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This week's blog is written by Explorer Family Dad, Jeremy Baridon, @jeremybaridon. Jeremy is a Dad of 1 living in Gap, Hautes-Alpes, France. We are so grateful to have Jeremy as a member of our @kidswhoexploreeurope community. Jeremy and his family go on endless adventures, from skating to biking, hiking to go-kart riding -- we are constantly inspired by this beautiful family! Jeremy has written about the benefits of getting kids outside at young ages. There are endless amounts of things getting outdoors at a young age can develop, and Jeremy has shared some here with you. Here is how getting outside at a young age helps kids develop in their life. Develop Connection Bringing toddlers outside very young helps the whole family develop a connection! It starts at home by preparing all the needed stuff and explaining where they’ll be exploring. When they become older, they can help parents during all the preparation phases. The connection created during a hike with the baby carrier or during a camping night is incomparable. That’s where memories are made! The family bond is really important during exploration or hikes. By introducing fun games, you can transform a moment of effort into a great sharing and learning moment. Develop Children's Senses Outside, the world is extremely rich! Our nature is full of incredible places that evolve through the seasons. It’s a great learning tool for the kids to help them understand that nature is alive! Exploring is a great way to learn by watching, listening, and smelling! Watching the trees’ colors evolve as the seasons change, hiking without making noise and trying to find animals to admire, smelling the flowers of each season, and listening to birds' songs or deer calls are our favorite activities. Our favorite is spending a night out outdoors watching the sunset and counting the shooting stars at night! Getting Outside At A Young Age Helps Develop a Sense of Effort This is, to us, the most incredible aspect of bringing kids outside as young as possible! In life, when you want something, you have to work for it! You have to go get it, and nothing is going to come easily! It’s exactly the same in the mountains! To watch a sunset, you have to wake up early and walk fast enough to be at the top before sunrise! It’s fun for the kids to have simple and clear objectives! Having the reward of being at the top before the sun is a great pride! Sharing a snack on top of the mountains is a great moment to share as a family! Raising Awareness for the Fragility of Nature Being in nature early teaches kids that the environment is fragile, and we have to protect it! To transmit a healthy world to future generations, we have to raise them in a protective and responsible mindset! Understanding that every small action counts to protect our world is key to raising them to be great human beings and great parents! Thank you for taking the time today to read Jeremy's blog post, Getting Outside At A Young Age Helps Kids Develop In Their Life. 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 and Mom of two, @becca_outdoors. Becca is exploring across British Columbia with her 2-year-old son and newest addition, a beautiful baby girl. From hiking, to camping and backpacking — they are experiencing all that nature has to offer. Becca is a nutritionist and has written this piece on easy-to-grab snack ideas for road trips. Do you have any road trips are coming up? Are you always wandering what snacks are easy-to-grab? Keeping kids happy on road trips can ultimately come down to hungry vs full bellies! Becca has shared tips to help you pick out easy-to-grab snacks for your upcoming summer road trip. We hope you find these snack ideas helpful! Road Trip Snack Ideas for Kids It’s no secret that our family loves road trips. We’ve been hitting the road with our son since he was a newborn (he’s now 2) and don’t have any plans to slow down anytime soon. Long road trips with a toddler means lots of snacks! As a Dietitian, mom, and outdoor enthusiast I look for snacks that are: nutritious, easy to grab, and something my child will actually eat. When picking a nutritious snack, I look for foods that have little to no added sugar (think fruit, grains, and vegetables) and pair it with a protein or fat (nuts, seeds, dairy, or meat,) to keep my toddler and myself feeling full. Pack foods your child has eaten before, a road trip isn’t a great time to introduce new foods. And don’t forget to pack water! Easy-To-Grab Snacks Fresh or freeze dried fruit (bananas, strawberries, or apples are the least messy) Veggies (baby carrots, peppers, peas, cucumbers) + hummus Cheese + crackers Peanut butter sandwiches Unsweetened applesauce Trail mix Greek yogurt Dry cereal or granola* Keep reusable utensils and napkins in the car just in case your snacks requires them. Short on time? Consider buying prepackaged snacks from the store. Vegetable/fruit tray Peanut butter and cracker packs Pepperoni and cheese sticks Drinkable yogurts/yogurt tubes Squeeze pouches Granola bars Beef jerky Lastly, nervous about the mess of food on road trips? My advice is to look for day use areas for lunch rather than eating in your car, and pack an extra set of clothes/wipes. Thank-you for taking the time to read this week’s blog post about 'Easy-To-Grab Snack Ideas for Road Trips', written by @becca_outdoors. Stay tuned for an additional blog post coming this week! Don’t forget to tag us in your adventures using @KidsWhoExplore and #KidsWhoExplore #KWE for your chance to be featured on our Instagram page!

Making the outdoors a more inclusive space is incredibly important to us at Kids Who Explore. We believe that everyone has a place in nature, and continue to educate ourselves on ways we can make the outdoors more welcoming. Here are a few simple tips we've come up with these tips to help make the outdoors a more inclusive space: Educate yourself on the history of the outdoors Listen to the stories of those who have made an impact in diversifying the outdoor community. Listening to BIPOC historians gives you a deeper understanding of the American National Park system. When the National Parks system was launched a century ago, it was intended to preserve the natural beauty of the parks for future generations; but the Parks' history is much more complicated than that -- involving exclusion and ethnic cleansing. Educating yourself and younger generations allows for a greater appreciation for the outdoors and the land we are on today. Making sure all those experiencing the outdoors feel welcome and safe No matter what your skill level or ability is, there is a space for you in nature. Allowing nature to raise our children has proven benefits beyond belief, and taking away this safe space can take away the long term benefits nature has on the younger generations. Marginalized groups in the outdoor community not only encounter psychological discomfort in the outdoors but also have issues with physical safety. Whether it be fear of judgment, harassment, or assault—whatever concern it may be—no one should have to feel this way while exploring nature. Creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere will always promote more diversity in the outdoors. Supporting organizations working towards outdoor diversification Promoting diversity and fairness in other outlets like supporting organizations is a great way for support to make an impact. From booking a tour through a tourism board such as Indigenous Tourism Alberta, or donating to organizations such as Camber Outdoors -- which spent the past two decades fighting for women's equality in the outdoors industry, expanded its mission this year to encompass all racial and ethnic groups, the LGBTQ community, and people with disabilities. Diversity looks different for everyone. For you, diversity may be having a different skin color than your neighbor or your best friend's abilities being different from yours—but that doesn't mean said person deserves to be in nature any less. Use your voice to promote the need for economic accessibility Creating more access points that allow users to enter parks, trails, and more. Just because someone may have mobility restrictions doesn't mean that they shouldn't have access to said area. Creating more access points opens the door for more people to experience what they should never miss out on. Attending council meetings is a great way to get your voice heard, but also writing into any community forums. Certain Parks offer 'Free Admission' days, but it isn't often, nor is it a program recognized amongst all Parks. First-timer admission programs promote new visitors to the park and encourage people who may not have thought to get out before. Attend cultural events hosted by local Parks Attending cultural events hosted by local parks is a great way not only to expand your knowledge of other backgrounds and ethnicities, but also get you families with smaller urban parks and other unpopular areas. These areas hold tons of history that are dying to be shared by older members of the BIPOC outdoor community. By attending these events in smaller areas, you are breaking the stigma that the outdoors needs to be extravagant. You don't need to go to Banff, the Grand Canyon, or Zion to be 'outdoorsy'. You can still be 'outdoorsy' and just be at a local park within your city. Edmonton, Alberta, hosts 'Heritage Days' every year, where hundreds of people gather in a park downtown and try food, treats, and more from multiple different cultures. It's a perfect amount of fun and outdoors—check to see if your area has something similar. Thank you for helping us make the outdoors a more inclusive space for all families! Understanding how to make the outdoors a more inclusive space can be difficult, but putting in the work is the only way it can be done. We hope these tips help you understand how you can assist in making the outdoors a more welcoming and safe space for all those wanting a place. Don't forget to tag us @KidsWhoExplore #KidsWhoExplore for your chance to be featured on our Instagram page. Happy Exploring!

On this week's podcast episode, we discussed water safety. With summer approaching, we wanted to make sure you feel confident heading out in the water with your littles. We compiled all the important information into an easy-to-read blog. Here is a recap of our podcast on Water Safety, with guest speaker Kaylee Kennedy. Tips for Water Safety with Kids We all want to be present with our children, right? That’s what is so beautiful about swimming—there’s no place where you could be more present. You need to be exactly where you are! Talking to Kaylee Kennedy, the founder of many swim schools, not only inspired us to get in the water with our children but also taught us the best safety measures to take and methods to teach to foster a love for the water. Kaylee Kennedy, taught her oldest son to swim as a baby, and it bonded them in such a strong way. It inspired Kaylee to open up Saskatoon Swim School in the Fall of 2014 when her son was just a year old. Her overall philosophy of teaching beginners to swim is to do so as effectively and safely as possible. But it did not end there. In came K&K Swim School throughout Canada. Then, with the pandemic, came a whole new vision - teaching babies and toddlers to swim in their own bathtubs at home -  watermellow (previously, KKOnlineSwim) was born. Keep reading to learn more about water safety with kids. Start Swimming with Kids Can start as young as 3-weeks-old The younger, the better! Can start in the bathtub Can also learn in a hot tub that is set to 90-91 degrees Kids should be swimming once a week, or at least twice a month, so their bodies don't forget Tip: Bring goggles for anywhere with a hot tub or a big bathtub! Teaching Water as a Caregiver A large part is going underwater with your kids and having fun! If you're not a confident swimmer, a swim school should teach you with your child Once you want your child to learn technique, they can join swim lessons Get in the water with them and hold them by their underarms and be their flotation device! The lighter your fingers, the more independence they have!Tip: Wear a T-shirt in the water -- it allows your child can grab onto you Typical Swim Groups Synchro Diving Water Polo Swim Team Why We Are Not Fans of Self-Rescue Lessons Some methods of self-rescue can include listening to the child’s input Lots of aggressive forms of teaching self-rescue don’t stay attuned to the child’s feelings and progression The word “rescue” alone brings fear to the water – a child should never have to rescue or save themselves in the water – if a child feels like they are going to die, that’s a very traumatic experience (and then imagine that trauma over and over and over again) The mindset doesn’t match the intention; instead focus on learning to breathe, have fun, and swim, so children can become independent in the water Let's Talk Water Safety Always, always, always, make sure the child is at arm’s reach from an adult <100% supervision> Teach children to respect the strength of water by teaching them submerging, breath control, and calm controlled movements in the water Kids learn by submerging again and again and again The danger comes when kids don’t know what water is capable of, so exposure is key! Have a gate around pools and an alarm at the back door (and no doggy door) – remember non-swim times are the largest concern, so we need to teach our kids that they do not go in the water without us When you go to a place with water, make going in the water the first thing you do, and watch what your kids do, so they learn boundaries PFD's, Lifejackets, and Puddle Jumpers These products should never be used as a replacement for parental supervision They are meant to be used if you were to fall off a boat and be knocked unconscious Kids should not “learn to swim” in these; they don't allow them to submerge and don’t allow them to be in a horizontal position It’s not a great idea to wear them outside of the pool either, because it gives a false sense of security

We want to help you find outdoor gear that is worth the investment. Finding comfortable, functional gear can become expensive and sometimes is not worth the price tag -- especially when adventuring as a family. Getting out for the first time can be overwhelming just due to the fact of gear. We reached out to our explorer families to ask them what is one piece of gear they would suggest to new adventure families, and we've put their answers into a blog post for you, as well as some more price-friendly alternatives if there are some! Disclaimer: all photos are clickable affiliate links that give us a little kick-back when you make a purchase through the link. These funds help us continue to create the community we all love, and we appreciate your support. 1. Comfortable Hard-Sided Carrier A comfortable, sturdy, hard-sided carrier was by far the most thing suggested. Here is what the families had to say: "A good, sturdy carrier is essential for getting out and adventuring with your little one! Even if you don't go big or expensive, soft carriers are great too. We LOVE our Osprey Poco AG Premium!" - @tam_neidich "+1 on the Osprey Poco (we have the Plus model). We were gifted it when the twins were born, and it somehow has survived our crazy through our youngest, too. Lots of storage, easy-to-use pop-out sunshade, sturdy and solid when on the ground. A good carrier makes all the adventures happen for that first year or so!" - @mountainmama_amk "I think that having a carrier with a pop-up shade and lots of storage pockets for water, snacks, and sunscreen is important. I’m adding Life Straws to my pack, pocket knife, and a mini fire starter kit!" - @jennyleefoo "Deuter kid comfort carrier. Hands down. Our son is almost 4 and we still use it all the time. Good in airports and grocery stores too!" -@jesscsproat 2. A Fully-Stocked First-Aid Kit "Never ever underestimate your need for a first aid kit and emergency supplies. You never know if something may happen on the trail. We have had our fair share of scrapes and bruises, and wasp stings and it has made me grateful that we have a lot in our bag. Thankfully nothing worse than that has happened on our hikes but we are always prepared, just in case" - @utahfamilytravels 3. A Camera or GoPro "We've been through many carriers. The Ergo 360 was great for the first few months (including some double carry hikes I wish I had photos of) but our Deuter served us through the longest time. Paired with my trekking poles and there was nowhere we couldn't go! Now, we use a kinderpack or freeloader for when he gets tired since he has sized out of the Deuter. He can also still have his own pack with those carriers so he is learning to carry his own gear.100% honesty though, my favorite gear is my gopro bc I'm a photographer and I want to capture the best images on adventures - @califflifecreations" 4. A Multi-Sport Chariot "The multi-purpose sport chariot! I bought one only when my son became too heavy to be carried long distances, but I wished I'd bought it much earlier!!! In winter, it provides a "shelter-to-go" for my son's nap, so I don't have to worry anymore about cold, wind, or bad postures... In summer goes behind the bike and has a mosquito net.. finally, it can be used as a trolley too. I am enthusiastic about it - Barbara from @backpackingmoms" "Thule Chariot Multisport it’s seriously one thing you will need. - @littleradadventure" "Hard not to say carrier on this one, but our Kids Ride Shotgun seat brings everyone in our family so much joy! All 4 of us (dog included) are pumped every bike ride. Nellie, at 19 months, mostly smiles and says more, more, more! - @terra.yxe" 5. Proper Winter Gear "Good quality winter gear is a must! In Ontario, we can get a LOT of snow, so we always make sure we are prepared and have all the gear we need to keep us warm. - @withlove_duqettes" "Hands down, a full-body bunting. We like the light weight ones for the PNW and put layers on underneath if needed. This is our 2nd year with a blue suit. It goes on walks, in the stroller, to the Park, on hikes! Basically like a full-body jacket for kids! - @gallimore.family.adventures" "No doubt a full-body bunting for kiddos! We are on our second season with this one because the sleeves and feet can be rolled over for smaller children and rolled up to pair with boots and mittens. Keeping them warm (and full of snacks) makes for much smoother adventures. This is a versatile must-have for cooler climates. It also doubles as a sleeping bag for cooler camping nights. - @itsthatgoodgood" "Proper clothing! Especially warm gear for the winter. A full-body bunting suit is so great for layering under and keeping kids warm! Sizing up definitely gives you the option to wear for multiple years and buying used isn't a bad thing. Ours is second-hand from a cousin, and it is still basically brand new! - @kerrychasse" 6. Soft-sided carrier for the younger years "We always needed and still need a carrier. We love our Babue Baby Carrier that was gifted to us. You can roll it up when you aren’t using it, so it’s perfect if you don’t need to carry your kiddo all the time. - @kufamba_thetravelingtribe" "Our Ergo 360 and Solly wraps were great for the tiny stages too - @tam_neidich" 7. Individual Backpacks and Hydration Packs "Having a good hydration pack that is comfortable enough for our kids to carry themselves on longer hikes was a MUST for us when traveling through the western US earlier this year. My kid crew loves their SoJourner hydration packs, and we make sure to keep the pockets stocked with hiking snacks! - @7wildhearts" "Small backpack for the kids so they can start carrying their snacks and water - @lovelife_abroad" 8. Hammock to relax in "This is something that is fun. Hammocks rule the world for both adults and kids. Rocking is extremely soothing and we've all had many great naps and cuddles in ours. Plus they pack up easily and you can take them everywhere! - @alifemaspicante" 9. Hiking Poles -- for both parents & littles! "Hiking poles! They've saved us all from rolling an ankle or two, helped on a steep incline and kept us from falling in A LOT of rivers when crossing." 10. Proper Footwear "Shoes with good support and traction — that could be a hiking shoe or boot or simply a supportive running shoe for walking. I personally love my Keen hiking shoes and boots for their support & grips, plus they’re waterproof, so I feel confident with every step I take carrying my baby on our hikes! - @tsliwk" "The first thing that came to mind was a camera for the photo memories, not really gear but it's where my soppy brain went. Aside from a comfy carrier for wee people, I'd say well-fitting, comfy SHOES for everyone - they don't need to break the bank, but if your feet are sore, no one is gonna have a good time! Mine are Salomon (great for us in the tropics cause they're breathable and light). My hubby wears La Sportivas, and the kids are only 2 and 4 and don't need fancy hiking shoes quite yet - just comfy ones that they love to wear and can wear comfortably for long hikes! Arlo's have sharks and lights on them, so he's always stoked for hiking, and the lights come in handy when it's dark! We tried to pick ones with decent tread too so they're not slippy! - @wildadventuremum" READ NEXT: Picking The Perfect Kids Shoe for Outdoor Play 11. Mountaineering Helmet "While a hard structured carrier is always #1 in my book, I ALWAYS want to add the need for a little mountaineering helmet! Especially when you’re tackling the big peaks with an 80% grade or hopping through boulder fields. You never know what could happen or when you might lose your footing, no matter how skilled a hiker/climber you are! When you have a living pack that can literally shift his weight from left to right on a really steep slope or when you’re in the air jumping from one boulder to another, having head protection for your little one is a safe call. Even if you never need it, being safe is always the best move for your kiddo! - @harder_life" 12. Satellite Communication Devices "If you hike in areas where there is little to no service, having a satellite communicator can truly make or break an emergency situation. These devices can truly decide between a life-or-death situation if you are out alone. I highly suggest a Garmin InReach to anyone hiking outdoors." - @michelle.outdoors Thanks for Reading About Out Thoughts on Outdoor Gear Worth the Investment Thank you for following along with this week's blog post by Explorer Families and its great tips. What pieces of gear do you think are worth the investment? Happy Exploring! Please be sure to follow us on Instagram at @kidswhoexplore and use #KidsWhoExplore and #KWE for your chance to be featured on our social channels. Happy adventuring, friends!

There is magic in the winter months, whether you're embracing the weather and hiking or getting cozy indoors. I am a hiking mom in the Canadian Rockies. My name is Adrianna Skori. I am the Founder and CEO of Kids Who Explore. I have a deep love and passion for getting outside with my baby. Today, I am sharing 7 of my best winter hiking tips with a baby!   *Disclaimer: use your own discretion and comfort zone when hiking in the winter with your baby. The answers that I share below come from my experience of my motherhood journey in the mountains. If you are here reading this, I am sure we share the same love for nature and hiking, and I hope to see you out on the trail. Either physically or virtually. PS- there are a couple of affiliate links added on the gear photos to provide KWE with a small kickback. Thank you for your support in advance.  1. Winter Hiking Tips with a Baby: What kind of unique gear might you need? Ice cleats! I never leave the house in the winter without my ice cleats. Their grip and traction on the trail make me feel comfortable and safe when carrying my baby, which I pack using the  Osprey Poco  child carrier.  Ice Cleats for traction Hiking Poles for balance Snowshoes for snow-covered trails A fun, family-friendly activity that we also enjoy is snowshoeing. The snow shoes are cleats with a big footprint for snowy days. What sometimes starts as a hike turns into a snowshoe partway through the trail. So, either ice cleats or snow shoes keep us adventuring all winter long.  2. How do you layer baby up (and you) for the cold? Warm layers keep the chill away. I layer my baby using the three-layer rule: First, merino wool base layer and socks. Second, fleece bunting.  Third, down-filled puffy bunting. Accessories to include: toque, gloves, hand warmers, neck warmer, and booties.  If I could get away with wearing an adult bunting, I would! I wear layers similar to my baby's and mostly live in my Merino wool base layers during the winter months. I love the  Kari Traa  base layers.  Remember to temperature check! I check my baby's temperature by using two fingers behind his neck to ensure he isn't too cold or too warm. I also feel for warmth in his feet and hands.  Here are the 3 layers to start with: First Layer: Merino Wool Mid-Layer: Fleece Bunting Outer- Layer: Down Bunting Then, read all about the 3 layer rule for winter here ! 3. How cold is too cold? In Alberta, we do experience some extremely cold winter days, but we do seize the opportunity to hit the trail on mild days. For us, -15 degrees Celsius and warmer is within our comfort zone. Wind-chill is an important factor for us, we always pay very close attention to what the temperature feels like with the wind. In short, we do not hike on super windy days. Most babies hate the wind, and my baby falls into that category. Yes, we have been those people with screams coming from the carrier just moments beyond the parking lot.  We opt for indoor activities if the temperature is any cooler than our -15 degrees Celsius marker. On those cold days, we stay inside and cozy, and we are happy with that choice.  4. Where to hike? How to Plan? We choose family-friendly hikes as far away from avalanche zones as possible. As such, we tend to choose more urban hikes and read many trail reviews before heading out on the trail during the winter. We visit the Alberta Parks website to ensure the trail is open and that there aren't any warnings for spotted wildlife or other potential dangers. I love using the All Trails app to map out the trail and get directions to the trailhead. I often google reviews or ask fellow hiking families in my area to share their winter trail recommendations, too. We still venture into the mountains but typically stick to trails that have lots of traffic and are close to indoor facilities. 5. How long should the hike be? I prefer to hike 2 hours or less in the winter because the cold air makes my baby's cheeks red and his nose a little runny. A one-hour hike is perfect for us.  Staying within your comfort zone during the winter will make the hike more enjoyable for you and your baby.  6. How do you manage diaper changes and feedings on the trail? I always change my baby at the trailhead before and after the hike in the truck. Yes, my vehicle is an 'adventure wagon' or a 'nursery on wheels,' but it makes us feel like we can adapt to each adventure. I pack all the essential supplies with plenty of extras and sometimes in piles throughout the car. Go easy on yourself! No need to have everything perfectly organized at all times. Sometimes, it really is about just being in the moment and surrounded by the chaos. Being a "HOT MESS" is just how you feel when layering up and layering down in the winter. In fact, sweating before the hike is just how it goes!  Feeding on demand is how we always fly. My baby was breastfed and bottle-fed, so I experienced the convenience of both on chilly days. Managing bottle sanitizing and formula got pretty messy. I breastfed on the side of the trail and would sometimes use my summit z-seat by  Therm-a-rest  to sit on during feeding times.  Kojo  makes amazing merino wool nursing tops to stay nice and warm on the trail.  7. How to manage expectations? Say goodbye to the expectations!   Or just focus on being in the present moment no matter what is thrown your way. There is no way to control the weather, traffic, wildlife, trail conditions, or many other things that could possibly go wrong on your adventure. Seriously though, the law of attraction concept is so real on hike days! If you have a rough start to the morning, like a blowout, getting covered in oatmeal, or poop when you're already late to meet your hiking friends at the trail, things can really spiral out of control without an attitude reset. I always find a way to laugh at the chaos, allow a time range for our ETA, and focus on what is going well. Reward yourself with a hot coffee in a to-go mug as you leave your home. Nature will take care of the rest!  Be quick to turn back and trust those gut feelings. We are all hard on ourselves, and there is nothing to prove when hiking with your baby. Winter roads can be awful, snowfall warnings can be sudden, and temperatures can drop rapidly.   Hiking with a baby in any season is no easy feat. Just getting layered can feel like a hike. I promise that it is all completely worth it! When that first snowflake lands on your baby, magic happens. They are in awe of this world, and it is so amazing to experience winter in all of its glory with your curious little one learning about the world.  Follow  @adriannaadventures  for more outdoor inspiration and hiking fun!

This week's blog post is written by Explorer Family and soon-to-be Mom of 2, @becca_outdoors. Becca is exploring across British Columbia with her 2-year-old son. From hiking, to camping and backpacking -- they are experiencing all that nature has to offer. Becca has written this piece on how to enjoy the outdoors on a budget. Are you wondering how to enjoy the outdoors on a budget with kids? Keep reading to learn more! Outdoors on a Budget Getting equipped to go outdoors can be expensive, and we fully understand that some people do not have access to outdoor gear. Becca has shared tips to help motivate those who may feel intimidated to be outside, due to being on a budget. We hope you find these tips helpful! 1. Look at what you already own A lot of gear can be multi-use, which can help with your budget and save space. A great example of this is the poles that came with our snowshoes: we also use them in the summer as hiking poles! 2. Consider how often you’ll do that activity Then, weigh out the pros/cons of renting vs buying. If you plan on doing the activity only a couple of times a year, it may be more cost-effective to rent rather than own. This is really helpful to do, especially if you’re unsure if your child will enjoy the activity or not. 3. Borrow a friend's kids' gear Kids grow so fast, so if you have friends with kids at slightly different ages this works great. 4. Purchase new items on sale/with a friend We wait until sales to purchase more expensive items, or ask family members for gift cards as gifts that we can use towards more expensive items. Being in Canada, there are tons of great products from other countries but the shipping costs can be pricey. We ask our friends if they’re interested in buying the same product at the same time so we can either get free shipping or split the cost. 5. Buy used whenever possible OR consider the resale value We are huge fans of buying used for many reasons. It’s an easy way to be eco-friendly and used items are often in excellent shape and can be used for many years. We bought our hiking carrier used and it was essentially brand new, as the family before only used it a handful of times. We also bought our bike trailer used – it looks worn with a few tears here and there but still functions for what we use it for. Both of these items have great resale value. **Remember not to compromise safety! Some items you shouldn’t buy used, like helmets!** 6. Decide what's essential to have vs more of just a want This one can be hard because it’s tempting to want all of the specialty gear you see other families have (especially with social media). I ask myself, “How often will we use it? Do we already own something that could be used in its place? Will it help us get outside more easily?” The other key question I ask is, “Do these items make us safer?” If the answer is yes, then we buy it; we don’t cheap out when it comes to safety. I’m looking at your bear spray that expires every 3 years… One item our family really struggled to justify paying for was Merino wool base layers. It seems like everyone recommends them, but the idea of paying ~$60 for a shirt and pants for my 1 year old seemed so wild. So, this is what we did: we bought one new merino wool outfit, and after months of looking found another on Facebook Marketplace for half the price. We initially had our son wearing the one pair all the time, but he wore through them very quickly, and we ended up having to patch them shortly after buying them. MY BUDGET FRIENDLY HEART WAS SO SAD when he wore through his expensive clothes so quickly. We now use these base layers for days when it's really cold/hot because the merino wool gives us peace of mind, and use them on backpacking trips for bedtime. Instead of breaking the bank, we own a lot of cost-effective base layers made out of polyester or items with a mix of merino wool/polyester, which makes them more affordable. The moral of the story is that every family is different, and it’s ok not to splurge on items just because other families are. 7. Decide on items that are worth saving up for This will likely be different for every family depending on where your interests lie. For us, one item we wanted to save up for was an infant sleeping bag. When our son was 5 months old we took him camping and had him sleep in a bunting suit and homemade sleeping bag. It worked, but we didn’t feel super safe with this setup and weren’t sure he was warm enough. We looked for other alternatives because we LOVE camping and knew it was something we planned on doing multiple times a year. We found out about Morrison Outdoors sleeping bags through Kids Who Explore and knew this was an essential item for our family. We also knew this item would be passed down to any future kids we were going to have so we would get a lot of use out of it. We waited until they had a discount code  (use code 'kidswhoexplore' for 10% off) and asked our friends who were also wanting to buy one to order together to split the shipping costs. We LOVE our Morrison Outdoors sleeping bag! Does this mean you need to go buy one? Depends! Ask yourself the questions above to help decide if it’s an essential item or not for your family. Thank you for taking the time to read this week's blog post about how to get outside on a budget, written by @becca_outdoors. Stay tuned for an additional blog post coming this week! 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 Cassie Markham from @cassie.adventuring. Cassie has written a piece for us to share about staying active during pregnancy, which can be intimidating and overwhelming for some. Cassie explores with her 7-month-old daughter Aspen around Fraser Valley, BC, and we couldn't be more delighted to share this topic with you today. Here is what Cassie has written for us today. About Cassie + Her Journey of Staying Active During Pregnancy My fitness journey began in 2018; after struggling with depression and anxiety for a few years and a difficult loss that acted as a catalyst for change. I had been passionate about the mountains from a young age, falling in love with snowboarding on an elementary school trip to Manning Park, but over time snowboarding had become increasingly challenging for me as my health declined, and eventually, I lacked motivation and the physical strength needed to enjoy long days in the mountains. It was at this point I knew I needed to reevaluate my priorities and make some pretty big lifestyle changes. I started by making small changes; I focused on hiking because it allowed me time in the mountains, and I could incorporate photography, which was another interest of mine that I rarely made time for. Over time I got more into hiking, I rekindled my love for the mountains, and started developing a summit wish list that extended well beyond my capabilities at the time. To continue hiking I took up spin, I went to group cycle classes 2-3 times per week. Group classes were an excellent motivational tool when I couldn’t find anyone to work out with and having to sign-up in advance was a bonus. It didn’t feel like much at the time, but fast-forward 18 months, and I had lost 60 lbs. Exercise and Pregnancy It’s no secret that exercise has a ton of benefits, especially while pregnant, from positive endorphins to better sleep and mental and physical well-being. When I got pregnant at the end of 2020, I worried about losing all the progress I’d made, losing my physical strength, and the positive habits I’d built. I’m not saying it was easy, I struggled a lot, but eventually found what worked for me and was able to maintain activity through-out my pregnancy. I did this through a combination of focusing specifically on activities I enjoyed, having a great support team and not skipping on the self-care. *The below recommendations are things that worked for me. Keep in mind that everybody is different, and I am not a doctor. Be sure to speak to your doctor or midwife before starting any fitness program or new activities during pregnancy. Focus on Activities You Love Through-out pregnancy I focused on the activities I loved, I modified them as needed and didn’t waste my time on things I didn’t enjoy. For me, I know that I’m awful at sticking to online workout plans. I hate boot camps and endless days at the gym, so I didn’t waste my energy there. I do however, love snowboarding, hiking and yoga. I snowboarded up until the fifth month of my pregnancy. I was concerned about spending time in a busy resort and the dangers that can bring so I focused my energy on low-risk trails in the backcountry. We even got in a day of heli-skiing and a back-country lodge trip. When I was feeling too sore for long days in the mountains, I kept things up by going for shorter walks in my neighborhood, and when I didn’t have the motivation to get outside, I did spin classes or yoga. Pregnancy isn’t a great time to take up new activities, but you don’t have to stop doing the things you’re already doing (unless you’re facing complications or have other high-risk factors). A lot of my day-to-day activities may be considered extreme to some, but after thorough discussions with my doctor and physio, I was cleared to keep up a lot of the activities I had been doing pre-pregnancy (with modifications). Yoga was already something I loved doing but if you don’t do yoga already, I highly recommend taking a few shorter classes a week or at least taking some time to stretch, it will do wonders for all those random aches and pains that seem to show up throughout the nine months. There are a lot of great free resources online for prenatal yoga, or if you prefer a class setting, most studios have specific prenatal classes you can join. Support Team Aside from focusing on things that I loved, another key aspect was my support team. Communicating your goals to your partner or friends ensures that you have cheerleaders to get you moving when motivation is low, and you’re not feeling your best. There were a lot of days that I didn’t feel like moving, where I wanted to lay in bed all day and some days you totally need that. Set goals knowing that they can and will change depending on your symptoms that day, but be open to trying things out, and sometimes you’ll find you feel better once you just get moving. Self-Care Aside from this cheer squad, I also needed a lot of support with my body; I was 31, and this was my first pregnancy (read: my body felt like it was too old to be making room for a baby). Throughout my pregnancy, I made a point of regularly going in for chiro, physio, and RMT. I sought out a team that specialized in treating pregnant women and had the set-up to do so and it was a game changer. A lot of these treatments were covered by my regular benefits so check with your employer and you may already have coverage. I also saw a pelvic floor physio, if you’re not already familiar with pelvic floor physios I highly recommend looking into it during your pregnancy and not waiting till after. I started going around 5 months, and my PFP was able to give me modified workouts throughout my pregnancy, support me with exercises to relieve my lower back pain, and help prep me for labor. For example, a lot of pregnancy literature still focuses on Kegels as the essential pregnancy exercise but that may not be the case for you, it certainly wasn’t for me. Through my PFP I discovered I had a hyper-tonic pelvic floor and needed to focus on relaxing my pelvic floor to improve birth outcomes, Kegels were the exact opposite of what I needed. Final Thoughts Set your goals small and don’t get discouraged when you can’t do everything you could do pre-pregnancy. Lean hard on your support team and focus on movement, not the destination. Today Aspen turned 7 months old yesterday, and we’re still not back where we were pre-pregnancy. It is a journey and I’ve had to adjust my expectations quite a bit along the way, but I do feel like we’re making good progress and more importantly, taking the time to build back up slowly to avoid injury so that we can keep enjoying the activities together for years to come. Thank you for following along with this week's blog post written by @cassie.adventuring. Don't forget to tag us @KidsWhoExplore and use hashtags #KidsWhoExplore and #KWE to share your adventures with us! Happy Exploring

This week's blog post is a first -- a community-contributed blog post. Returning to nature after having a baby can be very intimidating and overwhelming, but it also feels very healing and calming. We have asked the moms of our Explorer Families to share their experience, from good to bad, as well as any tips they have for other moms wanting to return to nature postpartum. Here is what our Explorer Families had to say! "What was your experience like when you returned to nature postpartum?" @lovelife_abroad For both of my babies, I had planned a c-section, so I was worried about my mobility post-partum. Plus, I had both Canadian November babies. Not an ideal combination to go back in nature/adventuring. I didn't put too much pressure in myself, but I tried to go on small neighboorhood walk as much as I can (when I was able to walk properly for more than just going to the restroom). Walking close to home was a first step. I was lucky to have a nature park walking distance from my home, so even if I wasn't far in nature, I still felt like I was in nature. Also, I carried my babies from day 1 in a carrier and a wraper. It made going outside and in nature much more easier. But it still took me a few months before doing a real hike. @hansensonthehustle With my first, I went back to teaching dance two weeks after giving birth, so I was hitting the trails immediately after we got home from the hospital. I was very nervous I wouldn't be able to make it through my teaching days, so I started off with neighborhood walks, beach strolls, and small gravel paths. I built my stamina back up fairly quickly by immediately getting out there. I got the comment a lot that I was overdoing it, but I had to return to work to provide for my family. I'm so glad I ignored all the comments, cause I was safely able to return to work since I had taken the time to re-engage with my body. With my second son, I was able to slow down more, due to the nature of giving birth during the beginning of the pandemic. My teaching hours were drastically cut, so I was able to spend time focusing on enjoying the outdoors more instead of "training". I did still return to work four days after giving birth, but it was via zoom, so it took a lot of pressure off my body. However, with a toddler already, sitting inside was not really an option. We hit the easy trails about two weeks after. My husband would have our eldest in our hiking backpack and I had our youngest in the ergo. Honestly, as much as I wanted to just sit on the couch and sleep during this recovery time, the outdoors really helped regulate a lot of my hormones and get me through some pretty dark times trying to navigate two kids in the middle of a pandemic were my job was on the line on the daily. I was able to get some fresh air and a change of scenery, and I didn't feel like I completely missed my eldest's first trial solo being with his younger brother. I have so many special memories together, bonding in nature with both of my boys as newborns, and I believe it set a precedence for their love of the outdoors. @mom.in.the.mtns Before having my son, I had so many people tell me that my hiking and outdoor adventures were over now that I was having a baby. But it felt really important for me to at least try to get back outside and do my favorite activities with my baby after he was born. After giving birth, it took me about a week or two to take short walks outside with him. After that, I just tried to get outside as much as I could because I felt like it really helped my mental health and recovery. We started with stroller walks and walks with him in a carrier on my chest, and I just went slow and only went as far as I was comfortable. At 6 weeks postpartum, my midwife cleared me for hiking, and I did my first "real" hike with my son on my chest! It was 2 miles round trip up to an overlook where we could see a glacier, and I was so incredibly excited to be able to carry my son up there and give him that experience! A few weeks later, I went on a baby-free hike with a friend. It wasn't a hard trail, but I was so tired and wobbly and off balance and I actually fell going downhill at one point. That was when I realized that my body was definitely not the same and that it was going to take me way more time to fully recover than I thought. Luckily, that's right when winter started, so I spent my first winter postpartum just taking shorter hikes and outings with my son while my body recovered, and I got more confident with hiking with a baby. It was definitely intimidating to see how much extra prep work and how much extra gear went into hiking with a baby, but it was also so nice to be able to hike while he slept on my chest. By the following summer, I was excited to get back to regular hiking, but at the beginning of the summer, my body was still slow and sometimes uncomfortable on hikes. It was hard carrying my son and the extra weight of our gear on my shoulders, and I had to really embrace doing shorter and easier hikes that my body could handle. I also learned that I had a new anxiety about doing steeper mountains while carrying my son. I was afraid of falling in areas that hadn't ever scared me before, and hiking in rain/snow/wind really stressed me out. I immediately learned that I couldn't just push through sketchy stuff or bad weather any more - I really had to think about the safety of my child more than my wishes to hike on a certain day or on a certain mountain. I had to start saying "no" to hiking trails or in weather that I wasn't comfortable with and make decisions that were the best for my little family. Overall, it took me about a year to fully feel recovered from giving birth and feel like my "old self" again on hikes. Even though it took longer than I thought, I loved having that time to ease into hiking with my son, learn from my mistakes, and figure out the best gear choices. And I wish I could go back in time and tell my newly postpartum self that I would eventually be able to get back to the things that I love - but that it will just take some time! @adventurehilary While pregnant, I was worried that I would lose my sense of adventure and love for nature after my twins were born. After they were born, I decided to join some local hiking groups with parents to see how other people continued to hike and adventure with kids and the biggest trend I saw was: get the right gear and just go! Our (my husband and myself) first "hikes" were just exploring a local park, having a picnic and getting used to the kid carrier packs. After we got the hang of it, I tried to pick "easy" hikes that we had done previously. Since we both had to carry babies, there was no trading off when one of us got tired, so we tried to be reasonable in our expectations. There was a lot of "what do we REALLY need to bring?" each time we packed. By the end of the summer, we learned to tamper our expectations and pack much lighter than we had previously. I also realized that it was a win to get out on the trail, to the trailhead, with everyone in one piece, whereas before kids, I was set on getting to the top of the mountain, no matter what. Expectations have changed postpartum, but I also realized that every time I got out into nature, I felt like MYSELF again and happiest, which was my biggest win. After struggling with some PPD, the main thing that helped me get back into my "groove" was doing what I loved with my newest adventure babies! @stef.vandoorn My husband and I moved to Alberta from Michigan right before the pandemic hit, so when we decided to start our family here, we knew there might be a chance that the border wouldn't be open by the time our baby made her debut. I gave birth to Mia in May 2021, and (as we slightly suspected) the border was still closed, leaving us to begin new parenthood with no family around to help. Although our village here was very small, the outdoors provided us a safe space to be together, and we wanted to introduce that to Mia as soon as possible. I was fortunate to have a healthy delivery and healed quickly after giving birth. Our first outdoor experience with Mia was sitting outside on our deck in the first warm days of summer, followed by a drive out to the mountains at two weeks postpartum for a walk by the river in the town of Canmore, and lunch from a food truck pop up downtown. It was a glorious feeling being in the mountains with the little babe I hiked those mountains with while she was inside my womb. We then started hiking with her in our Ergobaby front carrier, gradually progressing from easy, low-elevation hikes to finally summiting her first mountain earthside at six weeks old. Although she slept on most of these hikes, the connection I had carrying her while on the trail was unlike anything I had ever experienced. We also booked two camping trips to car camp that summer with Mia. Some thought we were a bit ambitious, but (just like with hiking) we wanted to continue our lifestyle, so we pivoted a bit and adjusted our expectations. Our first camping trip was just one night away and closer to home. We learned A LOT from this trip (what to pack, how I'd pump, etc.) and it set us up for success on our three-night camping trip to Jasper National Park. I honestly wouldn't change anything about the way I integrated back into nature after giving birth. It has been such a positive experience, and I've had so many special moments with Mia that I will cherish forever. New parents remember this: it's all trial and error, take it one step at a time, and be open-minded to learning new things along the way. @the.cupidos I did my first hike 21 days after PP. During delivery, I had a 3rd degree tear and hemorrhoids, so the first week was a bit painful for me. Around the 3rd week, my husband and I decided to do an easy hike with our 3 week old (Arethusa Cirque) to see how I do going up and down a trail. My husband took the hiking backpack and our baby in the carrier so that I could focus on myself and go at my own pace. I was definitely slower than usual, which was expected. Going uphill wasn't as bad as I would have imagined, but I did take a lot of breaks and made sure I drank a lot of water. Going back down was another story. When I took big steps down I could feel a bit of pain but thankfully my husband was supportive and I had hiking poles and I just took my time. Overall it was a great first hike and my only bad experience was when we arrived to the trail I forgot the diaper bag at home, so i cried in the car and felt horrible and felt like I was a bad mom. @backpackingmoms I felt sick most of my pregnancy, the last months I could barely even walk between the rooms in my house. I would close my eye visualising beautiful day outdoors with my newborn, believing that after giving birth my body will soon return to "normal". After giving birth, I return to nature "hard core". I went for my first backpacking trip with my child at 6 weeks PP. I needed so badly to find a little piece of my old self in the mountains,  which has always been my recharging place. Being in nature was calming. I was surely terribly tired from the sleepless nights, but I was happy. Slowly, I realised I wasn't looking for my old self, but I was looking for a new way of being: how to be in my recharging place, outdoors, while taking care for my child? Not only everyday out was a new experiment/discovery on how to care for my child, it was also a memorable bounding moment, and a slow process through which I learned to let go of my old self to embrace motherhood. The moment I let go clinging on my old identity was the moment I actually started loving being a mom. I didn't feel alone anymore: my child and I together,  we were (and still are) a team! I call this approach to going outdoors as a team (all team member's wellbeing being essential for the success of the hike) "expedition parenting". Emotionally,  the outdoors brought me that calming and restoring environment I needed for my rebirth. Physically, pushing myself so hard and not respecting my healing times,  was a very very bad idea. I ignored my body's signs thinking that it will heal anyway with time, but I was wrong. Three + years PP, my whole core is still compromised: still peeing when coughing,  regularly suffering from strong back pain. I am now looking to start a process with a pelvic floor specialist to strengthen my core, so essential for hiking! @hapalyadventuring With both of my girls, we were outside the day we came home from the hospital. Staying inside just wasn't an option for me. I needed to know I could be outside with my daughter from a mental health and recovery standpoint. As first-time parents, it started with short walks in the wrap or ergo baby around neighborhood and quickly built up to longer adventures as we became more comfortable. Newborns live in 2-3 hour increments so we would just time our days out accordingly, knowing we'd also need to be flexible in the moment too. It's also important to note that I have a very present husband who saw my need to be outside and helped me get there (I'd encourage having that conversation with your partner before the baby arrives so the expectation is set early on). I quickly got used to nursing (and then pumping when I had to start EP) in the car while we were out, and that progressed to nursing on the go. This allowed us to extend our time outside. Now, my daughter loves the outdoors, and being outside is part of her normal routine. @gallimore.family.adventures It took me 10 years of infertility to have my son, so I never quite imagined what post-partum would be like, just that I would have a baby! After a traumatic birth experience – it felt like I have every complication in the book. It was never-ending visits to the Emergency Room, Urgent Care, Lactation Specialist, Midwife, Pediatric PT, and Breast Health Center. I didn’t have time or energy to think about any fun or outdoor adventures. At about one month postpartum, we started walking around the block and worked my way up to a few laps. After that, we headed to the local park with plenty of benches to rest. We didn’t do our first hike or camping trip until I was well past six months postpartum. I had to work with multiple doctors and health coaches to get my stamina back. Two years later, I can carry a 30-pound toddler up a mountain! My best advice is to be gentle with yourself and have lots of grace. Start really small – sit on the back porch small - and build your way up! Don’t compare yourself to anyone else’s motherhood journey, and enjoy time outside with your baby any way you can. @becca_outdoors I started with stroller walks around our neighborhood the day after we got home from the hospital. We were walking 3-4 blocks very slowly because hello I just had a baby! Truthfully, my husband and I didn't know any different, and that it's uncommon to go outside that soon with a newborn. I just remember getting home from the hospital and thinking "Ok now what do we do with a newborn all day?" And that's when we decided to head out for a walk. After a week we started walking our usual trail (all flat) because we have two dogs who need exercise. It was an adjustment to change/feed baby right before we left our house, drive 10-15 min to the trail then possibly feed/change baby if needed before our walk, and repeat once we got back to the car. It was also liberating, and something I looked forward to doing daily. We had our baby February 2020, and shortly after everything indoors closed, we were unable to meet with family/friends to introduce our newborn baby, so walking this trail and seeing familiar faces as we passed was one way we were able to share our "pride and joy" to the world when everything else was locked down. My biggest piece of advice for new moms wanting to get back outside and into their adventures is to start small, and know that it won't always be perfect. We've all forgotten to pack extra diapers/clothes, had poop/spit up on us, and had a crying baby on the trail. Find your community (in person or online) that supports you with all the ups and downs of motherhood in the outdoors. Tips & Words of Advice From The Moms @mom.in.the.mtns Change your expectations of what it means to get outside postpartum! I don't mean "lower" them as in "get ready to be disappointed" - change them to better fit your new hiking reality. That might mean going on shorter or easier hikes, hikes that are closer to home in case you need to bail quickly, or just take walks where you push your child in a stroller instead if that feels more comfortable for your body. And know that these changes are only temporary and you will eventually be able to do longer and harder trails with your child (or kid free!) again soon. Use this time to really enjoy smaller adventures. I love a long hike, but it was really nice to just slow down and enjoy shorter and easier hikes with my son. I tried a bunch of hikes I had never done before and found some new favorites that I felt comfortable doing with my son! Keep a bag near the door with all the gear you will need to leave the house, and restock it regularly. I had a large gym bag filled with snacks, diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, hiking supplies, a hiking carrier, layers, and extra clothes. That way it was slightly easier to leave the house with a baby! I thought leaving the house was the hardest part of any adventure (and still do) so prepping for that made getting outside feel a bit more manageable. Find other moms to hike with. While I was pregnant I reached out to a mom who hikes with her kids a lot, and it was awesome hiking with her while I was pregnant and newly postpartum because she totally understood what I was going through and my need to go slower and easier while I recovered. Mom friends are also great for learning about what to pack on a hike, how to layer, and how to navigate being a new mom! Buy used baby gear! You can find tons of good quality and barely used baby gear that is super cheap. Check Facebook Marketplace, stores like Once Upon A Child, and apps like Mercari, Poshmark, and Kidizen. Or if your neighborhood has a Buy Nothing group on Facebook, join that to get lots of free outdoor gear! My son has gotten base layers, mittens, and even a bike seat through our local Buy Nothing group! And I know this might not be possible for everyone, but I'd encourage new moms to take some kid-free time to do the outdoor hobbies that they love. It made me feel a little more like myself again and helped my mental health so much. @hansensonthehustle You know your body. End of discussion. What one person tells you or what another person felt doesn't matter, this is YOUR body. Trust your gut, if you feel like something doesn't feel right, stop. I made my husband stop many times on the trail so just be safe. Test out any carriers at home first. Wear it to do the dishes, clean the house, fold the laundry. You'll find the rhythm faster this way. Can't get the baby to sleep, go outside. Just walk around the block. Even if they cry the whole time, at least you got fresh air and maybe saw the sun. Find your village. Whether it be a family member, friend or even Facebook group. Find the people who SUPPORT you, not bring you down. Just go outside, I promise it will help. Even five minutes. @stef.vandoorn Shift Your Expectation: Your first "hikes" might be walks around the neighborhood or downtown going out to lunch. Your definition of "summit" might not be the actual top of a mountain but a hike around a lake. Remember that any time spent reconnecting with nature and connecting with your baby is such a rewarding experience and one that you'll remember the rest of your life. Plan Ahead: Know where you're going to venture out to and how long you'll be gone, so you know how often you have to feed your baby. Bring extras of everything just in case! I remember one time Mia blew out her diaper right when we got to the trailhead. I was so thankful I had a spare outfit for her! Don't be afraid to practice packing for hikes and walks closer to home so you get in the habit of having it all with you for adventures farther away. Give Yourself Grace: You just had a baby (YOU ARE A SUPERHERO), but your body might work a little differently than it did before. Remember to rest when your body needs rest and always applaud yourself for every outdoor activity you do. Getting back into the outdoors will take baby steps, but each one of those steps is so important for your mental, physical and emotional health. @adventure_hilary Just go! Trying to find the "best" time to go to meet your kids' needs can be difficult and may be unachievable, so the biggest hurdle can just be getting out of the front door Pack the night before and don’t forget to think of yourself after packing everyone else’s needs (I always ended up forgetting one of my items instead of my husband or babies’) Lower your expectations and enjoy the journey - It will be a different experience than without babies, but that’s okay and part of the journey is overcoming the obstacles like: where/what do I feed the baby, what happens if there’s a blowout, what if they get cranky or cry, etc. I found that things usually were better than I expected, and if there was a mishap on the trail, it could usually be fixed with something at least temporarily until the hike was finished Get the gear that works best for your family - Having the right pack made all the difference to us. My husband didn’t feel like the soft carrier was the right fit for him and I felt like it threw off my center of gravity with little storage so we invested in the Osprey packs that have storage, sunshade, and more support for the child and the adult which made adventuring a lot more comfortable for all of us Join local and online groups for support to see where people are hiking, how they choose gear, make new friends that have similar interests, etc. I have found so much support postpartum and even found a twin hiking family in my area that understand the same challenges that we have been through! It was just the right amount of push I need to initially break the fear/overwhelmed feeling and get back to where I belong— nature! @backpackingmoms Feeling mentally ready to go doesn't really mean you are physically ready to go. Feeling physically ready to go doesn't really mean you are mentally ready to go. Focus on bonding and tuning with your child first, dedicating his full attention (leave the cell phone in another room!!!). It will make being outdoors together easier. Consult with a pelvic floor specialist if your aim is to return to hiking after giving birth. Apparently, in many countries, this visit is not given for granted! In the first months PP and as long as you are breastfeeding, the hormone relaxant will affect your ligaments! Beware not to stress your knees too much! If your hiking shoes do not fit anymore, buy a new one: you could get permanently bigger feet during pregnancy! Get shoes with a sole and a good grip!! I found the following publication extremely useful: Goom et al. (2019). Returning to running postnatal - guidelines for medical, health, and fitness professionals managing this population.  @the_cupidos Let your significant other, friend, or whoever you are with carry the baby and other belongings, as this will allow you to focus on your body and comfort level while hiking or going out in nature. It lets you focus on you and you'll know what you are capable of doing at the moment Feed your baby before you start your hike/go explore nature that way you don't have to stress about finding a place to feed them Depending when you go, I found ( I know not that appealing) to wear an adult diaper because you just don't know if you will bleed or how much you will bleed Don't forget the diaper bag or just a few diapers and change of clothes... like me Go at your own pace, don't feel bad that you are slow, whoever you are with will completely understand. Just remember you gave birth to your baby and it takes a while for your body to heal @hapalayadventuring You are just as important as your baby. If you need to be outside, some simple modifications to the plan, along with some practice, can make being outside enjoyable for the whole family In the first 6 weeks before you're cleared, ask your partner or a friend to carry baby so you can just concentrate on listening to your body Don't let people intimidate you or scare you from doing what you need for your baby. If you need to feed your baby, feed your baby! Whether that's in public or the comfort of your car, you do what's right for you and baby. Same rule applies for crying. Don't panic if baby cries. Babies cry and it is just part of life. More than likely the people around you understand that too. Get your partner involved. If they know the process of getting ready, it becomes a team effort. Try to start early in baby's life. I know there is a lot going on and a lot to learn but by getting the courage to go outside early and making it a part of your routine, it'll just get easier and easier to be outside. You can do it mama!! Thank-you for reading this week's community-contributed blog post. Happy adventuring and don't forget to tag @KidsWhoExplore #KidsWhoExplore #KWE on your adevntures for a chance to be featured on Instagram!

This week's blog post is written by one of our USA Explorer Families, @knead.to.roam. Antonia Grant and her daughter, Sweet Pea, are the dynamic adventure duo behind Knead to Roam, exploring all that Minnesota has to offer. Antonia did not grow up outdoorsy, and that is okay. She has shared her experience with us and tips on how to become outdoorsy because everyone has a place in nature. How to Become Outdoorsy I never considered myself “outdoorsy”. Sure, we went camping and spent time outdoors when I was young, but if I’m honest, I hated most of it. It never felt “right” to me - the bugs, the heat, the dirt. It just wasn’t my thing. As I aged, I opted out of outdoorsy invitations from friends and family. Then, I became a mom. Everything changed. From infancy, I could see my daughter was her best self outside. Her innate curiosity and joy gave me a new lens on outdoor life. I found myself seeking new adventures and experiences for us to share. Every stick, rock, and creepy critter she discovered was pure magic (well, less so the creepy critters). Her desire made me want to give the outdoors another chance. So I did. I am proof that someone can decide to become outdoorsy. If you’re wondering how to become outdoorsy, keep reading! Start Slow You don’t need much to get started. If you’re wondering how to become an outdoor person, the first thing to do is start slow. Find one or two things that you enjoy doing in each season. Maybe that is hiking, going to the beach, snowshoeing. Whatever it is, focus on that first and grow from there. If your newfound enjoyment of the outdoors stems from your child, it’s even better to find things you can do together! We simply started with picnics and playground time. From there, we added hiking and other outdoor adventures. The time outside together is what matters most. Learn the Basics One of the most important things in learning how to become outdoorsy is knowing the safety basics and what to bring with you. Each region has wildlife, temperatures, and weather that can impact your time outdoors. Know the specifics for your area so that you can be prepared in case of emergency or weather changes. Additionally, you will hear outdoorsy people reference the “ten essentials”. Get to know what these items are and bring them along when appropriate. Since you’re starting slow, you’re likely planning for light hiking or outdoor play in good weather. If that is the case, be sure to wear weather-appropriate clothes and pack snacks, water, and sun protection. Spare clothes in the car can also be helpful when you encounter dirt, water, or mud on your adventures. Follow Your Child's Lead If you’re trying to figure out how to become an outdoor person, follow your child’s lead! Child-led hikes or adventures are inherently slow-paced and focused on their interests. If you’re not convinced you’re going to fall in love with the outdoors alongside your child, this is a great place to start. Following their lead will allow you to witness their curiosity, joy, confidence, and interests. Ask them questions about what they see, what they hear, and what they smell. Let them touch sticks, balance on logs, and play in puddles. This is how they learn! Encouraging their interests and engaging in their play will also help you bond as a family. Try New Things When you’re ready, try new things together. One of the best ways to learn to love the outdoors is to find different ways to get out there! Trying new hobbies together can be very motivating. As your children and your love for the outdoors grow, so will the list of things you enjoy doing together. If your entry to the outdoors is hiking, then you may enjoy snowshoeing during the winter. Alternatively, you may enjoy hiking to new heights by taking a family vacation to see the mountains. If you’re not quite ready to try something new, you could also set an outdoor goal for your family. Some families track the number of hours they spend outside or the number of hikes they do in a year. This is another way to grow your love of the outdoors. Know Your Limits, But Don't Be Afraid to Try Again It’s okay to know your limits when you’re learning how to become outdoorsy. Just because you enjoy hiking with your kids, doesn’t mean you need to jump into skiing, backpacking, or camping. It’s also okay to try something and decide that you don’t like it. There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors, especially as a family. Find the right combination of activities, pace, and locations for you. With that said, it’s also okay to try something again in another season or year. For example, if you didn’t enjoy snowshoeing the first time or two (like me), it’s okay to work up the courage to try it again! I hated snowshoeing the first time I tried it. I’m not ashamed to say I sobbed almost the whole time. However, after taking a few years off, I tried it again and actually enjoyed it. It’s okay to try again! Find Your People Any time you start something new, establishing a support community is key. As such, this is also an important part of learning how to become outdoorsy as a family! There are many local and online communities that you can join to find support. Kids Who Explore is one such community (welcome!). Finding a group of people who support your desire and goals to become an outdoorsy parent will increase your chance of success. Building your outdoor community is also key to asking questions, getting gear recommendations, seeking support, and getting inspired! You Got This! If I can become outdoorsy, anyone can! Don’t let your lack of previous experiences or prior bad experiences hinder you from getting outside with your kids. It can take time and patience to learn to love the outdoors with kids. But it can be done! If you read this whole article, it proves that you are ready to start. I hope this has helped you learn how to become outdoorsy and gain some confidence in getting outdoors with your kids. You got this! Thank you for reading this week's blog post and continuing to be a part of this community. We hope that Antonia has inspired you to learn to love the outdoors or love them even more now! The outdoors is a wonderful place, and everyone has a place in nature. Happy Exploring! Remember to tag @KidsWhoExplore and use #KWE #KidsWhoExplore for a chance to be featured on Instagram or TikTok.

This week's blog post is written by Explorer Family Mom of two Sofia Ramos—@thesimplesplendor—about the beauty of prepared, intentional spaces. It is no secret that at Kids Who Explore our happy place is the outdoors. However, especially during the winter, you may find yourself spending more time inside longing for those days out in nature. It is precisely during these cold, dark months that I have rediscovered the importance of home and the beauty of creating intentional and prepared spaces for me, my husband, and my two littles. Here are some strategies I use to curate a space that allows my whole family to rest, recharge, and get ready to get back out there. While every family is different, below are a few key elements to help you create that hygge-filled space for you and your littles. When setting up a space, I like to engage as many of my children’s senses as possible. While a single space can rarely cater to all the senses, you can craft a home that has little nooks that fill up your and your child’s cup in different ways. Each of these can be tweaked to fit your parenting style and family’s needs. Keep reading to learn how to create planned, intentional spaces for families with kids. SIGHT What does your little one see when they enter the room or look at this corner you’ve prepared? Are their toys in order? Do their toys have a place to“live?” Is there a specific place they belong on a shelf or bin or are they placed randomly somewhere? Consistency and routine are key, even when placing objects. When your child knows where things go, they will feel more prepared to help you tidy up. Knowing where their belongings go also gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility regarding their things and area. Try to keep the quantity of toys to a minimum. Children (and adults) thrive when they are not overstimulated by many things. Rotating toys every few weeks has been a big help for our family as it keeps toys interesting and the home orderly. TOUCH Is this space cozy and inviting? What sensory experiences are awaiting your child? We enjoy keeping baskets of blankets and lambskins set up near the couch or rocking chair where the kids (and adults) like to read. Cuddling and feeling something soft is soothing to the senses. Older children may enjoy and benefit from fidget toys. Keeping a designated space for them in a basket will help your child know where to go when they need a break and can use some sensory release SMELL I often overlook this one, but I certainly notice it and feel so much joy when it’s there. Is there something delicious on the stove that fills the home with a pleasant aroma? Some soup on a cold day, perhaps? We like to diffuse essential oils in our play area and gathering spaces as well as burn candles in the evenings for an extra cozy touch. SOUND What do you need to hear in the place you are in right now? What feeling do you wish to evoke and what sound can help you achieve that feeling? In many ways, sound is the easiest thing to change in a space. A white noise machine can help a child sleep more peacefully and drown out unwanted noise. A speaker can play both soothing and fun music to create a desired mood. One way we frequently curate the sound in our home is after nap time. Our kids need some time to wake up after a nap so we like to have calm music playing for them when they rise. Additionally, fun music can create the perfect atmosphere for a dance party that is sometimes the only thing that has the power of lifting our spirits when we can’t go outside! LIFE Life is not typically one of the five senses but I find it crucial when it comes to raising compassionate and responsible littles and curating a home for them. What I like to ask myself is: aside from the humans living in your home, is there anything else alive under your roof? “Life” is simple: it basically means having another living thing other than yourself to care for in your space. Having a plant or pet that you care for as a family is a way to transmit a sense of compassion and responsibility for your shared space. It’s important that your child know that their home belongs to them and that that also comes with responsibility. Giving a young child the simple task of nurturing a living thing— like a plant— is a wonderful way to do that. TASTE Many spaces cannot be enjoyed when hunger strikes. Having a nourishing snack or meal ready for your child at predictable times of the day can help facilitate a positive experience all around. Also snacks. Always. Have. Snacks. When I reflect on our most smooth sailing and fulfilling times indoors, I look back on days when all our senses were adequately stimulated in some way. Preparing a space is powerful. You welcome another person into an experience you wish to share with them, and this can be as much of an adventure as exploring the outdoors. Time to Create Those Intentional Spaces for Families! Thank you for reading this week's blog post written by Sofia Ramos! Happy Exploring. Don't forget to tag us in your adventures using @KidsWhoExplore, #KidsWhoExplore & #KWE

Welcome to the New Year, friends! Thank-you for continuing to follow along into the new year. We are starting off 2022 with a blog post written by Explorer Family @gallimore.family.adventures . Are you wondering about a creative and fun way to stay warm on winter adventures? Erin, Josh, and their son are finding new ways to experience winter this year. That includes activities like snowshoeing and snow art. They have offered to share with us a (very yummy!) way they've found to stay warm AND have fun outside, even when it's cold! Here is a blog post written by Josh, with photos taken by Erin. Stay Warm on Winter Adventures: I Want Coffee! You've gotten outside! Good for you. You have decided to brave the cooler temps, maybe even play in the snow with the kiddos. Then the cold sets in, and your kids ask for some hot cocoa, and you start to think your own hot cup of beverage choice sounds pretty good. If you are like me, nothing hits better than a hot cuppa when out in the cold. But how do you get your hands on that refreshing beverage of life when you're deep in the woods? Well, it may be easier than you think! There are several ways that you can find yourself and your family enjoying the best nature has to offer, such as sipping your favorite hot beverages. Let's look at three ways you can do this. Bring It With You When you are headed outside, how many coffee shops do you think you drive by? Depending on which direction I am headed for my next hike, I can probably safely guess I will pass at least a dozen. But then again, I do live in the Seattle area, where coffee shops outnumber churches. So the easiest way to enjoy a hot beverage outdoors is just to pick one up on your way out and take it with you!  There are a few drawbacks to this method. Firstly, those cups don't generally do super great at keeping your drink warm. They also don't do great at keeping your drink inside the cup when you are jostling about. And lastly, if you carry it into the woods, you have to carry it back out. So you need to put it in your pack and hope that the dredges don't spill all over your gear.  Of course, you can put it in a special vessel designed to take care of most of these drawbacks by keeping it warm, being spill-proof, and being packable. But you have to remember to bring this along with you when you're packing your gear and be intentional on top of all the other gear needed to keep you and the kids safe and warm. But let's talk about something much more fun that will make you feel like you are the king of the outdoors, making your hot beverages on the trail. Make It In The Woods Bringing it along is all well and good. And can ensure that you enjoy your coffee and other hot beverages on the trail. But what if you could enjoy a fresh, piping-hot cuppa? Let's talk about how we can do this.  What if I told you that a bottle of water, a backpacking stove, a few lightweight camping cups, and your coffee/tea/cocoa of choice are all you need to pack, and all of this weighs less than 3 pounds? And this will give you a delicious cup of hot deliciousness.  My go-to stove is and has always been a Jet Boil stove . While it isn't the lightest backpacking stove, studies show it is the most efficient. The Jet Boil stove I own has lasted me almost ten years without fail. It takes about 2 minutes to boil water (elevation-dependent) and delights me with a hot cup of coffee every time. If You Forget All of This If you forget to either pick up a cup on the way to the trail or you didn't pack your stove, the last option for a hot beverage is to pick one up on your way back home. Yes, while this may not have the glamour of drinking a hot beverage in the middle of the woods, the outcome is still the same. A hot cup of coffee that you can sip on, and some warm cocoa to satisfy the chilly children. Then you can think about what a good day you had in the woods and how much you enjoyed a good cup of bliss. Thank-you for taking the time to read this week's featured blog post! Stay tuned for more featured and collaborative blog posts from our new Explorer Families! Happy Exploring! Don't forget to tag us in your adventures using @KidsWhoExplore and #KidsWhoExplore & #KWE