They say it takes a village to raise a child. I say: even better if that village shares your interests and some of your philosophy on child-rearing. Imagine my joy when I discovered a wonderful online community of other outdoorsy parents from throughout North America – from Alaska to Georgia, Alberta, Colorado and beyond. This group has been keen to collaborate on articles, share each other’s new blog posts, and also offer up tips on outdoor parenting. I thought it was high-time to feature a bunch of them!
I asked each one for their favourite posts and their tips for new parents who want to get in the outdoors. I hope you’ll be as inspired as I am by their wise and encouraging words.
Click on any photo to start the slideshow!

Amelia Mayer, Yellowstone National Park | Blog: Tales of a Mountain Mama | Favourite post: Connecting Children to Nature Through “Babywearing”
First of all, invest in some good basic gear pieces that will keep your family warm so they can stay out and enjoy themselves. Most quality products can be bought used, passed down to numerous children, and/or sold or consigned fairly well. Base layers are key so don’t skimp on those! My blog is focused on families finding some great gear, so check it out for tips on exactly what that means.

Alyssa Erickson, Wasatch Range, Utah | Blog: Kid Project | Favorite post: Battle Cry of a Stay-At-Home Mom
More than the right gear (though that helps), the perfect trail, or even a good dose of inspiration, the thing that has been the greatest catalyst for getting us outdoors are other like-minded friends ready to adventure with us. This is hard, for even with all the money in the world, you cannot buy friends. But you can be purposeful in looking for these relationships and befriending other overwhelmed parents in the outdoors. These are the people who trade watching kids while you climb a route or share snacks on the trail. These people keep us going season after season.

Jason Fried, Long Island, New York | Blog: 1 Quest to the Next Favourite post: Camping at Blydenburgh County Park
My tip is to not expect too much (be positive!) or push distances too much in the beginning. Bring a great treat like M&Ms!

Melissa Avery, San Francisco Bay Area, California | Blog: Chasqui Mom | Favourite post: The Excellent Ano Nuevo State Park
Don’t be scared of dirt; you can always wash it off.

Nancy Sathre–Vogel, Boise, Idaho | Blog: Family on Bikes | Favourite post: Why I Cycled to the Ends of the World
Just do it. I know it’s trite and cliche, but Nike nailed it on this one. All the planning and preparation will only get you so far – at some point, you just have to do it.

Jennifer Fontaine, Los Angeles, California | Blog: Mommy Hiker | Favourite post: Teaching Tots the Importance of Environmental Stewardship
GO! Of course, you may be anxious and scared and apprehensive and you may even become a complete lunatic (like I did, for a brief moment, on our first camping trip with our 4 month old daughter), but you shouldn’t allow those totally normal feelings to stop you from sharing incredible experiences with your little ones. That’s not to say that you should throw caution to the wind and take your newborn bungee jumping. Be prepared. Do your research. Becoming an informed adventurer means you can enjoy the luxury of being spontaneous and experience meaningful and exciting outdoor adventures!

Erin McKittrick, Seldovia, Alaska | Blog: Ground Truth Trekking | Favourite post: Fourth Year in the Woods
Don’t sabotage your kids, or yourself, with low expectations. You can do more than you imagine.

Tanya Koob, Calgary, Alberta | Blog: Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies | Favourite post: Family Camping Made Easy – Baby Adventures
Start small but get out there because there will never be a perfect time to get outside with kids. You can wait until your children are older but there will always be challenges from keeping the baby warm to Saturday soccer practice to teens who want to stay in town with their friends.
![Tami Mittan Tami Mittan, Western Colorado | Blog: Colorado Mountain Mom | Favourite post: Plan a Family Adventure Day If they are comfortable and protected (from temperature, bugs, etc.) little ones generally love being outdoors, particularly if they are in motion. Some people take their crying babies on car rides as their secret weapon to calm them down... for our infant son, nothing worked better then bundling him up and taking him outside in the brisk winter air! For my family, hikes are our favorite outdoor activity. So my best advice is getting a comfortable child carrier, and head on out - any time of year. You'll benefit from the [sleep deprived?!] stress release and exercise, and your little one will start acclimating early to having fun through outdoor recreation.](https://adventurousparents.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/co_mtnmom-2.jpg?w=726&h=726&crop=1)
Tami Mittan, Western Colorado | Blog: Colorado Mountain Mom | Favourite post: Plan a Family Adventure Day
If they are comfortable and protected (from temperature, bugs, etc.) little ones generally love being outdoors, particularly if they are in motion. Some people take their crying babies on car rides as their secret weapon to calm them down… for our infant son, nothing worked better then bundling him up and taking him outside in the brisk winter air! For my family, hikes are our favorite outdoor activity. So my best advice is getting a comfortable child carrier, and head on out – any time of year. You’ll benefit from the [sleep deprived?!] stress release and exercise, and your little one will start acclimating early to having fun through outdoor recreation.

Val Joiner, Roswell, Georgia | Blog: Val in Real Life | Favourite post: Granola Talk: On Experiential Education
Start simple, build slowly.

Jen Bauer, Boston, Massachusetts | Blog: Adventurous Moms | Favourite Post: Why Urban Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature
Start small and go easy on yourself. Even if the first time out you only take a walk down the street, chalk that up to a victory. In no time you’ll be hiking mountains with your little one on your back.

Kate Spiller, Seattle, Washington | Blog: Wild Tales Of | Favourite post: Running Down a Dream: Rattlesnake Ridge Half Marathon Trail Run
Be brave, and just go for it! If you love camping, climbing, and hiking, you’ll love doing them with your little one as long as you are prepared. You don’t have to over think things, but step through your routines and child’s needs at home, and then plan for how you’ll meet those needs on your adventure.

Ken Schmaltz | Calgary, Alberta | Blog: Big Grey Rocks | Favourite Post: Hiking with Kids: 7 Steps To Make Hiking Fun for Kids
Accept that your first effort to get your kids outside may unfold differently than you planned or expected. Kids and the outdoors are both hard to control. Just get them out, make the most of whatever happens, and you can count it as a success.

Amy Hatch, The Base of the Teton Mountains | Blog: Garage Grown Gear | Favourite post: Bikerafting…With a Baby
When it feels like way too much hassle and way too many logistics, remember how well a kiddo sleeps after a day spent outside. And keep the bigger picture in mind, too. The patterns you start now will last a lifetime.

Linda McGurk, Indiana | Blog: Rain or Shine Mamma | Favourite post: Eco-Phobia, Electronics and the New Nature Movement: An Interview with Richard Louv
I always try to encourage other parents to get outside with their children every day, regardless of the weather, even if it’s just for a little while. That way being outdoors becomes a habit for the whole family from the get-go. If you’re not sure what to do, start by going for walks around the neighborhood or exploring your own backyard – sometimes that’s where children find the best adventures!

Sharon Koch, Calgary, Alberta | Blog: Active Kids Active Family | Favourite post: On the loss of a pet
Bring snacks and drinks. Nearly any activity, such as a hike or bike ride, is made better by stopping for a snack. And when doing a race, having water handy makes all the difference in the world to gain your child’s cooperation to keep moving!

Kristen Lummis, Western Colorado | Blog: Brave Ski Mom | Favourite post: How a Ski Accident Changed Our Lives
Keep your eye on the prize. When you are passionate about something (hiking, skiing, biking, climbing, kayaking, whatever) it is only natural to want to share this with your children. Just remember to let them set the pace and progress at their comfort level. You don’t want to push too hard, too fast and turn them off. The prize is spending time together doing what you love. If you let your kids set the pace, you’ll actually get there more quickly!

Erica Lineberry, Charlotte, North Carolina | Blog: Cragmama | Favourite post: Creating a Cragbaby – Rules for the Ropes!
Don’t wait for an “easier” age! Each age and stage of development comes with it’s own rewards and challenges – so get out there now and have fun!

Kate Calder, Colorado Front Range | Blog: Rocks and Sun | Favourite post: The Ten Funniest Mistakes I’ve Made While Mountain Biking
Don’t worry so much about what other people think about you. Be loud, have fun, climb easy, and enjoy your adventures!

Jill Collins, Vancouver Island, British Columbia | Blog: Get on the Beaten Path | Favourite post: Micro – extremely small in scope and capability. Adventure – an exciting or very unusual experience.
Don’t over think it or try to pack for every situation. The best moments happen spontaneously and nature will entertain you and your children!

Melissa Edge, Moab, Utah | Blog: Adventure Tykes | Favourite Post: J-Man’s First 14er
Don’t make it harder than it has to be. A little bit more gear is involved, expectations need to be lowered and a sense of humor needs to be brought along, but always remember why you are out adventuring with your children. You will be making lasting memories and your children will become stewards of the outdoors.
Who inspires you to get outdoors with your family?
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Thanks for featuring 1Quest2theNext.com 🙂 – Your site is outstanding and so helpful.
My pleasure! And thank you!
Reblogged this on 1 Quest 2 the Next and commented:
Thans to Meghan @ adventurousparents.com for featuring 1Quest2theNext in her latest article!
Great post! I will be bold to say it should be 22 Inspiring…. Since 2001, I’ve been helping families get out on trails and have been writing about those experiences and tips since 2009, blog.hikingalong.com. Most importantly, I love being outdoors with my own kids and students I teach daily. I look forward to helping more families when my book “Best Hikes for Kids: Washington DC” is released this summer. Cheers to transforming our nation into nature’s stewards!
You nailed it – it’s all about transforming our nation(s) into nature stewards through our children and encouraging them to explore what mother nature has to offer.
I want to be a part of this someday I have been working on my site and article for some months now. My passion is to share that a family that does stuff together stays together.
Love this site.
God bless all
Kymee
Thanks, Kymee. I love the focus you’ve put out there about bonding as a family. Go get ’em!
Thanks for including me and Braveskimom.com!
My pleasure!
Also, I love how you formated this post with the photos. You’re so much smarter than me! Cheers!
It’s great to see more and more families pushing the envelope on what you can do with your kids. We have pursued the road less travelled with our son for the past 10 years and it is amazing. He mountain bikes, kayaks, surfs and climbs but has no idea how to play football! We’re off on an 8 month roadtrip right now Chasing the Sun and his upbringing has allowed him to just roll with it. http://Www.chasingthesun.ca
It was so nice to connect with you, Lee. I wish you all the best on your trip and look forward to seeing your updates!
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