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This week's blog post is written by Explorer Mom, Rebecca Fuller, from @becca_outdoors . Becca has shared with us the top 5 campgrounds near Kamloops, BC! Hi! My name is Becca ( @becca_outdoors ). I'm an adventure mom who loves to hike, camp, kayak, and backpack with my kids! My husband and I moved to British Columbia five years ago from Alberta. We’re passionate about sharing our love of the outdoors with our 2.5-year-old son and 3-month-old daughter. What makes a campground a GOOD campground? Trees, trees, and more trees. There’s nothing worse than pulling up to a campground and feeling like you’re camping in a Walmart parking lot with no privacy between you and your neighbouring camper. In addition to trees, we like campgrounds that have access to hiking trails close by, green space or a playground for our kids, and if there’s a lake-easy access to it. There are a couple different types of campgrounds in BC including recreation sites, provincial/national campgrounds, and private campgrounds. Recreation sites are located on crown land, often in remote areas, accessed by gravel forestry roads, and provide only basic facilities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and outhouses. These sites are typically less busy, have a small fee, or are free, and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Provincial campgrounds are located within provincial parks and typically book up fast. National park campgrounds are located in national parks, and a national park pass is required to stay there along with the camping fee. Private Campgrounds are on privately owned land. The amenities vary but can include showers, water, electricity, and sometimes WIFI. With that said, keep reading to discover the Top 5 Campgrounds near Kamloops, BC! The Top 5 Campgrounds near Kamloops, BC Isobel Lake Campground Isobel Lake is a recreation site campground located 40 minutes North of Kamloops. This campground has 19 campsites, outhouses, picnic tables, a 3km interpretative trail around the lake, and fishing for youth and disabled individuals from April to September. The cost is $15/night. What we love about this campground is how picturesque it is, likely due to the small number of campsites, limited amenities, and no cell service. The lake offers an abundance of wildlife to see and hear. Paul Lake Provincial Campground Paul Lake Provincial Park is located 20 minutes North East of Kamloops. This campground has 90 sites, with 47 of them reservable online (they book up FAST), and the remaining sites are first come first serve. Cost: $18/night. What we love about this campground is how treed the sites are, as well as the playground and a breathtaking 3.7km hike with spectral views of the lake at the top. There is lake access from the campground and a dedicated area where you can let your dog go in the lake. There is a trail that links the campground and lake, however, we opted to drive to the day use area to access the lake with everything we had with our kids and two dogs. Note there is no cell service at this campground. Shuswap Lake Provincial Campground This campground is VERY popular because it’s located on Shuswap Lake, a desirable lake for boating and water activities. It is a 75-minute drive from Kamloops and is one of the largest campgrounds in the area, with 275 campsites. There are a few hikes within a 10-15-minute drive, as well as a 2.8km hike on Copper Island, which can only be accessed by boat. Cost: $32/night. What we love about this campground is the playground/green grassy areas, access to several hikes, and easy access to the lake with an inviting temperature for swimming in the summer months. Herald Provincial Campground This campground is located 1hr 30 min East of Kamloops and offers 128 campsites. There are three camping areas (Bastion Mountain Campground, Reinecker, and Homestead Campground). We have stayed at Bastion Mountain campground multiple times as it is the smallest, with 15 sites. There is a creek that runs through Reinecker campground which offers a soothing atmosphere, however, we have avoided booking in that loop as it is fast moving in the early summer months and we didn’t want to stress about water safety with our curious toddler. Homestead campground has beautiful sites, and easy access to the lake. Cost: $32/night. What we love about this campground is the number of trees each site offers, the playground, the stunning but short 1km hike to Margaret Falls, along with the trail system that winds through the campground and along the lake. There is also a dedicated beach for dogs. Lac Le Jeune Provincial Campground This campground is located 40 minutes West of Kamloops and provides 144 campsites. This lake is famous for its rainbow trout fish, so don’t forget to pack your fishing rod. There is a beautiful 8km loop around the lake where you can either bike or hike it. We haven’t swam at this lake, but there is a sandy beach, and a swimming area sectioned off. Cost: $23/night. What we love about this campground is the treed campsites, easy access to the lake as well as several other lakes/hikes nearby. There is limited cell service at this campground. Remember to leave no trace while camping and to keep a clean campsite. Thank you for taking the time today to read @becca_outdoors' post about the Top 5 Campgrounds near Kamloops, BC! Will you be visiting any of these campgrounds any time soon? Make sure to tag us in your photos using @KidsWhoExplore and #KWEGoesCamping for your chance to be featured on our social media channels!

This week’s blog post is written by Explorer Family Mom Brittany Williams from @bbwilliams21. Brittany has written this post for us today to talk about bringing the outdoors in. Brittany is a mom of 1, living in the beautiful state of Tennessee. Some days, we aren't able to go outside and struggle to keep our little ones entertained. It can be overwhelming to find activities to keep them occupied all throughout the day. Brittany has written a post for us today about bringing the outdoors in. Sometimes, it's just as easy to incorporate the outdoors with indoor play. Here is all about bringing the outdoors in! Bringing the Outdoors In: Nature Crafts for the Whole Family Being outside is beneficial for so many reasons that I know we can all get behind, however, has there ever been a time that getting outside is just impossible? I am sure you can think of a time when the weather was not safe to be in, or your family just needed to be inside for whatever reason. Being inside is not a bad thing or something that should be looked down upon. As I said in my last blog post, Children Have Rights, Too, it’s all about balance. In this post, I am going to outline some specific ways you and your family can bring the outdoors in. You will gain insight into what loose parts are and how to incorporate them into your everyday life. You will also leave feeling empowered and that even though we love and want kids to explore (outside), it is ok to sometimes do that inside. Outdoors, what does it look like for your family? What does your family like to do while outside? Maybe it's to go on a hike, play at your local park, some form of water play, or just simply being outside. So how can you bring those same or similar activities inside? If you’re a family that likes to go hiking - or better yet, you don’t actually enjoy hiking - there are some great songs and activities that focus on the same gross motor skills you get while exploring outside. These are things you can easily do inside! YouTube is a great resource for finding songs, such as I’m Going on a Bear Hunt, The Ants Go Marching, and We Are the Dinosaurs, to name a few. These are all great songs that can easily involve gross motor play. Gross motor activities are anything that involves the large muscles in your arms, legs, and torso and are key in childhood development. Disclaimer: I want to apologize in advance for your kiddos falling in love with the songs mentioned above and take full responsibility for them being asked to be played over and over. Fair warning: They are catchy and will get stuck in your head! Water Play, But Take it Indoors Ok, hear me out… your kids would think you are basically the coolest parent ever if you let them wear their bathing suits, put on some goggles, and let them play with toys in the bathtub that are usually only allowed in the pool. This IS going to be messy so be prepared with setting expectations before you begin and have plenty of towels on hand. It will be key to use language like “your job is to not get any water outside of the tub, if this happens you will have to be all done with this activity.” Using very specific and direct language and sticking to what you say will be critical for this experience to go well. As a reminder, if you say something like “Your job was to keep the water in the tub, and if you continue to choose to splash the water you’re going to have to be all done”  - then if your child keeps doing the thing you asked them not to do, you will need to stick to your word. This will be a wonderful time for your child to really use their imagination and can be a great and enjoyable opportunity for some basic learning skills. There are several water activities that can be done inside, not just in the bathtub, that your child may enjoy! They can easily do water activities in a sink or a large bin sitting on the floor. Grab some cups, measuring spoons, strainer, plastic animals, etc, and watch them have an absolute blast! Pro tip: get some kid-safe color tabs to change the color of the water!! (Crayola Bath Drops are great) Open-Ended Materials & Loose Parts I talked a little bit about open-ended materials in one of my Kids Who Explore podcasts and how these materials can totally replace your typical big-box store toys. We all know that toy marketing is strong and kids will hear and see things and then automatically have the desire to want that specific item. They can crave things that others have or things that catch their attention - like those bright and colorful toys and the ones that make all the noise. And I’m not saying to never get your child those items, I am here to let you know I have gotten them for Ava and other kiddos in my life. But how many times have you gotten a delivery to your house and your kids could spend hours playing with the box it came in? From my experience, kids lose interest in those shiny objects faster than they do if they are left to their imagination and can have true freedom of the material. Open-ended materials are defined as “materials that have no directions and can be used by themselves or with other materials. Items that can be carried, lined up, redesigned, taken apart, moved, and put back together in multiple ways.” The child is left to determine what materials they use and exactly how to use them. Other examples include paper towel rolls, egg cartons, boxes, various containers, bowls, blocks, sticks, rocks, sand, dolls, cars, fabrics, measuring & pouring devices, various recycled materials, buttons, spools, beads, straws, and SO much more! There are tons of open ended materials out there, just be sure you are aware of the materials you are offering to your child and the potential choking hazard of some of the smaller items. Inside Isn’t Bad, It’s What You Make It. To recap, we all want our children to explore all that the wonderful outdoors has to offer, but sometimes, that isn’t always possible. Being inside doesn’t have to mean kids are on screens all day. Lead by example and play with your children. Set up your indoor spaces to allow for open-ended materials to be brought in. Invite your child to go find some things outside that they can bring inside and create a scavenger hunt—make it a game! They will love it! All in all, just because you have to be inside or you are choosing that for your family it doesn’t make you a bad parent. It doesn’t mean you don’t think children deserve to be outside. It means you are human and we just have to do what’s best for our children and families. I will say this time and time again, being present and engaging with your children will go a long way for many years! Enjoy the great indoors! Thank you for taking the time today to read Brittany’s blog post on bringing the outdoors in. Don’t forget to tag us in your adventures using @KidsWhoExplore and #KidsWhoExplore #KWE for your chance to be featured on our Instagram page!

Looking for toddler hiking trails in Anchorage, Alaska? Explorer mom Brenda from @brenda.h.ak has shared with us her favourite toddler hiking trails in Anchorage. Here are some trails for you to check out on your next Alaskan adventure: The Best Hikes in Anchorage for Toddlers Here are my top picks for the best hikes with toddlers in Anchorage, Alaska, as a mom who has explored many of them! 1. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a 19-mile out-and-back paved multi-use trail with several access points. We love this trail for biking, walking, or xc skiing in the winter, with amazing coastal views. 2. Potters Marsh Boardwalk Potter’s Marsh Boardwalk is a great first “hike” for new walkers. It has several benches to stop at for a break! This one-mile loop is great for bird-watching and seeing some of Alaska’s wildlife. There are bathrooms at the trailhead. 3. The Turnagain Arm Trail The Turnagain Arm Trail: Rainbow trailhead to Windy Corner trailhead is a beautiful 4-mile out-and-back trail with views of the Turnagain Arm. This trail gets a little narrow in spots, with a few small creek crossings and a slight elevation gain at the beginning, but it flattens out at the top. We enjoy this trail more in the early spring or late fall, as it gets overgrown in spots. 4. Eagle River Nature Center There are several trails here that make you feel more remote than you actually are; however, there is limited to no cell service out here. Two of the shorter hikes are the 1-mile Rodak Nature Loop and the 3.3-mile Albert Loop trail, both of which have amazing Mountain views. Bears and moose are also more common at the Nature Center. Heavy-duty strollers may work for part of the first part of these trails. 5. Barbara Falls Barbara Falls is an amazing 1.3-mile hike with minimal elevation gain to a beautiful waterfall. At the bridge, you can walk down the trail to the waterfall's base or continue over the bridge to the waterfall lookout. The parking is in a neighborhood, so please respect the parking signs. 6. Arctic Valley Arctic Valley: Mount Gordon Lyons to the saddle. If you’re wanting to start building those hiking legs and try out a little more incline, hiking up to the “saddle” in Artic Valley between Mount Gordon Lyons and Rendezvous is the perfect trail with amazing views! This trail is about 2.5 miles RT with an elevation gain of about 800 ft. The drive up is beautiful; however, the road is unpaved bumpy at times. As with any hikes outside, please be aware of wildlife, especially moose and bears here in Alaska!

This blog post is written by Explorer Family mom, Barbara, from @motherhoodonthetrail . Barbara has always been passionate about nature. Through motherhood, she learned how to share her passion with the one she loves the most: her son. Her motherhood on the trail journey has been signed by constant adaptation and transformation: it led her over to the steps she needed to be the woman she is today, from being “a hiker with a child" to being her son's very personal "adventure guide." Barbara has shared with us Motherhood on the Trail: Changing Your Mindset. Here is what she had to say: Motherhood on the Trail: My Motherhood Journey As for most people, I was bombarded with opinions on how life with a child would be throughout my whole life. While some views felt harmless, others infuriated me, such as the idea that a baby meant sacrifice, and giving up life outdoor. During pregnancy, the conviction that it was time promote another vision, in which children were welcome outdoors regardless of age, grew stronger and stronger inside me, together with my baby. I started the “backpackingmoms” Instagram account hoping to empower other mothers to continue their outdoorsy lifestyle but in reality, this account was my very own “accountability partner”. It was my open declaration to the world that I would find a way to make it work. At first, my focus was on finding solutions to respectfully involve my son in my adventures. As he grew older, together with his needs of independency, he took an increasing active role in our hiking group:  this led me to change the Instagram name from to "Motherhoodonthetrail". The focus on my life shifted from what “I” was able to achieve to what “We” could do together. Not only these changes helped me to embrace motherhood, but as I learned to be a mother to my child, I also learned to be a mother to my inner child, that little girl inside me that needed to be heard. Adventuring with an Infant: Re-assessing the Expectations I went on my first backpacking trip with my son when he was 5 weeks old. I needed it so badly to feel like I was regaining control over my body and to find my old identity again. I chose a very easy and short route in the Dolomites, yet I never felt like I was lowering my expectations. I had led different backpacking trips before, and I knew that the key to a successful trip is to aim for something that the weakest individual of the team can successfully cover. I considered my child a member of my team, and I re-assessed our team strengths accordingly. My son didn’t need much: to be carried close to mamma, fed, changed, and protected from the sun and the cold air… nothing really that different from being at home. During our trip, he was totally fine. Unexpectedly, I was still a hormonal post-partum hurricane! That is when I realized there was a new ME that I needed to get to know better. That weekend marked the moment I took action and exposed myself for the first time to the unknown world of backpacking with a child. Once back home, I wrote down what went wrong and brainstormed for solutions to be more prepared the next time: "unsuccessful hikes" are failures only if you let them be so. It was the first step toward a long, exciting journey of adventuring together with my child. Adventuring with A Toddler: Changing the Expectations Into Appreciation The moment my son experimented with his first steps, it was clear that our hiking style had to change considerably. I loved pushing myself and feeling my heart pumping in my chest, but when a child starts walking, the hiking speed can easily fall down to null, actually, even go to reverse! At first, these never-ending moments of “no movement” felt frustrating, as I often had a goal to reach in my mind, and my focus fell on the progress done to reach such a goal. Changing perspective was key to finding harmony: I felt I couldn’t (and shouldn’t) change my son’s desire to experiment with the world himself, but I knew I could change my own response to its explorations. Instead of feeling frustrated for not being able to proceed, I followed him into his explorations, actually discovering a new fascinating microcosmos myself! I equipped myself with a good camera, a couple of guides on flora and fauna, and learned more about the environments we were crossing. This could never be a waste of time! Our hikes became a little bit less crazy, shorter, more and more child-led. The goal shifted from reaching a specific location to spending quality time and find connection with my child. Definitely a skill I could work on for a couple of years, I thought, and which could ultimately make me a better hiker and leader. The WHY I was immersing myself in Nature also changed. It wasn’t just because it was my recharging place, but also because it was my child's best teacher. I wanted him to normalize Nature, enjoy it, and grow from our experiences outdoors so that, as a grown-up, he would be interested in advocating for it. Still, I didn’t have to give up going to distant destinations: distances could be covered during my regular son’s resting and napping times. Adventuring with A Little Hiker: Embracing “Slow Hiking” If all it takes to have the greatest adventures is a change of mindset, it was again time to look at our adventures outdoors differently. I decided to embrace the practice of “slow hiking”, which is (my definition): “the art of bringing mindfulness to the act of walking in nature. To practice slowhiking, you need to follow a toddler or young hiker in a child-led hike, and copy all his actions. Run when he run, stop and observe plants/animals when he does, close your eyes and rest if he sleeps. Don’t ask yourself why. Just let go of any thought and let the world surprise you with the beauty you can find in any small detail. The experience is not about the destination, but about the journey and the company”. I joined my child in taming dragons, exploring secret worlds hidden underneath ice and rocks, asking “why”, and listening to his colorful reasons and order in this world… My Take-Away: “Expedition Parenting” The greatest gift in life is sharing your passion with the person you love, and this was my way of involving my son in my outdoorsy adventures. My focus shifted from hiking itself to embracing the opportunity to build a strong team based on respect. Today, I see myself as an expedition guide. There is a new team member, and it is my job to make his experience safe, fun, and meaningful. This vision makes me feel empowered, important, and accomplished. I am not sacrificing anything at all; on the contrary, I am given the greatest opportunity to grow as an expert hiker and a team leader. This is my mantra: We are safe: I prepare and plan to understand the magnitude of the day, and I pack my bag accordingly. My team is only as strong as the weakest person on it, and I adapt to avoid pushing anybody over their limits. We focus on quality and meaning. My goal is to connect with my child, have positive experiences in nature, and offer growing and learning opportunities. I respect my son's needs and limits. We embrace sustainability: We respect and support the local communities, learn about the environment we visit, leave no trace, and collect garbage whenever necessary. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post about Motherhood On The Trail & Changing Your Mindset written by Barbara from @motherhoodonthetrail . Happy Exploring! Don't forget to tag us in your adventures on Instagram using @kidswhoexplore #kwe #kidswhoexplore

This week's blog post is written by Explorer Family Mom Erica Bennett from @7wildhearts . Erica, living in the sunny state of Florida, homeschools her children, which allows them to experience so much more compared to sitting in a regular classroom. Erica and her family of 7 are members of our Inclusion & Diversity committee, and help us spread normalized conversation about promoting inclusion in nature. Erica is here to talk all about their homeschooling journey -- where it began, why, how its going -- and we are so excited to share her story. Here is what Erica had to say about 'When Homeschool Meets Roadschool': Our Roadschool Family Journey My husband, Steve, and I made the decision to start homeschooling our kids pre-pandemic, but it was not until autumn 2020 that we put it into practice. For us, the decision to shift from public schooling to homeschooling was an easy one, as this new learning adventure was coupled with a cross-country move that already had us diving into huge life changes. We were ready to prioritize exploring nature and traveling together as a family, so choosing a program that would fit our new, more flexible schedule was the first step. Homeschooling, Roadschooling, and Worldschooling are all forms of alternative education that are gaining popularity these days, especially among young families looking for experience-driven learning outside of a traditional classroom.  As the primary learning instructor, I decided that a somewhat eclectic approach was a good fit for our family because we have many different ages and skill levels. We just wrapped up our second year of homeschooling and have done most of it from our home base in Florida. However, our flexible schedule has also allowed us to educate our kids on the road as we travel throughout the United States for 4-12 weeks at a time. How We Take Our Schooling on the Road Like all big changes, there was an adjustment period as we all figured out how to navigate the highways and byways of homeschooling. Our kids have BIG personalities and different learning styles, but once we felt like everyone was in a good place with this new aspect of our lives, we began to intermittently travel for a week or so at a time. Easing into travel was a great decision because it gave us a good foundation to build on as our road trips became longer and longer. Typically as we travel, we try to get in about 2-3 hours of schoolwork on Monday through Thursday and slow down our academic pace a little. We want experience-driven learning to be at the forefront of all of our road trips.  That works well for us because when we are home in Florida, we fly pretty quickly and efficiently through most of the curriculum content and exams. Having full control of the pacing during the school year has been such a game changer and allows us so much freedom to plan hikes, road trips, and even weekdays at Disney World! Chances are that if your family spends long or indefinite periods of time traveling the country, at least one parent is working remotely or attending meetings virtually. Dedicated “work time” is important for Steve’s career, so this time is key for scheduling productive learning for our kid crew as well. Some days we utilize a couple of morning hours to complete math lessons and science labs while his meetings and collaborations are happening. Then we spend the afternoon and evening exploring national and state parks in whatever state we happen to be traveling through. If we get lucky, the visitor center at said park or monument will have wifi available which helps on days when there are projects to be submitted or daytime meetings to attend. Oftentimes, visitor centers will also house a mini-museum full of things to learn about the flora, fauna, and geology of the area, so we never miss an opportunity to stop in. My 3 Basic Principles for Homeschooling Success on the Road Fan Their Flames One of the most important things we can do as homeschool parents is to watch for that spark of passion or enthusiasm in our kids and fan that flame. It sounds super easy and yet it requires some forethought and a substantial time investment. Vox, our almost 9-year-old, just loves animals but sometimes gets disgruntled at the idea of long hikes, so we make sure to get him a field guide for whatever region of the country we are traveling through. We know there is a high probability he’s going to get excited about classifying everything he can on the way to an overlook or waterfall. Does the hike take longer? Yes, definitely. But it's worth slowing down to help foster those formative skills and interests. Our daughter, Astoria, is a budding photographer and has been putting our old Canon 50D camera and lenses to good use after taking an online photography class this year. Since Steve also knows a lot about cameras, this has been a great way for the two of them to bond when we are taking in sights across the country. Not only does this fan Astoria’s flame for photography,  but it gives her that connection and time with her dad which is so special. Another important way we foster our kids' learning on the road is to plan specific activities around things our children are individually passionate about. Our 7-year-old, Miro, is so fascinated by rocks and minerals that he sleeps with his rock collection and identification books next to his bed. Our recent trip through the American Southwest was the perfect opportunity to plan a visit to an active gypsum mine where we could dig our own selenite crystals at Glitter Mountain, Arizona. We came away with 5-gallon-size bags full of gypsum, which we used in our spring fairy garden, and the happiest first-grade rock hound in the state. Experience-Driven Learning is Everything We want our kids to be critical thinkers with big ideas and seek to learn as much as possible from every experience, so we focus on finding little ways to learn and grow together. As a travel family, we have the privilege of watching our kids explore real-world circumstances and challenges firsthand. In the last year, my kids have gone cliff-jumping into Lake Michigan, hiked to Delicate Arch in Utah and Devil’s Hall in Texas, plunged down a natural rock waterslide in the Smoky Mountains, and explored the volcanic wonders throughout Yellowstone. This is experience-driven learning at its finest! Lessons in perseverance, self-awareness, and risk assessment are just as important as reading and writing are for growing minds. When we are out exploring, we make sure to utilize all of the ready-made educational materials that are distributed by National Parks and Monuments, such as the Junior Ranger Program here in the USA. Not only do the kids get a badge for completing age-appropriate learning activities, but the content almost always teaches us new things about the ecosystem of each destination. Coupled with informative displays at the visitor centers and throughout the parks, we always walk away with new knowledge and perspectives. We also try to prioritize stopping at local science centers and natural history museums when we are on the road. These places are all about enrichment and provide the perfect environment for our kids to explore their interests with hands-on learning experiences in a broad spectrum of subjects. Our kids also enjoy using their nature journals to sketch and record their observations as we hike, especially when we are in dramatically different environments than we are used to. Field guides or posted informational signs are often all that is needed to start classifying and identifying our natural surroundings. Our kid crew loves to hunt for specific flowers, birds, and insects that they know are in the area as we hike and explore. I remember how excited we all were to spot our first ever banana slug when we were hiking in Olympic National Park after learning so much about them from the Junior Ranger Program. We have just as much enthusiasm for encountering small, strange creatures as we do seeing moose in Colorado or grizzly bear #399 with her four-yearling cubs in the Grand Tetons. These experience-driven learning opportunities are so enriching to our kids and we can see it paying off in spades! Celebrating Wins - Big & Small From birthdays spent hiking in the canyons of Sedona and waterfall chasing in the Smoky Mountains, to science presentations recorded in the ancient rocks of Colorado National Monument, we get to celebrate our big and small wins in some of the most epic ways. It’s truly one of my favorite things about this lifestyle, but as a homeschool and travel mom, I have a lot of roles to fill and sometimes we take on challenges that don’t always go according to plan.  Some days are downright hard and exhausting. However, those moments serve as a necessary reminder that no big dream or meaningful life change comes without putting in the work and wading through the difficult circumstances that occasionally come our way. After all, this is real life! We’ve learned to roll with the punches and make the best of what each day brings. That can mean we plan a rest day when we have cranky, overexerted munchkins or spontaneously take a day off of schoolwork on a particularly stressful week to head to the beach for some sunshine and sea breezes. Whether we’ve dealt with our van stuck in the sand or a child refusing to walk another step on a difficult hike, keeping the positive energy flowing and maintaining a flexible mindset is so important. The truth is that we can all do difficult things, messy things, seemingly impossible things, and extraordinary things!  The best part for our family is that we get to celebrate both minuscule and monumental moments in the coolest ways and in the most spectacular locations. Thank you for taking the time today to read Erica Bennetts's piece about their transition from homeschool to roadschool. You can follow Erica and her family of 7 over at @7wildhearts. Don't forget to tag us in your adventures on Instagram by using @KidsWhoExplore #KWE #KidsWhoExplore

This blog post is written by Explorer Family mom Sian Anderson from @ sanderson_lucky . Sian is sharing with us her experience and tips about ADHD & Getting Outside with Kids. Sian gets right into the seriousness of ADHD below, and does an amazing job of providing tips for families in the same position. Here is what she had to say: ADHD and Getting Outside with Kids I had this entire blog post written out neatly, documenting all our tips on how and why to get outside with your kids who have ADHD. But then we had one of those weekends that highlights the powerful impact that ADHD has on our lives, and the past few weeks have been full of learning once again. So I am reframing this - here is what works for us, but parenting neurodiverse kids is a constant journey of learning, and requires us to adapt and change regularly - please never forget to be gentle with yourself on this journey. ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These four letters have a significant influence on our family, how we parent, and how we live our lives. And the more I learn about it, the more I even dislike the name and the word deficit. My boys, 13 year, E, and 3 year old, D, both have ADHD. D also has a severe speech delay. Spending time exploring with these kids is not only really important for their health, but also vital for mine. But it is far from easy/  For those who are navigating how to live with ADHD, I hope our story can give you some comfort in knowing you are not alone and share how getting outside has helped our family in so many ways. And for those who haven't experienced life with ADHD, I hope this can give insight and empathy into what this neurological disorder actually looks like. About Me I work full time, am a student, volunteer, and am a mother. Being active helps me navigate the demands of our lives, and being active with my kids is so important to me as there is only so much time in a week—I need to involve them as much as I can. Our adventures started to help me and my health but have evolved to include the entire family. Why We Get Outside To put it simply, because we are happier. My 13-year-old relaxes and grins with me at the top of a summit. My 3-year-old is calmer and more able to communicate when strapped to my back, and when running free is able to take risks and explore. We all seem to calm down without the stress and to-do list of being at home, and there are no distractions. We learn things about each other every time we go out. My oldest has experienced periods where he struggles with confidence, self-control, and suicidal ideation. The physical exertion and the time spent outside provide a space where he is happy and confident, and where we can talk openly without pressure. I cannot fully explain it, but the relaxation and pride I see on his face and in his eyes after some of our more challenging adventures is something that I want to chase for him. Our 3-year-old can challenge us on a daily basis, but his strength, energy, and fearlessness shine bright when we are outside! While he is never easy, our days spent exploring help fuel the daily battles. Getting ready & out the door Packing up and leaving the house can be tough! When we are planning a day hike I always prep EVERYTHING the night before (clothes, food, drinks, everything!). E will help with this and knows what should be in his bag, but I ALWAYS check it. The reality is that he gets distracted and his organisation skills are not fantastic so even though at 13 we are encouraging independence, I do not leave room for him to forget half his gear or to be wearing the wrong clothes. Ultimately that doesn’t benefit our experience. Transitions can be the time when everything goes wrong in our house, so being packed up and ready to go means we can have a more relaxed start to our day, and there is less pressure. My boys travel well, so once we are in the car, we are normally smooth sailing. Because of this, I plan to leave the house early and literally wake the boys, get them into their clothes, and get them into the vehicle that has already been packed up before they have a chance to really know what is happening. We then get their favourite bagels on the way out of town, and our day is off to a great start. For us, it is a smooth and efficient way to get out the door and aligns with the needs of our whole family. Some kids may need a slower transition to be successful, though, so what is important here is knowing the structure on which you all thrive. Medications are a part of our journey and have helped our family immensely. We see the difference on days when meds are forgotten. I make sure I include these in our morning prep so they never get missed on our big adventure days! Keeping it fun The smooth start is great in theory, but there is often some type of fight over socks, teeth brushing, or who knows what, so fun is always a priority from the get-go. The kids watch a movie in the car, or we listen to music they want (although with a 13-year-old and a 3-year-old, the requests rarely align). Candy and snacks are one of the tools I am not scared to utilise. If the boys need to snack the entire time we are hiking to be happy then I am ok with that. We always pack a balanced lunch, but the treats are what I pull out anytime anyone needs a boost. Getting tired? Here, have some candy! That rock is the wrong shape? Here, have some candy? I often let them choose their candy for the day, but you could substitute this for any treat that you know they love. I also make sure their packs are light - the more comfortable they are the happier they are. If I can carry a few extra items to help with this I do! Be Flexible D cried constantly as a baby, except for when on the move. I was so lucky that I could pack him in the baby carrier for 20km hikes, and he would be content the entire time. This has not quite translated into toddlerhood. At 3 and a whooping 45lbs, he is no longer able to be squeezed into a structured carrier, and instead, we use a soft carrier that gives more flexibility. He moves up and down constantly, and often doesn’t know what he wants. So, although a year ago we could hike 20km, the reality is now that 10km is a stretch, and on any given day, we need to change that. So now I approach this with flexibility. When life and the kids are struggling, maybe, our adventure in city parks and fewer mountains. I used to struggle with the disappointment I felt when we had to adapt our plans. At 3 and 13, my kids have different needs and very different personalities. We do activities as a family, but I strongly believe that they need one-on-one time to thrive and shine. I have come to accept that sometimes our family activities may need to be focused on only one kid at a time for them to get the most benefit. Never Compare Do other families inspire me? ABSOLUTELY. But I have learned never to compare their experiences to ours. When I had my first child, I was young, and so there were not many of my friend's parents at the time, and social media was just starting to pick up - my circle of comparison was small. Now, with my 3-year-old, I am surrounded by amazing kids of the same age, and social media filters the messages we receive, which is when, apparently, a neurodivergent kiddo can really highlight the differences. I would look at other families, and the amazing times they would have and feel that I must be doing something wrong. Now I look at us and our experience. I remember why we do this, and I pay attention to our family's needs and what makes the effort worthwhile. When we have to cancel a longer mountain adventure and do something that aligns with the needs of our 3 year old I don’t see this as a failure - I now see this as an adaptation that allows us to remain active despite some days that can be challenging and hard to navigate. Is it worth it? Without question, absolutely, YES. I have had my hardest and most challenging days spent outside with my kids, but I have also had the most amazing experiences that continue to remind me how worthwhile it is to put in the time, effort, and energy. We like to think that as parents, we are teaching our kids how to live healthy lives, but the reality is that these boys teach me more about myself and how to be resilient than I could ever have imagined. Parenting a kid with ADHD is hard. It is really hard. And it can feel lonely. But somehow, when we step outside and leave the constraints and expectations of being inside behind, there is a shift and a change in each and every one of us that I would trade for nothing.

This week's blog post is written by Explorer Family Mom, Brittany Williams, from @bbwilliams21. Brittany has written this post for us today to talk about advocating for children's rights in the outdoors. Brittany is a mom of 1, living in the beautiful state of Tennessee. Brittany is an advocate for adventure, and also an advocate for allowing your children to have a voice. Today, she has shared with us ways that you can create an inclusive atmosphere to allow your children to have a voice. Here is advocating for children's rights in the outdoors. Children Have Rights, Too As an adult you feel like you have certain rights, right? Do you feel those rights you have are the same for children? How can you be an advocate for young children’s voices to be heard? It all starts with listening. Too often, adults are making decisions for children, and while the adults mean well with those decisions, they are really doing a disservice to them. Of course, young children can’t make all of the same decisions adults can, but they do have a voice, and it does matter if you allow it. Let Them Have a Voice Children deserve to have their voices heard and should be allowed to express their thoughts and feelings, and our job as adults is to listen to them. We must allow space for our children to feel comfortable sharing their opinions, needs, and desires. You may be asking yourself how I am supposed to do this and still have any control—if I do this, my children will run all over me and think they are the boss. My response to this is—it’s all about balance. It's All About Balance Yes, you are still the adult, and yes, much of the time, you are likely to think “told you so” when your child is insisting on doing something a certain way. But, this isn’t how children learn. Children learn by doing, and sometimes that means failing. Being allowed to make a choice as a young child is huge. Being the adult watching and guiding the child through that “failure” is the ultimate learning opportunity. So, it’s all about balance. In my previous KWE podcast I talk about setting expectations. In doing this (and sticking with it) you set the tone for whatever experience you’re about to have. Provide Choices One way that children can have a voice and be in “control” (because children love to be in control) is to provide choices. Even the youngest children can make choices when you are setting the stage for that to happen. "We are about to walk in the parking lot, do you want to hold my hand or be carried to the car?" You are telling the child what is about to happen and letting them make a choice about how to get there. If they choose to hold your hand to the car yet there is some struggle on the way, what do you do? You choose to hold my hand in the parking lot—if you are unable to do that safely, then I am going to have to carry you. "Our plan for today is to go to the park. Do you want to go to the park with the swings or the park with the creek?" All of these sound so great and doable, right? So what happens when the child makes the choice and then gets to the park and is now sobbing because they want the park with the swings but they picked the creek… You are probably thinking - yeah, I’m just going to take my kid to the park and not even give them a choice, they should be happy we are even here. I totally get it. Stop for a minute and think about what comes next and how this sobbing episode can be a learning experience. Naming the Emotion You’re at the park that the child chose to go to, when it hits them - they got to the park, and it made them remember how fun the swings are but… they picked the park with the creek - great now you have an emotional kiddo who is going to be very hard to reason with. When children get to a high emotional state, they are not able to process what you are saying, let alone able to be very logical. This is where you remain calm and let them know you understand they are upset and that they are feeling sad because there aren’t swings at this park. You can let them know that next time you will go to the other park if they want. You can remind your child that they can still have fun in the creek, and then if you are able to distract them with something interesting, that will hopefully change the course of how things are about to play out. Now - sometimes, this isn’t going to turn out beautifully, and you are just going to have to make a choice to leave or stay. A Final Thought on Advocating for Children's Rights in the Outdoors I fully believe that children are our future, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are brought up in a way that shows them they are valued, they have a voice, and their voice is heard and respected. It’s not the easiest way of parenting or maybe even the most correct way, but it is deserved because our children deserve to live in a world where they are seen and heard. What other ways can you ensure you are working towards a more inclusive household by allowing your children to have a voice? Thank you for taking the time today to read Brittany's blog post on advocating for children's rights in the outdoors. Don't forget to tag us in your adventures using @KidsWhoExplore and #KidsWhoExplore #KWE for your chance to be featured on our Instagram page!

This week's blog post is written by Explorer Family Alexis Van Veen @thisunconventionallife and she is here to share about raising a bilingual child in a non-passport country. Raising a bilingual child has many benefits and challenges. Moving to a developing country to fully immerse your child in the language and culture sounds a bit crazy. That is exactly what Alexis and her family, all American Passport holders, did to ensure their son J gains full mastery of a second language. While in Costa Rica J is able to attend public school and is learning about the culture of the small nation in Central America. Outside the classroom they explore the rich biodiversity of Costa Rica, chasing waterfalls, exploring the rich jungles, observing the vast local wildlife and surfing  and playing in the beautiful beaches while immersing themselves in local culture. Alexis and her family can be found sharing their journey and living in two countries at  @thisunconventionallife. Here is what Alexis has to say about raising a bilingual child in a non-passport country. Play Has NO Barriers There are no language barriers when children are playing, children aren’t concerned with simple things like language. The language of play is universal, play exceeds barriers such as language, race, and class. Children do not care if the other child speaks the same language or even understands they will accept and play with those around them. Children are truly amazing and raising a child bilingual in a non passport country has proven this time and time again. Our son has been immersed and exposed to Spanish since birth. At 3 we started a new adventure of living in Costa Rica half of the year. We watched him learn to communicate in a whole new way, he had never been forced to use the language but had a large comprehension. He would meet children on the beach, he quickly learned how to ask if he could play. “Puedo Jugar?” he would say in his sweet voice, the children responded “Obvio” or “obviously” in English. My Mama heart opened as I was reminded how pure children are. Play has no language and children will find a way to communicate while immersed in play. The Gift of Being Bilingual Being bilingual is a gift and as parents we knew we wanted to give this gift to our son, J. Everyday isn’t easy and living in two countries and being fully exposed to two language has its challenges. As a former Early Childhood Educator, I knew raising him bilingual was a strength that will benefit him today and in his future. Studies have shown bilingual children perform better in reading and math then their monolingual peers. They have enhanced linguistic, cognitive, social-emotional skills, being bilingual is also associated with many other cognitive benefits like stronger multitasking skills, creativity, and working memory. This gift will not only benefit his future, it is essential that J is able to communicate with his family. My husband and I were both born in The United States, 3 of our 4 parents are Naturalized Citizens of the United States. Our son is a beautiful blend of many cultures spread throughout the globe, one his largest family units live in South America in Chile. We couldn’t imagine visiting with family and him not being able to communicate with his cousins, the idea of J not being able to communicate with his family wasn’t an option. The preservation of his heritage, helping him build a strong identity and giving him a deeper connection to his family, raising him bilingual is essential. Why A Non-Passport Country In October 2020, during the height of the pandemic we left California for our home in Costa Rica, we planned on being here for 6 weeks and returned 4 months later. There was something about being here which felt right for our family. Before returning to the US we knew we wanted to raise our son in Costa Rica for at least 6 months of the year and fully immerse him in the language and the culture. We chose Costa Rica as it highly values education and has had a long history or having higher literacy rate than many of their counterparts in central America. In 1948 Costa Rica abolished its army and put more money into education. All Costa Rica citizens are required to attend school, we are not citizens nor are we residents, but in Costa Rica as long as you are living in the country you are able to enroll your child in public school with zero cost. Costa Ricans live modestly, consumerism is not abundant in this country, the people are happy with what they have, which oftentimes isn’t much. Raising him to be bilingual in a developing country our hope is to provide him with a deeper appreciation for the world around us rather than material things. Childhood is highly valued in Costa Rica, there have been moments where I have apologized for my son's behavior, small things like jumping around inside a bank. Small behaviors which might get you side eye in the US, but not in Costa Rica, here you are reminded not to worry and they are just a child. Allowing him to truly be a child has been an added bonus. Raising A Bilingual Child Has It's Ups & Downs Raising a bilingual child in a non passport country has its ups and downs, especially as the parent who is learning the language and the culture. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new, the amount he is absorbing is immeasurable. His verbalization is expanding daily as his accent, when he speaks Spanish it is true to a native speaker of Costa Rica. He is learning the Costa Rican dialect, which is not as common in  California where we live and will be different from his Chilean family, but the base of the language is the same. When looking to live in Costa Rica it was imperative to us to live in a Tico Town, (Tico is a term used for people native to Costa Rica). There are plenty of expat communities in Costa Rica the closest one is a 25 minute drive away, and offer many options for international schools. There speaking English is more common and our son is less likely to have opportunities to play with children native to Costa Rica. Which doesn’t offer him opportunities to use the language or become fully immersed in the language. My husband's first language was Spanish, I started learning Spanish when I was 11, I do not consider myself fully bilingual.  As a native English speaker I tend to gravitate to others who speak English, it is easier, my brain doesn’t hurt as much. I often see the same from our son, he will gravitate to the English speaking children as it is more comfortable, and he doesn’t have to use the language he doesn’t feel as confident when using. The biggest struggles we face is our son using the language, his comprehension of Spanish is high, although he isn’t often forced to respond in Spanish. As a family we are working on this, we tend to speak mostly English in the home which isn’t serving our son’s journey to bilingualism. We want to preserve his development of English but as parents we have to support his development in both languages. At his local public school in Costa Rica he has a weekly appointment with the Speech therapist to help him gain a better mastery of the language. They play games and he gets a cookie when his session is over which is the best day of the week. We know he is retaining and gaining vocabulary everyday, he will often sing in Spanish without realizing it. When J returns home from school he will often tell us how his friend spoke to him in English today, when we ask who, it is a friend who speaks zero English. He is simply at a point of comprehension where he doesn’t realize he is bilingual and can process both languages with ease. I Could Never Do That? Yes you can, if you ever thought that raising a child in a non passport country was intimidating it is, but it is 100% worth it. If the opportunity arises and you are on the fence, I encourage you to take the leap. Giving your child the gift of bilingualism and the appreciation of other cultures far outweighs the risk. We don’t know how long we will continue this lifestyle, at this point we are taking it a few months at a time. We do know that we will never go back to the life we had prior to the pandemic. We will continue to place life experiences over material things and will continue to support J’s journey to bilingualism. Thank-you for taking the time today to read this week's blog post about raising a bilingual child in a non-passport country. This week's post was written by Explorer Family Member Alexis Van Veen from @thisunconventionallife, and we can't thank her enough for sharing her story of inspiration with us. We hope that you feel inspired after reading this to possibly fulfill a dream of moving to Costa Rica, or allowing your children to grow up bilingual. Make sure to tag us in your adventures by using @KidsWhoExplore and #KidsWhoExplore for your chance to be featured on your Instagram page. Happy Exploring.

This blog post is written by Explorer Family @kufamba_thetravelingtribe, and they have contributed to us their story about letting go, and moving from a 1600 square foot home to a 400 square foot RV. Read along below their story that we are very excited to share with you, and maybe inspire you to do the same! Our Family Adventure of Moving Into, Living, and Traveling Full Time in an RV as a Family of 5 We are the Pambuka Family, Malvin, Chelsea, Eden, Levi, and Titus, and our golden retriever puppy Olive.  We are from kufambathetravelingtribe.com and on Instagram @kufamba_thetravelingtribe .  Kufamba means travel in Malvin’s native language, Shona.  Malvin grew up in Zimbabwe, and Chelsea grew up outside Chicago.  We met and fell in love in South Africa.  We have been living outside of Chicago with our three kids, but our life recently made a drastic turn towards adventure.  We sold our home in Skokie and moved into our 400 sq ft RV for an epic adventure. Weekend Warriors This was our chance to close one door that would then, in turn, open another. We had an RV for years prior to deciding to go full-time.  We were “weekend warriors”, people who RV on the weekend and vacation.  We loved to explore the midwest, we were from Illinois, in the summer and on the weekends.  But it never felt like enough.  We were always looking forward to the weekends to explore.  We watched other families on YouTube living full-time in an RV with kids, and we would always say, “Someday”. Time for Change In the spring of 2021, things started to shift in our lives.  Many things were pointing to the fact that it was time for me (Chelsea) to look for a job in a different school district.  I started to job hunt and interview for jobs as an Elementary Reading Specialist.  There was one job in particular that I really wanted.  We had started looking for houses in that area because Malvin’s job was remote, and it didn’t matter where he lived.  As we were packing up our fifth wheel to head east for spring break of 2021, we heard that I didn’t get that job.  I was disappointed, but we were excited to head to South Carolina. We had the most relaxing break, and as we drove the 14 hours back towards the Midwest, it dawned on us: This was our chance. This was our chance to sell our house and move into our RV full-time. Our kids were still small, so they wouldn’t feel uprooted from their friends. This was the perfect window to travel and explore before we decided where we wanted to settle. This Is It We got home from that and started prepping our house to put it on the market Memorial Day weekend.  I was excited, terrified, and sad all at the same time.  Many doubts went through my head, but we kept coming back to the fact that we would regret it if we never tried.  If we spent a few months on the road and then bought a new house, that would also be okay.  Memorial Day weekend, we went camping, and our house went on the market and sold in one day.  We were able to pay off all our debts and save money for a down payment for our next home.  We had spent years working to pay off our debt, and here we were finally living with financial freedom.  We would transition from two incomes to one, and I would homeschool our three kids. The Adventure Begins We said goodbye to our house in July of 2021 and started our full-time RV journey.  Once we closed on the house, we knew that we made the right decision for our family.  Do we miss it? Yes, but we would not go back.  This journey of exploring has been invigorating and encouraging as a family.  We have been able to explore slowly by hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and learning as a family.  We have enjoyed using our adventures to drive what we are learning about in school and what we are reading about as a family.  Our plan was to do this for one year, but July is three months away, and we have no intention of stopping. Be Intentional and Get Outside Now, we love to share our adventures with other families to encourage them to get outside and explore.  We know that not all families can move into an RV, but we can explore locally by finding a new park or walking path.  There are adventures to be had no matter where you live.  These adventures also allow families to be more intentional about spending more time together, which has been a big blessing in this journey of ours! Thank you for taking the time to read today's blog post about letting go and moving from a 1600-square-foot home into a 400-square-foot RV. Are you inspired to sell your home and move into an RV? We are now! Make sure to tag us in your adventures on IG @KidsWhoExplore and using #KidsWhoExplore.

This week's blog post, Tips on Gardening with Little Kids is written by Explorer Family @tsliwk. Tara Sliwkanich, along with her spouse, Dustin, and Baby J, who is 1.5 years old, and with another baby on the way this summer, love to explore the trails, slopes, and on the water around Alberta, especially around Edmonton, where they live. They love to hike, bike, stand-up paddle, kayak, camp, and downhill and cross-country ski as a family. Living in Edmonton means that they are 4 hours away from the mountains, so they embrace small adventures around home and bigger adventures when they can get away for a road trip. Tara hopes that their family's adventures help inspire and inform others who want to get outside more as a family! You can find her sharing their experiences and tips on Instagram at @tsliwk. Here Are Tara's Tips on Gardening with Little Kids! While we obviously love camping and hiking, one of our other favourite outdoor activities in the summer is gardening! I’m by no means a gardening expert, but I have a bit of a “green thumb,” inherited from helping my Dad in our garden as a child, that I’m excited to share with Baby J. Spending time together getting our hands dirty and learning about growing our own food is very important to me as a parent. Here are a few tips on gardening with little kids to help you get started! Location, location, location! Look up your growing zone of where you live, so you can buy seeds or plants that will grow well in your climate. Plan to set up your garden in a spot that receives plenty of sunlight. Growing plants in containers is another great option, especially for gardening with little kids – for best success, look up plants that will grow well in containers, like pots or old bins. Alternatively, look up plants that can grow well indoors and set up an indoor garden in a sunny window right inside your home or find a community garden in your area. Getting Started Decide whether you will buy seeds or seedlings/plants from a greenhouse. There’s absolutely no shame in buying seedlings/plants from a greenhouse. Just because you didn’t start it from seed yourself, doesn’t take anything away from having to care for them once planted in your space. Additionally, keep in mind what vegetables or plants will be enjoyable for your children to grow—for example, plants that grow quickly, are easily recognizable, strong-smelling, and/or produce food that your children enjoy eating are a good idea to engage them in growing and, of course, harvesting (e.g., peas, pumpkin, squash, carrots, lettuce, leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, potatoes). Give them a role, even if that's just to explore! Give your kiddos a role and let them participate in the process and tasks of caring for the garden. Tiny fingers are great for digging holes for plants, weeding, helping to water, and harvesting plants. Even simply holding or carrying items for you is a great place for little kids to start helping you in the garden! Very small children and babies who might not yet be ready to fully participate in helping in a garden, could be given a small container of dirt, a little garden trowel/shovel, fork, or watering cup/can, and even some weeds pulled from the garden for some excellent sensory exploration while you tend to the plants in the garden. You can also talk to them about all the things you are doing, so they learn additional language and actions related to gardening. When Baby J was a smaller baby, a lot of the time I just wore him in a soft baby carrier on my back while I did watering, weeding, and harvesting in our garden or he was playing in the grass, rocks, dirt, or harvested veggies next to me – “I’m watering the tomatoes now. Look at the tomatoes; they’re turning red!” “Wow, you’re feeling that leaf from the zucchini plant. Does it feel smooth or fuzzy?” “Buzz, buzz, buzzzzz, goes the bee that’s pollinating our flowers!” Even for older kids, opportunities to explore are still just as important! Consider giving your little kids their own dedicated space in the garden or their own container to have fun with. Observe what interests your child the most about helping in the garden and Patience is Key Try to have patience. Patience for the growing process itself, but also with letting your little one explore and help in the garden with you. Plants might not have the perfect spacing when planted, or be watered enough or too much, but know that growing a garden, even for seasoned gardeners, is often trial and error! Year to year, some plants will grow better than others, which can be a beautiful opportunity to have conversations about trying new things, things that are hard work, and coping with failure, especially when things like weather and bugs that eat your plants are largely outside of your control. Additionally, keep your instructions and feedback to your little ones helping in the garden short and simple; try not to overcorrect or give too much instruction/feedback. Over time and with practice, they will get the hang of things and hopefully love to help in the garden with you if it’s a really light and fun experience! Safety Understand the potential risks and hazards of gardening, i.e., sharp garden tools, drowning hazards around watering jugs/buckets, avoiding using chemicals and fertilizers, ingesting poisonous plants, choking hazards like rocks/sticks, bug bites, sun exposure, etc. Consider ways to mitigate or address each risk/hazard in the best way for you and your family. For example, supervised and guided exposure to sharp garden tools can teach your little one how to handle and use these tools safely or look up a list of poisonous plants in your area to identify and have your local Poison Control contact information saved in your phone if ever needed. Let Go of Expectations Let go of expectations and let them be kids who explore! Your garden might die or not grow at all, your kids will get incredibly dirty, there may be tears (definitely from your kids and maybe you, too), and they’re probably going to eat dirt and/or grass, but involving them in gardening and exploring aspects of nature, like feeling the grass or playing in the dirt or mud, is teaching them about the labour of growing food and all the wonderful things in our natural world (yes, including bugs ), like the simple feeling of the grass between your toes. There are countless more ways to make gardening more fun and engaging for little kids, such as garden-related crafts like decorating pots/planters or labels and finding and collecting worms in the garden. Let us know what you try and what your kids love doing to help in the garden this season! Happy Gardening with Your Kids! Thank you for taking the time today to read this week's blog post contributed by Tara @tsliwk while she shares tips on gardening with little kids. Will you be trying out your green thumb with your children this year? Be sure to share with us by tagging us on Instagram using @KidsWhoExplore #KidsWhoExplore #KWE. We can't wait to see what you grow!

This week's blog post is written by a member of our community and affiliate partner CEO & founder, Jenelle Peterson, of Wild Life Outdoor Adventures -- subscription-based outdoor adventure boxes that are geared for kids aged 8-12. Jenelle is constantly showing us that the world is full of adventure through her company and personal adventures. Her childhood outdoor pursuits inspired her to explore over 30 different countries, live abroad, and experience the natural world not only in her own backyard, but all around the globe. Jenelle has shared her story with us today about why she swapped her heels for hiking shoes, and how she got to where she is in her adventure journey. She also talks about where Wild Life Outdoor Adventures is today. Here is what she had to say: Blame it all on my roots...Why I Swapped My Heels for Hiking Shoes I’m a 6th generation Canadian, so we grew up spending time outside all year round. I grew up with two older brothers, and whether it was playing with “Army Ants” in the front yard shrubs, building snow forts that could rival a rebel base on Hoth*, or catching minnows - those experiences were a huge part of the person I became. The outdoors made me strong, curious, and confident. Spending time outdoors as a child inspired me to explore Canada from coast to coast. I’ve hiked the West Coast trail, camped all over western Canada, portaged between Ontario lakes in Algonquin Park, hiked the hills in Montreal, and explored the East Coast Trail in Newfoundland.  My childhood curiosity inspired me to visit over 35+ different countries – hike Machu Picchu, Mt. Kilimanjaro, walk the green hills of Ireland and the Great Wall of China. Spending time outdoors gave me the confidence to live abroad and see the natural world not only in my own backyard, but all around the globe. I’ve always been grateful for those experiences but never fully considered the impact. Now when I look back, most of the pictures from my childhood are outdoors, usually holding an animal, amphibian, or insect. * Hoth is a fictional planet from the Star Wars franchise, well known for its cold and hostile weather. When I became a Mom When I became a parent, I thought a lot about my childhood and the childhood I want to provide my daughter. Being a working Mom was (and still is) challenging for me. For 15 years I worked in Marketing and Sales from big multinational companies to start-ups, I worked at marketing agencies and consultancies and spent all my career growing and advising other people’s businesses - which was great; but juggling time with my family (my partner works shifts at the hospital), really made me consider the value my work was creating. All of a sudden, the time spent away from home was more valuable. I struggled with my mental health and the dreaded mom guilt as I prepared for a return from mat leave back to the corporate work world. I had an inner voice that told me nothing would be more challenging, rewarding, and make me a better businessperson – than starting my own business. I thought about the times and places where I felt the happiest and where I learned the most important lessons I wanted to pass on to my children – I kept coming back to the outdoors. It started with a Moose One childhood impression that was left on me was by Jerry the Moose. BC Parks had a program called Jerry’s Rangers and we would collect stickers during our camping trips, attend amphitheatres, frequent the nature hut, and learn and explore on pursuit to earn our “Jerrys Rangers Moose Antlers”. It was a simple yet effective way to make learning feel like play. I decided I wanted to create a business dedicated to getting more kids outdoors, more often. To do this I felt like we needed to connect with families more frequently than just summer. After almost a year in the making – Wild Life Outdoor Adventures was born. I packed away the high heels and pantsuits and rolled up my sleeves to build a tool that would help parents and kids spend less time scrolling – and more time strolling. We created 12 unique outdoor-themed subscription boxes for kids that provide outdoor gear, adventure ideas, skill-building lessons, and crafts that align with the school curriculum from grades 3-6. They’re ideal for the backyard OR the backcountry. We’ve shipped over 10,000+ kits across Canada and recently have launched in the USA! If you’re interested in what we’re doing, want to subscribe or grow with us – please reach out! JOIN THE WILDLIFE We launched on March 11, 2020 Right smack in the middle of an unprecedented global pandemic. Not ideal. Our big launch was to be at the Outdoor Adventure Show with over 30,000 attendees. It was canceled. Like many, everyone on our small team was struggling with various work-from-home scenarios. Our supply chain was disrupted, our lead times tripled, exchange rates went the wrong direction, and having just launched this year, we didn’t qualify for financial aid. It was tough, it is still tough. It would be so easy to quit. But then I remembered why we started this all in the first place: to get kids outdoors more often. As the world gets flipped upside down and sideways, it’s never been more important to me to be an ambassador to outdoor spaces and the opportunities they provide, break down barriers, and give more kids more ways to be curious, to adventure, and to be wild. Last month I celebrated 2 years at the CEO + Founder of The Wild | Life Outdoor Adventures. When unexpected things happen, plans often go out the window. We’ve had to improvise, pivot, and make tough choices. But I will tell you, the biggest value we’ve created and the most success we’ve seen, has been doubling down on community. If I could do it again, I would have created more of these connections earlier in our journey. Individuals, organizations, businesses, communities, and media outlets, if you have shared goals and purpose – there are people out there to support you. If you are a local business – find your people, find shared values and voices and lift each other up, ask for help, lend a hand, go the extra mile for partners, customers, and like-minded organizations. Over the last two years the business has brought my family closer together and had many positive impacts, it’s put us and our children outside more often and taught us many new things about business and the outdoors. Sometimes you find work, and sometimes the work finds you. But I am convinced that when you start a business deeply rooted in its purpose, success will come. If you are passionate about the outdoors and have a business idea to help create access, experiences, or education – DO IT! Whether you are a business owner, or community member; be patient, be resilient, be a leader, and get creative – when we use our shared voices, we can create change far beyond the products we bring to market. Recently I got to spend a family weekend outdoor weekend in Canmore, AB with Adrianna Skori, CEO of Kids Who Explore. She is the real deal. Genuine and diligent in creating a diverse, quality, kid-focused social group – an outdoor mama with an entrepreneurial spirit, paving the way. It felt so good to be in good company. And that my friends is, how I know I won’t miss wearing high heels and dry clean clothes to work – I’ve found my place, my purpose, and I won’t stop. Thank you, Kids Who Explore, for this platform to share our story and so many great stories. We are grateful to have allies amplifying the work of outdoor businesses. Stay Wild, Jenelle Peterson

This week's blog post is written by explorer mom Tamara Neidich, @tam_neidich . Mental Health is a topic that we believe needs to be normalized and talked about more in the outdoors. The outdoors offers endless benefits for our mental health, starting at an extremely young age. We can all agree that the past 2 years has been incredibly straining on our mental health -- adults & children -- but we have all found ways to help us clear our mind and reset when needed. For Tamara, and for many of you reading, that was the outdoors. Tamara has shared her story with us today about how the outdoors has helped her mental heath. We hope you know that whatever battles you may have, you are not fighting them alone. We encourage you to allow nature to embrace you, heal you, and provide you with a magical kind of mental health support. Here is what Tamara had to say! Mental health. Two words, one topic, that up until the pandemic, were incredibly taboo. Picture this: it's February 2020, you just had your second baby, and you're looking forward to being on maternity leave and spending tons of time with your new baby, family, and friends. Then suddenly, the world shuts down. Social distancing and masks are the new thing. You're secluded in your house, post-partum, possibly with an already diagnosed mental health disorder of some kind, and not even remotely sure how you're going to navigate this new life.  That was me... I had maternity leave all planned out, and COVID came and knocked me down flat. Sure, I had my husband at home, but he worked, so it was me and the kids. Navigating being a new mom of 2, lacking sleep, breastfeeding, cleaning, and trying to take care of myself in the in-between. I was struggling, even though I was already on medication to help manage my anxiety. I quickly realized that even though it was March and still a little chilly, I needed to maximize my time outside, both for my own well-being and that of my kids. I figured out the best wrap and layering technique for myself and the new baby, bundled up the toddler, and we were on our way. Everyday. I didn't realize it until later that what I thought was my last-ditch effort to keep myself sane, was actually supported by research, and a good amount of it! Since I made that realization, I have read so much about the benefits of being outside, both for myself and for my kids. That's when I really became passionate about making it a point to get out there and encouraging others to do it with us. For me personally... Being outdoors has provided many benefits. Just walking outside when I'm feeling stressed acts as a calming mechanism because I can use my senses to interact with nature instead of whatever might be triggering me. Think about it: you can immerse every single sense into the outdoors: smelling fresh rain or flowers, feeling grass or dirt under your toes, or the wind in your face, seeing the sun shining bright or leaves blowing, hearing birds chirping or thunder booming, you get the picture. It's the perfect distraction. When I was post-partum and stuck at my house, I went outside with my boys for walks or little hikes. We obviously started small and worked our way up, but even completing a small walk gave me a sense of accomplishment that positively impacted my mood for the rest of the day. Not to mention the endorphins you get from being active. Getting outside also made me feel more bonded with my kids because I felt like I was doing something more meaningful than playing with the same toys inside. Now that the kids are older, I get outside with them and alone. I run alone to clear my mind, meet goals, and distance myself from responsibilities for a while. I take them on walks and hikes and to parks for all the same reasons. The outdoors helps your mental health in many ways. Some people may find solace in the outdoors by seeing signs or reminders. Have you ever heard someone say that a loved one who has passed away comes back to them in the form of an animal or a bug or a flower? Imagine feeling off one day, going for a walk, and seeing one of those signs that remind you that someone loves you, even if they’re not physically with you. I imagine it may motivate you, give you hope, or lift your spirits for the rest of the day. Or maybe it’s something as simple as seeing a cloud you think is shaped like a certain object, and it makes you smile. Or, maybe it’s as simple as your kids being spicy and refusing naps, and you’re at your wits’ end. Stick them in the stroller or carrier, go outside, and take a walk. They may fall asleep, or just relax and take in their surroundings, and you’ll feel calmer because no one is on edge anymore. The truth is... Everyone is different, and so are the ways Mother Nature can positively affect your mindset. There is no “wrong way” to get outside…you can be on your balcony, in your yard, at a park, or at a dream destination, as long as you do it, you’ll be positively influencing your health, more than just mentally. Fun fact I've learned...being outside, especially around sunrise, even if it's overcast or rainy, can help with circadian rhythm, melatonin release, and cortisol production. All of these things can help improve mental health (and other things) over time! So, get out there and take that sunrise hike you've talked about forever! It's even better for you than you thought! If you’re interested in some books to inspire you to get outside (especially with littles), here are some of my personal favorites: Balanced and Barefoot – Angela J Hanscom Adventuring Together – Greta Eskridge There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather – Linda Akeson McGurk Mental Health Outdoors Thank you for taking the time today to read Tamara's blog post about how the outdoors helped her mental health. We encourage you to allow the outdoors to do the same. Happy Exploring, and don't forget to tag us in your latest adventures using #KidsWhoExplore #KWE @KidsWhoExplore!