OutGrown Blog

Bethany Johnsen is a Hike it Baby Branch Ambassador in Littleton, Colo. She shared a message that she had posted to her local branch’s Facebook page with us that gives great advice about how to learn from a “hike fail”. Thank you Bethany for inspiring and encouraging us all to get outside with our families and turn those “hike fails” into a positive adventure! Today I went on a failure of an exploratory hike in search of some shade. I set out with my kiddo and my two dogs on a half mile hike to what was supposed to be a lovely, shady 2-ish mile loop. But, when we got there the trail was closed for repairs. So our hike turned into a hot, biker filled adventure. But, instead of coming home grumpy, I took a (few) deep breaths and tried to think about the take-aways from this morning. 1.Know your limits. I’ve realized that two big dogs and a toddler are more than I can handle right now. Especially on unfamiliar ground. I love our family hikes but unless my husband is with us the dogs have to stay home until Charlie is a bit older. 2. Always bring more water than you think you’ll need, so glad I packed extra today since we were out in the sun much more than anticipated. 3. Ditto on sunscreen. 4. I’m super duper in love with the Onya Pure! Tried a couple different things today, back carry with my regular backpack over it and front carry after my guy got knocked down on the trail (thanks dogs, see #1) and needed some extra mama snuggles. 5. My kid is a trooper! Even with all the obstacles he hung in there and though we had to make some adjustments, ended with a smile on his face. He teaches me so much. 6. I miss front carrying my kiddo, he’s always on the go now and I really soaked in this snuggle time and tried to enjoy the moment, which I so often forget to do. 7. An unplanned, hot, semi-frustrating hike is still better than no hike. I always feel better after getting out in nature and this was no exception. We did it and we know more for next time. I hope you find this encouraging! Please feel free to share things that you’ve learned on the trails that have made a difference for you. And hike on! Bethany lives in Colorado with her husband, her 21 month old son and two dogs. She is a stay at home mom and freelance graphic designer. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago she has been in Colorado a little over two years and has fallen in love with hiking! In addition to hiking she enjoys reading, painting and knitting. She became one of the Branch Ambassadors for Littleton just a month ago.

It’s hard to remember what the excitement of going on an adventure feels like, since the closest I’ve gotten to anything remotely “adventure-worthy” has been taking a walk around the neighborhood barely holding back vomit. I’ve been almost entirely sedentary for almost three months, hating my life and enduring what feels like the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced – pregnancy. It’s my first one and I had no idea what kind of toll it would take on me. A lot can change in a year. This time last year, I was going to crossfit three times a week, my backpacking and camping gear had already worn in for the season and hiking was a norm. I had gone bike touring across state lines, I was well into hosting the stream of out-of-town guests who’d be visiting during the summer, and I was thrilled to dive into summer in Montana. It’s an amazing time of year here, pregnant with opportunities for epic adventures! My spirits were soaring after spring piqued my excitement for the summer ahead. Those feelings of anticipating adventure have been vague and blurry since pregnancy illness hit me at week 4. I woke up and BAM! I had relentless nausea, no appetite, and violent vomit episodes I didn’t know my body was capable of. Completely fatigued from the pregnancy and lack of nutrition, I would lay in bed like a limp potato…literally all day. If not in bed, the couch. I felt “best” being horizontal and still so I tried to stay that way as long as I possibly could every. single. day. I was miserable and depressed. As a fairly active and productive person, I had no idea I was capable of doing so much of nothing. Taking a shower or cutting my nails became my one goal I’d set my mind on for the day, but simply couldn’t get myself to do. I could easily go four days until I finally reeked and my hair could no longer absorb any more grease. I’d wear the same thing day and night and I felt disgusting and yet felt so incapable of doing anything about it. I had no problem with feeling like this when I’d be out backpacking, but now the greasy face and unwashed body was merely a result of laying in bed, too ill to move. When did taking a shower become a monumental task? I’d biked from Canada to Mexico before! Why couldn’t I just do it? While focusing on my diminishing physical capabilities, I didn’t realize that my emotional and mental health had been invisibly deteriorating at a similar rate. At about week 7, I would lay in bed thinking about how the only way this misery would end would be if I had a miscarriage. “Could I cause one? How?” And then I’d convince myself that I’d be devastated if I actually did have a miscarriage. It was true, but what really made me stop thinking about miscarriages was that I’d have to endure all of this suffering if and when I got pregnant again. Why restart all of this misery? I wanted a baby, I just had no idea it came at such a steep price. Fast forward to week 11 (aka the lowest point). I had to fend for myself for a week while my husband was on a business trip. I was feeling horrible and didn’t want him to go, but figured I just needed to buck up. That Tuesday, a girlfriend sent me an email sharing her concerns about my mental well being. She suspected I might be experiencing some kind of depression given the stream of messages I had been sending her expressing how miserable I was. In kindness, she sent me two articles about prenatal depression which completely unglued me. I wept in bed. Then I wept again while eating breakfast, and again and again and again. All of this misery I had been experiencing had a name and more importantly, I wasn’t alone. Other women felt this too! These feelings of having lost myself, of being barely a shadow of myself…I wasn’t alone. I wept again. The sobbing persisted all week. I’d burst into tears at any moment, but especially at 4pm when I’d pathetically force feed myself something so that I’d have something to throw up besides bile (because that is truly the worst kind of vomit). I don’t know how I survived that week or any of the prior weeks, but I did. And I’m here now. Pregnancy has been horrible for me. Actually, I’ve learned it’s quite horrible for a lot of women. At first I found it particularly challenging to know that I used to be capable of so much more and I grew resentful of how this alien inside me was making me incapable of anything. But as I’ve been starting to crawl out of the first trimester weeds, I’ve been able to accept where I’m at and emotionally connect to this tiny human inside me, I’m realizing this experience is expanding my definition of adventure to include all the small victories (like taking a shower or slowly walking to the park) I didn’t even consider before pregnancy. I think I’ll see the epicness of this adventure after I collect enough small victories to see the grandeur of creating new life. I look forward to that day. Until then, I’ll just keep collecting every tiny victory I can. Liz is the Creator of Snowqueen & Scout,  a website dedicated to making wilderness backpacking simple for women. When she’s not feeling ill or tired from her first pregnancy, she’s building out her website, freelance designing and teaching wilderness medicine.

The days are long, the nights move along quickly, and so many trails are open and passable. Hooray for summer. With summer comes so many wonderful things but it also means kids are out of school so the parks and trails are more crowded than before. As you head out there post 4th of July weekend, make sure you are thinking about your impact on the trails and open spaces around you. One of the things Hike it Baby is working toward in 2017 is having a positive impact on nature, in spite of our sometimes large groups that move through. We are doing this by asking all of you, our beautiful friends who are participating in Hike it Baby, to think about your personal impact on trail. Photo credit: Yanna Bennett Here’s a quick list of things to consider when out and about:  Adjust your group size: If you have a large group, break it up into two groups and stagger out your start or go opposite directions. Pack it in and pack it out. Diapers take up a lot of space in a park trash. While our hard earned tax dollars go toward parks, the more we can help keep the parks budgets down the better. Think about a group of 12 all depositing diapers in a park trash. That’s a lot of extra trash. Try to keep toddler tornadoes to a minimum. It’s hard to tell a toddler not to pull flowers and leaves, but do your best to encourage alternative play like picking up sticks and rocks. Be aware of others. If you have a large group make sure you move to the side so bikers and runners can pass easily. Let the park know you are coming! They often have camps and groups scheduled to come in, so one big Hike it Baby hike can definitely add some strain if it’s a busy park day. Spread the love! Encourage solo parent hikers to join the group or offer a hand if you see them struggling on trail with a toddler. Park responsibly. Don’t park illegally just because the lot further out is a pain to get to. We are Hike it Baby, so we hike, even if it means you add an extra 10 minutes to just get to the hike. This list will keep growing, but we wanted to throw some thoughts out there as our hikes grow this summer. We are quickly heading toward fall and Hike it Baby 30 registration opens in less than a month!    

Alana lists the ups and downs of what camping means to her when it involves children. Does any of this sound familiar? Camping can have its ups and downs. You can make the planning easier if you use sites such as Ayoopa for gear rental and HipCamp to find your perfect camping location! Camping Is… Eating and cooking out of doors Spending the entire day outside Waking up in the morning to my daughter’s blue eyes and beautiful smile next to me Early morning walks while the family still sleeps Coffee that tastes better outside Seeing both a sunrise and sunset on the same day Doing nothing and not feeling guilty about it Simplified daily routines S’mores Watching the kids spend hours digging in the dirt Reading books by firelight after the kids are in bed Sleeping in the cool night air Leaving the burdens of home behind Exploring new places BUT, Camping Is Also… Tantrums at 7am in a quiet campground Trying to get kids to sleep while the sun is still shining (thank you 10pm sunsets…) Too much sugar and too many carbs for all involved Late to bed + early to rise = whiny kids Threatening to pack it all up and go home at least once a day Epic meltdowns Too much togetherness Dirt in every crevice Hauling poop in porta pottys to accommodate a child fearful of pit toilets Waking often in the night to make sure everyone is warm enough and still in their sleeping bags Two hours to set up camp… three to take it all down Days of prep to go… then days of unpacking, washing, and repacking when we get back Constantly keeping kids out of the campfire Discovering some other part of the tent trailer that fails to work properly Like so many other things in life, camping with kids isn't perfect.  Thankfully, we don’t need perfection to love it! Photo Credit: Melissa Hollingsworth Subscribe to our camping newsletter * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name Powered by MailChimp // (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); // Alana Dimmick is the branch lead for Hike It Baby Eatonville. She is wife to a park ranger, and full time mom to Eli (6), Riley (4), and Isaac (3 months). Alana currently lives in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington.

Did you know what motherhood meant before you became a mother? I can’t be the only one who had absolutely no clue what it meant to be a mother until I became one. I knew that my mother did a lot for me, but as far as I knew, she just pulled it from thin air. I wasn’t entirely sure how she pulled off all the parties, activities, and dinners that she created for us; even that nasty Red Chicken. In my mind it was easy for her. It was her job. Her other job was taking us camping. The most notorious of these camping trips was a backpacking trip down the Tetons. She was about 5 months pregnant at the time and we would discover after the trip was over that she was pregnant with twins. We forgot both the backpacking permit and the fuel for the stove. I remember rating each rehydrated meal based on how good it was cold. The spaghetti meal was still edible. The peas were better not rehydrated and the desserts were okay cold. The egg dishes didn’t fare as well. I remember seeing a moose run 30 feet away from me. On the last day my dad hiked to the car to get the fuel so we could have one hot meal. We stayed in a little cabin by a lake. My mom backpacked my 2 year old sister, before babywearing was cool. I don’t remember my mom complaining or being irritate. She was all about the adventure we were having; an adventure that ended up being part of our family story. I know that when I set out on a hike that I often forget things. I’m not always in the mood to hike or worse, I’m cold. It is times like these that I think about who I want to be as a mother. Who is it that I want my kids to remember? I owe a huge part of my hiking journey to both of my parents, however, I find myself increasingly looking back to the example set by my mom to center myself. My mom is a woman of grit and determination. She walked down mountains pregnant with a two year old on her back. She made sure that we had a great time. She inspired us to get outdoors and do something big. She didn’t let little mistakes get in the way of the experience. I hope that I inspire my kids like my mom inspired me. I hope that by living my adventures with them that they have many of their own. So on this day of mothers I’d like to say a big thank you to my mom and inspiration Elizabeth Sedgwick. Thanks for taking us all over and making sure we had a great time. Thanks for making it seem like it was “out of thin air” even when it must have been hard. Most especially, thank you for taking us all, even when we didn’t want to go. To all the other mothers out there, our lives aren’t perfect; sometimes we forget the fuel for the stove, and in those moments we can be upset about it, or make a great memory.  I’m choosing to be more forgiving of myself in order to create memories my children will love. Happy Mother’s Day. Heidi Schertz lives with her husband (Elliot) and two sons (Graham & Warren) in Milwaukee. When not hiking she enjoys reading, writing, knitting and cooking. She is learning after all these years just how much her mother was right about.

Location is everything - Noisy trains, car noise, partying teens, lots of dogs are all a drag when you have a sleeping baby. Think about where you are going to camp and what's around it. While remote may not be feasible with a baby in tow, you can take the surroundings into account. Party Free Zone - Boozey, party campgrounds make it tough for most parents to relax when little kids are around. Look for campgrounds that are low key about alcohol and have strict noise ordinances. This may not have been fun for you pre-kid, but you will be grateful you thought about this with a little one. Close to Town - If this is your first time camping with your little one try keeping it close to home. We have a campground we love to go to that is literally about 40 minute from our front door. While this may not be sexy on the "big adventure" front, you will be so happy that you are close to home if your toddler decides to throw up at 3am. Yes, this has happened to us. Cliff-free Zone - I love a good view, but I also love relaxing and if there is a cliff nearby or a steep drop off, I am not going to relax with Mason running around. If you find yourself at a campground with a cliff move to the back of the campground so your toddler or little one has to go quite a ways to find the edge. Water is Wonderful - Water is the best thing in the summer, so camping near a creek or pond is great. Just make sure again to camp away from the waters edge so you can enjoy it from a distance and not worry about your little one falling in. Fire Pits - Fire is the number one cause of injury on camp trips with little kids. If there is a fire pit in your campground make sure you spark it up post baby in bed and put it out well before they wake up. If you still have a babe in arms make sure you keep an eye on flying sparks. Running Water - We are used to traveling with a lot of water, but it's always nice when we find a campground with running water. Babies can get incredibly dirty because they just can't help but roll around in dirt. It's so fun. We always travel with a big tote we can empty out and turn into a "Mason bath" and he loves it. This is easier if the campground has a great water source. Minimal Roads - Try to look for campgrounds without roads running right through them or with super windy roads so people can't drive fast. If you find yourself in a crowded campground with no options consider being overly cautious and bring a "Children at Play" sign to prop up and remind those around you that there are kids running about. Bathrooms - Bathrooms can make a camp trip a lot easier with a child just learning to potty train. And then there are outhouses. Outhouses can make it tougher because they are stinky and buggy. If you find not-such-pleasant outhouses consider carrying a portable potty to keep your little one working toward that potty training goal. Camp with Friends - Camping in groups can make a trip much more pleasant when you have babies and toddlers. Somehow when your baby is crying at midnight and you know your next door neighbor is feeling your pain instead of cursing you, it's easier to just muscle through sad baby moments. Looking for camping gear? Check out our friends at Ayoopa and use this link to get 10% off of your rental! Photo Credits: Shanti Hodges, Kim Ives Shanti is the founder of Hike it Baby and loves to get out camping with her little one and hubby as often as possible. She is currently on tour hiking and camping across the Western US with her 2-year-old Mason. She'll be stopping off at HIPCAMP campgrounds (a Hike it Baby partner) so catch up with her on tour. Or look for a HIPCAMP/Hike it Baby summer camp trip in your area.  Go camping with us! We can email you when we have hikes! * indicates required Email Address * First Name Last Name // (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); //

All around the world, Hike it Baby families are getting outside and hiking trails because of the incredible volunteers who Lead Hikes for their group! We appreciate this so much that we automatically enter every person who submits a hike to the website calendar in a prize drawing at the end of each month. Just by the simple act of submitting a hike, you are motivating other families to get outside AND you have a chance to win one of three prizes from our prize sponsors at Oboz Footwear, My Outdoor Alphabet, and The Okee Dokee Brothers! It’s so much fun and so easy! Anyone can lead a hike, just ask your local Branch Lead if you have any questions. So, what are you waiting for? Fill up that calendar and Lead a Hike this month!

Hike it Baby works so well for people because, first and foremost, we are conscious of safety on trail when we gather together. We watch each others children and we are clear in suggesting if a hike is carrier only or if it can be toddler-led. That said, whether hiking with a group or hiking on your own, here are a few safety tips to think about when choosing the trail and thinking about gear. 1. Your Child's Mood How is your child feeling today? You may have a carrier-only hike planned, but if your child is not interested in being carried, you might need to modify and look for a more toddler friendly trail. Toddler-friendly means trails that are wide and where kids can run on without risk of steep terrain drops. It also may mean adjusting your expectations on how far and steep you hike that day. 2. Trail Hazards Make sure you understand the hazards on the trail. Is there cell service? Is there a good turn around point that you can note? Have you been on this trail before? Is it open and exposed where weather come in quickly? Are there bears, moose, rattlesnakes? Are there mountain bikes, horses, or trail runners? These are all helpful things to know ahead of time so you can properly prepare. 3. Hiking Experience How comfortable are you with hiking? Are you new at it? Did you hike a lot pre-baby? Now that you have baby it will be different, so think about what adjustments you need to make in gear and expectations. If you're brand new, go with a group or take it slow. Related: 10 Essentials for the Trail with Baby 4. Carrier What kind of carrier do you have? Make sure you have a good carrier for the age your child is. Make sure he/she can't arch out of the carrier or slide out of straps. 5. Footwear Do you have good footwear? Sneakers are comfy for flat trails, but as you get into steeper trails and hiking with weather and unstable muddy, root-covered, rocky terrain, it's important to make sure you have correct footwear for the trail. 7. Trail Knowledge Have you been on the trail before or are you with someone who knows it? A preliminary web search on the trail can help, but keep in mind that often guides and reviews are not considering a parent carrying a 15-35 pound child. Trail guides may also not have information about stroller accessibility, steep drop offs or water access -- which all contribute to safety when hiking with younger children and babies. 8. Weather Did you check the forecast? In places like Colorado, weather can start out sunny and 70 and drop to freezing temps or lightening storms over the course of a couple hours. In Oregon, we have a lot of rain which can quickly change a stable trail to an unstable trail. Know your weather patterns for your area and take them seriously. Never hesitate to turn around early if the weather changes quickly, or if you're unsure if it is safe to continue. 9. Medical Essentials Accidents happen and kids (and adults) occasionally get scrapes, stings or bruises on the trail. Carry a small first aid kit, even if it only contains band aids, duct tape, a safety pin, gauze and first aid tape. With these, you can mend cuts and minor issues until you get to somewhere to get more help. Adventure Medical Kits make great, compact kits pre-filled with anything you may need on the trail. Related: Medical Kit Must-Haves for the Day Hiking Family 10. Light, Water, Food If you are hiking in the latter part of the day, carry a small headlamp or pen light. Why? If a hike takes longer than expected and you end up in the dark, getting back to your car will happen a lot faster and safer if you have light. Also make sure you have water and extra snacks so you're fueled up and hydrated if the hike takes longer than expected. 11. Communication Lastly, make sure someone knows where you are going and when they should expect you to arrive back. Consider purchasing an emergency beacon ($200-300) if you plan on hiking further out. With these you can send a message in the case of a serious emergency. There are less expensive options if you will be in cell range and you can also set your smart phone with a "find me" option. Conclusion Whether you're a seasoned or beginner hiker, these tips will help you stay safe while hiking with your little ones. What safety tips would you add to this list? What questions do you have about safety on the trips? Comment below! Hike it Baby hikes are hosting by volunteers who have no professional training and are not experts to guide families on hikes. They are people who want to raise a generation to love the outdoors and they accomplish this by facilitating outings for all to join. Our tips are gathered from collective experience. As with any physical activity, please be sure to check with your healthcare provider and other experts when hiking with your children. Some of the brands listed in this piece are sponsors of Hike it Baby. We may have received financial compensation and/or product from the company but did not ask for this for inclusion in this blog. We are writing this blog based on personal experience. We do not review products we have not personally used. We stand behind all of the products we share with you because we think they will make your life on trail a little bit easier. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Shanti Hodges is the founder of Hike it Baby. She started the organization so she could find other families to hike safely with her and Mason when the husband was away at work. This blossomed into Hike it Baby as we know it today!

Leading your first hike can feel exciting—and a little intimidating. Whether you're stepping into a leadership role for a local nature group or simply inviting friends to join a trail outing, this guide will help you prepare, plan, and feel supported every step of the way. From choosing the right trail to making families feel welcome, these beginner-friendly tips will help you have a positive first experience. This resource is part of our evergreen library. We periodically review and update it to keep the content valuable and relevant for both new and seasoned leaders. Hike it Baby is so happy that Stephanie worked up the courage to lead her first hike! She has generously shared her story here with tips on how to make your first hike-leading experience one to remember fondly. Have you found other hiking friends on various social media like she has? If so, share the love and tell them all about Hike it Baby and how great it is to hike with us!   I’ve recently started leading hikes with Hike it Baby and I have to say I was very timid at first. While I can easily get out and do hikes on my own with my own children, I found it very intimidating at first to join a larger group with other moms and kids. More than one meltdown, not enough snacks, and weather conditions were all thoughts that passed my mind at some point. But after leading my first hike (and consequently experiencing meetups with other moms on the trail), I felt a better sense of community and was grateful that there are other moms out there who could relate to my same anxieties. Here are few things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about joining other moms or groups on hikes with children so you can enjoy the experience and worry less. Add the hike to your calendar and set a reminder. I’m the first to admit, I get caught up in planning the actual hike with other people that I tend to forget to even add to my calendar. Yikes, right? I’ve now made it a point to immediately add the hike to my calendar, even if someone may cancel or the hike needs to be postponed. I even add the event link or email as well for easy reference. Setting a reminder will give you enough time to prepare for your hike before it’s time to go. Prepare your gear and supplies the day before I’m a true advocate for preparation and getting things ready the day before. I try to pack up my carrier with extra snacks for us and others (in case someone forgets a snack or wants to share - which can be the case with kids!), fill my water bladder, and get out my socks and clothes the kids and I plan on wearing. I also do a weather check to see how the weather is going to be and make any last-minute wardrobe changes as needed. Remember, there are other moms (caregivers) with children. It’s really easy to get into the mindset that something will prevent you and your child from enjoying a hike in the presence of other moms and kids: tantrums, sleep deprivation, fussiness, and hunger are all ailments that might spoil your experience. I had to train myself to know that these things will play a part in my experience because my kid is a toddler, and that’s what toddlers do sometimes. But, staying focused on other moms and their children will allow you to enjoy the hike that much more and show your child that collaboration and meeting new friends can be fun. Do some group activities on the trail Hiking with kids is challenging, especially if your child is getting at the age, like mine, where they want to explore more and be on their own. This is a great opportunity to do some fun activities that will keep your child interested throughout the duration of the hike. Exchange ideas with your new mom friends and kids as to what they’d like to do, and take turns trying the activities out together as a group. Sharing is caring Having a variety of snacks on the trail has been one of the most successful tips that have worked for me when I’m on the trail in a group. I try to keep a bagful of snacks, including granola bars, raisins, nuts, and fruit snacks. Everything is individually packed in case someone else would like to share in the snacking. Have your child offer some of their snacks to whomever wants. Keep in mind that there may be occasional stops and breaks during the hike. I always try to keep my expectations in check when hiking with other moms and kids. There will be some stopping and there will be some breaks for diaper changing, etc. Your pace by yourself is very different than when you’re in a group hiking. I like to check in with people throughout the hike, and this makes us all feel more comfortable, knowing we aren’t racing to the end. As long as you commit to going at your own pace as a group, there won’t be any pressure to get done quickly. Besides, your kids feel that nervous energy, and it will only make them anxious. Ways to connect with the outdoor community to get started The best ways to find a group hike and join one with new friends are Through Social Media and Facebook Groups. I found Hike it Baby through Facebook and found friends to hike with from Instagram and previous posts. This is a great way to meet other moms who enjoy the same things you do without any fuss. I also connect with other moms who may hike with their kids and write blogs because they have many resources to branch out from and meet other moms that I may not know. Here are some resources and things to keep in mind when looking for kid-friendly hikes to join around you: Use Instagram for searching for hikes via photos Meetup.com Stroller Hikes Facebook Groups using search terms like “Best Hikes For Children (enter your city/region here)” Reach out to your local outdoor company and see if they have a blog or events calendar. Most hikes will be listed there. Check out a book at the library or look for library events highlighting kid-friendly/local hikes. Stephanie Harper is a mother of four, an avid hiker and runner. Follow her family adventures, recipes, and tips to inspire you to get outdoors more at raisingkidswild.com. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building a world where families with babies and young children can grow up connected to nature and to each other. We focus on the earliest years of life, providing families with the support, community, and resources they need to feel welcome, included, and confident outdoors. Through volunteer-led communities, nature-based programs, and family-centered tools, we help remove barriers and expand access to outdoor connection. Since our grassroots start in 2013, OutGrown has reached more than 300,000 families across the country, supported by a vibrant network of over 300 volunteer leaders. Learn more at WeAreOutGrown.org EDITOR’S NOTE Thanks for spending time with this piece. At OutGrown, we create content rooted in real life, built to support families, reflect lived experiences, and celebrate the small, meaningful ways we connect with nature. Every article, guide, and reflection is part of our mission to make the outdoors feel possible, welcoming, and worth showing up for. If this resource helped you feel more confident, seen, or inspired, we invite you to support our work. We are a small team building something lasting. Your contribution helps us reach more families and keep this work going strong. Donate or learn more at WeAreOutGrown.org

This is Part Two of our Leave No Trace Series:  Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces I live in Boulder, Colorado. Weather one day could be 70 degrees and 15 inches of snow the next. This makes for some pretty inconsistent trail conditions. I was just recently on a hike with some friends and their kids. The trail was a mix of packed snow and ice, mud pits and dry cracked dirt. I had my hiking boots on but also had my shoe spikes in my pack since sliding on ice and twisting my ankle is one of my specialties. As I was hiking along with my non-walking son in my pack, I was watching the 5 year old in front of the line leading the way. He was delightfully dashing around the puddles and mud, leaping over snow patches and walking around them if they are too big to jump over. His parents were following in pretty much the same fashion. It seemed like both age groups did not want to get dirty. I get it. Mud is annoying, dirty and a pain to clean. BUT it is also pretty fun. And if it means walking through it to stay on the trail, you will be doing the great outdoors a lot of good. Choosing the right path sometimes means walking through a puddle, mud, ice, or snow. This is why preparing for your hike by wearing the right footwear is so important. Tips for choosing the right path (traveling on durable surfaces): Before your hike sit down with your kiddo, take a moment to actually look at the bottom of those fancy hiking shoes. They are rugged, burly and look like the tires of a major earth moving machine! They are MADE for mud, water, snow and slush! So it’s OK to use them! On the trail, stop and observe it. The trail may have telltale signs of other people's footprints or even animal tracks. This is a great teachable moment to notice who and what uses the trail. Also observe if the vegetation around the trail is damaged. You might see this around the edges of a muddy patch. Notice this impact and point out to you little one the impact that going around the yucky park will have on the nature around it. No short cuts. This can be hard for a busy kiddo. Just think if everyone took a shortcut you might find a maze of multiple trails and a lot of harmed habitat, not to mention a lot of confused hikers. If you think there is a safety issue with an especially muddy trail, or a trail with a puddle that is potentially too deep, you might have to change your plans. Leave No Trace recommends hiking in the early morning or evenings when temps are cooler and mud hardens. Another option is to choose a south facing trial after a storm. When you need to take a break, it’s OK to travel off trail if your group spreads out to lessen the impact. This can be a great time to walk side by side instead of the single file line that a lot of trails require. Always step off the trail for breaks in order to clear it for other travelers. This goes for seeking a bathroom spot as well. Here are some quick tips for having a teachable moment with your kiddo and keeping clean afterwards: Observe the bottoms of your shoes and notice how rugged they are! Keep track of the tracks you see! Human and animal. This will help kids focus on staying on the trail. But don’t forget to look up too. Keep a trash bag open and ready in your car to put muddy boots in if you don’t want them on the floor of your car. This also means you might want clean shoes to slip on for the ride home. After your hike, have your kids mark on the map any cool details they saw from the trail. You can also take photos of tracks and look them up when you get home. The trail is a durable surface and the conditions you might come across on the trail need YOU and your kiddo to keep it durable. Put those hiking shoes to work and get dirty! (c) Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org. - See more at this website.   Photo Credit: Tais Kulish Yelena Hughes resides in Boulder, CO and spends her time adventuring with her son, Forrest, husband, Ryan and her two super dogs Georgia and Stella. When she gets a spare moment, she practices yoga and works on her business where she takes teen girls on adventure travel trips around the world. She is also a science teacher and loves talking about all things science. Which is pretty much everything in the universe!

Have you been hesitant to get on trail with Hike it Baby? Maybe you've been lurking in the Facebook group or checking the calendar everyday and you just haven't been sure about whether you could keep up or if the group is right for you? Recently KEEN footwear shot this little video with our local group in Portland in Tryon Creek state park. This hike is a good example of a general all around hike with our group and a little bit about how this all started. Hike it Baby - KEEN Kids from Shanti Hodges on Vimeo. Our goal with every Hike it Baby hike from Staten Island, NY to Louisville, KY to Austin, TX to Portland, OR is that every hike be user friendly for all. This means we move slow, we wait for each other and we are all just regular parents like you. We aren't uber athletes and in many cases hikes will have many first time hikers out with the group. The best way to become part of the group is to look in the calendar for a hike close to home. This way you will be most comfortable. If you don't see something close to home you can contact the lead for the hike and email with them to learn about the trail and if it's right for you. Hike it Baby is built around no judgement and no pressure. We want everyone to feel comfortable getting out on trail with our community no matter what your family situation is (lots of kids to wrangle, recovering from a c-section, not comfortable with carrier yet). There will usually be a number of hikes throughout the week for you to choose from. That said, in newer branches there might not be a lot of hikes yet. If you aren't seeing what you want but you are hoping people will gather in your area, you can also lead a hike. Reach out the the local branch admins and ask them to walk you through posting a hike and leading. It's as simple as doing a welcome circle and heading out on to the trail. We are not a professional guide service. Hike it Baby is a platform to help families find each other and gather local community in the outdoors. Anyone can become a part of Hike it Baby and we are fueled and funded by volunteers and participants like you. We hope to see you out on trail soon! --Shanti, Hike it Baby Founder

What could be better than leading a fun hike for Hike it Baby in April (other than puddle-stomping and the spring flowers?)? How about being automatically entered to win one of three exciting prizes! It's that easy, all you have to do is submit your hike to the calendar and you are entered to win a monthly prize. This month we are featuring prizes from the Okee Dokee Brothers, MTI, and Sun Protection Zone. Anyone can lead a hike! Help fill up your branch's calendar for April and join in on the fun!