, Feather, Fin - All of Us are Kin by Diane Lang Secrets of the Apple Tree (and other Shine-a-light books) by Carron Brown Forest Baby by Laurie Elmquist Adventure to the Top of the Mountain by Nataliya Moon Whoo’s There by Heather Zschock Baby Bear Sees Blue by Ashley Wolff Wild One by Jane Wittingham The Adventures of John Muir by Kate Coombs  A Walk in the Forest by Jaye Garnett  Adventure Day by Dineo Dowd Sunset Hike by Dineo Dowd Older Children Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner - Discover the animals and plants that make up the rich, interconnected mountain pond ecosystem. This book is part of the highly recommended Over and Under Series which also includes “Over and Under the Snow” and  “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt."  The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry - This story depicts a man who grows tired when trying to chop down a Great Kapok Tree in the Amazon RainForest. As he sleeps, the creatures of the forest whisper to him about the importance of trees and how “all living things depend on one another." This book provides a wonderful starting point for a discussion on conservation with your kids.  Check out these other great titles for older kiddos: When we Go Camping by Margriet Ruus The Lost Book of Adventure by Unknown Adventurer  Tracks, Scats, and Signs by Leslie Dendy  Insect Superpowers by Kate Messner  Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Thermes Books with Advice on Getting your Kiddos Outside (and why it’s important) There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda Akeson McGurk - The author sets out to discover if her native Scandinavian philosophy of “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” could hold the key to raising healthier, resilient, and confident children in America. This memoir is filled with ideas that will get your kids outside, reaping the many benefits of nature with more confidence and independence.  The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids by Helen Olsson - Does the idea of camping with kids elicit feelings of dread or anxiety? If so, this book is for you! It is filled with tips and tools to make your next campout enjoyable for the whole family, and it even includes recipes, activity ideas, games, and checklists for your next adventure. Check out these other great options that are filled with advice and tips for getting your kiddos outside: Hike it Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers by Shanti Hodges h Let Them Be Eaten by Bears By Peter Brown Hoffmeister Balanced and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom  How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson  Vitamin N - The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv Books Filled with Activities to Inspire Outdoor Play The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book by Krissy Bonning-Gould - This book includes a diverse collection of activities geared toward getting toddlers outside to explore and grow in nature. The chapters are split into types of outdoor activity (such as messy play and outdoor art) and includes skill-building icons that show what each activity teaches your little one. The Green Hour by Todd Christopher - This book is based on the recommendation from the National Wildlife Federation that every parent should give their kids a “green hour” every day for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. It is filled with activities designed to encourage discovery, creative play, and a wonder of nature for families with children of all ages.  Check out these other titles for more outdoor activity ideas: Exploring Nature Activity Book for Kids by Kim Andrews The Rainy Day Adventure Book by Steph Scott and Katie Akers I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature by Jennifer Ward  Click here to download the list of Books to Help Your Kids (And You!) Engage In Nature to keep as a handy reference! Want to dig into more books about nature? Join the Hike it Baby online bookclub!  ABOUT HIKE IT BABY Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Hosley. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of those links you won’t pay more but Hike it Baby will get a small commission which helps us further our mission. Thanks!  

According to the Oxford dictionary, a volunteer is a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. At Hike it Baby, volunteers are people who give their time, heart, passion, initiative, and creativity to better the lives of families in their communities and beyond. They work tirelessly to raise a generation to love the outdoors and each other. In celebration of April’s National Volunteer Month, we want to shine a light on the tremendous team of volunteers that are the heart of Hike it Baby. vol·un·teer /ˌvälənˈtir/ Noun A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task. National Volunteer Teams Keep Hike it Baby Running Did you know that every hike submitted to the calendar is reviewed for accuracy and thoroughness, to ensure a positive hike experience, by a volunteer? Did you know that when you email tech support with a question or issue, a volunteer is helping you? Did you know that the majority of the content on the Hike it Baby blog is written by volunteer writers? With a small, mostly part-time staff of eight, the majority of the day-to-day work that happens at Hike it Baby is completed by volunteers. At the National level, over 70 volunteers run 10 essential teams within the organization. Each team is operated by a dedicated Team Captain. The teams include Ambassador Support, Calendar, Hike it Baby 30 Challenge, Mentorship, Technical Support, Family Trail Guide, Training and Content. The efforts of our Team Captains and the national volunteers are what keep the day to day of Hike it Baby running. Thank you to our Team Captains that move our mission forward with essential work: Vanessa Wright - ACE Team Captain Paige Forberger - Calendar Team Captain Rebecca Hosley - Lead Blog Volunteer Jennifer Grenter - Branch/Data Team Lacey Stock - Family Trail Guide Team Keira Wickliffe Berger - Family Trail Guide Team Dustin Thorley - Hike it Baby 30 Challenge Team & Social Media Team Michelle Robinson - Mentor Team Sara Marion - Tech Support (Not pictured: Sara Marion)     Branch Ambassadors Build the Hike it Baby Community Over 570 Branch Ambassadors keep Hike it Baby’s 300+ Branches running across North America, helping nearly 280,000 families attend over 16,000 hikes annually. Hike it Baby Branch Ambassadors are role models within their communities, cultivating an inclusive group for families to meet regularly in the outdoors, upholding the values of Hike it Baby, and spreading a love for nature and each other. Branch Ambassadors spend their time hosting hikes, creating engagement in their Branch Facebook group, promoting their Branch to encourage new participants, and working with and guiding hike hosts. Branch Ambassadors are inspiring, creative, positive, and dedicated. They foster local Hike it Baby communities that directly benefit the people in their area by connecting more families with babies and young children to nature and each other. Thank You to our Volunteers In 2019, Hike it Baby volunteers worked over 100,000 hours, driven by their passion for ensuring everyone experiences the many benefits of nature. A very heartfelt thank you to all of the Hike it Baby volunteers, past and present, that have helped to make Hike it Baby the organization it is today.  Whether you are an experienced outdoors person or just getting started, becoming a Hike it Baby Ambassador in your community is an amazing way to build a strong outdoor foundation for your whole family. Learn how you can get involved with Hike it Baby by volunteering today! If you are a current Hike it Baby Ambassador and are interested in volunteering at the National level, please contact [email protected]. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating, and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Images courtesy of Laura Castro. 

Hello, fellow Hike it Baby families. I am writing to you today with very mixed emotions. Our state just made the call not to let our kids go back to the classroom for the rest of the year. This greatly affects my family, especially my kindergartner. As her mom, I am frustrated, sad, and overwhelmed. How am I supposed to make sure she gets her education for the rest of the year while juggling full-time work, a three-year-old, and a cooped up family stuck at home? I know my struggles in the big picture are pretty trivial, but I also know there are many families experiencing this or other immediate challenges that feel very big right now.  In fact, we are all experiencing new and unexpected hardships. Being under quarantine, practicing social distancing, and following executive orders to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 is really hard. It brings so much uncertainty. Many are losing jobs, some are losing loved ones, and we’re all losing access to our usual coping strategies. Not knowing when it will end can be debilitating.  In this time of extreme struggle, I would like to ask you all to consider your judgment of others. An HiB advisor, James Edward Mills, recently shared this post on his Facebook page: “It's no secret that I haven't been sheltering exclusively at home. I've been going outside by myself to get a bit of exercise, fresh air and sunshine between long sessions in front of my computer. I've kept my distance from others at all times and I hope that folks understand that time outside is a way to maintain our physical and mental health during this national crisis. As long as we don't congregate in groups or make direct contact with the people we meet out there we can avoid unintended exposure to the virus. A friend shared on Facebook this morning something that I hope we can all bear in mind when we consider how those around us are doing their best to cope: "I've tried to formulate into words how I feel about all the harsh comments and judgments on FB which honestly have just made my heart hurt but have always come up short. These are not my words but I agree 100% so am lovingly sharing: 'I've seen a lot of nasty posts in regards to people making "non-essential" trips .. Do you ever think maybe that guy buying a gallon of paint knows he must keep busy because idle hands in the past have caused him to relapse and pick up that case of beer? So he's using this time to do home improvements, something that keeps his mind busy while feeling a sense of accomplishment, trying to avoid painful triggers while possibly alone? Or maybe that lady buying bags of soil and seeds, hasn't struggled with depression and suicide? How do you know that planting and watching something beautiful grow during this time of darkness, isn't essential to her and holding on to what little hope she might still have .. We need to remember that it is impossible to know just by looking at a situation from "our" small lens what someone is truly going through or where their mental health is at. Everyone handles chaos and healing through different means, and I know we are all on edge but please stop being so judgmental of others." #mentalhealthisnumberone” It really spoke to me because I think it is so easy to judge others for what they are doing, without actually understanding them or their reasons. All we know is what we see. We have to take it upon ourselves to look past that and seek understanding, or at the very least, accept that we don’t have all the information and let go of our assumptions to give others some grace and the benefit of the doubt.  I have been hearing from our Ambassadors that many of them are worried about posting in their Branch Facebook groups right now because they don’t know how it will be perceived if they share how they are getting outside. They are especially concerned about families who don’t have safe access or means to get outside right now feeling sadder because of their posts. I applaud their big hearts. I also want to encourage all of our members, ambassadors, and families who follow us to reach past the fear and check in with each other. Have open conversations wherever you can to find out how others are doing and to find out what you might do to support each other.  Protecting our mental health and being kind to each other are some of our best weapons against the current chaos. Remember that our children are watching us and learning from how we handle this. We need to show them it’s OK to be stressed and it’s OK to be worried, but that we can still be positive and supportive, too. We are finding new coping strategies and new ways to be a part of society right now. We don’t have all the answers, but we can help each other find solutions. Our own kindness is one of the few things we still have control over. Find a way to get a breath of fresh air, even if it’s just by opening a window and setting a chair underneath so you can bask in the spring sunshine. Don’t begrudge others when they find their moment. If you find yourself thinking critically of others, try to give them grace by considering the reasons they might need to be doing the thing you are judging. If you were in their shoes, why would you make the choice they are making at that moment? Is there a way you can be positive instead of making a negative or critical comment? Is there something you can do to avoid or ignore what you’re seeing? I know it’s hard, but do your best to look for the good as much as you can. Compassion is so important in times of struggle. Be creative in finding your own outlets so you have space to offer positivity to others. Stay safe and protect your own health, especially your mental health. Most importantly, stay kind and keep your judgement at home, safely socially distanced from others. -Jessica Carrillo Alatorre, Hike it Baby Executive Director About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Andrea Leoncavallo.

National Park Week is April 18 - 22, 2020. While most National Park facilities and events are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Park Service and the National Park Trust are offering a variety of online activities including virtual tours, scavenger hunts, trivia contests, and junior ranger programs to help you celebrate from home. To kick off the week, the National Park Service (@NatlParkService) and National Park Foundation will host a Twitter chat on April 16 at 1:00 PM EDT. Join the conversation and share your favorite memories, tips and stories about national parks using the hashtags #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque, and #NationalParkWeek. “Although much has changed in recent weeks, an assortment of fun and engaging digital National Park Week events can help people connect to our shared heritage and natural landscapes,” said David Vela, National Park Service Deputy Director, exercising the authority of the Director.  Here are the ways you can join the fun!  Digital Tours Join Elmo and Murray from Sesame Street as they explore Grand Canyon National Park. Tour Channel Islands National Park with Jordan Fisher and Crater Lake National Park with Dierks Bentley in these virtual visits. Watch the videos on a mobile device to get the full experience by moving around to see the full span of these remarkable landscapes.  Meet the baby animals that call our National Parks home in this adorable video.  Get lost from the comfort of your couch in the many real-time National Park webcams.  Take a peek into once restricted places that served as part of America's Cold War nuclear defense with a virtual 3-D tour of the Minuteman Missile.  Check out the virtual 3-D model of Devil’s Tower.  Follow the social media accounts for specific National Parks, such as Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, for live virtual tours, daily images, and interactive educational programs! Hit this link for the full list of National Park Service Find Your “Virtual” Park activities!  Digital Junior Ranger Activities Become an Aztec Ruins Online Junior Ranger by learning about the Aztec Ruins National Monument in New Mexico and the ancestral Pueblo people who lived there. Once you successfully complete a series of online activities you can submit your information to receive a Junior Ranger patch in the mail! Earn your printable Homestead Virtual Ranger badge by learning about the Homestead National Monument through the pages of the National Park Service website and taking an online quiz.  Preschool-aged kids will enjoy the printable Fort Scott Junior Ranger activity booklet.  Find other Junior Ranger activities and ways to earn patches from home for various Parks here. Printable Activities Did you know the tall tree in the National Park Arrowhead logo represents the different natural resources the Parks protect? Learn what the various images on the National Park logo represent, then print and color your own National Park logo. The National Park website has several downloadable coloring pages including the Birds of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Glen Canyon, Golden Gate Recreational Area and, Susan B. Anthony’s house.  Explore all of the online activities for kids (or the kid in you!) that you can do at home on the National Park website. Get Social Follow the National Park Service on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.  Post about your National Park experience on social media using the hashtags #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque, and #NationalParkWeek. Join the conversation on these special social media theme days using these hashtags: April 18th - Junior Ranger Day - #JuniorRangerDay April 19th - Volunteer Day - #NPSVolunteer April 20th - Military Monday - #MilitaryMonday April 21st - Transportation Tuesday - #TransportationTuesday, #NPSOnTheMove April 22nd - Earth Day - #EarthDay April 23rd - Throwback Thursday - #ThrowbackThursday April 24th - Friendship Friday - #FriendshipFriday #NPSFriends April 25th - Park Rx Day - #ParkRx, #HealthyParksHealthyPeople April 26th - Bark Ranger Day - #BarkRanger Share your National Park story for a chance to have it featured on the National Park Trust social media sites and in the #ShareYourPark gallery. Donate Donate directly to the National Park Foundation or start a Facebook fundraiser for the National Parks.  Plan Your Trip Make plans to visit a National Park in the future. Take the quiz and find out which Park is the perfect fit for you and your family. Then read up on tips and activities for families in the National Parks with the Hike it Baby blog series.  There are many ways to support our National Parks. Visit the National Park Service and National Park Trust for more information on the innovative digital experience launching this year to celebrate National Park Week! Stay up-to-date on outdoor resources, trail tips and tactics for families with young children, and community news with the Hike it Baby community newsletter. Subscribe today! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Thank you to the National Park Service, National Park Trust and National Park Foundation for the links and resources mentioned in this article. Photos courtesy of the National Park Service and Deanna Curry.

Earth Day is right around the corner (April 22nd) and why not celebrate it in style with one or more of these easy and fun activities! The best part? Almost all of these can be done right at home! Plant a pollinator garden You don’t need a yard to plant bee and butterfly friendly flowers! A balcony is perfect for growing a sunflower or maybe some lavender. Need some ideas on which flowers to plant? The US Forest Service has you covered. Their website has information on ways to attract pollinators and you will even find links to regional and native plants to consider. Do a neighborhood trash cleanup Unfortunately, trash always seems to find its way onto the ground. Grab some gloves and a bucket and meander through your neighborhood picking up trash. Kids love it and it is so good for the environment. Here are some tips for trail clean-up safety  and a video about how to keep trails litter free that you can apply to your neighborhood efforts. Create a nature weaving Another way to store and display the many wonderful nature treasures children find is to create a nature weaving.  Use food scraps to plant veggie starts Looking for a way to reduce your food waste? What better time to explore a new way of starting a vegetable garden than to celebrate Earth Day! This blog post offers some vegetables to try and how to go about it. Make wildflower seed bombs There are a variety of recipes, but the basics are wildflower seeds, compost/dirt, and clay. Such a fun activity and they make great Earth Day gifts. Play outside What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to soak up some time outside with family. Here is a list of 30 things you can do right outside your door in 30 minutes. Learn something new about nature Don’t know much about snails? Or maybe you want your kids to know more about the plants native to your area? What better time to dive in and learn more about the nature around us than Earth Day!? Read nature-related books Take some time on Earth Day to read some books focused on nature. Bonus points for reading them outside! Check out this blog post for Earth Day theme book ideas. Create a nature playscape in your yard  Spend some time outside creating a more nature-focused play area for your children. Include your children in the process. This Hike it Baby blog post offers some easy ideas to incorporate nature in any play area. Go on a nature scavenger hunt Create a simple scavenger hunt with items you know are in your local park or neighborhood. Find some ideas here or view this Pinterest board for more inspiration.   Sort recycling Teach your kids the difference between bottles, cans, paper, and more. Let them help you sort through your recycling. If you go on a neighborhood trash pickup, you could also sort the trash and pick out the recycling. Make it a game. Kids learn best when playing. Eat dandelions Nourish your bodies with a healthy edible flower. The dandelion greens are great in salads and the petals are delicious in cookies. There are a lot of recipes out there to incorporate these healthy edible flowers. Learn more! Cook an environmentally conscious meal Celebrate Earth Day by eating environmentally friendly food. Shop local, eat vegetarian or vegan, or eat foods you grew or that are ethically sourced. There are a lot of options. Learn About Leave No Trace Practices Check out these Hike it Baby blog posts that will help you teach your littles the important points of practicing Leave No Trace on the trail and set the foundation from an early age. Make a bird feeder Celebrate Earth Day by feeding the birds. Egg cartons or the cardboard centers of toilet paper, with some peanut butter and bird seed make for an excellent, Leave No Trace friendly, (and easy) craft. Go for a walk in your neighborhood Get outside and walk your neighborhood. Just being outside and soaking up some mother nature is an excellent way to honor the day. Explore worms and composting What better time to dive in and explore the world of composting? No need to start a compost pile (unless you want to), you could spend the time learning about how compost works and what process worms play. Make leaf rubbings Even though it is Spring, finding leaves on the ground to make leaf rubbings with can still happen. This is a project that is always a hit and is so much fun for children and adults alike. Construction paper sun prints  Grab some construction paper, some household or nature finds, and explore this fun outdoor activity! This blog post lays out how the process works.  Start a nature journal Increase awareness or better document time spent in nature with your children by nature journaling. And what better time to decide to learn this process than Earth Day!? Make a bug hotel Bugs need homes too and spending Earth Day building them a home is a wonderful and engaging activity. Plus, for all those budding entomologists, this makes for a neat place to stop and observe bugs in action. Here is one example of making a simple bug hotel. Create art with recycled materials Instead of throwing away the egg carton or tossing the junk mail, use it to create works of art! Any other ideas out there for fun and simple Earth Day activities to do with children? Let us know in the comments!  Join a community of like-minded parents and caregivers with a shared mission of connecting families with babies and young children to the outdoors and each other. Learn about Hike it Baby membership options and join the fun today! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photos courtesy of Jessica Human and Laura Castro.

Education and Adventure in Every Download Find adventure right in your local outside space! Hike it Baby and Super Nature Adventures have partnered to create two downloadable PDF series to help you and your children bring more fun to your backyard, neighborhood, or local park. Each issue includes activities, crafts, games and other ways to actively engage in nature.  Each illustrated issue includes six pages of outside activities, crafts, games, and other ideas to engage in nature.  The publication arrives in your email inbox as a downloadable PDF you can print or use right from your tablet. New issues in each series will be released every other week. Proceeds Help Support COVID-19 Relief The interactive booklets are a great way to encourage safe and responsible outside time for families that are sheltering at home and practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. One dollar from the sale of each download will be donated to Global Giving's Coronavirus Relief Fund, which supports a range of projects serving urgent medical needs.   Explore Your Own World This series features fun activities and crafts to help your kids get outside, get inspired, and get creative. For kids ages 3 - 11. View Available Issues and Order Today! Create Your Own World This series is an ode to all the dreamers and kiddos with imaginary friends...and also just for any kid who needs some tools to imagine an outside place where they can feel free, powerful, and safe. For kids ages 4 -13. View Available Issues and Order Today! The cost is $5 per issue, and Hike it Baby members receive a $2 discount. Visit the Community Discounts page to grab the code. Make sure you are logged into the website to access the code. [embed]https://youtu.be/YwNyQ8OxvZ8[/embed] We believe kids and families need nature now more than ever, and getting outside is as easy as taking a step out of your front door. Subscribe to our Community Newsletter to stay in the loop on when new issues in each series are released. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Guys, I know since the COVID-19 virus hit, EVERYTHING has been canceled and it seems every day there is more daunting news. But there are also some good things coming out of all this! I am here to inject your day with a dose of positivity and a boatload full of resources to hopefully help get you through all the madness. Community First things first, I know we are all missing our friends, family, and communities right now. To stay connected Hike It Baby has started the Front Step Challenge. It’s exactly what it sounds like, take a picture of you and your family outside your door and share it on social media with the hashtag #frontstepchallenge. The goal, to share the idea that getting time outside is as simple as taking a step out of your door. Let us know what you are doing to get outside every day and feel the love across those screens. We are all in this together.  The Hike it Baby 30 Challenge is another way to stay connected with your Hike it Baby family and keep the motivation to get outside daily. This April, commit to 30 minutes outside three times a week or 30 miles in 30 days. Or, make the Challenge your own. This time around, members are selecting a goal of total minutes outside for the month or no zero outside time days. Your entry fee to the Challenge is a tax-deductible donation to support Hike it Baby's mission of getting more families outside. Your participation gets you access to an exclusive Facebook group, automatic eligibility to win tons of prizes from sponsors such as L.L.Bean, Merrel, Joovy, Sunday Afternoons, Joules and more! Virtual Field Trips Of course, getting outside for fresh air every day is still a priority, but for the rest of the hours in the day that suddenly need to be filled here’s a list of 30 virtual trips you can take with your kids. Explore Yellowstone, The Great Wall of China and even Mars. Google Earth is offering tours of 31 of the nation’s National Parks! The Cincinnati Zoo is offering virtual safari’s every day through Facebook and if you’re trying to get your little one to relax and wind down for the day The Monterey Bay Aquarium is showing this live cam of sharks. They are both beautiful and sleep-inducing... you’re welcome!  Oh and if your little one won’t sit still long enough for some of these try checking out Google’s new feature that lets you hang out with animals in 3D in your living room. Books The authors and entertainers of the world have come together to read books to us including LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow, Eric Carle, and Christopher Walken! Operation Story Time includes the likes of Mo Willems and Dolly Parton, and astronauts are reading books from space. Educational Resources This site has compiled 150 educational shows on Netflix, many of them nature-based, such as Night on Earth, If I Were An Animal, and Monkey Planet. This site offers 12 virtual tours of famous museums, and whale experts have gotten together to offer a free virtual marine biology camp. As if that wasn’t enough to brighten your day and keep you busy it turns out people sheltering at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is actually having a positive effect on the environment. Plus, I’ve seen my neighbors coming together to help each other out by turning little libraries into little food pantries, offering to pair foster animals with people isolated on their own to stave off loneliness and hotels opening their doors to people who otherwise wouldn’t have a stable place to quarantine. Oh, and I almost forgot, John Krasinski of The Office just started his own news channel called Some Good News so if you need a smile, check it out (not necessarily for kids, but a little something for the parents out there). I feel good just writing about all that. I hope it put a smile on your face, too! With all the resources and good deeds happening out there I’m sure I missed some, please share them with us and keep the smiles and good vibes rolling. Hike it Baby branches are keeping their communities active during the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting virtual hikes and activities that can be completed by your family in your backyard or local outdoor space. Find your local Hike it Baby branch to create a connection with like-minded parents and caregivers and stay up-to-date on current virtual events as well as future in-person hikes when we can once again join each other on the trail. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photos courtesy of Sara Wesche and Jennifer Campbell.

Lacey Stock - Family Trail Guide Co-Captain Tech Support Team member Calendar Team member Branch Ambassador for the Kenai Peninsula Alaska Lacey Stock volunteers for a number of Hike it Baby teams. She is the Family Trail Guide Team Co-Captain, helping to build the number one resource for trail information geared toward families in North America. Lacey also volunteers time on the Tech Support Team and Calendar Team. She offers additional help when it is needed, writing content, proofreading, maintaining the website and jumping on just about any job that needs to be done. Lastly, Lacey is the sole Branch Ambassador for the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, which covers 16,000 square mies. Lacey grew up in Katy, Texas on a water buffalo farm. Now she lives in Nikiski, Alaska with her husband and three girls (Rebekah - 7, Hannah - 5, and Esther - 3), as well as the animals on their hobby farm. Until recently, they had an amazing adventure living off-grid. Lacey is a stay-at-home-mom and is completing her Bachelors of Social Sciences degree. She aspires to get her Ph.D. in Petroleum Geology. She is an elected official for the Senior Service Area Board in her borough and is a health and fitness coach and yoga instructor. Lacey loves being outside. In addition to hiking, you’ll find her playing sports, hunting, fishing, and adventuring. She also enjoys reading, writing, and travel. You can connect with Lacey on Instagram @lacey.stock and on Facebook. How long have you been a Hike it Baby volunteer? Two and a half years. How did you get involved with Hike it Baby? I followed our local Branch Facebook page for a while. The Branch Ambassador for our Branch had moved and was looking for a new Branch Ambassador to take over. I volunteered and started hosting hikes immediately. I really identified with the Hike it Baby message and so I wanted to volunteer more with the non-profit. I was a SAHM losing my mind because I didn't feel productive and volunteering for Hike it Baby gave me an outlet. I saw a post in the newsletter asking for Tech Support team volunteers and I joined. My volunteer work grew from there, joining the calendar team, helping to build and test the Family Trail Guide and finally being asked to Captain the Family Trail Guide team.  What motivates you to volunteer with Hike it Baby? I love the message. I love the outdoors and I want that value instilled in as many children as possible. I believe humans are losing our connection to nature and the world around us and if I can do something to prevent that, I will. I also like to stay busy and be productive and volunteering for Hike it Baby gives me an outlet as a SAHM. I also really LOVE the people I work with and consider many of them my friends, not just co-workers. It has helped me connect with people that otherwise would find me intimidating in "real life." Sometimes the barrier of virtual allows people to get to know each other better because no one pre-judges you. What’s great about being on a Hike it Baby team and why should others want to join you? They are my friends! We started out as strangers and developed friendships. I love talking with everyone. We have become sounding boards for each other in all aspects of life and I feel I’ve built lifelong friendships with my fellow Hike it Baby volunteers. Hike it Baby relies on volunteers like Lacey to help our growing non-profit meet our goal of connecting families with young children to nature and each other. We currently have over 70 national volunteers and over 370 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. Learn how you can get involved in Hike it Baby through membership, by making a donation, or connecting with your local branch. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photos courtesy of Lacey Stock.

It is the 14th day my family and I have self-quarantined due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Though it is a gorgeous, sunny day, and I, as the extrovert of the family am bouncing off the walls to get outside, my homebody-son is not.  My 3-year-old son is actually thriving in this new social-distancing era. He loves to stay at home and play trains and trucks and that’s about it. We do get outside most days but, to be honest, he’s a little bored with my usual arsenal of outdoor ideas and requires extra coaxing just to get dressed. I know I’m not alone here. At this point, everyone is running out of creative ideas (and wine...am I, right mamas?!). So, here are some of the things we’ve been doing to stay motivated to get outside every day!   Toy Scavenger Hunt  My son loves animals, especially night animals, so I took all of his tiny figurines outside and hid them in our yard. When I told him he had to come outside to find them because they were hiding, it blew his little mind. He kept asking to do it again and again and we spent at least an hour outside in the sunshine. There are endless possibilities like this that can be done right outside your door. Pro Tip: Count all of the pieces before hiding them so you don’t lose any and anything with bright colors is best. We had a hard time finding the grey wolf, brown bison and tan elk in our neutral colored yard. Nature Is Not Canceled  Though Hike it Baby hikes are on hold for the moment that doesn’t mean you can’t do your own. I am big on structure in order to make my day go smoothly. With the hiatus of groups like Hike it Baby, my days are left with gaping holes of time that I struggle to fill unless I have a plan. It helps me to schedule out time in my planner for a hike or outdoor time just as I would for a Hike it Baby gathering. In fact, this is the perfect time to participate in the Hike it Baby 30 Challenge. It’s a great motivator to get outside for 30 miles or 30 minutes 3 times a week in the month of April. Mix It Up We are creatures of habit and even though this is a new and bizarre situation, at this point we have acclimated and have a routine. Around the same time every day, I start to get antsy and want to get outside and thus begin the cajoling, begging and bribing of my son to get dressed and come outside with me. However, I’ve found going out at different times of day helps a lot. Try going for a walk at sunrise or sunset. Make note of the different colors in the sky, the animals, the way the air feels. If your child stays up late enough try stargazing.  Set Up An Obstacle Course I don’t know about you, but I think everything is more fun with an obstacle course (and fake lava or alligators). Social distancing makes our options pretty limited and I find myself visiting the same neighborhood trails over and over again. Adding obstacles to jump over, skip around, roll into or even throw can make the same old hike way more interesting for the little ones. If you have any ideas for staying motivated to get outside I’d love to hear them because, as you know, we are in this together! Help a mama out! While we are pausing in-person hikes for the time being for the safety and health of our communities, be sure to check out the virtual hikes and activities happening in your Hike it Baby branch Facebook group. Learn more about hosting a virtual hike here! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Ashley Scheider.

We live in an age of incredible technology that allows us all to remain connected even when we are worlds apart, or just unable to join in or host group activities. And we all know research says the great outdoors is really important to your mental and physical health. Even just 15 minutes outside in your own yard or neighborhood is incredibly helpful. This is where virtual hikes and activities come into play. Never heard of it? Not sure what to do? Just looking for more ideas to encourage others to get outside? Then read on. This article is for you! The Basics of Virtual Outdoor Activities Instead of everyone coming together in-person to complete an activity or hike at the same time, families instead participate on their own time and when and where they feel comfortable doing so. Participants share photos and comments to keep the virtual connectedness flowing using social media or any other shared online platform. A virtual activity is something that could be done without ever leaving your immediate outdoor area. A virtual hike usually covers more distance but, again, is done when the participant is able and comfortable doing so. The best part? Hosting these virtual adventures is easy. You select which activity or hike you want to host and simply post the details and any guidelines online. Hike it Baby members can use their Branch Facebook pages or the Hike it Baby calendar to host virtual events. Virtual hikes and activities can also be done with any other group, community, or your friends and family.  Here are some ideas to get you started. Virtual Activity Ideas Outdoor Picture Bingo This one is simple! Post a picture of your family doing something outside and ask others to share a photo in the comments of their family doing something outside. The catch? The photo they post must have one thing in common with the one before it. For example, if the photo before is a babywearing dad hiking next to a tree, the next picture could be any outdoor babywearing photo or any outdoor activity next to a tree. This or That Share two photos of outdoor areas (usually opposites) and ask people to comment on which they would rather be hiking or exploring. March Madness (change the month to suit your needs) Create a bracket system for local favorite trails. Have two trails go head to head and have members vote on which trail they like better. Continue through the bracket until you have a favorite trail narrowed down. Then encourage folks to go and hike it when they are able to! Polls Polls are a simple and effective way to get a Facebook group engaged. Questions to ask could be, name your favorite park, name your favorite toddler-friendly trail, name your favorite carrier only trail, name your favorite place to splash in the water, name your favorite weather-specific gear, and more. After the poll closes encourage families to go and try out the top voted activity (and post the pics!). Kid Questionnaire These are popular and often very humorous. Create a set of questions that caregivers can ask their kids and record what the kids say. You can make it outdoor specific by asking things like, “What is your favorite hike you have ever gone on? What is your favorite thing to do with Hike it Baby? What do you dislike the most about hiking? What is your favorite trail snack?” Who knows, maybe one kid’s answers will prompt another family to try something new! Art Challenge Create a list of art activities with an outdoor theme for your Hike it Baby Branch or other groups to participate in. Ask everyone to take photos of their children’s finished pieces and delight in the creativity of little minds. Some ideas include birds, full moon, hiking with a friend, trees, flowers, a favorite beach, favorite outdoor memory, snow play, and so much more. Create Your Ultimate Trail Snack Challenge Encourage your Branch, group, or friends to come up with their ultimate trail snack by researching recipes, making, and then, of course, taste-testing them. Ask them to share photos and recipes. Virtual Hike Ideas Remember to ask families to share pictures of themselves completing the hike so you can all share in the adventure virtually together.  Local Scavenger Hunt Create a collage with pictures of local landmarks and important places to visit. Then ask your Branch, group, or friends to find and take a selfie with the images from the collage in the background. BINGO game or Seasonal Scavenger Hunt Use a Hike it Baby BINGO or scavenger hunt graphic or create your own. It should include activities or items that can be found in your area. For example, find wildflowers, admire a spider web, find an acorn, build a sandcastle, skip rocks, climb a log/tree, build a snowman, dig for worms, etc. Ask participants to share photos of themselves doing the BINGO game or scavenger hunt too. Here are some additional easy to host virtual hike ideas. Ride a bike or scooter Hike near a body of water Find cool shadows Go puddle jumping Find each color of the rainbow Hike with a stuffed animal or doll Wear a costume on a hike Find a wild animal or insect Hike your favorite local trail Visit your favorite playground Visit your favorite county park Draw a picture in the sand/dirt Find the prettiest flower  Find the biggest rock you can carry Have any other great ideas for virtual hikes or activities? Please share them in the comments. Join a community of like-minded parents and caregivers with a shared mission of connecting families with babies and young children to the outdoors and each other. Learn about Hike it Baby membership options and join the fun today! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photos courtesy of Amy Diebold and Kyla Philips.

What makes our earth so unique is the presence of water. This key substance connects every aspect of life on our planet, and is essential for the survival of all living things, from tiny microscopic bacteria to massive blue whales. And yet even on a planet composed of over 70% water, 1 in 9 people lack access to safe, drinkable water. That’s approximately 785 million people worldwide. Thankfully, companies like Lifestraw are trying to change that. Lifestraw established the Give Back Program in 2014 as a way to clean contaminated water and make it safe to drink for communities around the world. How Does it Work? Lifestraw Community filters are transported and installed at schools in vulnerable communities. These filters meet the highest requirements of the World Health Organization and the US EPA, removing virtually all viruses, bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from water. A single filter lasts three to five years and is capable of filtering approximately 100,000 liters of water. This serves 75 to 100 school children, and the number of filters needed for each school is dependent upon the school population. Contributing to their program is as easy as purchasing any product. For every Lifestraw product sold, a child in need receives safe water for an entire school year. But this program does more than just provide water filters for communities in need. A dedicated team of staff and volunteers is sent to crucial sites around the world to ensure sustainability through comprehensive planning, training, education and quarterly follow-up visits for five years. At the end of 2019, this program already provided 3,367,145 students with 1 year of safe water and reached 1,870 schools with 12,220 filters delivered and almost 16,000 follow up visits. Check out this video for more information on this incredible program: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as0tZxByp5A&feature=emb_logo[/embed] Hike it Baby is proud to have Lifestraw as one of our partners. Learn more about the partners that support Hike it Baby’s mission to connect families with young children to the outdoors and each other. About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Michelle Pearl Gee.