OutGrown Blog

The Hike it Baby community is rolling into spring and using our favorite wheeled-gear to get outside with our families. Whether you plan to walk around the park, run a 5k, or stroll along the trails, we've rounded up the best all terrain strollers out there and given you our thoughts. We looked at a few different things with each of these strollers: price point, ease of set up, storage and off-road factor. Take a look at our test drives. All Terrain Jogging Strollers BoB Revolution Flex Duallie ($689.99) Out of Box of Set up: Easy, snap-on wheels and go Storage: Ample Favorite thing: wide bar foot brake One of my favorite things about the BOB Stroller is it shows up on your doorstep and within 5 minutes you can snap on the wheels and roll. This is not the case with all strollers and is a huge plus if you feel like you have limited time in your life. This is the case for both the single and the double Revolution. I also am a big fan of the brake. It's easy to snap to a halt quickly with your foot and it feels secure, even if you are on an incline. BOB is one of the most recognizable brands on the market for a reason, it's a solid stroller and a very easy re-sell once you are through with it, even if it's 5-plus-years-old. -- Shanti Hodges, Hike it Baby Founder Our BOB stroller has been a game changer for our family. It goes everywhere with complete ease. (I've maneuvered it over fallen logs.) It's also incredibly easy for me to collapse. I thought I loathed strollers, but it turns out, I just needed the right stroller. -- Colette Clarke, Hike it Baby Harrisburg The BOB Revolution has been the perfect stroller for our family. We use it on a daily basis on a variety of terrain-hiking, around town, cruising around the mall and even to doctor's appointments. We love our BOB Revolution stroller so much that we've just purchased the double version! -- Natalie Kendrach, Hike it Baby Capitol Region 2016 Sport Utility Stroller ($399.99) Out of the Box: Easy to set up, snap on wheels. Will need screw driver for plastic mudflap Storage: Ample Favorite Thing: Knobby wheels for rugged trails. There are so many reasons why I love BOB Strollers. This was my first experience with the Sport Utility and like all BOB strollers, the Sport Utility shows up ready to roll. BOB has been the "go to" high impact stroller since day one for most active parents. The brand continues to hold the edge in the stroller market because they are so functional, utilitarian and they can handle anything. They are known affectionately within the Mommy hiking world as the "beast" and with good reason as we tend to put this stroller through every test. In our case we have literally travelled hundreds of miles around the US, Canada and Mexico with a similar version of this stroller Revolutions SE) since Mason was born. This particular model I'm showing off is slight different than the Revolution SE in that it has a fixed front wheel. If you are planning on trail running and being on fire roads, this is the one to consider. For more urban rolling and strolling, try the Revolution SE. The only downside to these strollers (and all of the all terrain strollers out there) is they are bulkier and heavier. We haven't minded the weight because for us it has translated to almost 4 years of high use and we will still be able to sell or giveaway our stroller to a friend or family member when we are done with it. The other thing I really like about this and the other BOB strollers is being able to pump up the wheels. Hard plastic wheels that aren't like bike wheels get damaged when you get on to gravel roads over and over. The wheels on this particular stroller are especially tough and have thick rubber and knobby tread for better grip on loose terrain. Just for perspective on how tough these are, we have popped our BOB wheels twice in 3 years (once in Mexico on sharp cactus needles) and you wouldn't believe the trails we have been on and all that we have put our BOB through.  -- Shanti Hodges Thule Urban Glide ($399.95) Out of Box of Set up: Easy, snap on wheels and go Storage: Ample Favorite thing: Covered storage area My favorite thing about the Urban Glide single and double is how easy it is to break down. It's very one handed. Flip up the flap near the foot area, twist and drop. It's super smooth and aerodynamic. I also really like the protection below the stroller for bad weather. This is critical in a place like Portland where our winter can be really rainy. -- Shanti Hodges We have a sedan and I was really concerned that a jogging stroller wouldn't fit in our trunk, but it does! I love the under seat storage area and how easy it is to collapse down. It handles so well. --Heidi Schertz, Hike it Baby Milwaukee Burley Solstice ($389) Out of Box Set up: Easy Storage: Ample and easy to slide things in Favorite thing: One handed collapse Hands down the easiest stroller I have ever broken down. It pretty much can be done with one hand, which isn't common for all terrain strollers, which are solid, but often a bit clunky on the collapse. Wheels also snap off easily. Locking mechanism on the front wheel took a little figuring out but once it was locked it felt good and tracked well. -- Shanti Hodges Bumbleride ($529) Out of the Box Set Up: Plan on spending some time setting up Storage: Great storage and coverage of baby Favorite thing: Environmentally, this one is the winner hands down! Care about the planet? So does Bumbleride–and they definitely are making a point of doing this in their stroller development. The fabric is made from 100% recycled nylon and the dye they use needs less water to produce. Also, there are no fire retardant materials in the stroller, which means less toxins to expose to your baby. After putting this one together and strolling around the park we had a lot of positive comments. -- Shanti Hodges We ended up choosing the Bumbleride because we wanted something a little lighter and easier to travel with. I absolutely love it, because it worked great with our Nuna car seat, and our son has been comfortable in it ever since. We aren't sure when he will walk, so we needed to make sure to get something versatile that we can use for a long time, and it has worked great for hiking and jogging when I was training for a half marathon. -- Lindsay Frost, Hike it Baby Evergreen Honorable Mentions While these strollers are not jogging strollers, we loved them enough to recommend them to you. Britax B-Ready ($499) I was never a fan of a stroller that's just either too specific or not specific enough. That's why after much research we purchased the Britax B-Ready system. We've hiked with our stroller as it has great wheels that are all-terrain, although not as big as a typical running stroller. I never had issues maneuvering it on different types of terrain and I couldn't be happier with our choice. This is one good looking stroller, strong and very functional. -- Anka Trifan Maclaran Techno XLR ($450) It's not a 'hiking' stroller, but it can handle any dirt/rocky road without a problem. It's an umbrella stroller with shocks in the wheels. We've had it for over 6 years, two children, awful Caribbean roads, a year without a car in England and it's still going strong. -- Melissa Hollingsworth Photo Credit: Névé Photography Disclaimer: Hike it Baby was provided with free product for this round up and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and videos are Hike it Baby's own and not influenced by any company or its affiliates. Comments provided by Hike it Baby members are their own and reflect their own love for their strollers.

We can all agree that one of the amazing gifts young children give us is forcing us to slow down.  If you’ve ever let a toddler lead a hike, you know what I’m talking about!  But, there may also be times when distance simply must be covered.  You might be encouraging your little hikers to lengthen their distance. Or perhaps you’re the one having to usually keep up with them, but on this particular hike they are dragging. We've all been there. Here are a few tips and strategies to try that may keep them moving on the trail: 1. Pick a hike with interesting features along the way or at your destination. Make your life easier from the get-go!  Little ones do best on a trail with lots of reward for the work, such as creeks, waterfalls, bridges, boulder fields, or fields of flowers.  A hike in a tree tunnel for miles and miles?  Good luck with that. 2. Pick the best time of day for your kids. Lots of families hike in the morning, but maybe afternoon is better for your crew.  Capitalize on those natural energy highs and plan to catch one of those if you can.  Avoid the hottest time of day, when everyone’s energy will fade. 3. Bring a bike (if allowed on trail). Miles can be covered on a bike that would have been a whine fest on two feet! Even bringing along a stick horse can do wonders.  This is, of course, because they are not walking but riding a horse (duh!). 4. Make it a game. Pretend something together, like you’re a family of bears just out of your den from the winter and on the hunt for food.  Distraction is the key here – get their minds off their feet. 5. Use sibling (or trail buddy) rivalry to your advantage. “I’m not sure, but I think your brother can skip further than you,” or “Let’s see who’s the fastest by racing to the bridge ahead!”  You get the idea – use this frustrating reality of family life to your benefit! 6. Feed them, often. It takes more energy to hike than hang out at home.  Maybe they are legitimately dragging because they truly are running on fumes!  Offer a healthy snack with protein and carbs – cheese and crackers, granola bars, nuts and raisins.  Don’t ignore pleas of “I’m hungry!” on a hike or you will pay for it by carrying somebody out.  On that same note, always bring way more food than you think you need to. 7. Drink water, often. Even mild dehydration can slow anyone down, especially on a hot day. My kids have their own hydration packs, and I've learned they drink a lot more when they carry their own water.  Plus, they can drink and walk at the same time (fewer stops!).  Flavoring the water can help too – a splash of Vitamin Water, lemon, or juice. 8. Resort to silliness. Your little one has slowed to snail’s pace and whining has begun.  Without warning, take off running down the trail yourself and see if they follow.  Now this could backfire, and you may end up with a weeping, traumatized child you have to carry the rest of the way.  But still, it could be worth a shot. 9. Dole out treats. Maybe you do it every ½ mile covered, or every switchback, or every 10 feet.  I have fond memories of a short, steep hike up to a fire tower with my 3 and 5-year-old.  They started strong, but the climbing took its toll.  That’s when I whipped out the Tic Tacs I’d brought for just such an emergency.  I told them they were energy, and I would pass them one when they claimed they could go no further.  Amazingly, it was just the boost they needed.  This works best if you use a rare treat – or chocolate.  Chocolate always works. 10. Go ahead and give them a short lift. No, you don’t need to carry them the whole way!  But sometimes they honestly get tired, and nothing you can do will change that.  A few minutes on someone’s shoulders, or riding piggy back can buy you some more mileage.  Hopefully, just enough to get you back to the car! No matter which strategy you use, stay positive, you will eventually get to where you want to be! Looking for more inspiration and ideas for hiking with your family? Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media (including individual branches pages) for recommendations from other members who are getting out there with their families!

We've had an update from Ellie and her parents - the family who is hiking on the Appalachian Trail (AT)! Read about their story here: Where are you now? We are about to be in Grayson Highland State Park, where the tallest peak in Virginia resides right along the AT! It's about 150 miles into our journey. What does a typical day look like for you? A typical day looks like this: We wake up about 7 a.m. to Ellie crawling all over us in the tent. She lets us know it's time to go! Then Ellie hangs out with Bekah in the tent and helps pack up everything into our backpacks while Derrick gets the food from the critter hang and makes breakfast. After we eat, we load up and hit the trail by 9 a.m., right at Ellie's nap time! We hike as fast as possible while she sleeps so we can cover miles. Then every hour we stop for a 30-minute break to play and eat a snack. At lunchtime, we take an hour break and sometimes cook a hearty meal. We continue this pattern all day until we reach our campsite, usually by 5 p.m. We set up our tent and the rest of our gear, make dinner and let Ellie play more until the sun goes down. After cleaning up, we all go to bed together by about 8:30 p.m. After Ellie falls asleep, Derrick and I plan the next day's route and fall asleep shortly after. How have your expectations changed since starting the hike? Our expectations have stayed about the same - staying flexible is always the best way to go! What has your favorite part been so far? Our favorite part of the experience has been meeting people along the way. While we are tent camping a lot of nights, we also stay in hostels and with other families some nights, too. We have made many new friends already! What has Ellie enjoyed? Ellie enjoys it all! Really, that's a true answer! By the time she's tired and done playing, we're loading back in the pack for her to take a nap. And by the time she's awake and ready to play, we're stopping for a break to explore! It's been a fantastic rhythm so far! What has been challenging? The biggest challenge has been keeping a flexible schedule. Between the weather, Ellie's mood, blisters and crowds, we are changing our plans multiple times a day! Do you have trail names yet? Our trail names are Kanga, Roo and Sherpa. I'm sure you can figure out who is who! Do you have a question you'd like to ask? Let us know in the comments below. Photos are courtesy of @ellieontheat

We are a homeschooling family. This may lull you into a false sense of stereotyping where you assume we have all the time we need to prepare for a hike…or any outing for that matter. Well, you’d be mistaken. We have 2 problems working against us to be ready to get out the door in a timely manner. Problem one: With 3 kids and 2 adults, we have TOO much stuff to keep organized, which means we forget something. Every. Time. Problem two: We are a military family. Frequently, we plan a great weekend trip to Big Bear or a sweet hike up Digging Hill with friends and then the Navy prevents us from doing it. They have myriad ways to prevent us, but that’s a blog for another day.  On the opposite end of the Navy life spectrum, my husband will randomly and with NO notice, end up with unexpected days off. While this is less frequent than the former, it’s still worth mentioning because we try SO hard to make the MOST of those days. Hiking helps us do that. Overcoming Obstacles to Getting Out the Door How do I plan, prepare, battle, and generally not get beaten down by these obstacles? Simple actually. I committed to teaching my children a love of nature. That commitment quickly turned to a realization that time spent outdoors held our best memories and our best selves. Why would I let ANYTHING stop me from doing that? I wouldn’t. Lets look at our specific roadblocks of getting out the door and how we overcome them. Maybe they’re similar to what’s happening in your house. Problem One: Unorganized stuff! Our biggest step toward fixing this was Camelbacks (hydration packs) for each walking child. (My youngest will be 3 in July, and she will get one for her B-Day). In their pack, each child is responsible for filling the water (with assistance where needed), and placing 2-4 snacks depending on the length of the hike. Which leads me to the next organizing tool that changed our process for the quicker. Hiking snacks. We have a whole basket of them. We use them for other things too, such as when we’re running late to an event, we may grab a hiking snack for the car ride. Or if we’re headed to a restaurant at a peak day and time, we’ll grab a hiking snack to hold them over while we wait for a table. Things like granola bars, fruit bars, trail mix in pre-made amounts, dried fruit are some of our go-to snacks. Additionally, the fridge has individual quantities of any fresh fruits and veggies as an option to drop in the pack. Side note: Having kids pack their own snacks has a world of benefits. Making choices, being responsible for those choices, spacial management when they have to fit 4 bananas in their tiny pack and eventually decide to diversify their choices. So while the kids are picking their snacks and placing them in their pack, I’m gathering gear. For most of our time in a previous duty station, our hiking gear was always in a bag by the door. That’s how frequently we used it. Organizing Gear. We were somewhat spoiled in our last station in that the weather never changed. So we always needed the same hiking gear and that made keeping it compiled easier. However, since moving back to the mainland we have found similar processes to help us. Rain boots are a must right now in Oregon, so that’s always what we wear. We have a bag in each car with emergency clothes for each family member. The kids have an entire outfit, and parents have socks, shoes, and maybe a sweater or shirt. We also keep at least one towel in each car. We have found that these essentials have assisted us in almost any trip. If we play in the creek too hard and our rain boots are filled and our socks soaking when we are finished, no worries. We strip them off and crank up the heat on the ride home. Not going straight home? That’s where the emergency clothes come in handy. We also learned years ago that each car gets it’s own soft-structured carrier (SSC). When my daughter was born, she was walked to sleep every night in our Tula. Which means the next day as we pulled up to the hike, I would realize we forgot to grab it. So each car got one. I borrowed SSCs from friends for our "stays-in-the-house-never-does-anything-but-put-a-sweet-baby-to-sleep" carrier. The car SSCswere ours and were WELL loved. Cause, really, who has funds for that many carriers to just sit in cars? Not us.  Now that snacks and gear are organized, we’re ready to jump the next hurdle. Problem Two: Flexible Schedule! Flexible schedule is my 'nice way' of saying "infuriating-changing-schedule-that-we-can-never-depend-on." But call it what you like. We have become masters of "flying by the seat of our pants", thanks to years of military service. So listen carefully. Be ready. Gear is clean from the last hike where everyone slid down the muddy mountain. Snacks are replenished frequently so they aren't depleted on your hike day, and you have a list of 3-5 varying options to choose from. This list may change regularly. It may be compiled from a book on local places or from HiB locations you enjoyed or missed and want to check out.  Just go. Don’t overthink it. Don’t compromise it away (you know, "we’ll go hiking next weekend", cause it never comes). Just. Go. Acknowledge your emotional tie to the day's activity. More than I care to admit, I was miserable all day because our hike (or other exciting plan) was canceled unexpectedly. I had to learn to get past it. A list on hand of non-hike options assisted with these days, as it took the pressure off my fuming brain to come up with and/or decide on what we should do instead. Don’t be afraid to go to the same place four times in a row. I used to get SO overwhelmed at thinking every opportunity to get out HAD to be somewhere new and different and exciting. It was too much pressure, to be honest. And the moment I let us have fun at places we loved, or explore a place we had hiked only once, our spur of the moment trips got better, infinitely better. That "getting better" made it easier to keep the "Compromise Monster" at bay. (More on him in future blogs, I’m sure). Get organized in whatever way makes most sense for you, your family and how and where you hike. Even if your plan seems silly. Trust me, I was not convinced that an entire outfit per child would be that handy. I thought it was wasteful. I was wrong! And stay flexible. Even if you’re plans rarely change due to work and changing schedules. I’m sure they change due to kids getting sick or having off days or they change when you suddenly have great days where the kids want to explore. Everyone can benefit from practicing flexibility and having a plan for such days.

This year for Mother's Day, we wanted to take it in a different direction. Last year we seamlessly provided sentiment and practicality with our list. Our goal this year, however, is to encourage you to help the Outdoor Mama in your life feel loved all year. One of Hike it Baby's core values is to "Inspire Self-Care". We firmly believe that parents can do their jobs better if their cup is full. These suggestions may seem simple. But the truth is, just like a child's love, the simple things are what matters. 8 Ideas for the Outdoorsy Mama Take a good hard look at that Mama. Is she tired or bouncy? Does she need some personal time? Or perhaps she's been working a lot and desperately wants some one-on-one time with her babies? Does she want to curl up with a book, go for a hike, or watch a show? What has she been asking for over and over? Because that's probably what she needs the most. 1. Travel Mug for Coffee The only coffee that is good cold is Iced Coffee. Make sure her hot beverages stay hot and her cold beverages stay cold with a travel container. Alternatively, I've found a color-changing coffee mug really encourages me to drink my coffee before it goes cold. 2. A Comfy Cardigan I really struggled with finding clothing I enjoyed wearing and that was maternity or nursing-friendly. I often felt frumpy and I know I'm not the only one. I love this stylish cardigan from JoJo Maman Bebe. Classy, comfortable and washable make it trail-worthy. Pair it with a comfortable nursing bra and you can't go wrong. 3. Memberships Some of my favorite gifts aren't things, but rather access to memories. Membership to Nature Centers, Museums, Zoos, and Botanical Gardens are all great ideas for your Outdoor Mama this year. We also have Hike it Baby Gift Memberships! These gifts encourage their love of the outdoors year-round and help your Mama take better care of herself. 4. Massages, Massages, Massages By far one of our top suggestions when polling moms. Stop in at Lush and purchase a massage bar and you have years' worth of massages at your fingertips...or you can always spring for a professional massage. Any massage is better than no massage. For our massage newbies, I've found YouTube to be a valuable resource. 5. A Night Alone in a Cabin with Friends or Her Partner Some moms recharge best when their kids aren't squashed right next to them. Find a way to give that Mama some time off-duty. This one is trickier and may require babysitting arrangements but is ultimately worth it. I go on a women's retreat every year. That time off is hands down one of the best gifts my partner gives me. 6. Coupons or Codes for Photo Printing We love those canvas-style pictures but probably wouldn't buy them for ourselves. 7. Basket of Favorites For me, this would involve a white tea blend, Trader Joe's dark chocolate sea salt caramels, shortbread cookies, aged white cheddar cheese and a coupon for a sushi restaurant. What are your Mama's favorite things that she turns to when she's had a crummy day? Make a basket of them and she can use them for a pick-me-up all year. 8. Classes Perhaps your Mama has been talking about taking an edible plants course. Maybe she's been wanting to try Zumba. Or wants to go to Hot Yoga. Perhaps she's been meditating and wants to take a class on that. Make those memories happen for her this year. It's the little things that make life easier and better. Find a way to encourage your Mama year-round. Ultimately, every mom needs to know she's loved and appreciated. Make that happen for the mom in your life. Tell her that you've seen what she's been doing and that it means a lot to you. Say "thank you." Photo Credit in Graphic: Tais Kulish Need more gift ideas? Check out the Hike it Baby store on our website! We also offer the option of buying gift memberships for others you know would enjoy becoming a Hike it Baby member.

Hello! Hope you’re having lovely spring weather full of flowers and sunshine wherever you are. Spring is one of my favorite seasons. It starts to warm up, but isn’t too hot. The leaves are beginning to grow on the trees. Flowers are blooming. Rivers are rushing. It’s great! But for those plants to grow and those rivers to run, it takes rain. And there is plenty of it in the spring. But don’t be discouraged; you can still get outside and enjoy nature’s beauty even on one of those drizzly, mud-puddle days. Get some rain gear. A pair of rain boots, a waterproof rain jacket and an umbrella make rainy-day outings so much fun. My little guy gets so excited when it rains because it means he gets to use his umbrella! If your little one isn’t as excited about using an umbrella as mine is, that’s ok...just ditch it and make sure the rain jacket has a hood. Staying warm and dry keeps everyone happy while outside; so even if it’s just drizzling, a rain jacket and boots make a world of difference. And even when the rain has stopped, rain boots make those mud puddles even more fun! Bring a change of clothes. Kids get dirty when they explore outside. Add mud and puddles and they get super dirty. So it’s always good to bring a change of clothes and some towels. By realizing that they may get wet and dirty, it’s not as stressful when they do get wet and dirty. You can just wipe them down and change them once you get back to the car. Then everyone is happy! Especially on rainy days, you don’t want to have to listen to your kids complain on the way home about being in wet clothes. It is so much more enjoyable for everyone to have clean clothes waiting for them at the car. Just in case someone falls into a mud puddle. But with that being said… Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. Get dirty! Jump in those puddles; dance in the rain! Let go of society’s expectations to stay sparkling clean. Put on those play clothes and go play! Especially on rainy days, some parents don’t want to go out because it’s “too wet” or “too dirty.” Let me tell you, there’s a whole wonderful world waiting for you on those rainy days! If you can let go of the stress of staying clean and dry (which as you know, with kids, it might be impossible anyway), the whole adventure is so much more enjoyable. And since you brought a change of clothes, it’s an easy fix. So watch your little one get dirty and explore! Protect your car. If the kids do get dirty, though, what about your car? Bring a plastic bag to put the dirty clothes in. Take a cue from the flimsy mats auto shops put in cars and lay down some paper over the mats. They have large rolls of paper you can cut to fit at any craft store or Walmart for about $12. Bring some extra towels to lay over the seats and put muddy shoes in the back of the car in a bag you don’t mind getting dirty. Then when you get home, you can just pull everything out, rinse it off, throw the clothes in the wash and your car never knew the difference. April showers bring May flowers. So get out there and enjoy that rain knowing that it’s going to bring in the beauty of spring full bloom. There’s something so nostalgic about making mud pies and jumping in puddles. So let’s give our kids those gifts and enjoy the rain while it lasts!

Hiking is just one of many things we do to be outside and commune with our natural world. Yes. I'm referring to Extreme Sports! But we're a baby wearing family so you know we kicked it up a notch. There is nothing you cannot do with a child on your back! We've been avid extreme sport participants since before it was a “thing”. Sky Diving? Of course. Surfing the Eddies on the North Shore? Every time Eddie goes, we go.  Diamond Slopes? Our cozy winter get away. So imagine my shock when I got pregnant and they said I had to stop. Well, I’ve never been one to be TOLD what to do. I’m my own person. I will decide what’s best for me. So I kept going. I surfed in the Eddies (and won, by the way) in 2010. I took that win and laughed in the faces of everyone who said I couldn’t do that pregnant. I laughed all the way to the slopes and took on my favorite diamond trail. Offering inspiration to woman everywhere I took that glowing baby belly, my custom made maternity snow suit and sized up boots to accommodate my swelling feet and killed that slope. Ladies. It’s all about having the right equipment and a No-Excuses, can-do attitude. Now, I’m on my third baby (who is almost 3) and we have extreme sported our way through all three pregnancies and well into our baby wearing days. We have found there is NO sport that isn’t conducive to baby wearing. Be it in the air.   In the snow.  On the board. Every sport lends to baby-wearing, if only we dare to try. Parents, don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life, even after you have kids. Especially if they’re telling you no. “I’m thankful to those who said no to me. It is because of them I did it myself.” ~ Albert Einstein All I’m saying, parents, is… April Fools, from the HiB team. Ok friends, hopefully you read all the way through this post and have realized that it is meant to be an amusing, fictional tale in honor of April Fools Day. In no way do we suggest that anyone babywear while performing extreme sports. Follow those dreams within the guidelines of professional safety experts and trained medical providers. Hope this gave you chuckle!

Hiking with kids is an adventure.  Sometimes a fulfilling success, sometimes a complete failure.  Kids are volatile and make everything more difficult, but they share with us the purest joy in discovering the natural world.  Hiking is an ingrained part of my family and what we love to do.  We hike very often and most of the time our hikes are wonderful family experiences.  Those hikes are the ones I always share with friends and family and online – the ones where everyone goes in and comes out with a big smile.  I don’t (and I think we don’t as a hiking community) share our hiking failures often enough.  Anyone who hikes often has them, but those pictures of tear-streaked toddlers, large “trail closed” signs, or miles spent wallowing in self-doubt and frustration never get shared. Bad Days The bad days are tremendously hard to move past sometimes.  The hikes where we plan the whole trip, but are so overwhelmed that we can’t even get past the snack-making and stuff-packing stage and we never make it out of the house.  The hikes where we have a parental failure and don’t properly research the hike and we drive 1.5 hours and reach the trail and the road is completely snowed in and the trail closed. Getting Lost The hikes where we set off full of pomp and promise and our kids whine, scream, or cry the whole time.  The hikes where we are somewhere new and with three intelligent, experienced hikers, we still somehow manage to get lost at the absolute furthest point in the hike miles from the car and experience the panic of unpreparedness. Unprepared The hikes where the trail gets way too steep to safely be wearing the hiking backpack and the destination ends up being many more miles away than the guide noted so you have to turn around early.  It starts snowing on you out of nowhere, and your kid is not wearing warm enough boots and cries the whole way back that her feet are cold, so you feel like the worst parent in the world. These are a few of my hiking failures.  And that doesn’t even count the mundane forest temper tantrums, running out of snacks (how do they eat soooo much once we hit the trails), some slightly graphic diaper incidents, scrapes and bruises, fumbling through feeding and napping, and solving the toddler problem of the moment without access to the amenities of home.  Every hiking family has unsuccessful hikes and sometimes they are hard to overcome. Embrace the Bad Moments After a particularly bad string of hikes where we couldn’t seem to get it together, I did a bit of contemplation on how to move forward and get back to the trails. I think the best way to cope and not let the bad moments linger is to embrace them and be proud of them.  And maybe even to share them more often.  No matter what caused the hike to be unsuccessful, you tried to get out there and give your child a positive experience.  Learn from your mistakes.  Or don’t and just accept that mistakes happen, sometimes you must write it off and take the lows with the highs and come back next time just as enthusiastic about the adventure. I think getting started is sometimes the hardest step, whether it is your first hike or hundredth hike, getting out the door and onto the trail can be more challenging than any steps you take on the trail.  Maybe every once in awhile we should all share out #hikingfailures in solidarity with all those sitting home wondering if they should try again? Yes, the trail has become a river and yes my toddler is screaming in this picture.  #hikingfailure

Another Hike it Baby 30 is on the horizon, and if you’re not feeling motivated by that thought, it may be more than just the decidedly un-spring like weather gracing your locale right now.  Jumping on board for a HiB 30 is essentially forming a new habit.  It involves setting expectations for ourselves for an entire month, then following through. That is easier for some of us than others, family circumstances aside. Did you know that your temperament can play into how well you handle a HiB 30 Challenge? Four Fateful Tendencies We are all faced with both outer expectations, such as obeying traffic rules, and inner expectations, like quitting a bad habit. The key is asking ourselves: “how do I respond to expectations?” Our response, it turns out, may depend a lot on our inborn temperament. Habits researcher Gretchen Rubin has come up with four distinct types of responses she labels “Four Fateful Tendencies.” Rebels If you are a rebel, then something about the HiB 30 challenge pushes you away. Inside you resist the idea of “having to hike” for a month because you prefer to act from choice and freedom, and do things how and why you see fit. If you want more time outside, you’ll do it your own way, and in your own time. But you don’t relish the rules or commitment of a HiB 30 challenge, and may never participate at all. Questioners You resist outer expectations, and wouldn’t commit to a HiB 30 just because everyone else is doing it. You need an inner motivation that makes sense to you–you have to know the “why?”  If you’ve been wanting to get the kids out on the trail more, and a HiB 30 comes along to make that more of a priority for you, then you’ll be game. Once you’ve internalized it, it becomes an inner expectation that you will have no trouble meeting. Obligers If you are on obliger, you thrive in HiB 30 challenges because you need external motivation to meet your internal goals. Accountability motivates you. You love the hike log and the Facebook group where you are encouraged by others trying to accomplish the same goal. In fact, you know that without the challenge you would never hike 30 miles in a month. Upholders Consider yourself lucky if you are an upholder because you find it easier than the other personality types to meet both inner and outer expectations. You don’t need a HiB 30 to hike 30 miles in a month–you could do that simply by setting a goal for yourself. But once committed, you won’t let yourself, your branch, or the HiB community down. You will also be very careful to follow the challenge rules as written. What is your tendency? Did you see yourself in one of the four tendencies? Knowing how you are most likely to react to a HiB 30 challenge is helpful for making it work best for you. And if you are a rebel, you can quit feeling bad for not wanting to participate at all! Perhaps gifting or donating a registration is the best way for you to support the Hike It Baby organization. What is your tendency, and how will you use that knowledge to your benefit in the April HiB 30? (Interested in reading more about the Four Fateful Tendencies? Check out 'Better Than Before' by Gretchen Rubin.) Join the fun - sign up for HiB30 Challenge Today! Have you joined the HiB30 Challenge yet? This is a great way to keep you and your family motivated and inspired to get outdoors all month long! Also, just by registering, you are automatically entered to win prizes from some of our amazing sponsors, like Onya, Deuter, BOB, and KEEN. Share with friends and family and have them join you in signing up for the April HiB30 Challenge now! See you outside! Photo Credit: Ashton Miyako

Sometimes deciding how to spend your time outside as a family is just as hard as getting out the door. Most of the time, inspiration can be found in our own backyard. Other times, we could use some fresh ideas for motivating our outdoor adventures. We are quickly approaching the start of the April Hike it Baby 30 Challenge so we wanted to give you 30 ideas for places to go to spend time outdoors this spring:   30 Places To Play Outside 1. Find a new route in your neighborhood 16. Cross a creek 2. Head to a coffee shop 17. Visit a nature center 3. Find a National Park near you (or not near you and make it a great road trip!) 18. Head to a festival 4. Find a new to you State Park 19. Rock walk! Head some where rocky and balance along the rocks. 5. Discover a new local park 20. Go to a wildlife refuge and count birds 6. Head to the playground 21. Look for a community garden 7. Play in the sand at the beach 22. Ask a park ranger a question 8. Find a new camping spot 23. Find a tunnel and listen to the echoes 9. Head up a mountain 24. Draw a circle on a map and find something unique in that area 10. Walk down a ravine 25. Go to an outdoor concert 11. To your backyard for a squeegee or snipe hunt 26. Have a picnic dinner 12. Cross a suspension bridge 27. Splash in as many puddles as possible 13. Find a waterfall 28. Participate in an urban gardening or clean up day 14. Explore a pond 29. Find a hill and roll down it (this is great for vestibular development and deep sensory kids) 15. Visit a prairie and look for rodents of unusual size 30. Stomp, scoot or roll along a boardwalk and listen to the sounds Join the fun - sign up for HiB30 Challenge Today! We hope this gives you some new and exciting ways to get outside! Have you joined the HiB30 Challenge yet? This is a great way to keep you and your family motivated and inspired to get outdoors all month long! Also, just by registering, you are automatically entered to win prizes from some of our amazing sponsors, like Onya, Deuter, BOB, and KEEN. Share with friends and family and have them join you in signing up for the April HiB30 Challenge now! See you outside! Photo Credit: @feastorfamineinc

This is the first post in the monthly conservationist series. Each post will detail a conservationist's life, notable accomplishments, and ways the conservationist connects to kids. Environmental activist. Writer. Inventor. Ecologist. Travel Enthusiast. The next time you visit a national park, you have conservationist John Muir partially to thank. Muir, often referred to as Father of Our National Park System, helped found five national parks in addition to founding the Sierra Club. Who is John Muir? Born in 1838 in Dunbar, Scotland, Muir immigrated to the United States when was 11 years old. He and his family settled in Wisconsin. While living in Wisconsin, his curiosity and ingenuity led him to many inventions he would eventually show at the Wisconsin State Fair, including a horse feeder, table saw, and even a catapult-like device that tipped him out of his bed each morning before dawn (which sounds much more effective than a traditional alarm clock)! While Muir was a good student, he left Wisconsin after completing just three years of college. Instead of continuing a traditional education, he traveled the northern United States and Canada, picking up odd jobs along the way. One of these jobs left him with an eye injury that blinded him for a month and proved to be life-changing. After regaining his sight, Muir began experiencing wanderlust and longed to see the world. He walked 1,000 miles from Indianapolis to the Gulf of Mexico. He sailed to Cuba and Panama and ultimately settled in California (though he would continue to travel the world). His travels even took him on an extended trip to the Amazon when he was 73! "The mountains are calling and I must go," Muir said. A Love of Nature Even with Muir’s wanderlust tendencies, he embraced the nature of the United States, and he was especially passionate about Sierra Nevada and Yosemite. Through his observations of Yosemite, he found living glaciers. His theories stated that Yosemite’s geological features were developed by this glacial activity. Besides his role in the development of Yosemite as a national park in 1890, Muir was also involved in the creation of parks for the Grand Canyon and Sequoia regions. “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and places to pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul," Muir said. Muir also kept journals of his travels, writing about the beauty he saw in nature and drawing sketches of plants, animals, mountains, and landscapes. Accomplishments In addition to helping create some of America's national parks, Muir also founded an organization dedicated to preserving the environment so its beauty could be enjoyed for generations. The Sierra Club's mission, founded in 1892, strives to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth. More than 100 years later, the Sierra Club is the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. More than two million members and supporters help live out Muir's original mission of the Sierra Club. Muir also authored articles and books detailing his travels and philosophies. His 1901 book Our National Parks gained the attention of former President Theodore Roosevelt and led to a historic meeting of the two men where they discussed conservation programs. (Theodore Roosevelt will be featured in a future post in the conservationist series.) “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks," Muir said. Connecting to Kids Want to teach your own children about John Muir’s legacy? There are plenty of ways to accomplish this! State Quarter Coloring Page If your children like to color, this activity will appeal to them! Print out a coloring page featuring the California state quarter (released in 2005), which highlights Muir and his love of nature. Find the coloring page here. Children’s Books Muir himself was the author of 10 major books, but there are also books that have been written about him for a children’s audience. The Camping Trip that Changed America: Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and Our National Parks (Barb Rosenstock) In this book, children can learn about the historic three-day camping trip taken by Muir and Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Camping by themselves in an uncharted area of Yosemite, the two held discussions that would lead to the creation of our national parks. (Recommended ages: 6-8) John Muir: America’s Naturalist (Thomas Locker) Featuring quotes from John Muir’s actual writing and fully illustrated pages, children ages 4-8 will especially enjoy this book. This inspiring book will teach children about the values John Muir held so dearly. Note: This book is part of an illustrated series of books by Thomas Locker introducing the young and old to great Americans who loved and wrote about the land. Create a Nature Journal John Muir kept journals about his adventures in the wilderness, and kids (and adults too) may enjoy keeping their own nature journal! Write down your thoughts on hikes and draw the beauty you experienced. You’ll have a great memento when your journal is finished! To download a printable nature journal template from the Sierra Club, click here. Quick Facts There is a minor planet named in his honor, Johnmuir, discovered in August 2004. The tiny planet measures just 1 mile in diameter. Muir is featured on the California state quarter along with Yosemite and a condor. Muir got to camp for three days with U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. Muir had an adventure on an Alaskan glacier with his friend’s dog, Stickeen. A world-traveler, Muir visited every continent except Antarctica. Muir Woods National Monument, a grove of redwoods north of San Francisco, is named in Muir’s honor. Muir was married with two daughters. He greatly enjoyed walking with his girls and experiencing nature, which we all still enjoy today through Hike it Baby. Muir died on December 24, 1914, in Los Angeles. Do you have a favorite conservationist that has positively influenced our environment? Share your thoughts with us below! Stay tuned each month for more blog posts about conservationists and their impact on our community and the world we share.

Have you read any good books lately? We like to share reviews on books that our members have read that are hiking or outdoors related. From infants board books to adult page-turners, we love to hear about what you are reading! Share a book review with us on this form and we may feature it in an upcoming blog post! Reviews: [gallery link="file" columns="3" ids="602982,589522,589520"] Colette Clarke, from the Harrisburg branch, reviewed this book for us! Thousand Star Hotel by The Okee Dokee Brothers “Thousand Star Hotel” is about a muskrat couple who live near a river. Mr. Muskrat dreams of becoming rich, while Mrs. Muskrat is happy with their simple life together. One day they catch a giant fish, who promises to grant them a wish, if they release him. He grants their wish in a rather unexpected way. I love that this book combines one of my toddler’s favorite book subjects, animals, with the lesson that you can find happiness with fewer material possessions. It shows that the best things in life aren’t things. The text of this book is a little longer than what my two-year-old is used to (it is written for ages 4+), so it will grow with her and be appropriate for years. However, I was surprised that it holds her attention the entire time we spend reading it, despite the length. This is a very rare accomplishment, indeed! The binding of the hard cover edition is lovely, with glossy areas and raised lettering for the title. It makes the book feel very special. Last but certainly not least, this book comes with a CD that includes an audio version of the story, as well as 11 Okee Dokee Brothers songs! Bailey Ludlam, from the Indianapolis branch, reviewed this book for us! My Woodland Wish by Kate Endle & Casper Babypants Nature, colorful images, and sing-song text. The story takes you through a walk in the woods where the main character comes across her favorite animals. This is a book that your child can grow into from just pointing out the different animals on each page to singing the text (you can go online to get the actual song). It's a fun read before bedtime, or even better, before a hike. Maybe even ask your little one to keep an eye out during the hike for the animals from the book! Mandy Kazura, from the Nashville branch, reviewed this book for us! Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela Lavigna Coyle They say don't buy a book by its cover, but when we read the title of this book, we were sold. We love that this book acknowledges that our little girl can be rough and tough, and also still has to do all the normal every day things, like cleaning their room and eating their vegetables. Adorable illustrations and rhyming for young ones. [gallery link="file" columns="2" ids="589521,589519"] Shannon McDonald, from the Baltimore branch, reviewed these two books for us! The Branch by Mirelle Messier Young child attaches herself to a branch of a tree–it's her castle, her pirate ship–but after an ice storm her branch is broken. A friendly neighbor offers condolences by illustrating how we can re-purpose and reuse! All is not lost! Outside by Deirdre Gill The snow beckons the boy. He tries in vain to have his brother (playing video games) to join. The boy gains fantasy snow friends...eventually the brother joins outside. Hike it Baby now has a Goodreads Group! Join today and add books to our bookshelf! Looking for more member reviews? Search our blog for other Book Review posts! Want to share a book that you love about the outdoors? Submit your review here to be included in an upcoming blog post!