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Have you ever been kayaking with kids? Today's blog post is written by Explorer Family @kaylagoesoutdoos. Kayla has shared her top tips for kayaking with kids. Kayaking is a great outdoor activity for families with kids of all ages. Playing safe in the water is incredibly important, as well as making sure you're organized and running smoothly. Here is what Kayla had to say about Tips for Kayaking with Kids: When I was approached to write a blog post about kayaking with kids, I wasn’t sure where to start. If I had been asked to write about an adult or older teen, I’d have answers ready. I’ve been kayaking for over 12  years now. I became an ACA-certified instructor 8 years ago and only recently decided not to renew my certification because, well, I’ve got two very active boys, and as most of you reading this will know, there is only so much time we have with them. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped kayaking; now I just have two little water bugs with me when I go. These are my top 6 Tips for kayaking with kids. Tips for Kayaking with Kids It's Their Choice As someone who loves yakin’, I couldn’t wait for my son to be old enough to get into the boat with me. I had wild dreams about us racing down rivers and taking week-long kayak camp trips. However, the first time I had my baby in the boat, he screamed before I could even try to paddle around the dock. Let your kiddo make the first move. You should expose them to it - yes. Have conversations about it, talk about how much fun you have when you do it, show them other people doing it, and engage them without pushing. Accept that they may not want to ever kayak because kayaking is dangerous, and you need to have a confident and prepared kiddo in that boat. We know that danger is a natural part of the world, but our kids can do hard things! We all can! It’s important to teach them how to do dangerous things safely. That’s why this is the Number 1 step in kayaking with your kids. Swimming Check-Up Now that your kiddo wants to be in kayak (with you or alone) it’s time to evaluate their swimming skills. I’m not saying you need to have an Olympic-level swimmer, but they should know how to swim and some basic water safety skills. Some people will tell you that you do not need to know how to swim or kayak; for adults, that can be true with proper preparations and gear. However, I would never put a child’s life on the line and say that it was also true for them. I recommend ensuring your child can swim (kicking, arm strokes, keeping their head above the water), knows how to hold their breath underwater, and is comfortable in the water. If your child does not like swimming or is nervous in the water, I would take a step back and tackle that first. Kayak Safety Course I highly recommend that you as a parent (or you and your child if they are old enough to) take at least one of the following courses (or the offered equivalent in your area): Flatwater Kayaking Safety & Rescue Course  Kayak Rolling Introduction to Kayaking   (This is your most basic catch-all course) Now, my 4-year-old has not taken any of these courses, obviously, and that is okay. I was able to teach him some basic safety skills that I had learned so that if he fell off of his kayak or if I fell out of my kayak and was in trouble, he knew what to do. We also practiced paddling techniques, putting on his PFD by himself and checking water and weather conditions before getting in the water. Safety comes first, and in our house, we like to make safety fun. We created a fun obstacle course for him to test all of his kayaking skills, and he loved it! Kayaking is fun, and there is no reason that every step of learning shouldn't be! Gear Now that you and your water bug are prepared for whatever the water throws at you (hopefully only a splash here and there) it’s time to pick out your kayak, paddle, PFD! Most kids' kayaks are pretty similar. I would advise not to spend a ton of money on a kayak if your child loses interest in it. Most start out with a sit-on-top kayak, but there are recreational kayaks ( closed cockpit but with a large opening, generally under 10 ft) that work great for kids, too. The average size of a kids' kayak is 6-8ft. I would say 6ft is a great size for kiddos under 10 years old. But try a few different sizes out. If they are getting to the preteen phase, it may be best to buy an 8 or 10-foot kayak to avoid buying one in a few years when they hit the next growth spurt. I personally have a 6ft sit-on-top for my 4-year-old (we kayak on rivers and small recreational lakes only), and it is perfect for him. Remember - this is a big choice! Let your kiddo sit in all available kayaks and let them find the one that feels comfortable to them (even if they are all the same kayaks, just different colors!). Normally when you purchase a kids kayak it will come with an adequate paddle, this is fine for starting out. Your child does not need a carbon fiber paddle, but more power to you if you get them one. If you need to purchase a paddle with your kayak, I recommend a light midline paddle. PFDs are the only area I recommend splurging on. This is the device that is going to best help your child from drowning. Any child should have a Type III USCP-approved PFD (or your country’s equivalent). Unlike with adults, a child’s PFD depends on their weight - do not guess their weight. I don’t care if you have to throw them on the scale at the local YMCA locker room, figure it out and purchase one based on it (though a lot of paddle shops will have one on site). I will die on this hill - get a well-fitting PFD. REI has an excellent online resource for purchasing one yourself. Check it out below ↓↓↓↓ "How to Choose PDFs for Kids" - REI Planning Your Trip Whether you are just going out on the lake for a quick 20 minutes or are planning on spending a few hours on the water, it’s always good to have a plan. If you’re spending the day at the lake and you take the yaks out for a quick paddle around, you probably don’t need to plan all that much. In fact, for your first trip out with your kiddo, that’s exactly what I recommend doing. The idea is to get them used to their kayak and being on the water (if you have older kids, this probably won’t be as big of a deal). If you are going to river kayak for a few hours or are on a larger body of water, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place. At the minimum, you should plan your route and tell someone where you are going and when you think you will be back. Anything extra depends on the length of your trip and if you are adding on any other activities like camping. American Trip Planning has a great article on trip planning. Click here to read . SPF, UPF + H2O Last but not least, schmear on some SPF, throw on something with UPF, and fill your water bottles! Get out there and enjoy!! Time on the water with your kiddos is a special experience, so take photos, make memories, and most importantly, HAVE FUN! Are you heading out kayaking any time soon? We hope these tips for kayaking with kids make your family kayaking trip a little bit easier. Use hashtag #KWEWaterSafety when sharing content from your family kayaking adventure!

This week's blog post about family-friendly paddling locations in Texas is written by Explorer Family @strongerthanfire. Christina Sizemore (Chris) resides in her hometown of Houston, Texas with her husband Bill, daughter Issa and black lab Layla. Chris grew up camping and paddling and when her daughter turned 2 they started camping and exploring together as a family. In 2017, just before Hurricane Harvey, their lives were devastated by a house fire. They lost their home, belongings, dog and her husband almost lost his life. Chris had two options, succumb to PTSD, guilt and depression, or live. She chose to live life brazenly. Today she is a writer, artist, marketing consultant, and adventurer; working from home or from the woods with her family in their self-renovated camper. Together they have a goal of visiting every state park in Texas, stand up paddle board in tow. She also admins Houston Women’s Hiking, a group of nearly 12,000 Houston area women with a passion for the outdoors. Chris is currently writing a book about their home fire journey. She has a passion for mental health, exploration and encouraging others to see the world, follow their dreams, and live life brazenly. You can find more of her writing and art at strongerthanfire.com , or follow her on Instagram @strongerthanfire , where she shares her family’s adventures, garden, encouragement and weird humor like the backyard telenovela and reviews of made-for-TV Christmas movies. Keep reading to learn about Family-Friendly Paddling Locations in Texas. Exciting Family-Friendly Paddling Locations in Texas We are a paddling family. I started at 12 years old with 8 hour canoe trips with my family. After a magical moment in Jamaica, I found my love for stand up paddle boarding. We taught our dog to paddle board with me. This year our daughter got her own kayak for her birthday. We may own a small fleet of paddling craft. We’ve taken them all over the state of Texas, attempting to paddle in as many locations as possible. This is by no means a comprehensive list of places to paddle in Texas, but more of a list of our favorite places we’ve paddled so far, kid tested and mother approved. Texas is huge. I recently read that El Paso, Texas is closer to LA than it is to Houston, Texas. Even though our family has visited 25 of the 83 state parks, I feel we have yet to even scratch the surface of everything our state has to offer. There are easily hundreds of places to paddle around the state, if not thousands. Still, these are a few of our favourites. Family-Friendly Paddling Locations in Texas Galveston Island State Park, Bay Side Galveston Island is a short one hour drive from where we live in Houston, Texas. I have spent many summers on Galveston’s beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, but only recently tested out paddling on the bay side of the island. The bay is protected by breakwater. This means it stays rather calm and makes for an excellent leisure paddle. It’s also shallow, so you can hop off your craft for a quick swim. Feel free to paddle Galveston Island State Park Paddling Trail, or put in and paddle around and explore. Paddling Trail Link Galveston Island State Park is separated by FM 3005 into two sides: the gulf side and the bay side. Both sides offer campsites and day use areas. Entrance is free for day use with a Texas State Park Pass, otherwise cost is $5 per person ages 13 and up. Camping fees vary based on the kind of site you book. Inks Lake State Park Just north of Austin, TX is Inks Lake State Park, easily one of my favorite parks we’ve ever visited and one of my favorite places to paddle. Sunrises on the water are nothing short of incredible. Our daughter is usually the only one willing to join me on my board that early in the morning. Bonus: you can jump off your board or kayak for a swim at Devil’s Waterhole and jump off the boulders there into the water (at your own risk of course). The hiking at Inks Lake State Park is also just wonderful. Choose from one of two trails to lead you up to the Valley Spring Creek Waterfall. Another bonus to this park, Longhorn Cavern State Park is just up the road and makes for a great day trip to check out the cavern. Paddling rentals are available at this park. Entrance is free for day use with a Texas State Park Pass, otherwise cost is $7 per person ages 13 and up. Camping fees vary based on the kind of site you book. Possum Kingdom State Park Possum Kingdom Lake is west of Fort Worth and is quite large with over 300 miles of shoreline. The state park is just a small fraction of that shoreline and every bit as beautiful. The sunsets on Possum Kingdom Lake are just exceptional and there are many little coves and areas to explore. Since this is such a big lake, it’s important to watch for motor boats while paddling. If you do motor boat, make sure you drive over to Hell’s Gate where two 90 foot tall cliffs come out of the water. Paddling and motor boat rentals are available at this park. Entrance is free for day use with a Texas State Park Pass, otherwise cost is $4 per person ages 13 and up. Camping fees vary based on the kind of site you book. Mustang Island State Park Bay Side I have the same affection for Mustang Island State Park as I do for Inks Lake. The Gulf of Mexico side has clear waters and powder soft sand. The bay is crystal clear and, while we didn’t see any, home to several dolphin species. Save for a few fishermen, we were the only crafts out on the bay. Paddling Trail Link Mustang Island State Park is separated by TX 361 into gulf and bay sides. The road to the put in on the gulf side is pretty rural and rough. I highly recommend driving out in a truck or larger vehicle if you can. Entrance is free for day use with a Texas State Park Pass, otherwise cost is $5 per person ages 13 and up. Camping fees vary based on the kind of site you book. Tips for Paddling with Kids Paddling with kids can seem daunting but, you can do this! Kid paddling skills follow the same theory of kid swimming skills, it’s all about building confidence in the water and being safe. Our daughter definitely did not start out on her own kayak! You survive Texas summer heat by being in the water. Water safety and swimming skills are a must here. Our daughter started swim lessons at our neighborhood pool at two years old. At age three she sat on the front of my paddle board, with her life vest on, and learned balance and paddling safety. From there we worked on paddling skills in both the canoe and a two person inflatable kayak. By age seven she was doing short trips in very calm waters on a hard single person kayak with us paddling right by her side. For her 9th birthday she got her own hard kayak and we now allow her to paddle a bit ahead of us if it’s a trail we’ve already done. Tips for Paddling in Texas Clean, Drain, Dry We take invasive species very seriously here in Texas and prevention is key to elimination so remember Clean, Drain, Dry. Clean your boat of any plant material, mud or foreign objects. Drain all water from your boat. Allow your boat to dry for at least a week before entering another body of water. If you can’t wait a week, wash with hot soapy water. Not following these steps could result in a $500 fine for a first offense. So remember, Clean, Drain, Dry! Don’t Feed the Alligators Yes, we have alligators. Alligators typically only become a problem because people have fed them and they now associate food with people. Feeding alligators is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500. Gators naturally don’t attack or seek out people. The exception to this is if you approach an alligator nest. A female will definitely try to defend her young, but I’m pretty sure any mother can understand this. Because they nest near the shore, it’s important to keep small children and pets away from the shore line. When paddling in alligator areas of Texas, we like to stick to state or county parks because these parks enforce gator laws more strictly. If a gator is reportedly aggressive towards humans, it's reported and the alligator is usually put down. Check for Water Warnings If you’re headed to the coast check for riptide and wind warnings. If you are headed to any other body of water make sure you check for any algae blooms or high bacteria concentrations. Blue-green algae blooms can be harmful to dogs. High bacteria levels can be expected in times of drought and high heat where water is low, warm and stagnant. We love how many opportunities there are to paddle in Texas. This state offers 10 different ecoregion, 367 miles of ocean coast, 7 major bays, over 150 significant sized lakes (it’s estimated over 7,000 if you count the smaller lakes), and 15 major rivers. We’ve barely scratched the surface, but I hope as you visit these places, you will find as much joy as we did there. Thank-you for reading this week's blog post on family-friendly paddling locations in Texas!

This week's blog post is written by Kayla Harrington @kaylagoesoutdoors . Kayla is a Mom of 2, living in Wisconsin. Adventuring with her two boys, Kayla inspires families to embrace the outdoors through all types of outdoor play. From hiking, to paddling, the outdoor fun is endless! Kayla has written a blog post today showcasing state parks that are perfect for camping in Wisconsin with kids! Here is what Kayla has to share with us about Camping in Wisconsin with Kids! Camping in Wisconsin with Kids I know many people may not associate Wisconsin with pristine pine forests or dazzling waterways. In fact, I bet if you know anything about Wisconsin, it has to do with the big three (Cheese, the Green Bay Packers, and beer). But take from this outdoor mama when I say Wisconsin is a vast outdoor playground for all ages. I’m Kayla, a mom of two conservationists in training, and I’m here to talk about the wonders of front-country camping in Wisconsin. Since my boys were born, our family has taken numerous camping trips, intending to visit all 66 Wisconsin state parks before our oldest turns 18. We have done 9 so far, and these are my top 3 kid-friendly state parks (along with some helpful tricks we’ve picked up along the way) to pitch a tent at! Rock Island State Park Starting off strong, this is by far my favorite campground in all of Wisconsin. Rock Island State Park is located on, you guessed it, Rock Island! It is a 906-acre island located at the very tip of Wisconsin’s Door County Peninsula. It takes two ferry rides just to arrive at the park (ferries run from May - October, and the hours can vary). It has 10 miles of trails, a swimming beach, 40 “primitive” walk-in campsites, a lighthouse (more on that later), and the Rock Island Boathouse (one of the most historically significant structures in the state). The coolest feature (if I had to choose one) would have to be the Pottawatomie Lighthouse. It is one of the few lighthouses in the country that allows you to go up and into the lantern room. It’s run by Friends of Rock Island, and docents actually live on-site in the historic lighthouse and offer free tours during the summer months. I recommend planning to arrive as soon as the lighthouse opens, as this tends to be the most popular attraction on the island. It’s about a 1.5-mile hike from the campground. If you are just visiting for the day, I highly recommend walking around the Boathouse before catching the ferry back home. Chester Thordarson built the boathouse with help from a noted Chicago architect named Frederick Dinkelberg (my husband and son laughed so much too long at the name during our self-guided tour) in 1929. The boathouse was to serve as temporary living quarters while a larger mansion was being built on the Island. Unfortunately, Thordarson passed away before his dream could be realized. Now, the boathouse serves as part museum and part community room for campers. The park staff keep it well stocked with board games, puzzles, and comfy seating for rainy days. I recommend watching the sunset and rising from the deck that surrounds the structure. The views are truly breathtaking. Wyalusing State Park Coming in at number 2, Wyalusing State Park is my oldest son Ollie’s favorite place to be. It is located on the banks of the Mississippi River in the lower southwest portion of the state. With a stargazing area, caves galore, and views of the Mississippi River, it’s best to plan for at least two nights here to take it all in. We normally dedicate an entire day to hiking and exploring a few of the 5 caves (open to the public in total). Most caves are easy to to access, but our favorite is Treasure Cave, which requires going down a few flights of stairs and up two ladders into the cave opening. If we luck out and the sky is clear, we head to the Observatory area for some late-night star gazing. My kiddos love putting on their headlamps for the night hike over, but for those who want to drive, there is plenty of parking nearby. I consider Wyalusing to be one of the more under loved parks in the state, I can normally snag a good camping site a month or so in advance, however I do suggest booking as early as possible. The campsites are also pretty close together, but to make the most of the sites I suggest booking on the Mississippi Ridge, you will have amazing sunset views over the river (I do not recommend these sites however for kiddos under 3. There is a large drop-off bordering these sites). High Cliff State Park Last but not least is High Cliff State Park. Our family was lucky enough to live a short drive away from this iconic Wisconsin State Park, located on the tip of Lake Winnebago in the Central Eastern part of the state. High Cliff offers plenty of hiking, biking, and horse trails, an observation tower, a marina, paved paths that are handicap accessible, the remains of an abandoned lime-kiln town, and Pre-American Effigy Mounds (they date back between 1000 A.D. - 1500 A.D). A mouthful - I know! There really is something for everyone, camping or in town on a day trip. While High Cliff is located just outside the Fox Valley (near Green Bay), it is relatively quiet most days. Hot summer Saturdays are, of course, the busiest, but the park normally calms down after 5 pm on the weekends. I recommend hiking out from the campground on the Indian Mound Trail in the mornings to view the Mounds and then taking the trail connector to the Red Bird Trail towards the Observation Tower to avoid the crowds. A great playground and picnic area near the tower makes for the perfect lunch stop before hiking back to camp. The lower portion of the park will take you along the lake and through the old lime kiln area. My kids love imagining what it was like to live in a mining town - but they love creating stories as to why they left even more. After hiking the Lime Kiln Trail I suggest stopping by the beach or checking out the paved trail around the butterfly pond. If you do decide to take the butterfly pond, be on the lookout for Osprey! High Cliff State Park has created nesting grounds for them, and they have been fairly successful. Most years, one or two Ospreys will nest in the area. I want to give a huge shout-out to the Wisconsin DNR for creating and maintaining all of our beautiful parks! If you want to visit or camp at one of our 66 parks, please visit the website here ! Happy Camping, and remember to keep exploring! Kayla Harrington

Summer is here, and that means camping! Are you looking for camping meal ideas with kids? It can be difficult to get kids to eat when there is so much going on! With the help of our Explorer Families, we've shared a few camping meal ideas with kids for you to try on your next family camping trip. Products below are clickable, and they will direct you to our favourite products, which means this blog contains affiliate links. We have made sure to add links to both US and Canadian retailers, if applicable. We make a small commission when you purchase a product using our affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. These funds help Kids Who Explore continue to put out educational content just like this and keep our community running. Thank you for your support. Breakfast Camping Meal Ideas with Kids Cereal and milk—this one always wins! You can bring fresh or powdered milk and mix it with water. Pre-made breakfast sandwiches or burritos -- you can make these at home beforehand, and even include your children in the process. This way they will be more motivated to eat something they put the effort into making! Wrap them in tinfoil and heat them over the fire. Scrambled eggs -- another winner! Fruit platter -- fresh fruit in the summer doesn't get any better! Pancakes are such an easy and fast option. Pack along an instant pancake mix and any added ingredients, and you're good to go! Breakfast Pizza - Spread yogurt over a piece of naan or pita bread, then slice it like a pizza. Let each person “decorate” their own piece of breakfast pizza with a variety of pre-cut fruit (cut the fruit up at home!). Tip: Much easier to slice BEFORE the fruit is added. Apple McMuffins: Toast an English muffin over your fire, spread some butter, sprinkle cinnamon, and top with green apples! Banana Pops: Peel the banana and cut it in half. Coat the end of the banana in the nut butter of your choice before rolling/sprinkling it in whatever toppings your kiddo likes—granola, oats, dried fruit, chocolate chips, raisins, shredded coconut. Add a popsicle stick as a handle. Snack Ideas Trail mix—You can head to your nearest bulk store and make your own trail mix! The kids can pick exactly what they want, so you know they won't be picking anything out. Muffins -- pre-make muffins at home. They are super easy around the campsite and on adventures. Ants on a log: Wash and cut the celery into 2-3 inch pieces at home. Then, at camp, fill each piece with peanut butter and top with raisins. Sliced veggies & dip -- sliced coloured peppers, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, celery sticks, sugar snap peas. Ranch, hummus, whatever specific sauce your children cover everything with. Wash and slice ahead of time at home, this camping snack for kids will be so colourful and full of choice that there’ll be something for everyone. More fruit! -- strawberries, kiwi, banana, cantaloupe, apple, watermelon, grapes, clementine, mango - wash and cut before leaving for camp if you have fruit that’ll keep after being cut (dip cut apple pieces in pineapple or orange juice to prevent browning). Then, at camp, rather than a typical fruit bowl or plate, spruce it up by giving each kiddo a waffle cone to fill or a wooden skewer to create a colorful fruit kabob. Lunch Camping Meal Ideas with Kids Sandwiches -- you can never go wrong with an easy PB & J sandwich, or whatever flavour your little one is feeling! Pre-make these at home so you can eat them on demand at the campsite. Quesadillas -- pre-cut your veggies, pre-shred your cheese, and pre-cook your meat. All you will need to do is assemble these when you are ready to eat! Hot Dogs -- these are an easy one to whip up over the fire!  Don't forget the favourite condiments. Crackers and cheese—you can also add pickles, ham, hummus, and other types of dip! Macaroni & Cheese -- whether you are the boxed kind or the homemade kind, this is an easy meal to pack for! Apples! We take a bag of apples, and it’s gone before the trip is over! - @hannahalwaysmac PB sandwiches are so easy, and everyone in our family loves them! - @becca_outdoors Dinner Camping Meal Ideas with Kids Campfire Pizza -- prepare all the toppings at home, and bring what you know your kids will enjoy! Don't forget the cast iron pan. Campfire Nachos are such an easy and fun meal to have while camping. Pack along your favourite nacho toppings and cook them over the fire. Foil Packet Meals -- Potatoes, onions, a veggie, and meat of some sort with spices, all wrapped in foil and cooked over the fire! - @tam_neidich Hamburgers -- Nothing beats hamburgers cooked over the fire! Make sure to pre-cut the toppings at home and don't forget the condiments! Chicken Strip Wraps -- cook and season chicken strips at home. Some kiddos might just like chicken strips reheated with a choice of dipping sauces, while others might like them wrapped in tortillas with added sauce, cheese, chopped tomato, lettuce, and whatever else each individual prefers! Tacos In A Bag: Chop all the veggies and cook/season the meat at home. Then, at camp, let each person start with their bag of fun-sized chips and top with all their favorite ingredients. For your younger kiddos, you might want to dump their concoction into an actual bowl for ease of eating. Freshly cooked pasta out of the gas backcountry stove - @jeremybaridon Charcuterie is our favorite first-night meal. It's easy to put together, and the kids and grown-ups get to eat whatever they like best! - @StrongerThanFire Dehydrated/Freeze Dried Backpacker Meals -- Because no matter how hectic the backcountry trips gets, you know you'll get fed. Dessert Ideas Banana Boats -- Make a slit in the center of the banana, making sure to not cut all the way through. Pack the slit with mini marshmallows, chocolate pieces, and broken-up graham crackers. Wrap the banana with tin foil and place it on the fire grates or in the warm ashes. Wait until the marshmallow and chocolate become melted and gooey, about 10 minutes! Be careful -- they'll be hot. Dig in and enjoy. S'mores are a classic, but try switching it up by adding white or mint chocolate, using Oreo cookies for the sandwich, or spreading Nutella instead of chocolate. If you forget your roasting sticks, just wrap the sandwiches in tin foil and place them on the fire! Baked Apples -- Slice some apples, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, wrap in foil, and heat in the fire for 10 minutes or so. S'mores Nachos -- Use either a cast iron pan or, for easy clean up, a disposable aluminum pan. First, layer broken-up pieces of graham cracker, then top with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips. Make it snazzy by adding other favorite candy, too! Heat the pan over your campfire or camping stove for about 10 minutes or until everything has turned into melty goodness. Tip: You can initially heat this in an oven at home, cool it in the fridge, and pack it in your cooler as a chilled dessert - so yummy! Dessert Cones—Grab some ice cream sugar cones and fill them with whatever sweet toppings you want: mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts, sprinkles. These are fun for kids to assemble themselves, buffet style. Wrap tightly with foil and heat upright over the campfire for 5 or 10 minutes, allowing everything to become a melty mess before enjoying. Have Fun Camping with Your Kids! We hope you have fun trying some of these camping meal ideas with kids! Make sure to tag us using @KidsWhoExplore and #KWEGoesCamping so we can see your camping meal ideas and summer adventures!

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.