OutGrown Blog

Legs on fire, I gripped the stroller handlebars tightly as I pushed nearly 100 pounds of kids, snacks, and BOB up the hill. My heavy heart pounded harder and harder with each step and threatened to burst out of my chest. A flood of tears spilled down my cheeks, an unbridled response to the physical and emotional overwhelm I felt through my entire body. The grief over the death of my brother only weeks prior weighed me down tremendously. My boys rode happily up the hill, their eyes peeled for the birds and rabbits startled by the sound of our hardy wheels on the gravel underfoot. With the exception of the occasional car below us, Garden of the Gods felt unusually quiet. At long last, we made it to the top of the hill. We rounded a corner, broke through the grove of scrub oak, and came into full view of the red rock formations below. I paused at an overlook for a moment to catch my breath and take in the beautiful sight. Time stood still for a few seconds, just long enough for the boys to get a little antsy in the motionless stroller. Four-year-old Luke asked sweetly if we could keep going, so on we went. The sweat on my forehead and the pumping blood in my veins helped to slowly release some of the pressure in my chest. With each full breath of fresh air, I could feel the muscles in my face, neck, and upper back relax a bit more. The rhythm of my footsteps calmed my racing mind just enough to allow the endorphins to start to work their positive magic. My boys rode happily down the hill, completely oblivious to the pain I felt. I gripped the stroller handlebars tightly as I eased the three of us down and back into the trees. “I will be okay,” I said quietly to myself, as tears continued to roll down my cheeks. “We will all be okay.” April’s Hike it Baby 30 and our BOB Gear Challenge gave my family the extra boost to get outside and seek comfort and healing on the trails in the wake of my brother’s unexpected passing early last month. Some days were easy; other days required every bit of strength I could gather just to get us out the door. The goal of 30 off-road stroller miles gently pushed me outside on those tough days. My boys and I logged our miles in many different places and with different groups over the course of the month. We strolled with their dad, with my dad, with dear Hike it Baby friends, and on our own. We strolled beside the ocean, beneath impressive rock formations, through the trees, and along the creekside that divides some of our local neighborhoods. I will hold many of these stroller hikes close to my heart for a very long time. There is something miraculously therapeutic about simply putting one foot in front of the other. Sadness, stress, and overwhelm begin to lose their power with the very first step. If you are grieving, if you are troubled, or if you are overcome, gather up every last drop of strength you have and head outside. Comfort and healing can be found beside the ocean, beneath the trees, and on the tops of mountains. Be sure to read Jessie's initial post about her journey and the BOB Gear Challenge : A Journey to Healing.

Far and away one of the biggest concerns I had prior to taking my children camping, was whether they would sleep. I was concerned they would never fall asleep, that they would nurse all night, that I'd wake them up, that they'd wake me up, that they'd be up at 4 am. The list of worries was long. I'm sure you've had some of the same concerns. I assure you, your kid will sleep, eventually. Here are some things to think about when planning to sleep in a tent next to your kids. Where do you want them to sleep? Warren was nine months old and Graham was two when I first took them camping last year. Warren slept on a blanket folded up a bunch of times and Graham slept on a Thermarest with a down sleeping bag. There are two things to think about in regards to when your kid is ready for a sleeping bag. One: Kids need either kids sized sleeping bags or to have the bottom of an adult bag stuffed with insulation so that they don't have to heat as much space. Two: Graham doesn't move around a lot in his sleep, so he stays on his pad. This is super important since the pad is what insulates him from the ground. If you have a squirmer there are sleeping bags that attach to the pad. Warren is much more of a wiggle worm. He keeps scooting until he ends up at a corner. If you have the space for it, a pack n play in the tent is a great option to consider. It would be helpful especially if your kid is like Warren, but we fit four people in our four man tent, so ultimately we make do. Four-man tent set up for two kids, two adults with the adults in the middle. For those who co-sleep, an inflatable mattress or double sleeping bag is a great option to allow you to continue to co-sleep while at camp. If you are going the double sleeping bag route, look into how you secure your sleeping pad. Once again, it's important to make sure that your baby or toddler is insulated from the ground,so try to avoid gaps between the two pads. They make double sleeping pads as well, which would eliminate this concern. Four-man tent set up for two adults and one kid, with the kid sleeping in the pack-n-play. What are they going to wear? We love wool baselayers for sleeping in. For the especially small infant, who isn't in a sleeping bag, I'd put them in wool base layers, a fleece sleeper, and top it with a sleep sack (fleece or wool). If it's going to be cool a wool hat and mittens are a great idea. If you are co-sleeping, your infant might be fine with just the base layers, since they will be sharing your body heat. Graham is a very hot sleeper and sleeps in a wool t-shirt and pants. In the mornings and evenings we throw a wool hoodie on him while he runs around camp. Warren is a very cool sleeper, so he usually sleeps in wool long johns and possibly a blanket sleeper plus sleep sack, depending on the time of year. He also won't stay in a sleeping bag yet, so it's important to layer him up. Graham (3.5) sleeping When are they going to bed? When we camp bedtime is easily an hour later than at home. This allows them to burn off excess energy and not have to fight the sunlight. We typically bring a hammock and I rock Warren to sleep. Graham is a solar powered kid and practically puts himself to sleep once the sun goes down or he's been up for 13 hours, whichever comes first. But how will I get them to sleep? I've found that my children are less sleep resistant when we camp. It has something to do with the amount of fresh air, sunshine, and energy level of the days. Add that to "jammies, book, and bed" and usually we have two sleeping kids. For those kids that fall asleep best when you leave them alone, I'd put them in the tent and let them work it out. I also am not afraid of bringing out my phone with our white noise app on it, if we are desperate. We do occasionally set up the tent in our yard to allow for our kids to get used to being in it. We have a two man tent and don't want to buy a larger tent just yet. Not a problem! Especially for the younger babies who aren't mobile yet. The set-up below could also be easily modified so that one adult could be in the middle with two kids on the side. This post is sponsored by Chasing Windmills. Hike it Baby was provided product in exchange for inclusion in this post. We would not recommend something that our children do not love. Our opinions are our own. All other gear pictured above is the author's own gear.   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. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

Hearing a child exclaim, "I'm having fun! I'm really having fun!" while out hiking is such a wonderful thing to hear. Knowing that it is the first time they have been able to walk more than a few feet without becoming exhausted makes it even more sweet. Children like Ethan, who was born with Heterotaxy Syndrome, have a much different experience than other children who venture outdoors to play. Ethan is two-and-a-half  and lives in New Jersey with his sister, Zoe (four years old), and parents Ali and Philip. Ali was overjoyed to watch Ethan on his first hike after his recent surgery (his fourth open heart surgery). Continually looking back at her and beaming, Ethan explored more of the trail than he ever had been able to before. Ali is a pediatric nurse and worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for two years before leaving her job to live and work on a hospital ship as part of an all-volunteer crew sailing up and down the west coast of Africa, providing free surgical care and health care development. On board, she was the head nurse for head and neck reconstructive surgery. Her medical training would prove to be beneficial in the care of her son. Ali, Zoe, and Philip on the ship before Ethan was born. The Diagnosis During a routine ultrasound at 25 weeks, Ali heard words that every parent dreads. "I'll never forget the way the doctor's voice sounded when she leaned toward me and said, 'This will be hard to hear.'" Ali learned that there were critical congenital heart defects and was given a diagnosis of heterotaxy syndrome. She also was told that the baby was a boy. "Suddenly, the name we'd chosen before I ever got pregnant was absolutely perfect: Ethan. It means 'strength,'" explained Ali. Ethan means "strength" According to Ali, "Ethan is an old soul, unsurprising given all he's been through. He's a quiet kid when he's around his sister, preferring to let her take the spotlight. But get him on his own and his funny side comes out!" She also described how brave he is, which helps him work through his fears and face painful procedures with strength. "He loves mac-and-cheese and curried anything, can't sleep without his Tula blanket, and is obsessed with animals of all shapes and sizes,"Ali described. "He's rarely to be seen without a stick or two in his hands!" Heterotaxy Syndrome Ali has become proficient at explaining what heterotaxy syndrome is and how it affects her son. "Heterotaxy syndrome is a broad, umbrella term for any of a myriad of what are known as "laterality defects". Basically, when the baby is forming in utero, there's a time when the two halves of its body are rotating together. When that rotation "glitches" (for lack of a better word), it can result in a wide spectrum of defects in which the internal organs are either malformed, misplaced, multiplied or missing altogether. Some people with heterotaxy simply have their heart on the right side of their chests and no other issues; and some, like Ethan, fall on the more severe end of the spectrum. He was born with two left lungs, a right-sided stomach, liver and gallbladder right in the middle, five or so spleens (all of dubious function) and congenital heart defects listed here: mesocardia (his heart is right in the middle of his chest) complete unbalanced AV canal (his heart was missing the entire wall between the top chambers and most of the wall between the bottom chambers, and because of the way the rest of his circulation was set up, it favored the right side, which meant that his left pumping chamber was underdeveloped) common AV valve (instead of two valves separating the top chambers of his heart from the bottom chambers, he had one big valve that stretched across his whole heart, and one side of it was deformed) pulmonary atresia (he was missing the valve that makes the connection between his heart and his lungs) double outlet right ventricle (instead of his pulmonary artery leaving his right ventricle and his aorta leaving his left ventricle like they should, both of those large arteries came off his right ventricle) transposition of the great arteries (not only did they both come off the right ventricle, they were flipped in position from where they should have been) interrupted inferior vena cava with azygous continuation to a left-sided SVC (the large blood vessel that brings blood back to his heart from his lower body basically dead-ends somewhere in his belly. Thankfully his body compensated in a cool way and grew a normally-small vein to a really big size, rerouted the flow through that, and dumped it all into the vein that's responsible for bringing blood back from the top half of his body. That vein also happens to be on the wrong side as well. There's a theme here...) They also think that he has a condition known as PCD (primary ciliary dyskinesia), which is a cousin to cystic fibrosis and is common in heterotaxy kids, but he hasn't had the formal testing for that yet. "Heterotaxy is sometimes linked to a set of genes that have been identified as causative, but it can also occur spontaneously. It likes to keep things interesting. "We don't have great numbers for survival rates, simply because our kids fall on such a wide spectrum. Around 1 in 10,000 babies are born with heterotaxy, but virtually no two patients are alike. Imagine taking 100 different birth defects, putting them in a hat, and drawing out 10-20 of them. That's heterotaxy. Ali continued to explain life with heterotaxy.  "It makes it very hard to ensure that our kids are getting the best possible treatment because there's no such thing as a doctor just for heterotaxy. We just have to seek out the ones who are most well-versed in our kids' unique set of issues. For us, that means traveling to Philadelphia and Boston for treatments, consult, and surgeries. Ethan was born in Philadelphia and had his first two open-heart surgeries there (6 days old and 4.5 months), and then we transferred his surgical care to a team in Boston who are doing pioneering work giving heterotaxy kids like Ethan with really complex hearts the chance at having four fully-functioning chambers rather than the half a heart that everyone else could offer us." Dr. Alistair Phillipsis, who is the co-chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Surgeons’ Council and is also the co-director of the Guerin Family Congenital Heart Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has not personally cared for Ethan, but he offered his expert opinion on how patients with complicated medical issues should remain active while under a health care provider's care:" "Ethan and [his] family enjoy getting outside and going for a hike. Even though he has gone through a lot in [his] short life with having Heterotoxy Syndrome, a form of congenital heart disease, he is going to benefit with regular exercise as all of us should. With all of us, it is important to not overdo it and overexert ourselves. Ethan will have some limitations with regards to achieving peak exercise, but moderate exercise will be very important for him. He was born with 2 left lungs, an underdeveloped left ventricle, a single common valve in his heart and only one outflow from his heart. The venous return (blood return to the heart) is also on different sides as most of us. Ethan will need to be seen by a congenital specialist regularly; however, he should be able to enjoy a full and filling life, and exercise should play an important part of his life." - Dr. Phillipsis Day to Day with Heterotaxy Ethan's parents must monitor him frequently for fevers and make sure he takes his medication three times a day. "If he ever gets a fever higher than 100.4 degrees, he has to go to the ER for a full sepsis workup and a dose of IV antibiotics, "explained Ali. "And then depending on how his labs look, we might get admitted to the hospital to wait for his cultures to grow." His medications include diuretics and blood pressure medications to reduce the workload on his heart, blood thinners because he has a donated valve and artery as part of his circulation to make sure his body doesn't form clots there, and prophylactic antibiotics, which he will be on for life. "He also needs frequent breathing treatments and chest physiotherapy to help him break up and cough out the junk in his lungs," Ali said. The winters can be hard. Because of Ethan's polysplenia, he's immunocompromised and will always be at higher risk of death from simple infections, both viral and bacterial. "We basically have to hibernate from September to March and don't really take him out in public in places where he's likely to be exposed to nasty germs," said Ali. He also has a pacemaker that he's fully dependent on for the rest of his life. Ali describes the subtle differences their home may have with their medical supplies. "The side tables in our living room just look a little different, with our transmitter and his neb masks and saline bullets scattered around, a pulse oximeter and a stethoscope in the drawer. But really, life is pretty normal in between the super-intense hospital stays." Ethan's medical future After this recent surgery, Ethan's heart is as close to fully repaired as it will ever be, but that is not a cure. There is no cure for heterotaxy or CHD (congenital heart disease), just surgeries and treatments to deal with issues as they arise. He will always need to head to the ER for fevers. He will always depend on a pacemaker, so he will need surgeries to replace that whenever the battery runs out or wires need to be changed. His valves will likely require further repair or replacement in the future, and he'll outgrow the donated valve and artery that brings blood from his heart to his lungs–probably by the time he's 8. "If we get really, really, REALLY lucky," said Ali, "replacing that will be the next time he has a big open-heart surgery, but we know that with heterotaxy, anything goes, so we won't hang our hats on that." "We take one day at a time with him, just like we have from the day we found out. It's just that, now, we're starting to let ourselves hope that we might get a lot more of those days than we ever thought possible." - Ali, Ethan's Mom Hiking after surgery Ethan and his family joined in the recent HiB30 Challenge. Ali was overjoyed to watch Ethan be able to walk without stopping to catch his breath every few feet. "At first," she said, "he would walk a few feet and then, out of habit, stop and tell me he was tired and that he needed to catch his breath. After a little while, he would stop, pause, and say, 'Wait mama, I'm not even really tired!' And by the end, he was running full speed for about a quarter mile straight, arms outstretched, yelling that he was Superman. He hasn't stopped since." His big sister, Zoe, is very protective of him and can frequently be seen inserting herself between him and another kid at the park or on a hike, very seriously informing them that her brother has "heart defections" and that they can't touch him if they're sick. Maricar Korff hikes with Ethan and his family often. "What I would like people to know is that even though they faced these challenges,"said Maricar, "the family was still able to come back post-surgery and hike some major trails and put on some major mileage." She also only has positive things to say about Ali and the photos she takes of families on the trail. "How does she do all that with two children? The woman's heart is selfless!" Finding Support Family has been an incredible support during this time. Ali's parents successfully keep a sense of stability for Zoe when Ethan and his parents make the inevitable trips to the hospital. Neighbors and church members are also encouraging and supportive. "Our church family prays for us and checks on our house while we're away and brings us food when we get home from the hospital," said Ali. "Never underestimate the power of a home-cooked dinner that you didn't have anything to do with!" Hike it Baby members are also cheerleaders for Ethan's journey. Ali describes the support she felt during Ethan's most recent surgery. "Some of the loudest voices cheering us on were our new Hike it Baby family. They texted and e-mailed and dedicated miles to each chamber of his heart while he was in surgery, and knowing that these people who, up until a few months ago, used to be strangers to me were right there in the trenches with us was just so incredibly encouraging." During their first hike with Hike it Baby, Ali realized, "This might just be the thing that would keep me sane during the long winters. We can't really go out with Ethan to indoor places, but the great outdoors is totally fair game!" Since it can be difficult to plan playdates or predict his health, Ethan and Ali are grateful to make friends on the trails. "Our HiB friends have honestly already become like family to us; they have been such an encouragement during this last round of the fight." Final Thoughts: a Mother's Perspective on Heterotaxy I came into this journey with a unique perspective, having been the nurse on the other side of the bed caring for chronically ill children and wondering how on earth their families did it. But once you're on this side, you realize that you do it because you have no other choice and that, while you are still very much human, you are the person who loves your baby the most out of anyone in the world and so you will always be his best advocate. Don't be afraid to push for answers, for better care, for different opinions. It was other heterotaxy families who encouraged me to send Ethan's records to the team in Boston and I will always be grateful that I listened and that I pushed for more for him. For us, we live in a weird grey area where we have a medically fragile child who is also, for the most part, quite healthy. He doesn't look sick, especially now that the telltale blue lips and fingertips have been replaced by pink, so I'm sure it's sometimes hard to understand why we're so protective of him and his health and why we cancel plans so frequently. I promise we're not flakes; it's just that his health will always be our first priority. And that's hard for us. We want to be as normal as we look. We want to throw caution to the wind and go to that children's museum in the middle of winter. And maybe one day his immune system will have developed enough that we can. But for now, we're going to come and go in and out of your lives depending on what he needs. Please be patient with us. Please wait for us when we disappear for weeks on end. We'll eventually come out of whatever crisis we're in, and we'd love to have someone there to meet us on the other side. [gallery link="file" size="full" ids="650307,650309,650308"] We would like to thank Ali for sharing Ethan's inspiring strength and their family's journey with Heterotaxy. Are you inspired? You can follow Ethan's journey on their Facebook page at:  Hope For Ethan For more information on Heterotaxy Syndrome, please visit the Heterotaxy Connection's website. We would also like to thank the American College of Cardiololgy for their professional insight and contribution to this article. Please seek expert counsel from a medical professional before beginning any activity that could affect your health.

One of the special things about Hike It Baby is all the grandparents, nannies, extended family and friends who join us on our hikes. Today we have a great blog post from an aunt in Colorado and her five hike suggestions for great hikes not to be missed. Enjoy this post about hikes for adventurous families from our guest writer, Kym Tyson, from 33 and Free! I was adopted when I was 3 months old from South Korea to a family in southern Minnesota. At a very young age, they instilled the love for the outdoors in my life, from cross-country skiing when I could barely walk to canoeing on the lake we lived on and hiking whenever we could get up north. I knew that the day I had children, I would be outdoors with them as much as possible. My husband and I were adamant that when we were trying to start a family that we would not stop hiking or being outdoors when we had a child. They have so much gear now to help new families and we knew it wouldn’t be a problem. When that day didn’t come, we decided to start a different journey. Work schedules were getting crazy and my husband and I didn’t see each other that much, so we decided to quit our jobs, sell everything and leave our lives in Los Angeles to RV the country together. This would also give us the chance to see our family more. We had a 1-year-old niece and wanted to show her the U.S. and what natural beauty it had to offer. Her parents have been amazing with making sure to keep up with their passions, even with a new child. They know that if they are visiting us, they are going to be out in nature, hiking or camping. We watched Scott Jurek (a world renowned Ultra Runner) have a newborn and do amazing hikes and runs with her. His instagram is full of inspirational photos like this picture from a 21-mile hike through the Grand Canyon, or this one taken while summiting Green Mountain Even without children, we still promote others getting outside, hiking and not slowing down because of children. Instilling this way of life early makes it easier and better. I marvel at families who are out there. Here are five hikes that you will enjoy or will challenge you and be great for a little one of any age. 1. Maroon Bells (Colorado) There are quite a few trail options once you arrive at the bells. We decided on Maroon Creek Trail, a 3.5-mile hike along the creek. An easy enough trail to carry or have a wobbly 2-year-old walk a little. Even though this isn’t the most popular trail, we didn’t feel like we gave up anything because we were on it. We saw the bells and wanted to see more of the area. The scenery was breathtaking and there wasn’t a dull moment. Bridges over water, aspen forest, mountains and snow! [gallery link="file" size="medium" ids="648393,648372,648360"] 2. Pioneer Cabin Trail (Idaho) You will definitely have to be in shape if you are carrying someone, but if you have a little one, we saw some young kids walking with their parents jumping and skipping around. I am sure we saw them at a good moment, but it will be a long day. To me, it’s definitely worth it and there are things to see the entire time to keep them entertained. Just remember their favorite snack and yours. When you reach the cabin, stop for lunch or a snack and take in the beautiful views. I have never seen anything like it in the States. You can either turn around or make it a loop and take the Long Gulch Loop Trail back. Total miles 9. On the way back, there were some streams, meadows and views of the mountains. This was really one of our favorite hikes of the year. Pioneer Cabin Trail 3. Los Liones Trail (California) This is a great trail to get started with introducing young ones and introducing yourself to hiking and being outdoors together. Kids do need to be “trained” to like the chairs or carriers that you decide to use. They have great ones for you both. Small ones, large ones, compartments, shaded. This trail is mostly shaded, has an easy/moderate grade and a beautiful viewpoint. If you are already a hiker, this 2 mile round trip trail will be easy, but with the extra pounds on your back it will provide a small challenge (easy to overcome). If want a little more you can definitely make this longer, the trail links up to Paseo Miramar Trail which is about 7 miles long. We take anyone who visits us here and even though it's a short, easy hike you will understand why we continue to go when you see the view! Los Liones Trail 4. Tumalo Falls (Oregon) This is probably the best hike in my opinion for parents of infants or young children. The first thing at the parking lot is Tumalo Falls. Incredibly beautiful. This actual trail is 6 miles round-trip with only about 520’ of elevation change and has numerous waterfalls, lookout points, swim holes and a manicured trail. However, you can make this as long as you want. At the turnaround point, you can continue to Happy Meadow. This is a great full-day trip if you want to hike, sit by the river, swim, have lunch and hike some more. In my opinion, it’s one of the best hikes in Bend, OR. Tumalo in the Summer Tumalo Falls in the Winter 5. Mt. Democrat – 14er (Colorado)* This was our first 14er and as we were struggling up the mountain, we saw kids and parents with kids on their backs happily coming down. What?! I will pretend I didn’t see that until I get to the top of this thing! The hike itself was a challenge, but it was easy to navigate and if you are acclimated to the Colorado elevation, you will have no problems at 14,000’. The views are breathtaking and you might be lucky enough to see a couple of mountain goats! [gallery link="file" size="medium" ids="648426,648423,648428"] *Note: Hiking at elevation with young children is a controversial topic. Please consult with your healthcare provider to determine if it is safe for your family. My husband and I started dating twelve years ago and we have been married for 7 1/2. Throughout out relationship we were always focused on traveling. 6 months into our relationship we backpacked through Europe for a month. We made sure that we did some sort of exploring at least once a year. The rest of the time, we were hiking, biking, training for marathons or camping. We both have a strong love for the outdoors. So when we moved to California, we continued to travel internationally and we checked out what Southern California had to offer, which was a lot. We were expecting to start a family and when that didn't happen we decided to create a different phase in life. Life for us wasn't meant to be in an office for 48 weeks a year. After 10 years of the grind we sold everything, quit our dream jobs and left our lives in LA to become full time RVers and road trip the US.

Did you celebrate Earth Day this year? Kristi reflects on how we can positively impact our environment and encourage our children to become stewards of the Earth. This Earth is truly a magnificent place. Its resources are unique to this planet. As the only known planet habitable for humans, we must take care of it. Every year, on April 22, the importance of this is brought to the center stage. But what if we took further action? If we can take a stand for one day and put forth action in ways that will protect our precious planet, then imagine what we can do with a whole year.  Moreover, what if we took those changes we made in a year and passed them onto our children? Imagine the change we could initiate. Here are some ideas to continue this cause throughout the year.   Make a Recycling Pact With Your Family A great place to start is to begin recycling at home. As a family, sit down and make a list of what can be recycled. Learn about the different ways the recyclables are turned into new items. This is a great way to get everyone involved. Teach kids how to separate items and create a bin for each group. As the amount of trash in the can is decreased and the recyclables increase, point out to the kids the difference they are making. They'll feel accomplished and proud.   Plant a Tree This can be done right in your own backyard. Gather up the family and head to your local nursery.  They'll have different trees to choose from and the kids will love being involved in the decision making. Once you've decided on the chosen one, take that gorgeous tree home and make an afternoon of it.  Kids love to dig. Let one dig the hole. Others can assist in its placement...and done. You can make a plan to plant a couple trees each year. And as you gaze out your window, not only will you have beautiful trees to look at, but precious memories of planting them as a family.   Do a Clean-up Hike We love this idea because it can be done often throughout the year. Anytime you plan to head outdoors with the family, make a goal to clean up the trails. You can make this into a game with the kids also. Whoever gathers the most pieces of trash gets a prize! Maybe organize some group clean-up hikes in your area every couple months. This is a great way to gather the community and get other families involved.   Plant a Garden Sit down and plan out what you want to grow in your garden. What works in your area? What is most likely to be used in meals? Make a garden plan and set out to make it happen. This is another one to get the kids involved with. Let them get down in the dirt prepping the area and planting seeds with you. This can be a great learning experience. And as you're gazing out at the beautiful trees you've planted as a family, you can admire the freshly picked tomatoes and onions right there from your very own garden.  No room for a garden? No problem! Find the local community garden or join in a co-op with some friends! What a delicious way to help keep it all local!   Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference Small changes can be made in every purchase. You can buy refillable water bottles. Purchase reusable baggies and straws to use on hikes. Buy eco-friendly toys for your kiddos or as gifts. There are so many options out there, and they are only a Google search away. You matter. What you do matters. Pass these on to your children and make those small changes, on April 22nd, and every other day of the year. Photos courtesy of Ashton Miyako, Ashley Scheider and Yanna Bennett

When my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, we made a parenting plan like many new parents do. We thought about what we wanted to do and what we didn’t want to do. Mostly though, our parenting plan boiled down to, “No plan survives first contact with the child.” No Plan Survives It’s a good thing we had that attitude because our first child certainly had a wild spirit all of his own. Things seldom went the way we imagined, and if we’d been too invested in our preconceived notions, it might have been even more challenging. My favourite strategy was to try to set our little one up for success, and most of the time that meant getting outside, rain or shine. When I took that busy little boy out into the woods, near or far, there was nothing to break, it was OK to sing and shout, and most of all, I didn’t have to say “NO” all the time. Parenting in the Present In the woods, the constant redirections, the endless monitoring of safety concerns and the long list of things my child wasn’t allowed to do were gone, replaced with a safer, more pleasant sort of boundary pushing. The sticks, pinecones and rocks didn’t need to be put away when we were done. There was glorious mud to play in and interesting cavities in trees to explore, not to mention so many puddles! There were questions to ask and wonderings to ponder. My busy little boy could run down that trail, or dawdle or zigzag. And for myself, I was away from the endless, thankless tasks of the home. I got to be present with my little boy, or I could be deep in my thoughts as I watched him play. When we got to the bottom of the trail near our home (or he lost a boot in the mud or he got tired out), I could tuck that solid, muddy little boy up on my back for the walk home. Some days, he fell asleep, his warm cheek resting on the back of my neck. Other days, we made up stories together, with funny characters and unlikely events, as we made the walk back to our house. Parenting Evolves. Now my son is bigger. He’s safer indoors, but he still needs to run and play, to be loud, to throw sticks and rocks, to discover and explore and imagine and wonder. He can’t wait for his baby sister to get to discover our forest trail too. I am excited to see how she becomes her own person and makes us re-evaluate our ideas and expectations for parenting yet again. When I was pregnant, I laughingly told my friends that the second baby’s job was to teach me that everything I thought I knew was wrong. So far, she is showing signs of being a wonderfully unique little individual, just like her brother. Enjoying Each Stage. It will be so much fun for my big kid to rediscover the stages of outdoor exploration with his baby sister too as she grows through the “every leaf is amazing” stage to the “run as fast as you can” stage to the “Why? Why? Why?” stage and probably some stages of her very own too. I love parenting in nature, the ability to say “Yes!”, and the joy of being outdoors with my kids. It may not have been my parenting plan, but it’s been absolutely wonderful.

It's pouring here today. Driving rain, crashing thunder, flashing lightning, the whole bit. For most people it sounds like a day to stay inside, dry and warm, but I know as soon as the lightning and thunder stop, we’ll be back outside. My daughter, Kai, is eighteen months old and puddles are her favorite thing on the planet. Even better, our local Hike it Baby branch loves puddles just as much as we do, and so pop up puddle stomps are a favorite hike around here. Imagine a small troop of toddlers, all decked out in their rain gear, given carte-blanche to hop, jump, and stomp in every puddle they see. I’ve never seen a happier group of kids in my entire life. Preparing for Puddles. It does take some preparation. Kai has a full body rainsuit and now owns a pair of rainboots (we weren’t exactly as prepared for our first puddle stomp as one would hope), and don’t forget rain boots for mom or dad, too! You are going to want to stomp a puddle. We also bring along an extra towel and have dry clothes waiting in the car. The real preparation for a successful puddle stomp, however, took a mental adjustment. Somewhere in adulthood most of us lose the wonder that a fresh puddle evokes for children. Rain is a drag; it's wet, it's cold, and it gets in the way of whatever important thing we were supposed to be doing. When I first saw a pop up puddle stomp announced, I thought these hiking people are crazy! Enjoying the Rain Together. I get cabin fever just thinking about spending time at home, though, and a rainy fall meant my choices were go stir crazy, or embrace puddles. So I found my raincoat, dug my rain boots out of a box at the back of my closet, and bundled my newly walking one-year-old in a rainsuit. We planned to walk the quarter mile circle at a local park. We never made it past the first set of puddles. First one little girl and then another jumped into a puddle. Kai hadn’t quite gotten jumping down at that point, so her entrance was more of a toddle than a jump, but it didn’t matter; she was in love, and I was surrounded by toddlers and adults alike having fun in what I once considered miserable weather. Opportunities for Fun Now every time it starts to rain, Kai runs to the door to sign "out". Anytime I can, I bundle her into her rainsuit, and open that door for her. Sometimes we don’t even leave the yard. She jumps, she runs, and sometimes she just sits down right in the puddle to enjoy this miracle of nature. Sometimes, I join in, jumping, running, and stomping right along with her. Her joy is infectious and there is nothing like laughing with your toddler, both of you ankle deep in a puddle because you want to be there. Rain stopped being miserable and started being an opportunity for fun, not just for Kai but for me, too. Go out and enjoy that rain! Kate Craftsman is a mom passionate about raising her daughter Kai surrounded by our natural world. She enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping, volunteering on archaeological digs, and board games. When she’s not out in nature, Kate is either working on her Ph. D. focusing on Science, Technology, and Society or working to organize a local forest pre-school co-op.

This is a continuation of our conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist’s life, notable accomplishments, and ways the conservationist connects to kids. This post features Benton MacKaye. Forester. Teacher. Trail Maker. Conservationist. If you are lucky enough to have walked part or all of the Appalachian Trail, you've walked on an idea that came to fruition. Benton MacKaye pioneered the idea of a national trail in 1921. The trail was completed in 1937. Who is Benton MacKaye? MacKaye was born in 1879 in Stamford, Connecticut. His early life was spent in New England before the family moved to New York in 1885. They often left New York for Shirley Center, MA, to escape the busy city. While living in Washington, D.C., MacKaye often visited the Smithsonian and volunteered to help scientists in their labs. He attended Harvard from 1896 through 1905 and obtained a degree in Harvard's new school of forestry. After graduation, he taught at the forestry school and worked for the National Forest Service. His work in forestry led to the scientific evidence that was the basis for the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. He was a forest examiner and wrote a text entitled "A Theory of Forest Management." MacKaye passed away on December 11, 1975, at the age of 96. He was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame in 2011. Accomplishments & Legacy MacKaye is most known for his 1921 article An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects. The goal of the piece was to preserve wild lands in the Eastern United States to complement the land being set aside in the West. In 1935, MacKaye founded the Wilderness Society with Aldo Leopold and Bob Marshall. The Wilderness Society is dedicated to preserving wild spaces. MacKaye served as both vice-president and president of the Society. The Benton MacKaye Trail Association was created by a group of people who wanted to create the original footpath that MacKaye had proposed. Currently, the Benton MacKaye Trail (BMT) is a 300-mile footpath that intersects the Appalachian Trail (AT). It runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Big Creek Campground on the northern edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The charter of the BMT states that the trail is to be a primitive trail to honor MacKaye's desire for wild spaces. "If these people were on the skyline, and kept their eyes open, they would see the things that the giant could see." - Benton MacKaye, 1921 More Quick Facts He was married briefly to Betty Stubbs, a suffragette. He visited Shirley Center, MA, frequently throughout his life as it was a source of refuge for him. Has been called the "Father of the Appalachian Trail". MacKaye's biography was written by Larry Anderson and is available from Johns Hopkins University Press. Photo Credits: Jess Burns and Melissa Hollingsworth Do you have a favorite conservationist who has positively influenced our environment? Let us know below! Stay tuned each month for more blog posts about conservationists and their impact on our community and the world we share.

Jessie describes her experience so far during this month's Hike it Baby 30 Challenge with using BOB gear during a trip in memory of her brother. Have a tissue handy! This month’s Hike it Baby 30 Challenge is my family’s eighth consecutive challenge since we discovered Hike it Baby back in the summer of 2015. Our challenge experiences have varied greatly over the years as our family has grown. I have logged miles alone with a toddler, through an entire pregnancy, with a newborn on my chest and a toddler underfoot, and now, with a brand new walker and his preschool-aged older brother. Some challenges have been epic, with over 100 miles logged in 30 days; others have been, well, challenges—with barely 10 miles over the course of an entire month. A new challenge. A couple of weeks ago, BOB asked if I was up for a different kind of challenge heading into the April HiB30: 30 stroller miles on trails. When presented with the opportunity to both change up our typical HiB30 routine and discover some new trails in Colorado Springs, I immediately accepted the BOB Gear Challenge. I had some pretty big plans for this challenge. In addition to logging 30 off-road miles with the boys in our BOB stroller, I set goals to host one stroller “hike” per week and avoid repeating trails throughout the entire month. It was supposed to be a great month for us, a month full of adventure and friends and new trails in Colorado. Unfortunately, life had different plans. Different plans, different challenge. My dear brother, Jordan, passed away unexpectedly on April 4. In the days following his death, my parents, sisters, and I decided to return to their home state of Washington to grieve together as a family and organize Jordan’s memorial service. My husband and I decided to make the drive from Colorado with our boys instead of flying with the rest of my family, knowing that a certain amount of healing was sure to take place while traveling and camping across the western United States. We loaded up our camping gear and our BOB and hit the road for the Oregon coast, the leg of our trip dedicated to the memory of my fellow nature-loving brother. We strolled along the beach and through the trees, all four of us looking for signs of Jordan along the way. We saw him in the waves as they washed upon the sandy shore and felt him in the rain as it gently kissed our faces. My oldest son and I laughed at the thought of Jordan splashing with us in the mud. By the end of our trip, although my pain over the loss of my only brother hadn’t budged in the slightest, I knew where I needed to go to find him whenever my heart ached for him: nature. The first half of this challenge has come and gone and we are already on our way back to Colorado to figure out how to create our new normal. The April HiB30 gives me an excellent incentive to continue to get out in nature to find my brother and find peace and healing for my family.

The calendar may say Earth Day only comes once per year, but you can live out the mission of Earth Day all year long with Hike it Baby and your families! Let these quotes provide some inspiration for you to get out and enjoy the earth, not just today, but every day. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” —Native American Proverb This powerful statement demonstrates the importance of doing our part and taking care of the earth, not just for ourselves, but for future generations. Take time on hikes to explain the importance of nature its beauty to your children. Lead by action–reduce, reuse, recycle. “The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” —Lady Bird Johnson The first time I hiked with Hike it Baby, I didn’t know a soul. However, we all had one thing–we were there to get outside and explore nature with our kids. We were introduced to each other in our welcome circle, and we all enjoyed nature together. Individuals coming together for a common purpose is something both Earth Day and Hike it Baby have in common. “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” —John Muir Hike it Baby has allowed me to do just this. There may be toys scattered all over my living room floor, dishes in the sink, and mountains of laundry in my basement, but breaking away from the tedious day-to-day tasks and becoming one with nature provides a chance for me to feel refreshed. “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each.” —Henry David Thoreau I’ll admit it. Living in the season is difficult for me, especially when Cleveland winters role around. While I have managed to get some hikes in during snow and cold, I don’t always enjoy it and my attitude passes on to my son. But thinking about it, there is something amazing about being able to hike in the same location and experience its beauty during the winter, spring, summer, and fall. “We need the tonic of wildness—to wade sometimes in marshes where the bittern and the meadow-hen lurk, and hear the booming of the snipe; to smell the whispering sedge where only some wilder and more solitary fowl builds her nest, and the mink crawls with its belly close to the ground... We can never have enough of nature.” —Henry David Thoreau Whether your hikes take you on dirt paths through forests, next to waterfalls, to an urban park, or a suburban neighborhood, take the time to relish the beauty that nature is providing. Make a tradition with your family and plant flowers or trees each Earth Day. As Thoreau said, we can never have enough nature. “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.” —Theodore Roosevelt Teaching our children from an early age that their actions make a difference is so important. Teach them to keep their environment clean and how to recycle. Also allow them to play and grow in nature. What we teach them today will help preserve their tomorrow. “There is a great need for the introduction of new values in our society, where bigger is not necessarily better, where slower can be faster, and where less can be more.” — Gaylord Nelson, Father of Earth Day In today's society, our basic values are often forgotten and technology has taken over. Even though technology has given us great advances in science and allowed us to stay in touch with others more easily, sometimes leaving our social media behind and exploring nature can provide more than modern technology can. “I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.” —Mother Teresa While not trail related, Mother Teresa’s message can be remembered while on trail. Refill a water bottle instead of breaking open a new one. Explore options for reusable snack containers. Donate items you are finished with instead of throwing them away. “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall While it may be easy to reduce your own waste, what about waste left by others? Host a trail clean up hike or participate in a park clean up. Not only are these ideas helpful for the environment, but they’ll also leave lasting impressions with your children. While in high school, I was part of a group that cleaned out a river in New Orleans. Clothing, appliances, and more was thrown in the river as people used this water as their own garbage cans. Picking up trash in hip waders is something I’ll never forget, and it was a great feeling to see how much our work did to help restore the natural beauty to the river.  

First hike postpartum Our little one has been hiking with me since she was four weeks old. I was anxious to explore some trails, so, just one month after having her, I wrapped her up and headed out to hike with a local group of Mamas. I really wasn't sure what to expect. She could hate being in the wrap (I had never had her in one), she could poop through her clothes (which she does daily), or spit up enough to soak me and her (she does this daily also). There also was the chance that I wouldn't be able to figure out how to put the wrap on. I hadn't used it yet and some wraps can be hard to figure out. So I was a little nervous, but we went out anyway. It turned out to be a gorgeous hike and she slept most of the time. Always bring a change of clothes One month after her first hike we headed down to Moab with some friends. Up until that point we had hiked a few times with no problems at all. I'd wrap her up and off we'd go! On the second day in Moab we decided to hike to Delicate Arch. We pulled up and unloaded the older kids. But when we went to unload the little one, we realized she had pooped in her diaper...and all over her clothes....and all over the car seat. She was a hot mess. And guess who didn't pack an extra outfit for her? That's right, I forgot to pack one. Apparently, I forgot how often newborns have diaper blowouts. Improvising with the gear you have So there we were, about to head out to hike for three miles and we had no clothes for the baby. Also, it was chilly. Moab temperatures in December can be cold. The wrap can be challenging to wear but on this hike I was very appreciative of its cozy design. If we were putting her in anything else it just wouldn't have worked.  But we were able to put on a clean diaper and nestle her cute little naked self in right next to me. I grabbed a blanket from the car and tucked it into the wrap, and off we went. She must have been quite comfy because she slept through most of the hike. Life is an adventure, bring your kids I read something in a magazine once years ago that has always stuck with me. It was an article discussing the busy life of celebrities, and how kids can affect them. The article mentioned that life shouldn't stop when you have kids. Your adventures don't stop, you just take them along with you.  Hiking with five kids is an adventure in itself, regardless of where you are going. You really never know how its going to go. There is always hungry bellies, tired legs and any other wild cards that come with five kids. Even when you are prepared for everything, something you least expect could arise. But we love the way our kids skip down the trail. Any challenge that might arise is worth just being out there.  We just roll with it and take it one trail at a time.

In this park ranger interview series, I'm speaking with park rangers across the United States about their job and how to encourage kids to love the outdoors. Today's post features Laura Dvorák, U.S. National Park Ranger at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Eruption/Protection Division. Is this the first National Park you've worked at? This is the first park I have worked at. I have previously worked in a horticultural therapy setting, and in the fields of outdoor/sustainability/permaculture education. Where did you grow up? In the country, a city, or a suburb? The suburbs of northeastern New Jersey. What did you love about the outdoors as a child? I loved fresh air. I loved the spontaneity as well as the stability of animals and plants and natural elements. We didn’t camp often but when we did, I remember the excitement and curiosity at observing newts and geese and raccoons. We spent countless days on the beach in Wildwood, NJ. I appreciate the lack of agenda in the outdoors and the opportunity to just be present with the senses (including the sense of wonder). Photo Credit: Krystal Weir @krystalweirphotography When did you know you wanted to work in outdoor education? My first outdoors job was in the summer of 2000 (at the age of 19) at the Princeton Blairstown Center in northwestern New Jersey. We offered immersive leadership experiences for coming-of-age youth from disadvantaged urban communities. The woods and rivers were like a crucible in which to allow other distractions to fall away. I remember being assigned to blaze a perimeter trail around the 300+ acre property, and discovering carriage wheels, stone walls, and house foundations from the colonial era. It gave me an appreciation for the recent history of the region, a place where time seemed to stand still. I obtained my Master’s Degree in Geography and Leadership for Sustainability Education and while it has not always been the most straightforward or lucrative career path, it has been replete with fresh air, (mis)adventure, and experiences that have built character as well as a deepened desire to know the natural world. Who encouraged you to pursue a career in outdoor education? Many mentors over the years – human and non-human alike. Mostly I saw a need for it. I have worked in classrooms as well as in the outdoors. Experiential and discovery learning had a lasting impact. More than books, more than tests. What is the most common question you get from park visitors? They all want to know how they can get the closest possible to the lava. It is awe-inspiring and at once evokes a sense of danger and reverence. They are astonished that we, too, operate at the mercy of the volcano’s unpredictable actions. One day the ocean entry may be there. The next day it is not. One day the cliffside may fall into the sea. One day the surface lava may flow in crimson rivers, the next day it is a shriveled gray mass resembling elephant skin. We cannot control it, but we can maintain a sense of wonder while keeping visitors safe and natural resources from being disrespected or exploited. How can parents raise kids to love the outdoors? Lead by example. If a lot of your energy and attention goes into your phone and computer and TV, how can you expect your children to act any differently? Establish formative memories together in the outdoors. Offer opportunities for predominantly positive experiences. If a child is bitten by mosquitoes or sunburned, or anxious about spiders or big waves in the ocean, don’t let it deter them from finding something they DO love outdoors; even if it is reading a book. I loved reading as a child and would bring a stack of books to a fort or under a tree and just lose myself in other worlds, in my inner world. I suffered infections from spider and mosquito bites, as well as poison ivy and sunburn, but in the end I did not internalize the idea that I was supposed to be afraid of the outdoors. If you live in a city, get out into your parks. Open the windows. Plant seeds. Visit local resident birds and wildlife, and get to know them. Engage with the outdoors as though you were not a stranger to it, and your child will feel as though he/she belongs somewhere on this precious planet, a powerful investment in future stewards of the environment. Give them space to respect nature while giving them skills of self-sufficiency and protecting the environment. Solo time in the outdoors is very, very healing and powerful for personal development. Even just a few minutes per week or per day can have lasting effects benefiting both mental and physical health. Children these days are not exactly encouraged to spend solo time outdoors, with justifiable fears like getting lost or being abducted, and paramount distractions like video games (and homework). But even just choosing a little nook in the backyard, or a tree stump off a familiar hiking trail, could mean the difference between developing into a person who knows their place on the Earth and one who feels estranged (and therefore more likely to make decisions that are destructive of self and of the environment). A child can learn just as much about mathematics and science, as well as alliterations and metaphors from a forest as they can from a textbook. Learning does not have to stop at the threshold of a classroom or desk. And some of the most important learning that takes place is non-verbal in nature. It cannot be rationalized or quantified. Many thanks to Laura for giving us her perspective on raising a generation to love the outdoors! Follow along with our monthly conservationist series here on the Hike it Baby blog!