The good folks at Bogs offered to send me some boots from their collection a few weeks back and I knew immediately that I would pick some for her. For whatever reason we were lax this year in picking out some new boots for her growing feet and these looked perfect. We chose the vegan Classic High Tuscany. We love the bright colors and fit of course but I am most impressed with how warm they keep her feet. When you have to send your kids outside to wait for the bus in 10 degree weather, that is so very important. These boots are tested to -30!

I deliberately got them about two sizes too big  so that she can wear them for at least another winter or two. Even so they fit comfortably and she often prefers to wear them instead of her sneakers on warmer days. I think she will also be wearing them on rainy spring, summer, and fall days as well! In the winter they are perfect for snow play and casual wear. This photo was taken today in our backyard where she was happily filling pots and toiler paper rolls with soil from our garden beds and then planting starter seeds for indoors. No matter how dirty they get, they seem to wipe clean and look good as new.  At $68 they priced just right, especially for something that doesn’t look like crap after only 2 weeks. I did choose the black quite deliberately though, just in case…

Bogs boots get an A+ here!

I am thinking that perhaps the email was sent to me specifically because I am an Ohio blogger and Emma Gatewood was from Ohio. I don’t know if the sender had any insight into my love affair with the Appalachian Trail or not, either way they had me hook, line, and sinker with any mention of the AT. It has been my dream since my late twenties to thru hike the AT, which is a 2,181 mile long trail that extends from Georgia to Maine. It takes about 6+ months to hike it start to finish and I want to do it so very badly. Every year I dream of the day when my family and I can pack up and hit the mountains together for that once in a lifetime experience. And sometimes I acknowledge that it may have to wait until my kids are grown but either way I don’t think I will ever consider my life complete until I have done it. It’s at the top of my bucket list.

Anyway, Emma Gatewood was the first woman to ever thru hike the trail solo. That is an amazing and courageous accomplishment. I would never consider hiking it alone (to chicken) and I admire any lady that has the stones to do that. BUT there are several other wow factors to share as well. She made this hike in 1955 at the age of 67 and after raising 11 children!! She also ended up becoming a pioneer for ultralight backpacking because she made this trek with only a pair of Keds sneakers, an army blanket, a raincoat, and a plastic shower curtain which she carried in a homemade bag slung over one shoulder. If you are familiar with what long distance hikers are toting around nowadays you will understand how amazing this woman was. But that is not all. She ended up hiking the AT two more times after that initial foray, she hiked The Oregon Trail (2000 miles), and she helped start The Buckeye Trail (1,444 miles) in Ohio.

Eden Valley Enterprises is a not-for-profit corporation that specializes in living history programs and storytelling through theater, usually about historical figures that accomplished amazing things. They recently premiered a storytelling program about Emma to a sold-out house at a community center in Ohio and that spurred them to try and bring Emma’s story to life as a film documentary. It will be produced by Peter Huston of FilmAffects and WGTE (PBS Toledo) has agreed to be a broadcast sponsor and production partner for it.

If this sounds like a worthwhile cause to you, donate via Kickstarter or directly via PayPal or check to Eden Valley.

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Never heard of the Appalachian Trail? Let me suggest some  of my fave books!

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail

Walking Home: A Woman’s Pilgrimage on the Appalachian Trail

Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail

Photo Credit: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Autumn is a magical time of year. With the leaves turning color and falling in great heaps; with the harvests being gathered in and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available for turning into delicious dinners; with county fairs in full swing and the prospects of holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving on the horizon, Fall is perhaps one of the richest seasons. The colors, the textures, the tastes, all of them combine to make you want to just laugh out loud as your scuff through the leaf piles.

But while you may be able to smell the magic in the air; while you may be able to feel it coursing through your veins; how do you convey that magic into your daily life? How do you share what you feel and know about autumn with others, especially with your family? Below are some of the dozens of ways that you can bring a little of that autumn magic into your life, and watch as the joy of the season lights up the eyes of those you hold closest to your heart.

Go to a County Fair. County fairs, especially in more rural areas, are a true treat. From prize winning pigs and pumpkins to handmade quilts, award-winning 4H rabbits and fresh caramel apples, a county fair doesn’t just have to be about the midway; it can be a treat for the whole family, and a lesson on your community and what it takes to keep it functioning. If there are no county fairs in your area how about Fall festivals?

Get Lost in a Corn Maze. Today it is unusual for at least one farm in every community to NOT have a corn maze. Leaving one field un-cut, the farmer creates a maze through the patch, and then charges admission for families to come get lost among the stalks. Simple or complex, corn mazes are a treat for the whole family, especially since most of those who offer them also have pumpkin patches (where you can pick your own jack-o-lantern), homemade products like cornbread and apple butter or hot apple cider, and more often than not, a hayride, or even pony rides for the kids.

Wax Leaves Crafting. Dip colorful leaves in wax to preserve their color and then hang them from the ceiling or window sills to bring the color indoors.

Go Apple Picking. If you have apple orchard nearby, consider yourself especially lucky! Most apple orchards will offer to let a limited number of individuals come pick their own apples during certain times of the harvest season. Some charge by the bag, or by the basket, but it is still great fun and is a great way to get out of doors and into the true spirit of the season.

Decorate Your Yard. Whether you are decorating for the harvest and Thanksgiving season or for Halloween, turn your yard decorating into a family affair! Get crafty; use old clothes and stuff them with straw to make a scarecrow; design scary or funny jack-o-lanterns; arrange hay bales and corn stalks to make a great country appealing yard, its great fun for everyone!

Take a Drive. Let the wind tousle your hair with a drive, windows down or sun roof open. Enjoy the cool, crisp air and less traveled roads. Be sure to look for Fall color.

Date Night at a Haunted House. When you have young kids that you don’t want to scar for life, often times you skip the haunted houses. Consider though getting a sitter and going out for a bite to eat and then a trip to a local haunted house just like when you were a teenager. It will bring back memories of your youth and give you some much needed time with your spouse/partner.

Bake Night. Once a week bake something yummy together as a family. Its less daunting when you have lots of hands to help do the prep work and cleanup afterwards. Try apple dumplings, apple pie, pumpkin bread, and apple muffins. Share with elderly neighbors and make their Fall magical too.

These are just a few of the ways that you can bring the magic of autumn into your life. While it is by no means a comprehensive list, I hope that it starts you thinking on ways that you, too, can make the autumn season a magical time of the year.

We have spent the past few days celebrating… Mabon, The Autumn Equinox, Feast of the Ingathering, Alban Elfed, the start of Fall. It is glorious. During the evenings it is nice to welcome the dark that comes ever so much earlier now and eat by candlelight. During the day we spend time outside in the cool, crisp air and let the elusive sun kiss our cheeks. We went to an annual Apple Festival, rode on hay covered wagons, drank apple cider floats, and we picked our own apples in the orchard. Little did we know we would stumble onto the best deal on apples around. We picked over half a bushel of apples, 25 pounds or so, for only $9. That works out to about .40 cents a pound and that is a steal! We got Ida and Jonathan varieties since we love tart apples. Then we came home and made apple dumplings. As I write this my husband is baking some apples to put on top of buckwheat pancakes. I love the way the house smells.

Here are some of my fave shots from the past few days. Something has inspired me to break out the camera and take pretty pictures again… must be Fall.

Hiking is an easy and fun way to get in shape and work on your fitness goals. It is also a great way to reconnect with nature, get much need outdoors time in the fresh air and sunlight, and get away from the stresses of fast paced city living. Hiking has been one of my all time favorite ways to exercise for many years now. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

But like many sports and fitness activities it seems that synthetic clothing and gear is predominantly what you find in sporting goods stores. I happen to find much of it uncomfortable and prone to getting smelly if you wear it long enough. This clothing is often made of some sort of poly blend which is actually plastic. Unless it is recycled plastic, then it may not be the greenest gear for you to wear. Since hiking is supposed to help us connect with mother nature and identify with the need to protect our outdoor spaces, wearing clothing that harms the planet is a form of hypocrisy. Fortunately outdoor retailers are catching on to this and slowly we are seeing more green options for the hiking enthusiast.

After checking local thrift stores and consignment shops you may end up with a few good hiking pieces but then again you may not. Serious hikers can go through gear pretty fast. You may find some hiking poles, an external frame pack, or wool socks though… it always worth a look right?

If you can’t second hand source this stuff I have put together a quick list of some of my fave eco hiking recommendations below, to give you some ideas of what is out there. Enjoy!

1. You may hate slathering yourself with toxic sunscreen but your head and face can get burned pretty quickly if you don’t cover up. This Earth Divas  Hemp Floppy Hat is just what you need. If will help keep those harmful rays off your skin and it is made with natural, breathable hemp.

Wool is a great choice for hiking gear since it is a natural fiber with lots of great qualities. It is breathable, eco friendly, and it helps regulate body temperature, which makes it a good choice no matter what the weather looks like. Wool is also known for its ability to repel moisture and wick it away from the skin. Perfect! The next 3 items are made from wool…

2. Icebreaker Women’s Henley Lite Shirt - made with silky smooth and lightweight merino wool which gives great protection against the sun and wicking properties to keep you looking great and feeling cool.

3. SmartWool Foothills Full-Zip Sweater - Gorgeous! The color and style of this sweater is amazing. For chilly morning or evening hikes it will help you warm and toasty without making you overheat. Made with 100% Merino wool for excellent insulating power and breathability. Make sure to take this sweater on ski trips too! And if you need a jacket, SmartWool makes them too.

4. Socks are an important part of hiking, just like some good boots. No one likes cold and/or wet toes… that will ruin a hike right quick! Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks are made of itch free antimicrobial merino wool.

5. Finding eco friendly shoes is tough already, finding hiking boots is even more so. These are not the perfect choice but they are definitely a step in the right direction. The idea is to absorb moisture and keep it away from your feet and these boots – the Kayland Zephyr W – use a new technology that utilizes activated carbon derived from coconut shells.. which is a recycled, sustainable material.

6. MountainSmith backpacks are often made of recycled materials which makes them a green option. Hemp and canvas are also wonderful options but may be harder to find in something larger than a daypack.

7. This bottle is really unique and I intend to write a more elaborate post on it soon but it is bamboo on the outside and glass on the inside. It can also be attached to a backpack with ease. It is sleek, fun, and eco friendly.

Get outside and go for a hike this weekend okay? If you need some inspiration check out an amazing book I just read about a woman who has hiked the Appalachian trail 3 times… Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail.

One of the hardest things for many families who want to try camping is figuring out what to eat and what they need to bring to cook good meals in the great outdoors. What exactly do you need to take with you so you can have a good cup of coffee and meals that do not include prepackaged junk. How will you keep things cold and how will you wash your dishes? Camping is lot so fun when you iron out these details and all it takes it some planning and perhaps some special gear so you can set up the perfect camp kitchen. Once you get into it, you may just find that your inner pioneer loves the challenge!

The first thing you will likely need is a cooler. If you already have one… great! Use that one. If not, check into a steel belted cooler from Coleman. They are super durable. You may even be able to find a used or vintage one at a yard sale or estate auction. Try packing it several different ways to find the most efficient way to pack it all up.

Marinate meats ahead of time and freeze them into blocks so that they can serve as ice packs until they thaw out. Flat Nalgene bottles can also be used as ice packs. Pre-cut  and pre-wash fruit and veggies so that you are only packing in usable and ready to eat foods. Package foods in stackable, glass storage containers.

For coffee, invest in a good stainless steel Percolator. They are light and they make great coffee on a camp stove. I do not normally drink coffee but a good warm cup of coffee on a chilly camp day sounds like heaven to me.

And of course you will need a camp stove unless you like to do all your cooking over top of the camp fire. We like to do 50/50. For campfire dinners your best bet is a cast iron skillet and a dutch oven. You can even bake fresh sourdough bread in these babies! Before you go Google some of your favorite recipes and put the word campfire in front of it. You will be surprised how easy it is to cook over a campfire. Many campers get a kick out of making “gourmet” camp food. For nourishing options check out this blogger ebook: Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods: A Family Camping Handbook with Real Food Options.

So what do you eat off of? Camping just ins’t camping unless you eat and drink from those stainless steel plates and cups that have the speckled enamel finish. They come in dark blue traditionally but I love this green set from GSI Outdoors. Each piece is built from heavy-gauge steel with a speckled enamel finish. Twice kiln-hardened to 1,000 degrees F to prevent scratches and chips.

These stainless steel bowls can be used to pack in nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, pretzels, and other snacks. Then they can be used to as mixing bowls or food bowls when emptied. Part of camping is making things do double duty.

Washing dishes IMO requires a galvanized wash tub. It serves as a washing tub and a place to store your gear when not in use. Make sure to use a planet friendly soap like Dr. Bronners.

And don’t forget cutlery, measuring cups and spoons, spices, cook utensils, a cutting board, matches, and scrub brush. Once you have the gear and some recipes in your arsenal it will be cinch to pack it up and take the family camping at a moment’s notice.

What is your favorite tip or product for an efficient camp kitchen?

Summertime may be winding down but most of us have a few weeks to go. Now is the time that parents run rampant trying to think of things to do as a family while you still have sunshine and an open schedule. There are many great things to do with the kids; they just take consideration, cooperation and planning and all the summer activity thus far might have left you with a little brain fry. One great thing to do with the kids that also involves getting away and into nature… is camping. This can be a wonderful outdoor adventure; keeping in mind your children’s ages, with a little planning that can be hugely successful. We are hoping to take a little camping adventure in the next several weeks… but we actually want to wait for the cooler weather of Fall.

Naturally a large part of the camping experience happens before you leave. Make sure you have all the appropriate clothing, especially for the cooler nights, swimming, and sleeping. Then you are on your way. Let the children help. Its camping, so things do not need to be perfect by any means. Let them help with the tent, food, getting wood all of it. By helping they will keep busy and feel included. You can also spend your pre-trip days getting gear from thrift stores, yard sales, friends, or Freecycle. My son bought a 6 person tent last week at a yard sale for $2.00. This is actually the second nice yard sale tent he has bought.

Planning activities while at the camp site is important too. One of the neat things to do is a nature walk. We all know kids love that stuff. Make it a long one its great exercise and it will help with sleeping later in the night. Let them touch and explore, they can gather stuff to make craft projects as well. Bring a shovel with you and let them dig. Bring a pail as well and you will have hours of contentment. Ask then to build something by the campsite and they will be occupied for a long time.

It’s a great idea to bring some outdoor toys as well. Balls, Frisbee etc are great ideas. Chances are kids won’t get bored of all the nature stuff, but if they do you are prepared. Make sure you also pack a rainy day bag. Paper, crayons and such if the weather turns bad. A couple good children’s books are also nice. Hopefully you won’t have to use it but if you do it will be much appreciated. Another tip is to keep the food simple. You can still have nutritious food just simplify it. Lots of finger foods are best and again something the kids can help with is better.

Certainly one huge thing as well is to check the campsite out before you go. You need to do this to make sure it has everything that you will need. Everyone’s idea of camping is different. Some may want to completely rough it and others will not do without certain things. So take the time to check a few places out. You will find some have activities as well for the children or hay rides at night, that would be a great extra.

The most important thing is to remember to have fun. If it’s your first time with the kids there might be a bit of stress. Just relax and remember it’s camping and just about anything goes. Let the kids have fun and explore and be creative. For the most part let the rules relax and the kids will look after themselves. Try to find the fine line between being organized to provide structure, yet not be too regimented. All in all it will be a wonderful experience and one I am sure you will do again.

What is Geocaching?

You may recall that my family tried geocaching for the first time last week. We had a blast and are now pretty much addicted. And can being addicted to family time, frugal fun, and adventure be a bad thing? I think not. Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game that gets you off the computer and out into the great unknown where you locate hidden containers (called geocaches) using nothing more than a GPS-enabled device and a lot of enthusiasm. Once you find the geocache, the objects in it are yours to keep (if you want) but you are expected to replace the items you take with other items of equal or greater worth for the next seeker and then record your experiences in the online geocaching journal so that others can take part and learn from your experience.

How does Geocaching Work?

The concept behind geocaching is actually quite simple. Someone places some objects in a container and then hides the container in a place that (usually) has some sort of meaning for the one who chose to hide the object there. The objects hidden are known as a “geocache.” They then note the precise location of the geocache (using their GPS device) and record the location on the website so that those interested can go looking for it themselves. The only prerequisites to play are a working GPS device (a big fave is the Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver), and a membership to the official geocaching website, geocaching.com. For a small annual fee you have access to their system as a premium member and many apps for smart phones require this membership for the best experience. It is well worth the fee IMO!

Up until a few months ago I had one of those “dumb phones” that didn’t do anything but allow me to do anything but talk. I was actually anti-smart phone after a crackberry experience. BUT I knew I wanted to take up geocaching and would need a GPS device, plus I wanted a GPS navigation system for the car. I ended up deciding that select smart phones could do both of these things and got a mid range Android phone that I researched first for its geocaching abilities. I am super happy with its abilities. Not only can I see geocaches in real time as I drive by them the accuracy takes me to within 2-3 feet of the cache. The free c:geo app for Androids rocks!

What Kinds of Things are Hidden in a Geostash?

There are actually several different cache types you may find in your adventures and they are clearly labeled so you know what you are going after. A traditional cache usually just has a log for you to sign and claim your find. This type of cache was what we first found. A multi-cache is a sytem of clues that eventually lead you to the physical cache. The first spot will give you a clue that leads you to the second spot, which leads you to the third, etc. An earth cache is a cache with educational notes that teaches you about the geology or geography of the area you are searching. Perfect for homeschoolers!!! A virtual cache has no physical item to find but you need to find the location in order to answer a question, perform a task, or take a photo. There are also event caches like the Planet of the Apes (A.P.E) ones out there now to celebrate the movie release or Trash Out events where geocachers are asked to pick up garbage while they searching (perfect for treehuggers). There is something for everyone.

Some caches require climbing and other dare devil feats but this can be determined by reading the comments of previous seekers. If you see comments talking about how steep a climb it was or that they ripped their pants… use caution or skip that cache. This is what I had to do when I found a cache location next to the James Cancer Center in Columbus that required scaling up a steep overpass bridge. No way I was going to go climbing in flip-flops. And remember that geocaching is supposed to be kept secret from “muggles”. This is what geocachers call non geocachers. They don’t want their stashes to be abducted so they need to fly under the radar and some caches are labeled as requiring “stealth”.

There really are no limitations placed on what should or should not be placed in a geocache. Keep in mind, however, that local laws will apply to a geocache in any particular area. In addition, keep in mind that people of all ages take part in hiding and seeking geocaches so, as a general rule of thumb, explosives, ammunition, knives, drugs or alcohol should not be placed in a cache. Also, one other thing to remember is that food or highly scented items can attract animals, and some geocaches have been dug up and torn open by animals that didn’t need a GPS to locate them, so think about what you are placing in the container.

Other than the cautions above, you are limited to what you put into a geocache only by your imagination. Creativity is key. Some caches have proven to have items of significant value placed in them, while some contain trinkets, toys and “joke” objects, and still others have proven to have culturally significant items or journals, letters and the like. It is up to the player as to what they will put into the cache for another player to find. A cache next to our home was filled with little alien toys for instance.

How Did Geocaching Start?

The story of Geocaching’s origins is actually quite an interesting one. On May 3, 2000, a gentleman by the name of Dave Ulmer (a computer consultant and GPS enthusiast) decided to test the accuracy of the government’s claim that the newly upgraded GPS system would be able to “precisely pinpoint their location (of an object) or the location of items left behind for later recovery.” In order to test this he decided to hide a navigational target in the woods. He then posted the items coordinates in an internet GPS users’ group and see if someone else could find it. He called it the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt” and that quickly an entire sub-culture was born.

As you can see, geocaching can be great fun; an opportunity to get off the couch and out into the great unknown. It is also a fantastic chance to meet others through a shared activity and some very good friendships have developed between fellow geochachers. So don’t hesitate, take a chance and see what geocaching has to offer you.

Recommended Reading: The Geocaching Handbook (Falcon Guide) or The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching

My family and I recently went and explored an area we have been wanting to go to since we moved to Central Ohio five years ago… the Hocking Hills area. This includes Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking Hill State Forest, and specific highlights like Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. The Hocking Hills is a deeply dissected area of the Allegheny Plateau that features cliffs, gorges, rock shelters, and waterfalls. It is quite lovely there and it has been on my to-do list for awhile. It is very near to where the Buckeye Trail, The North Country Trail, and the American Discovery Trail pass through… three long distance hikes I would be over the moon to do someday!!

Family vacation and adventures is a specialty of Austin-Lehman Family Adventures and they had a hand in our adventure. Rated # 1 tour operator in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine, ALA specializes in small-group adult and family multi-sport, hiking, biking and culture tours around the world. You choose the location… Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Europe, etc and find an adventure tour for the family. The trips are organized like a cruise itinerary… Day 1 rafting, day 2 hiking, Day 3 kayaking, and so on. They are perfect for families who want to have real live adventures or active vacations. What I like about this option is that instead of just deciding you want to vacation in Alaska and hoping you can piece meal different activities and get them all in you can book an ALA tour and have them do all that logistical work for you.

Austin Lehman Adventure Travel reached out to us this month invited us to take the Austin-Lehman Active Family Challenge. The challenge is to find multi-sport, active and unique adventures to do around your own city and explore with your family. For our adventure we decided to hike and geocache.

And what a fun hike it was! There were lots of caves to duck into and explore. My oldest son had a blast going inside them and wondering what it would be like to live in these like Indians possibly did. He is a history buff who leans toward outdoor history… caves, caverns, battlefields, etc.

The walls of the cliffs and caves were covered in luscious green moss which is so unlike our area of Ohio but according to books about the area the temperature and moisture in this area makes it hospital to rare trees and plants like Canadian yew and bigleaf magnolia.

The hike to see Old Man’s Cave was relatively easy. Lots of hiking but also lots of big boulders and caves to stop in/on and rest. We had two kids in flip-flops so it can’t be all that bad. I was barefoot hiking in my Vibram Five Fingers!

Still there were a few places were the rocks were wet and muddy so we had to tread carefully and hold on to the cliff walls to make sure we didn’t slip and fall. There are also MANY areas where unsupervised kids or drunk weekenders could go falling off a deep cliff or gorge. It is definitely not a place to let your kids run wild so perhaps that is why we didn’t actually see to many kids. One particular place bugged me out… a high step bridge we had to cross that had no railing of any kind.

After seeing Old Man’s Cave and my cell service faded out so we could not find the geocache in the area… we were rewarded after a short hike to the Upper Falls. We stayed here a bit and played in the water.

Then we hiked back out and went to the next spot on the trail… Cedar Falls. It was quite a hike getting in and out of here but wow was it gorgeous!

And no you don’t have to scale these gorges to get in or out.. there are steps for hikers… lots and lots of steps. At the bottom you come to Cedar Falls. I would love to see this in early spring when the water would be much higher and the falls would be much larger.

After we hiked out and cell service returned we went looking for our first geocache.. and didn’t find it. I was using my Android phone and the free c:geo app. It took us to a light pole and there was no cache there. Boo! I was also kinda grumpy because I was drenched in sweat from our hike. So we tried another one a few miles away and this time we found it!

It was hidden better than this but I pulled it out to grab a cell phone pic. It is a film roll with a paper log inside for me to date and sign.

Uh... this is the treasure you told me about?

We are learning that there are many types of caches to be found. This one just had a log to sign and no little token to remove and replace with your own as you can with some.. which is what my daughter was hoping for. Still we had great fun and we felt like treasure hunters when we found our cache. It was soooooo thrilling! Silly to think about getting so excited finding a film roll in a tree but I can’t explain it, you just have to try it. We recently became premium members at geocaching.com so we were equally thrilled to log our first geocaching find in our account. I think this adventure may have just spawned some hard core cachers. Can’t wait to find our next cache!

Many thanks to Austin-Lehman Adventures and their wonderful adventure vacations who sent us a Visa gift card to help cover the cost of our adventure. A great time was had by all!

What flowers are you seeing in your area?

Exposing our kids to nature and outdoor play is pretty easy if you live in a rural area. My first kiddo was raised for five years mountainside in Arizona with hundreds of acres of state land all around us. Our biggest concern was not making sure he got acquainted with Mother Nature but rather making sure Mother Nature’s wondrous rattlesnakes didn’t bite him and that he didn’t fall down an abandoned mine shaft. Then we moved to a working farm in Ohio and my kids (two by then) loved that. But after my cancer and all that drama we ended up moving to the city and have been here ever since. I love both environments equally but sometimes it is a bit harder to make sure my kids get that time they need to do nothing but wander around in nature and explore all that Mother Nature has to offer by way of all natural entertainment. Playing in a small front or backyard just isn’t the same thing. As with anything, you just have to think outside the box. Here are some ideas:

Equip Them for Nature Observation – Give kids adventuring gadgets and they will put them to good use. Binoculars, a magnifying glass, telescope, microscope, bug houses, etc. All these make it incredibly fun for kids to explore every blade of grass they come across, to analyze things on a cellular level, and to explore the stars as well. Some of these things can be pricey and I believe in getting quality equipment, not the cheap kiddie versions. But if you check out Craigslist, eBay, and local yard sales you should be able to find these things second hand.

Play Parks & Natural Parks – If you are lucky your city may have natural play spaces. Regular parks with swings and slides are fun and all but that isn’t nature either, not really. Natural play spaces are are still wild with tress, vegetation, streams, and rocks for kids to climb and play on. We have a couple of these in Columbus and they are lots of fun. There are also some parks here where side trails take you to creeks and areas where downed trees make great places to play. We visited one of these this week in an old quarry. Ended up hiking 3 miles that day and my 5 year old had a blast. Your city Parks and Recreation web page should be bookmarked and used often! If your city doesn’t have one, consider making one yourself.. other parents would greatly appreciate info on all the great places to play.

Day Trips – If you don’t live close to any great adventuring spots consider making more frequent day trips to places that do. We often visit covered bridges, local farms, fishing holes, waterfalls, and all sorts of great stuff that may be anywhere from 20-90 minutes away. We just pack a bag of snacks and drinks and off we go!

Certified Wildlife Habitat – See if you can turn your backyard into a certified wildlife habitat. You may need to add some food sources and places for animals to raise their families but it was a lot of fun for us to do this at one of our previous houses.

Camping & Backpacking – Not everyone likes to do these things but it is worth it to do it anyway… for your kids. You can pick up second hand gear and try to get into this slowly… maybe one night here and there. Backpacking day trips are another great way to get out and ease into camping. Kids can help carry their own gear, prepare dehydrated foods beforehand, and learn survival skills like identifying edible plants and treating drinking water. Parents and kids alike may get a kick out of pretending they are living off the land and then pretty soon you won’t have to pretend anymore. It is a dream of mine for my family of five to hike the Appalachian Trail together in few years. Just waiting for my youngest to get a few years older! What could be better than a 6 month long through hike with your kids?

Books About Nature – Reading about adventuring in nature can be just what a family needs to spur them into action. For kids perhaps books like Treasure Island, The Swiss Family Robinson, the Little House books, or the more modern Gaia Girls series. For adults… A Walk in the Woods and Hiking Through. The latter book was written by a man who decides to through hike the Appalachian Trail after his wife dies. It was such an emotional and inspiring look at nature as a healer and making the most of the time we have with our loved ones.

Feng Shui – If you recall, I am a big Feng Shui enthusiast. I like teaching my kids about the concepts of it because it incorporates a lot of nature into the decor of your home. Colors of nature are represented in different rooms, materials have to include those from all elements… earth, water, fire, metal, and wood. It really teaches you to to be more aware of nature.. the colors, the materials, the delicate balance, and how nature itself can be a healer.

Celebrate the Wheel of the Year – You may already celebrate the conventional holidays like Christmas and Halloween but you can also celebrate the 8 Sabbats or festivals most often associated with pagan traditions. They are closely tied to nature because they follow the seasons. Just this past week was Beltane. It is sandwiched between Ostara (Spring Equinox) and Midsummer (Summer Solstice). All these holidays have related stories that can be shared with kids and nature activities that they can do. And if you feel weird about celebrating pagan holidays just remember that they were here first. Ostara was co-opted by Christians and turned into Easter. Samhain was turned into Halloween, etc. Kids won’t mind having even more holidays to celebrate and technically you are celebrating some already… just under a different name and maybe a slightly different date.

Your turn. What are some of your favorite ways to encourage city kids to embrace Mother Nature?

A grand summer vacation or spring break may not be in the cards for every family. The costs for family travel seems to go up every year and you may not live close enough to an amusement park, so what do you do? Well, if you are like me I plan lots of small day trips instead and most of them revolves around free or low cost activities that take us outside to explore. This is all part of our family simplicity project. We work as little as we can, taking the lower pay with it, so that we can spend more time together. When we want to do special things that means we have to get a bit creative. A Disney Cruise is not in the cards for us, it may never be, but we can still have a lot of fun while staying close to home. Just think outside the box!

Explore Local Waterfalls – Finding local waterfalls and swimming holes is the BEST! When I lived in Arizona there was no shortage of stuff like this to find so imagine my surprise when I checked out the Go Waterfalling site and found there was a waterfall about 20 minutes away from me. It was a blast and the kids loved it. Plus we now know there are some more about 1-2 hours north of us. Sounds like a nice day trip to me!

National Parks - Most Americans live within a day’s drive of a national park. Ranger tours, hiking trails, campfire talks… sounds pretty nice to me and you don’t even have to sleep in the park if camping is not your thing, you can find a cheap motel nearby instead. Make it an educational event by identifying local plant life, trees, and wildlife, discussing survivalism, etc. Mom and Dad can bring a camera and work on their photography skills so they can make a National Park scrapbook when they get home. Check out your local library for guidebooks specific to any park you want to go to.

Look for Covered Bridges – My mother and I LOVE to go driving around Ohio and scope out the covered bridges. No doubt when I take the kids up to spend time with her this summer we will make several of these trips. The photo above was taken on one such occasion. We ran into our first Ohio rattlesnake on a covered bridge so the kids are always excited to see if we can find more.

Historical Site Exploration – Do a Google search and see if you can find local battlefields, Indian ruins, or other places of historical interest. Visit homes that were part of the underground railroad or check out famous grave sites. We are very fortunate to live close to an outdoor amphitheater to witness the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader, Tecumseh as he struggles to defend his sacred homelands in the Ohio country during the late 1700’s. When I was a kid we used to drive to it in a motorhome and camp there overnight during the summer. In Arizona we would make day trips to Tombstone… good times.

Explore Caves and Caverns – Does your state have caverns and caves to explore. It probably does. Do some searching and see what you can find. You can usually go on tours and learn all about the history of the cave and what it was used for in centuries past. We have been wanting go to visit Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (5 hours away) but there are also several that are closer.

Scavenger Hunt! - A nearby city puts on a scavenger hunt each year where you have to drive to all sorts of local cemeteries, landmarks, and historic places and get a unique stamp in your adventure passport. It is a lot of fun and can be recreated easily. Spend a few evenings outlining an adventure tour in your local area, the kids will love it.

Check Out a Day Trips Book – Most major cities have published books with fun things to do in your area or within a days drive. It was by perusing books like this that we discovered that there are honest to goodness Castles in Ohio. We had fun visiting a few of them and want to hit up more this summer.

Go to Local Festivals – The availability of festivals and fairs will really depend on your state. In Ohio we have TONS of counties so their is a county fair practically every week in the nicer months it seems. We also have a Bratwurst Festival, a Strawberry Festival, a Popcorn Festival, a Tomato Festival, the Country Music Festival… it goes on and on. They provide funs ways to get outside, explore local communities, and eat some tasty food.

Harvest Some Food - Summer to us means raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and sweet corn. We like to visit You-Pick farms in the area and pick our own food. The kids have a blast harvesting it and they are super excited to get home and eat, bake, freeze, or can our treasures.

Visit the Animals – Take a trip to the zoo, a wildlife sanctuary or preserve, local stables, anywhere where you can interact with the local wildlife.

What are your favorite family vacation day trips?

Met one of the Sisters on the Fly this weekend. It is basically a Cowgirl Caravan 1400 members strong that go camping and fly fishing in their adorable girly travel trailers. Most of them are vintage trailers that have been restored and this particular one is a called ‘Lil Junie’. It is ADORABLE inside and out. I came home and immediately started looking for older Serro Scotty Sportsmen trailers. These photos make my heart happy. ;)

Local food finds: Homemade bread, tomatoes, and Greek Yogurt w/herbs

Vegetarian Egg Drop soup with local, pastured eggs

Local organic foods delivered to our door… sweet corn, milk, zucchini, garlic, and pastured eggs

Full Moon Rituals

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Recommended Reading: Full Moon Feast: Food and the Hunger for Connection

The end of summer is around the corner and my kids seem hip to this. Even though it is hot as all get out… they still want to spend every waking moment outside. My youngest boy has made a new friend and all summer long they have done everything together… play indoors and out, swim, and even sleep. His friend’s name is SandBoy and he not only loves nature.. he is part of it… for he is a stick. Yes, a stick… off of a tree. Ala Spongebob he has a stick buddy! Perhaps I should be concerned but when they argue, it is just so darn cute!

My oldest boy attended an auction with his grandmother this weekend. She wanted him to pick out some birthday gifts for his birthday at the end of the month. He came home with several fishing poles, a tackle box full of fishing gear and lures, and a tent.

The rim around the tub after my kids take a bath is testimony that this summer has been fun!

Busy working lives leading to lack of free time together with the practicalities of living in towns and cities means that many of us aren’t able to see as much wildlife as we’d ideally like. And whilst many of us long to be surrounded by more nature, this is particularly so for children.

Not only can introducing children to nature early on foster a real sense of the fragility and importance of the natural world around us, but it can make an incredibly fun day out for children of all ages.

But if many of us don’t have the time to sit in a bird hide for hours on end, or go tracking wild deer through the forests, are there still ways for us to see wildlife without having to put in too much time and effort? Fortunately, the answer is yes.

Today we’re going to look at five simple ways that you (and your kids) can have a wildlife experience to remember, with minimal investment of your free time or money.

Pond Dipping

A simple net available from many outdoor or pet stores, a cat litter tray or some jam jars to put your findings into and you’re away.

All you need to do is to locate a local body of water – whether that’s a stream, river or best of all a pond. In these areas you may find frogs, newts, beetles and a whole host of other invertebrates from caddis fly larvae to dragonfly nymphs.

Take an identification book out with you and within no time at all you’ll be finding all sorts of exciting wildlife and learning more about them.

Beating

Numerous insects use our native plants as food sources or places to hide but actually creeping around looking for them can be a struggle. After all, a range of predators are looking for them too, so they put a lot of effort into concealing themselves.

So what’s the solution? Quite simply, beating.

Simply find a tree or bush, place an old white sheet on the floor beneath it and then hit it hard with a stout stick a few times. The vibrations will cause all sorts of mini beasts to drop out where they can be easily identified using a small magnifying glass and a book.

Birdwatching

When it comes to bird watching, many of us think of long walks in the country or sitting in a bird hide for hours on end but it doesn’t have to be like that.

Not only are there a range of nature reserves specifically designed to make it easy to see a range of different birds, but you can even attract them into your own garden with ease.

Setting up a bird table and some feeders takes next to no time and soon enough you will have all sorts of birds from around your neighborhood stopping off for a bite to eat.

Simply pull up a chair a safe distance away, and keep watch.

Rockpooling

As the tide goes out on rocky beaches, rook pools form. These little oases of life trap all sorts of sea creatures such as urchins, sea anemones and crabs where they can be easily found. You might even get lucky and see some fish or even an octopus.

All you need to do is to find a local rocky beach where the water can collect and then time your visit for low tide. A small net can be handy for catching what you find before placing it into a bucket of sea water to identify.

Log Turning

Logs represent a fantastic habitat for a range of animals from newts and lizards down to millipedes and centipedes. Under a log it is damp and dark; a perfect place for our more sensitive native wildlife.

And logs can be found in all sorts of places. Some people leave log piles at the end of their garden while many forests offer the exact same habitat.

The trick is to find these logs, and then roll them *towards* you. This way the log is always between you and the wildlife so if anything scary starts scurrying you know you’re safe! Also, you may need to be quick to catch whatever you find so try to have some plastic tubs ready to do the honours.

Lastly, when you’ve finished with any of these techniques, please make sure you release all wildlife back into it’s habitat safely and ensure that it is exactly as it was when you arrived. This means returning logs to their original position, ensuring you have any rubbish with you and so on.

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A guest post by Richard, the owner of Eco Living Advice which offers regularly-updated tips and information on creating a more sustainable lifestyle.

Who celebrates Earth Day by blasting confetti poppers near the creek??? Hmmph!

Lunch in our backyard, on a picnic blanket, under a big old tree…

Playing with his new toy that the school gifted him. I guess they have learned that dinosaurs are his currency.

And of course I had to take some pictures of this other lovely tree we have. I don't know what it is, but we moved into this house in June last year so we never got to see this yumminess…

And now we must be off… walking to pick up the older siblings and some neighbor kids from school. A nice leisurely walk with my kiddlets. It isn't fancy and it isn't glamorous but its life, and life is beautiful, especially in the Spring.

The winner was commenter #51 Little Lamb. I will email you to let you know of your prize, I hope your little boy enjoys all the toys!!

And I leave you with photos of my weekend.. lots of fun and lots of outdoor time for all. We went to two metro parks in our area… a public garden and a hiking trail where we hoped to spot some bald eagles that have recently returned to the area, but alas no such luck spotting them. We will not give up though! We also played a little softball as a family. My oldest boy is getting really good and will frequently spend hours at the park near our house playing. Wishing everyone lots of Green Hours this spring!

Oh no you didn't just pick a daffodil at a public garden did you??? LOL. The look on his face tells me he thought I wasn't looking… the stinker.

Walking in the woods playing Paddle Ball. What could be better?

Depending on your experience, you may dread the subject of science or look at it as just one of those things you HAVE to learn. I for one always loved science and it was one of my best subjects. In college I relished my anatomy, biology, organic chemistry, and astronomy classes and I was really sad when I finished all of my required classes. It is really important to me now that I instill in my children a love of science. There are so many fun ways you can teach children about science and much of it comes from everyday play! Here are some ideas.

Science Is Everywhere

As mentioned above, science encompasses much. Take moments throughout the day – playing, cooking, gardening, etc. – to point out scientific realities, which will awaken your child’s sense of the science around him. Also, by pointing out science as it happens, you will be teaching your child to develop keen observation for her environment, and observation is a hugely important aspect of science.

Nature Hikes for Budding Scientists

This is an excellent exercise any time of year, but is especially valuable and fun when the seasons are turning as they are now. If possible, hike the same general area over the course of the year, noting changes in the landscape. Take along field guides in the form of notebooks with your kid’s names on them, for identification of local plants, wildlife, rocks and minerals. You can also take binoculars and a magnifying glass to get a closer look at birds, bugs, and trees. Take pictures to document your studies.

Research & Play

Take the notes and pictures from your adventures and do some Internet research about the various things you found so that next time they can better observe what they see. Ask them if they have any questions and explore the answers together. Use the internet, books, or media to find out more about subjects that interest your child. Read books about natural science and nature under a tree in your yard or at a local park. Plant a garden or even a single potted plant and encourage your child to keep notes about the plant’s growth habits, etc. Keep your findings in a special notebook that can be a source of pride for your child. I REALLY, REALLY want this discovery museum so the kids can store their treasures. It also comes with 30 items of fossils, minerals, marine life and insects.

Science Toys and Kits

There are so many wonderful kits and toys available these days with a science theme. There are baking soda and vinegar rockets, crystal growing kits, junior chemistry sets, butterfly habitats, bug collection and observation devices, and others. A simple set of magnets can teach children a lot about the science of magnetic poles and the earth’s magnetic forces and a planet mobile can get your child interested in space exploration. We have been eyeballing the Thames and Kosmos Classic Science Classic Chemistry set because I love the tie in to the Dangerous Book for Boys. But I wonder were the chemistry set for girls is??

Exciting Experiments

There are also many science experiments you can do at home with your kids. Study weather by making a rain gauge or simulating cloud formation in a glass. Melt an ice cube and boil the water to show the three properties of matter (solid, liquid, gas). Mix baking soda and vinegar to study the reaction between an acid and a base. Check the children’s area of your library for books on science experiments you can do at home, or look online.

Local Attractions

Explore your local area for science… state parks, nature workshops, wildlife preserves, science museums, planetariums, aquariums, summer camps, etc. Last year one of the metro parks in my area had a CSI summer day camp where kids learned aspects of forensic science. Our science museum has daily workshops you can join in. We don’t have to look far for play opportunities that teach.

Another wonderful benefit is that these activities encourage parental involvement and participation. As you exhibit a love of learning and a love for science, your children will follow suit. And best of all nature is the best place for fieldwork!! What do you find inspires children to learn about science?