OutGrown Blog

Jessica Featherstone, from the Hike it Baby social media team, introduces our latest video produced with our friends at Baby K'tan! Sky was born on a beautiful August day in 2014. I remember looking out the window and wanting to be outside, breathing fresh air, and enjoying the sunshine. Apparently you aren’t supposed to take the big carts with the baby in it outside of the hospital so that dream didn’t come true until we brought her home mid-day on a gorgeous sunny, Wisconsin Sunday. Sky and I walked outside every day until the freezing cold Wisconsin winters. We hit the neighborhood first, then moved onto the little town, then ventured furthered with the help of Hike it Baby to getting on trail. Sky loved getting outside and Hike it Baby helped me pick great trails for carrier walks, stroller walks, and then as she started walking, toddler walks. Hope this video encourages you to find some new trails in your area! XOXO Jessica and Sky Baby Thank you to our friends at Baby K'tan for sponsoring this new video! Happy Hiking!

Every national park – big or small, obscure or well known, nature mecca or historic monument – is worth visiting with a family. But there are a few special places that seem to give you more bang for your buck. A few gems where, instead of settling for the shorter or easier hikes because of the kids, the best hikes are short and kid friendly. Great Basin National Park in Nevada is one of those rare places. Never heard of it? You are not alone! Its location in the Great Basin Desert – three hours west of Salt Lake City, Utah, and five hours north of Las Vegas, Nevada - keeps it well out of the way of most travelers. But for those willing to make it a destination you will find 13,000 foot Wheeler Peak harboring the country’s southernmost glacier, bristlecone pine trees (the world’s oldest living organisms), ornate Lehman Caves with unique formations not found anywhere else, sagebrush, deep silence, and dark night skies. Campgrounds rarely fill here, and even in the middle of July you can have a trail entirely to yourself. The Great Basin region covers a vast area of the west, from Utah to California, from Arizona to Oregon – a region in which no water ever leaves. Instead of draining to an ocean, all precipitation that falls in the Great Basin, stays in the Great Basin. Most of that falls in the form of winter snow, but summers in this high desert are warm and sunny. Be sure to stop at the Great Basin Visitor Center in Baker, Nevada, outside the park the explore the hands on exhibits and learn more about this unique region. And don’t miss the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to over 10,000 feet with stunning views of surrounding mountains and valleys. Services are really few and far between here, so the best strategy is always to fill up on gas and food at a grocery store before leaving civilization. There is a yummy café at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center during the summer that makes an excellent stop for lunch or ice cream after a hike! When you’re ready to hit the trail, here are a few of my favorites: Island Forest Trail – Located at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, this .2 mile handicap accessible trail winds through a beautiful aspen grove at over 10,000 feet elevation . Bristlecone Pine Trail – Walk among the oldest living things on earth on this 2.8 mile stroll. A short walk beyond the grove brings you to the country’s southernmost glacier! Alpine Lakes Loop – In just over 2 ½ miles you can hike to two postcard perfect alpine lakes at the base of towering Wheeler Peak. Because you begin your hike on the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive at 10,000 feet, elevation gain is minimal! Baker Creek Trail – This 2.5 mile loop hike is one of my favorite all time trails anywhere. It begins in a sagebrush meadow with a snow capped peak in the background, climbs through profuse wildflowers into an aspen grove that is stunning in the fall, crosses a mountain creek, wanders through ponderosa pines, a high mountain meadow, then back across two bubbling mountain streams back at the trailhead. It has it all in less than 3 miles. Lehman Caves – How about a hike in a cave? The Lodge Room Tour is only .4 mile and ideal for families with young children (Note that the minimum age for a cave tour is 5 years old). In honor of the National Park Service’s 100th birthday this year you can join in Great Basin, Great Inspiration on August 12-13th, a two day series of artist workshops where you can learn more about night sky photography, writing, painting, cowboy poetry, ceramics, fiber and more. In September you can join in the Great Basin National Park Astronomy Festival, a family event with unforgettable star gazing. The park has some of the best air quality in the nation, which translates to excellent night skies. Solar telescopes set up during the day, dozens of telescopes up at night, ranger programs just for kids, and a chance for the little ones to earn their Deep Space Certificate are just a few reasons to go! Ready to find true solitude with the family this summer? Then check out Great Basin National Park – I promise you won’t be disappointed! Visit www.nps.gov/grba to start planning your trip. Alana is a park ranger turned homeschooling mom of three. With her park ranger husband she’s raising her kids in America’s most beautiful places. She loves hiking, camping, photography, books, coffee shops, farmers markets, gardening, and backyard chickens. She is the Branch Ambassador in Eatonville, Washington, just outside Mount Rainier National Park.  

A “mommy” community can mean the difference between sanity, and…not. Truly. And it matters on a high level for overall health and well being. A prominent UCLA neuroscientist has even written a book on human connection and relationships may be nearly as important as the basic needs of food, shelter, and water. It’s not just limited to mommies either. Just about any word can be substituted for “mommy” including “daddy,” “parent,” “grandparent,” “widow/widower,” “senior,” and so many more. We crave social interaction, because we are inherently social beings. That’s where the idea of a community comes in. Where the need for a community comes in. Nearly every single one of us craves a connection with someone who understands us. “Community” can mean different things for different people too. For some it's a small group of people, while others look for it on a much larger scale. As a mommy, I could have told you this. Nothing prepared me for the initial disconnect from my own life that I experienced the weeks following giving birth to my son. I was among the first of my close friends to have a baby (even at age 31), and though I knew other mommies, most had kids much older. I found myself craving adult time, but knew my friends might not understand my new world. There’s a difference, you see, between enjoying your own time and feeling completely alone. After my husband went back to work, here I was with this tiny being who was attached to me (quite literally) 18-20 hours out of the day, and who relied on me for everything. When I found a new mommy group, I was elated. Although I had little else in common with most of the other parents, here were people who understood my struggle to do what I wanted every day. And I clung to that, making it a priority to make it to as many meetings as I could. Then I went back to work out of financial necessity, and though I had a different kind of support system back in place, it was no longer the same as the mommy support system. After a year, and some devastating personal losses, I left my job to spend more time with my small boy, which was the most important thing in the world to me. And, we discovered Hike it Baby. Boy, did we ever! We hiked almost every single day, spending hours upon hours outside! More importantly, I found a community. Other families who loved doing things outside with their kids. Who loved exploring. But more importantly, who would all have each others’ backs when things got tough. Who we could call when our toddler was running a fever and all of the thermometers in the house had gone MIA. With who we could share the rough nights, the excitement of potty training, and all the stresses and joys of parenting -- from newborns to three-year olds with their own sense of identity and opinions. And it’s made this parenting thing so much better. Could I have made it through the last few years without having a mommy community? Sure. Humans are pretty resilient beings. But, my life has been so much richer by having a group of people who understand. And that’s the importance of having a [mommy] community. Living a richer, fuller life. Photo Credit: Krystal Weir / Ashley Scheider Erin Pennings is a marketer by trade, and a work-at-home mom to an adventurous small boy who believes firmly in hitting the ground running and the walls climbing. Follow her adventures, fun feats, and tasty treats at SalmonAtSeven.com. Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook - @SalmonAtSeven.

This past week my friend asked if I wanted to take my kids camping (sans husband) and I said yes. We headed up to Potawatomi State Park. It was my first solo trip with Graham (almost 3) and Warren (almost 1) and it was Warren's first ever time sleeping in a tent. Just prior to setting out anxiety set in. I silently dreamt of all the ways this trip could end in disaster. I left anyway, knowing that I'd have learned a whole lot when I had returned. The camping itself was much like the camping I remember as a kid. We pulled into the campsite on Wednesday afternoon. We set up camp, taking turns watching each other's kids. We got water and snacks to distract the kids while chopping firewood to make kindling. We had a campfire and dinner. It started to rain, so we called it an early night. My kids, lovers of white noise, slept like rocks. Until 5 am. They of course proceeded to wake up the other three families with us. We had planned to hike the section of the Ice Age trail that ran through the park to the Eastern Terminus. We started early and the hike lasted until about noon. We ate lunch and opted for car napping, since tent napping was just not happening. Sure enough once around the campground and they were out. When Graham woke up he refused to get out of the car. He just kept saying over and over that he wanted to go home, see Dada, done camping. He refused to leave his car seat. It's at this point that all those anxious thoughts that I had prior to the trip came roaring back. As the sole parent, I was responsible for making the call to go home. I knew I wanted to stay. Graham, however, was adamant that we leave. He hadn't been feeling well and he looked so zoned out in his car seat. So we left. I started ripping down the campsite as fast as I could in the light rain that had persisted throughout the day. My friends held Warren or helped me throw our soaking gear into the car. They would continue to stay while I left. It is this point that felt like defeat. I wanted to know, what had I done wrong? Our camping trip was successful right up until it wasn't anymore. I could have chosen to push through with a grumpy, frustrated, and increasingly obstinate toddler. I chose to go home. Part of my decision process included the reasoning that if I ended the trip before everyone was miserable, then I knew I'd be more likely to get them to go with me again. Here is what I learned on my first solo adventure. Bring friends- We took turns watching each others kids in order to set up tents, start fires, use the bathrooms, and when both kids and parents needed a change of pace. 4 adults and 6 kids was a pretty good ratio and it helped to have kids for Graham & Warren to play with. Start close to home- Potawatomi was about 2 1/2 hours from our house. I think 1 hour might have been more ideal, especially if you need to bail out. If we had spent both nights, as we intended to, then the 2 1/2 hours might not have felt so far. Expect to get dirty- We coined the expression Camp Clean. Also known as it's as clean as it's going to be until we get home. I had a hard time with this and Warren. As he is just learning to walk and still puts everything into his mouth, he was filthy by the time we left. Kid size- I brought the kiddie toilet, a Pack n Play, and another mom brought a super nifty portable high chair and the picnic table from home. Having a place to put baby that was clean was nice and the kids liked to sit at their table and in kid sized chairs. At one point stop packing- Especially in a group, if you forgot it, someone else will have it. Make friends- The couple next to us had a great fire, so I asked them how they pulled it off, especially in the rain. Not only did I get a great fire starting method, but the gentleman helped jump one of our cars, and when they were leaving gave us his fire. Know when to leave- Going home was the right choice for us, even though I had wanted to stay. An hour into the ride home and Graham was happily chatting about seeing Dada and telling his stuffed animals about the bath he was going to take. Pushing him would have meant we were all miserable. I'm planning to go on more solo camping trips with the boys. I know that with practice we'll end up being fantastic at it. Our neighbor went camping this weekend and Graham looked up and asked if we could go as well. That's success right there. This post was originally published on Walking Towards Less. Photos courtesy of Kate Bernhard Heidi Schertz lives with her husband (Elliot) and two sons (Graham & Warren) in Milwaukee. When not exploring urban wildernesses she enjoys reading, knitting, and cooking. She blogs at Walking Towards Less and is on Instagram.

I love hiking with Sky and having her explore the trails with me. That being said, sometimes all I want to do is go, go, go. I want to move and rack up some mileage. I want to not constantly worry about a toddler falling or running off into the pond to catch frogs. Sometimes, I want to be in nature and get to enjoy it for myself. Watching a tiny human run wild can be difficult to really enjoy nature (see last sentence about toddlers running into ponds). So typically, people spend mother's day with their family. I opted for spending it mostly alone. Instead of spending mother's day with Sky and Daniel, I went hiking. Mostly solo. My friend Heidi decided to join me and we headed up to Parnell Tower to hike part of the Parnell segment of the Ice Age Trail. We decided to do part of a segment that was a bit more technical than we normally would do with toddlers. In my handy dandy Ice Age Trail guide (Thanks Dan!), this was one of the harder segments in the area. So off we went. Here's the real kicker of the whole hike. I slowed down. Sky has taught me to slow down and enjoy the hike. So while we were moving at a good pace, I also slowed down, listened to the sounds around me, and enjoyed the experience. I tried to step on all the stones to see which ones would loosen under me. I looked for ephemeral ponds. I gleefully scrambled downhill. I took the time to look for birds and identify them (in my head, I doubt Heidi would be impressed by the fact I know five different birds). I lived life like a toddler. Mostly.. I didn't ask Heidi for snacks every 30 seconds nor did I try to bushwhack, but I did use the opportunity to be present in the moment. It's interesting that we talk about how much we teach our children. Sky is learning her numbers so we count things on the trail, use the blaze markers to learn about colors (and maps and following the trail and all kinds of things), and identify different animals we see as we are hiking. Even though I have been teaching her all about the world through hiking, she has been teaching me all about hiking. My whole goal in hiking had been seeing how far and how fast we can go. What I've learned through Sky is that isn't the goal of hiking. The goal of hiking is to be there in nature. It's to be present in that moment. I so rarely slow down in my life. So thank you Sky for teaching me how to slow down while being on the trail. This post originally published on One Babe and Done with permission to reprint here on Hike it Baby. Jessica Featherstone lives in the somewhat north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with her husband, toddler, and two dogs. Jessica is often found trying to keep a toddler from bush whacking through the forest or entertained on neighborhood walks. She occasionally blogs at One Babe and Done and obsessively posts photos of her toddler on Instagram when she isn't busy helping out with Hike it Baby social media.

Every month we like to share those moments when you think, “You Know You Are a Hike it Baby Hiker When…”. We ask, you tell! Here are some of the thoughts that our members shared this month. How do YOU know you are a HiB hiker? Share with us on this form and we will include your comments on an upcoming blog post! Your diaper bag contains an emergency space blanket and a compass because your diaper bag is really a backpack with the 10 Essentials that happens to have some baby stuff too. – Jennifer Dotson, Seattle When your two year old says “I want to go to the mountain!” from the backseat. – Alexandra, Tacoma Being in nature makes me a better mommy, and being surrounded by amazing parents that feel the same way makes me feel at home. – Kristin Stalmaster, Seattle/Snohomish You do not leave home without your baby wearer because you never know when you will have time for a quick hike. I hated my baby wearer before HiB, now it is an essential. My husband and I hike as a hobby thanks to HiB and we have bought two different park passes for the year. – Megan Finke, Milwaukee Your 2 month old baby is screaming from hunger in the back seat and you are an hour from home but you’ve been hiking with HIB in that area before so you pull off the freeway to feed your baby at the trailhead and soothe her back to sleep in the carrier on an impromptu hike. – Amber Hinneberg, Milwaukee You may not have cleaned the house all week but you logged 25 miles on your challenge! – Carley, Anchorage You know you’re a HiB hike when all vacations have to include somewhere you can hike. – Julya Doyle, Prince Frederick, Maryland Photo Credit: Ashley Scheider

Experiencing the joy of witnessing your child’s first steps is a milestone most parents never forget. For Amanda Johnston, she watched her 15-month-old son perfect his walk while relearning how to walk herself. In February 2016, at the age of 29, Amanda had an ischemic stroke (CVA) due to heart defects that she was unaware of. Her journey in healing is so inspiring. Encouragement from her family and her love for the outdoors helped her heal. Here is Amanda’s “My HiB Story”. Amanda spent ten days in a hospital to be treated for the stroke that she suffered. Her husband Patrick, recalled that terrible time. “We did not know how much of a recovery she would make.” he said. “The doctors promised us nothing but hope.” Unable to walk, barely able to complete a sentence, and having no coordination on the right side of her body made her rehabilitation slow and frustrating. She had speech therapy and physical therapy sessions to relearn how to do basic things taken for granted, like walking and talking. Amanda had motivation from her two toddlers. She wanted to be able to be outside, take them places with confidence, and eventually run after them on the trails that she loved to hike. Patrick explained how the outdoors has impacted their lives throughout their relationship. “It is where we courted, we married, and where we consistently go with our boys for peace and fulfillment.” Looking back on her therapy, Amanda said, "While I was thankful to just be alive, I really wanted to be able to use my body to the best of my abilities." Patrick also remembers how much energy Amanda put into her recovery. "She was relentlessly determined," he said.  "Less than a week after her stroke she moved around freely using a walker and within two weeks she could get around slowly unassisted." Once Amanda was back home with her family, she began to take short walks with Patrick to the mailbox and back. Being outside was uplifting. They bought some plants and she spent time healing outdoors while gardening. Tremors and the loss of her fine motor skills were not going to stop her from getting outdoors with her family. She needed to be cautious about falling or wounding herself, since her medication to thin her blood would cause her to bleed more. However, her medical provider still encouraged her to follow her desire to be active outdoors. Soon, Amanda graduated to taking walks in her neighborhood. By using the stroller that she pushed her children in as a walker, she was able to take those constant steps around the block. "It was seriously hard work to constantly use these muscles in cohesion with one another," said Amanda. "[I had to] think about the next step constantly." She became more and more brave with each passing day. One day, she made the one mile trip to the grocery store, slowly, by pushing her sons in the stroller. At the time, she felt such freedom, and even euphoria, to be outside with her boys. She was almost unstoppable. "With my hands on that stroller I felt in control." This accomplishment was so rewarding that she began to repeat the walk to the grocery store - a 3.2 mile trip - several times per week along with enjoying outdoors time with the boys almost every day. "Just being out there," said Amanda, "getting dirty from playing and gardening felt really good." She was improving not only her walking, but noticed an improvement in her attitude as well. Once she felt strong enough, she asked Patrick to help her get her youngest son, who was 30 lbs. at one-and-a-half-years-old, up onto her back and into a carrier for an evening walk. They were all happy that night. It was so pleasant that the next day, Amanda tried and was able to get her son on her back by herself. She celebrated by taking a walk around the neighborhood with him in the carrier. She walked slow and steady without holding on to a stroller for support. This was such an accomplishment that she dreamed of attempting more and more. Not wanting to lose momentum, the family went on an easy hike that weekend. Amanda carried the baby the entire three miles. “I was on top of the world!” she said. Now, she was unstoppable. Patrick looked back on this day as “the day that our family rediscovered our freedom.” After this incredible challenge was conquered, the family continued to hike every weekend to keep up her confidence and the feeling of accomplishment. Becoming a Branch Ambassador for Hike it Baby felt like a natural step. “I love getting outside with my kids,” said Amanda, “and I want other families to enjoy it too!” Now, Amanda walks with a normal stride. She even had to run after her toddler on the trail recently to stop him from getting too near a canyon edge. “I ran, I couldn’t believe it,” Amanda described her proud moment, “I actually ran, I felt like a warrior.” This warrior has even tandem carried her two boys on the trail. Patrick cheers her on as he watches in awe. “She just signed up for a half marathon which will be completed less than 10 months from her stroke!” he said. “She simply refuses to let this circumstance alter her life.” Amanda’s story is so inspiring. For parents, sometimes getting out the front door can feel like a hike. For Amanda, it was a hike. Things taken for granted, like walking and talking, can take time to heal. Her medical providers approve of her steps towards healthy living. By choosing to eat well, stress less, and remain active she is helping to prevent another stroke from occurring. Being his wife’s biggest cheerleader was like riding a roller-coaster of emotions during this time. Patrick said that he went from “fear and sadness, to despair, to hope, and finally relief” when he realized that she would recover. He explained how they have used this situation to find the best in themselves. “Amanda has been my inspiration since the day we met. There is no greater source of passion in my life. If success is defined as getting up one more time than your competition, I have no doubt that Amanda will forever be a winner. Simply being close to Amanda is enough to make me a better person.” Amanda credits her time outdoors and on the trail with helping her recovery happen that much faster. Her neurologist told them that her recovery is “as good as it gets”. She said, “I honestly believe that getting outside, being in the dirt, walking on uneven terrain has really helped me. My children doing that with me was all the healing I could get.” Do you have a story to share? Send your inspiring stories or photos about how getting outdoors and hiking has made a positive impact on your life! [email protected] Christel Peters is a Branch Ambassador for Hike it Baby Spearfish and the Mama to Sebastian. When she isn’t chasing her adventurous toddler on the trails she is one of the Blog Editors for Hike it Baby. Do you have a story that should appear on our blog? Let us know!! email your submissions to [email protected]

The local parks are so much busier than they were just a few weeks ago! Have you noticed that too? It’s the latest craze, the new Pokemon Go app. A cross between reality and gaming, the game requires you wander around outside while looking at your phone to “capture” the little Pokemon. It’s a motivator for some to get outside who wouldn’t otherwise, a moment of nostalgia for others and sometimes even a family activity. Despite the currently crowded parks, it’s hard to argue that sometimes there are positive effects to technology. Pokemon is the trend of the moment and, like others, it will wear off. The hope is that a love for getting outside sticks and continues to grow. Hike it Baby, a product built entirely on the exposure and spread from social media, is seeing more hikes on the calendar than ever before and soon we’ll have 300 branches for you all to visit around the country. Tips to help foster that newfound love for getting outside:  Make it a family thing – Already have a hike on your schedule? Can’t get the big kids out? Talk the older kids into it with a little Pokemon Go time, and simultaneous hike or stroll. Change it up – Visit new parks and trails when you go out. You might even come across new and different Pokemon while you are there. Continue the challenge – Keep the game-component going! This September the Hike it Baby 30 Challenge returns. Shoot for 30 miles in 30 days, 30 minutes 3 times a week, or create a goal of your own for some outside time. Keeping your little ones on trail We're excited to share our second Hike it Baby summer series video brought to you by our video partner Baby K'Tan. This time we highlight 10 tips for keeping your toddler and little ones on trail. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X19_Wnd9_WI&feature=youtu.be&noredirect=1[/embed] Sign-up for a chance to win This week's newsletter features two chances to win prizes: an Oakiwear gift card and a copy of The First Forty Days! Check your inbox for survey links. Not signed up yet? Sign-up today to receive the latest Hike it Baby news, discounts, updates about upcoming events and more directly in your inbox. We'll feature another giveaway in August.

There was once a time when camping was a simple thing for my husband and me. Load up your gear in a backpack and hit the trail. The lighter, the better. Once, he even rigged up a used tuna fish can, punched holes in it, poured in white gas and that was our stove for heating water for dehydrated food packets. Then we had a baby. While you can hang tough and go with minimal when you have a baby, I have to admit that I’m loving our current glamping ways. It’s getting us out at least a few weekends a month with our 3-year-old because it’s easy. It’s not that I don’t think we’ll ever go back to true backpacking, but when you have everything you need to make camping comfortable for your kiddo, it’s much more encouraging to go often. Here are the five things to think about when spending days and nights outdoors with under-5-year-old kiddos. Go With Friends A few weeks ago I camped with a bunch of friends a mere 40 minutes from my house. Even though I could have driven home in a moment, and the people I was camping with I see often, it felt like an adventure because only a few of us had camped together before. Some people think just because you are camping you need to have a remote, solo experience. Maybe, but with toddlers it’s sometimes nice to have others around to help you muscle through tantrums in the woods or avert them all together. Find your tribe and make a plan. Keep it close to home so if it’s not working out for one of the families they can go home. In our case we went to Oxbow Regional Park. We like this park because is it is quiet (lights out by 10pm), no alcohol allowed (keeps the rowdy party crowd out), there’s a fee for people coming into the park in the day which keeps it fairly uncrowded and there’s a decent amount of staff always around which makes it unattractive for those who don’t want to abide by the rules. When you have little kids it’s nice to not have to worry about cars blasting through at high speed, loud music, broken bottles in campsites, overflowing trash cans and nasty bathrooms. While these things never used to bother me, once you have a little person in the mix it’s easy to become more sensitive. Once I camped–now I glamp. I’m OK with that. Sleep is Key Mason is a terrible sleeper. He doesn’t like light, he is particular about his pillow. He likes to roll around a lot. Life will suck when camping if you or your kiddos are sleep deprived. This summer we’re giving the Carlsbad 6-Person Darkroom Tent a go from Coleman. From the start I could tell this tent would be a winner for our family. The size is great for a 3-4 person family and all of your stuff, but not such a big footprint that your tent takes up the whole campsite. Once it’s all set up and you crawl in it is noticeably darker than traditional tents. If you want more light, simply remove the fly. The only downside I saw was that the black thick material which keeps the light out also feels a bit warm. For Northwest camping this isn’t a problem because we have trees, cooler evenings and a lot of rain. I could see this tent being not-so-good for somewhere like Joshua Tree mid-day, but a shelter over it could combat heat issues. Blankets are another thing to consider. In Oregon we have some pretty warm evenings that get cooler as dawn approaches, so being inside a mummy bag isn’t always a nice way to start out your sleep. For a while we just pulled bedding from our house, but then it got pretty dirty and required cleaning when we got home. Then we found the Rumpl blankets. This blanket is a cross between a sleeping bag and a comforter. It’s fairly weather resistant and toddler-proof, meaning Mason often drags his baby version through our campsite and it doesn’t pick up much dirt. They are super light and stuff into a stuff sack as well, making it easy to pull them out when sitting at the fire hanging out and great for throwing on a stroller for walks around the campground when a baby won’t fall asleep. Sheltering From the Elements Mark and I went on a raft trip once that was more or less a downpour for most of the trip. Not a lot of fun. The only saving grace was that we brought a shade shelter we could pop up over our tent which allowed us to come out during downpours and hang out without getting soaked upon leaving tent. These days we have two shade structures. A fast pitch one, Alps Tri-Awning, that’s more portable for taking to a beach or popping up if we are trying to keep our camping load light. We also have a super deluxe version that you can put the whole tribe under and has LED lights making it easier to cook, clean and play games at night. This structure is pretty hefty to haul around, but it’s nice when kids are in the mix and you have a crew. What we have found with taking a shade or rain shelter is it makes the decision to camp on a weather-questionable weekend a non-issue. Also, if rain does happen, pop your tent under the structure and you can wait out most storms in comfort and emerge dry. Should you need to pack up in bad weather, it’s much easier when you have something to shelter everything. What I love about the Coleman All Night Instant Lighted Eave Shelter that we have is even though it’s pretty massive to transport, once you get where you are going it has wheels on the bag which means even a mom camping solo (something I often do with Mason) can muscle the tent around. Set-up does require two people, however. Camp Kitchens Matter I love to cook at home, so I can’t help but take that passion when we go camping. Often I pre-prepare meals that we can just heat up later, but there will still always be some prep. Cooking with a tiny backpacking stove when you have an impatient toddler sucks. If your kids are hangry, no one will be happy. Two burner stoves can feel excessive and clunky, but when you can crank out food in ten minutes after a long day or running around in the woods, you’ll be grateful. My camp stove seems to keep getting bigger. Like most backpackers, I own a Jetboil. It’s easy to take everywhere. You can heat hot water up in a minutes and have hot chocolate or food fast with minimal mess. I actually still often take the Jet Boil camping for two reasons: emergency back up if our stove breaks (this happened to us a few months ago) and when I don’t want to deal with the whole stove because we pulled in late and just want to heat soup fast and eat. Once we start unpacking and get the kitchen set up we use a two burner stove. Our most recent trip I tried out a new Coleman Frye Commander 3 in 1. What is great about this stove is that it is super easy to pull the legs off of their tidy tucked away position, screw them on, click a button and cook. No need to set up a table to rest the stove on. Also, this allows you to move the hot stove away from where kids are crawling around like a picnic table or food bins. What I also loved about this stove was the ability to pop off the burner where I was cooking mac-and-cheese, one minute and pop in a grill to cook up sausages for adults a moment later. The grill allows BBQ-ing and boiling water at the same time. In the past we took a grill and a stove with us, so this combo is perfect for allowing me to chef it up at the campsite. With all the cooking I do we often have a fair number of dishes. Luckily my husband often is the dishwasher. He’s rigged up a great system for us with using two large metal buckets with handles that we can fill at any water spigot and then carry back to camp and wash with. Make sure you have an easy way to wash dishes if you are planning on cooking. Melt Down Management Toys, toys, toys. My husband used to laugh at me insisting on bringing toys camping. Then he did a solo trip with Mason and he was glad I forced him to bring a bag of legos and books. While you can hope your child will be so enamored with nature that he will not need toys, there’s also the reality that he may get bored from time to time and act up. Bring plastic toys  you can wash like big Lego blocks. Cars and trucks are great. Balls for kids to kick around. We often have a few tiny cars we can hand to Mason while on trail if he starts to throw a fit. Bubbles and crayons are great camp activities too.   Have a rough idea of what you are going to do everyday. Camping can be casual, but put a little bit of a schedule in place, especially if your kiddo is used to a schedule at home. Camping will go better if you know when, how and what you are getting it all done. Plan meals, naps and hikes according to how your life goes. If your kiddo goes to the playground at daycare at 10am and then naps at 1pm, make that your camp schedule too. Camping with babies can be a blast and a lot less daunting than you might think. You can do it minimalist or you can pimp it out as I have suggested here. Both ways you win because it’s more outside time for your family. Summer is passing us by quickly so now is the time to gather your gear and head out for a glamp out. Shanti Hodges is the founder of Hike it Baby. She and her family try to camp out at least every other weekend in the summer. 

Have you ever wondered what to do with all of the stones and rocks your toddler piles into his or her pockets? Maybe you have amassed a large collection like I have. And if you are like me, you oblige the rock collecting to an extent and dutifully add them to the “collection”. Our rock collection is kept in an old ball jar. While you may lament this rock obsession toddler phase, don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the rock. It makes a wonderful addition to nature crafts. Not to mention, they are plentiful and free. [gallery link="file" size="full" ids="204026,204027,204028"] For our nature craft, we chose the larger rocks in our collection and turned them into painted paperweights. These make great gifts for grandparents, mother’s/father’s day, book ends, or just decorative fun art for your fireplace mantel, office, or garden. Painting rocks is also a hands on learning experience. We talked about which rock was the biggest, middle, and smallest in size. By chance, all of the rocks we used had different shapes; round, egg shaped, and triangle. This gave us the chance to discuss shapes and texture of the rocks. And most appropriately, we had a ton of fun with colors and mixing the paints to create new vibrant colors. Apart from the learning aspect, this craft was an amazing way to encourage discovery and creativity. We discovered that mixing all the colors together makes ...well...brown. Not very exciting. However, creativity is in the hand of the artist. Each of us created a unique design and ended up marveling over each other’s handiwork. Here’s what you need to get started creating your own painted rock nature craft.   Rock(s) Newspaper Art smock Paint (crayola finger paint would work, however I purchased some paint at the craft store for $.99 per bottle). You could also use markers or sharpies to color and decorate with. How to create your rock-work. Paint brush or sponge Felt to place on the bottom (optional) Googly eye stickers, glitter or other fun add-ons (optional) Have FUN! Take time on your next hike to indulge the ever curious little ones and help them scout some great rocks to paint. You just might find the perfect stone. Erin Vitali is a Branch Ambassador for Capital Region, NY. She lives in Albany with her husband (Mike) and daughter (Juliet). Joining Hike it Baby in October 2015 re-sparked her love of nature and has given her the courage to get out and explore all the beauty her region has to offer. You can also find her writing about her DIY adventures and motherhood at mrsmotherdirt.com.  

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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 review with us on this form and we may feature it in an upcoming blog post! Reviews Beth Klein, from Chicago, has reviewed these seven books for us this month! Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle When Tony’s mother is sent to jail, he is sent to live with an uncle he has never met. His uncle lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains with his search and rescue dog, Gabe. Appropriate for ages 10-12, this novel in verse is told from the alternative viewpoints of boy and dog. Peppered with survival tips, this is a fun, easy read. Savage Mountain by John E. Smelcer Teen brothers Sebastian and James decide to climb one of the tallest mountains in Alaska to prove themselves to their abusive father. This is targeted to a teen audience and is an engaging survival story for those that are ready for heavier themes than Hatchet. Wilder Boys by Brandon Wallace Jake and Taylor Wilder have been taking care of themselves since their dad took off for the wilds of Wyoming and their mom got a new, terrible boyfriend. Realizing they are no longer safe, they run away to find their father using only their survival skills and cryptic clues. The sequel is also available. Ages 8-12 [gallery link="file" size="full" ids="203992,203996,203995"] No Summit out of Sight: The True Story of the Youngest Person to Climb the Seven Summits by Jordan Romero and Linda LeBlanc On May 22, 2010, at the age of thirteen, American teenager Jordan Romero became the youngest person to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. At fifteen, he became the youngest person to reach the summits of the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. In this energizing memoir for young adults, Jordan recounts his experience, which started as a spark of an idea at the age of nine and, many years of training and hard work later, turned into a dream come true.(from publisher- I can't do much better!) Lost in the Backyard by Alison Hughes Flynn hates being outside. He would rather play video games all day, and he never pays attention in Outdoor Ed. But when he gets lost in the woods near a friend's house, he has to try to remember what he learned, like packing leaves in his clothes,and how to build a shelter. This is a quick read for ages 9-12. Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail by Suzanne Roberts This memoir recounts Suzanne's hiking trip with a few friends after college graduation. This is a unique look at a thru hike, with a definite feminine (and feminist) spin. Highly recommended for Hike it Baby mamas! Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar In February 1959, a group of nine experienced hikers in the Russian Ural Mountains died mysteriously on an elevation known as Dead Mountain. This is an interesting investigation of what happened to these young hikers. Fascinating and eerie. [gallery link="file" size="full" ids="203994,203991,203993"] Photo Credits: Kendra Reeder