OutGrown Blog

Okay, moms, let's be real, being motivated to hike when you’re pregnant can be really, really hard. If it’s not the terrible nausea you’re dealing with, then it’s the various aches and pains that come with pregnancy. And let’s not forget the shortness of breath and sheer exhaustion that creating life within your body brings. Then, add caring for your little(s) on top of all of that discomfort, and it might just seem like getting out is an unreachable goal. Despite the understandable temptation to give up, the truth is that you don’t have to let those two pink lines on that stick stop you from adventuring in the great outdoors. If you can find the motivation and are able to exercise caution while out on the trails, you will likely find that the payoff is ultimately greater than the struggle.   Here’s a list of ways you can keep yourself motivated to continue to get out on the trails while you’re pregnant: It’ll be good when you get there: Remind yourself that once you are out and actively hiking, you will benefit immensely from not only the breath of fresh air but also the break from all the busy day-to-day stuff you may otherwise be doing. Keep yourself fueled on the trails: Keep yourself going with lots of water and snacks on hand. There’s nothing more difficult than trying to hike not only pregnant but also hungry or thirsty. Fuel yourself and baby along the way and it will be a much more enjoyable outing all around. Make it a bonding experience: View this as a special bonding time for you and your kids, as well as the little baby on the way. If your spouse is able to join you on a hike, allow it to be some special time for you both as a couple before things get a bit busier at home with another little one to care for. Remind yourself that it’s good for you and baby: It’s widely known that exercise and activity are great for a healthy pregnancy- let the idea of taking care of yourself and your baby help to keep you motivated and active. Embrace the season you’re in: Let the joy of the current season (whichever season you’re in) drive you- whether it’s taking in the beauty of the color-changing trees in fall, the picturesque look of the snow-covered trails in winter, the allure of watching as new life begins in spring, or the myriad of different adventures that can be undertaken during those beautiful summer days. Seize the opportunity to be with family: Remind yourself that these are the last opportunities you will have to enjoy hiking with your family in its current capacity before the addition of a new member (or members) will change the dynamic a bit (ultimately for the better, of course). Pace Yourself: Don’t push yourself too hard while you’re pregnant. It’s important to listen to your body and make sure you don’t overdo it. It’s okay to dial back on the activity level a bit, after all, you are creating a human along with everything else that you are doing.  Keep in mind that a shorter hike is still a hike and getting out and enjoying yourself is the ultimate goal. Invest in really good hiking shoes: There’s nothing worse than being pregnant and being nervous about falling or slipping around in the mud on the trails. It’s so important for you to feel comfortable and secure out on the trails and a solid pair of hiking shoes will likely help you to be more confident taking on the trails in all kinds of conditions and terrain. Make sure you’re supported all around: As you get further along in your pregnancy it’s so important to make sure you have proper support for your growing baby bump. A solid pregnancy belt is a great investment to help you be fully supported and comfortable on the trails. Do it for a good night sleep later on: A nice walk will likely wear you out a bit so that, come bedtime, you will hopefully sleep like a baby (no pun intended).   If all else fails, let the stories of other pregnant mamas taking on the trails inspire you to know that it is possible and that it will benefit you immensely if/ when you do it.   Photo Credit: Deanna Curry & Michelle Craig   ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

What is the Winter Solstice? It’s beginning to feel a lot like winter in many places across the United States. The temperatures are dropping and the landscape has transformed into dull greens and browns as the deciduous trees are now mostly bare. Probably most noticeable of all are the short days and long nights. We are approaching the winter solstice (also known as Yule for some cultures). On this day we have the shortest day and the longest night of the year as one of the earth’s poles (the north pole for those of us in the northern hemisphere) tilts furthest away from the sun at 23.44 degrees. It also marks the first day of winter—December 21 in the northern hemisphere. Celebrating Winter and the Return of Light Celebrations of the winter solstice date back to ancient times. From Soyal, the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona to Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter,” in China, people around the world observe the solstice in unique and special ways. Although it's the shortest day (and longest night) of the year, this important astrological occurrence is viewed by many cultures as the return of the sun. After all, the days grow in length and light starting on December 22. We think this transition from fall to winter on the longest night of the year is worth a celebration! Check out these activities, crafts and book recommendations to help your family celebrate the winter solstice. Activities Night Walks and Hikes: Nature transforms at night with different sights and sounds to experience. Winter offers the unique opportunity to partake in night events without having to throw the kiddos routine out the window. Check out this list for ideas on how to take advantage of the long nights of winter. Sensory Scavenger Hunt: Welcome winter with each of the five senses. Review this printable checklist or create your own based on your region. Create a winter nature table: Creating a space where your kids can place items that remind them of winter is a great way to kick off the season! It can be as small or big as you want, and the items that you place on it can vary widely. You can include pine cones, pine needles, twigs, winter crafts (see below), etc. Or better yet, following principles of “leave no trace”, you can take photos of these items in nature to include on your table. Read this article for more creative ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family this winter. Craft Ideas Stick Art: Sticks and pinecones are plentiful this time of year. Here are 4 easy winter crafts to make using materials you can find in your own backyard. Craft or Bake a Yule Log: The Yule Log tradition started as a medieval Nordic tradition. The yule log was lit as a symbol to entice the sun to return and lengthen the days again. Check out this article for a fun Yule Log craft. Looking to add some baking into your winter solstice celebration? Check out this recipe for a yummy Yule Log cake! Winter Solstice Lanterns: Bring light to the longest night of the year by creating a nature-inspired lantern. Books to Read As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” These beautifully illustrated books help children of all ages understand what happens as fall turns to winter — starting with the shortest day of the year. Birth - 3 Years Winter in the Forest By Rusty Finch - Follow two little raccoons as they learn about winter in the forest. Even the littlest kiddos will enjoy lifting the flaps to discover hidden surprises in the snowy landscape. Winter Board Book By Gerda Muller - This chunky board book shows the joys of winter through beautiful illustrations. This book is part of a four-part, no-text series on the seasons. One Short Day in December By Lilith Rogers - This fun book follows a deer family of two moms and their baby deer as they celebrate the Winter Solstice. 4 Years and Up The First Day of Winter By Denise Fleming - Follow a little boy as he discovers all the trimmings needed to make a perfect snowman. This cumulative tale will have children chanting along to the tune of “Twelve Days of Christmas” starting with the first day of winter. Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter By Kenard Pak - Join a sister and brother as they greet the signs of winter while they explore nature and take a stroll through their town. The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice By Wendy Pfeffer - This book explains the science, history and cultural significance of the winter solstice in lyrical prose that kids can enjoy. How does your family celebrate the winter solstice? Let us know in the comments below!   Photos courtesy of Krystal Weir, Deanna Curry and Jessica Human. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

Sometimes the weather just isn’t cooperating, sometimes your allergies are acting up, and sometimes you just can’t (or don’t want to) go outside. Not to worry. We’ve got you covered. Here are 10 easy ways you can bring the magic of the outdoors inside with nature-inspired activities for kids.   Nature Sensory Bin What better way to explore nature indoors than with a sensory bin full of nature items? This is a favorite activity for kids of all ages. Go on a nature walk and collect fallen leaves, sticks, rocks, and other nature items of all textures and sizes. If you have permission and access to fresh leaves and flowers with strong fragrances and colors, add those too. The point is to offer a variety of nature items for you and your little ones to explore. There is no right or wrong way to create this and can be done during any season. Leaf Activities Leaves offer a variety of wonderful art opportunities. Create leaf rubbings, arrange them to construct leaf people and animals, paint and use them as stamps to make leaf prints, or attach them to some paper and make a leaf crown. Need some other ideas on exploring leaves with kids? Run Wild My Child's leaf fun for kids blog post is full of leaf crafts, activities, science, books, and more! Many of these could be done indoors and would be a great way to bring the outside in. Caterpillar Metamorphosis Want to bring this magical experience inside where you can watch every step? It is easier than you may think. All you need is a large jar or terrarium, caterpillars, and the specific plant the caterpillars need to eat. If you need more information, this Joyful Butterfly article lays it all out for you.  Playdough Nature Art Looking for something to do with all the nature treasures your children bring home? One exciting way to explore them is with playdough. Press your nature finds into the playdough to make imprints, use the nature pieces to make letters or pictures, use the playdough to recreate the nature treasures, combine the nature finds and playdough to construct more elaborate images, and so much more. Color Changing Flower Science Do you have access to white daisies or carnations? Then this flower experiment is for you. Add the white flowers to different colored water sources and watch as each flower begins to change color! It is fun for all ages and Fun Learning for Kids has the experiment and free printables available to use. Remember Leave no Trace principles and to use only the flowers you have permission to use. Harvest Edible Plants and Make Food Learning which plants are edible and how to eat them is really a great way to bring the outside in. Consider making pine needle tea, adding dandelion petals to your next batch of cookies, mixing fresh rosemary into biscuits, using lavender in lemonade, or spicing up some soup with wild onions. Make sure to do your research and ensure the plants you are using are edible. There are a variety of books and online resources to help you learn more. Make a Biosphere Want to add some science to your indoor nature activities? Creating an ecosystem that stays inside your home is pretty easy and would offer a ton of learning opportunities. The Science Classroom as the details on this one. Paint a Branch This easy activity not only brings nature inside and offers some entertainment, but also can double as decoration to spruce up your living space. You can create this Art Bar activity, or use it as a launching off point to create you own works of stick art. Wrap different colored yarn around your branch or use glue to attach different nature treasures or art supplies. The options are endless. Create Flower Arrangements Focus on fine motor and creative skills with this simple activity. Provide your children with some fresh flowers, greenery (think rosemary, basil, or other leafy greens) scissors, and a small jar or vase. Let your little one cut and put together the flowers and greenery in any way they want to create their own flower arrangements.  Make Suncatchers These make for beautiful window decorations and are so easy to make. Collect colorful nature pieces and arrange them in different designs on contact paper to form nature suncatchers. There are many ways to do this. Here is one way by The Artful Parent. There are so many ways to bring the outside in! What are your favorite ways to do it?   Photos courtesy of Katie Fox.   ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.    

Winter's cold temps tend to keep people indoors for the warmth of the fireplace, but despite that, this time of year also brings out people’s creative juices. Everyone becomes a baker, inspired by visions of tasty cookies and the fantastic smells coming from the kitchen. And crafts bring a hint of nostalgia as parents watch their kids create masterpieces that will be hung in the home, taped to the door or dangled from windows and be cherished for years to come. These craft ideas are fun to make and will keep your little one busy this winter. Let’s craft! STICK SNOWFLAKE Materials: Sticks and Twine Gather sticks of the same size and spread them out, keeping them together in the middle. Tie twine around and through the sticks, making sure the snowflake keeps its shape. This craft is super easy and can be made in all sizes. For smaller sizes, instead of sticks, use twigs.   SNOWY PINE CONE Materials: Pine cone, White acrylic paint, Paintbrush, Epsom salts, Twine, Hot glue, Wooden bead Apply white paint to the top of each scale of the pine cone. While paint is still wet, grab a handful of Epsom salts and sprinkle over the pine cone. The salt will stick to the paint, giving your pine cone a frosted look. Let dry. Glue a wooden bead sideways onto the top and loop twine through and tie a knot.   TWIG CAMPFIRE Materials: Handful of twigs, Coaster or another sturdy base, Battery-operated votive, Craft glue Glue along the length of your first twig and press onto your base. Add another layer, applying glue so it affixes to the bottom layer, forming a rough circle. Continue to glue and build your layers of twigs until the structure is about 2 inches high. Turn on your votive and drop it into your campfire.   REINDEER Materials: Twigs, Red felt, Googly eyes, Yarn, Hot glue Cut the twigs so they're the same size. Lay them in a triangle, placing the long ends over the short end, and glue the ends together. With the felt, cut a small circle for the nose and glue it to the bottom of the triangle. Glue googly eyes on to finish the look. Finally, attach both ends of the yarn at the ears. Read more: 4 Fall Crafts You Can Make Using Leaves 10 Easy Outdoors Activities for Toddlers Written by Vong Hamilton and Kristin Hinnant. Photos by Deanna Curry, Kendra Reeder and Kristin Hinnant. What are your favorite winter crafts? Leave a comment below!    ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

It’s officially winter! While many people cringe at the thought of trying to convince our kids (and ourselves) to layer up and get outside, there are numerous benefits to getting outside in the cold! Between fewer crowds on trails, a boost to your mood and a reduction in stress, getting outside in the winter months is absolutely worth the extra effort! However, we know that this can be easier said than done. That’s why we have compiled this list of tips, tricks and hacks from our awesome Hike it Baby community to help make it easier to gear up for winter and keep the whole family motivated to enjoy all that these colder months have to offer. General Clothing Tips My favorite hack is putting my socks on my babies/toddlers so they go up to the knee and pull the pants down over. I also use my socks on their hands instead of mittens when they are little so the socks go up to their elbows and the coat pulls over. That way they aren't constantly taking them off. My favorite are my fleece-lined, knee-length boot socks. – Nicholl, Charleston/ Lowcountry Branch I've stopped fighting my kids to wear coats, hats and gloves. I offer them right off and have them readily available for them when they are ready. It beats forcing my boys to wear them and having them be miserable because they are dressed correctly. 9 times out of 10 coats and hats go on within the first 10-15 minutes. – Jessica, Winchester Branch We are on a super-tight budget so spending the money on proper base layers seemed superfluous, but once we finally did, it was pretty much life-changing. I was still nursing my son when I got some of mine, so I got a 1/2 zip base layer and 1/4 zip fleece from REI so I could nurse without having to pull my shirt up. I've cheated and bought cheaper base layers for my kids since they outgrow them so fast, but I still follow the 3-layers rule – a wicking layer, a warm layer, and a weatherproof layer – for all of us, and it has allowed us to camp in 30-degree weather and hike in the single digits. Also a fun hack I got from an old neighbor: use babylegs on toddlers' arms to keep their gloves on! Put on the gloves, then a pair of babylegs overlapping their hands but leaving their fingers free, then their coats. Since it's hard to find good snow gloves for tiny hands, that keeps them from sliding off/being pulled off as easily. – Stephanie, Chattanooga Branch I love this zip-in panel for my coats from Make My Belly Fit. I've used it with two kiddos and through one of my pregnancies. As long as I can wear on the front, they stay toasty warm and can nap inside my coat. I also love this baby-wearing hoodie where my daughter has a little hood, too. – Lindsay, Front Range Foothills Branch My son was miserable when I dressed him in ski bibs and coat; he could barely move. I decided to layer up and use his rain suit and, man, it was a full game changer! No more snow getting in the waist and wrists! We use a wool or synthetic (cuddlduds or 32°) base layer, then a fleece layer, then his Oaki suit. If it's colder than 30° then I add his puffy coat over the fleece layer. We've always used smartwool socks, Veyokids Mittyz or Stonz Mittenz, fleece hat or fleece-lined knit hat and Columbia or Stonz snow boots. When your kid is comfortable, dry and warm ,they will play outside for hours! – Joey, Utah County Branch Clothing on a Budget Last winter I bought a yard of 5-6 designs of fleece material on sale and made my own seamless two-layer neck gaiters. They act as both scarf and can be folded up to cover head and ears. I made around 15 so there's plenty to go around for the whole family and cost much, much less than buying. – Vong, Kansas City Branch Kid gear is expensive and they grow fast. Adult wool socks can be used in so many ways! Tied or cuffed around the head or neck as a head warmer or scarf. Pull them on arms and legs to basically cover the entire limb while holding the layers in place and offering easy access to diapers. Even over boots of small kids in a carrier to keep the shoes on. And a pocket stove is small enough to carry anywhere for access to instant hot cocoa. – Elizabeth, Gettysburg Branch Due to kids growing so quickly, I love using fleece sleepers as a base layer when they’re really little. We picked some up cheap from Walmart specially for a camping trip when my oldest was little. Worked like a charm! – Rosalind, Calgary Branch I’d say a special incentive helps!! HiB Tokyo, Japan Branch did a “Mottanai Fest”! It’s a freecycle event where we brought all our kids/babies clothing to a park n play and swapped. It was 4-8C but we had a bunch of families come, and everyone really enjoyed it!! We also had three pregnant moms come and get s bunch of used clothes for their babies!! – Joelle, Tokyo Branch Schedule Your Outings Ahead of Time Schedule the month ahead of time; it will help you not make excuses. I have some parents who plan which hikes they will attend at the beginning of the month so I know they are counting on me. – Lacey, Kenai Peninsula Branch I try to host a hike at least once a week. Sometimes the day I choose ends up not being the nicest day, or maybe I'm not in the mood to get off of the couch, but because I committed to hosting, we show up. And I am ALWAYS glad that we did. – Shannon, Lehigh Valley Branch I schedule all my hikes a month in advance. If it’s on the calendar, I’m much more likely to get out and do it than make some excuse. I also keep all of my little guy's outside stuff in one place where he can help get it out and get ready. I do the same with my stuff. When we don’t have to look for anything, it makes it much easier to get out the door. – Ann, Bucks County Branch Provide Incentives Hot chocolate hikes. Even when I'm ready and willing to hike, that doesn't mean my kids are! So I promise hot chocolate or having a picnic (lunch or dinner as opposed to just snacks), and that usually gets them really excited. We use our 50/50 bottles since it keeps their cocoa warm until it's time to stop and it don't leak in their backpacks. – Stephanie, Chattanooga Branch Post-hike goodies! We brought hot cocoa and cookies after our first official snow play hike. The mamas and kiddos both enjoyed the refreshments! – Shari, Tahoe Branch We use Smarties, I have a friend who uses M&Ms, and we call them moose poop. We go ahead a little bit and put on a rock for the little ones to find. It helps keep them going once out. The main incentive to going out in the first place is seeing and meeting new friends. We also like to go and look for animal prints in the snow. – Rosalind, Calgary Branch Plan Fun Cold-Weather Activities Last winter, we hosted a "Nature Craft and Snowshoe Hike" at a state park near our branch. The Environmental Educator who works in the Creekside Classroom (similar to a nature/discovery center) let us use her classroom space. The BAs teamed up to provide a different nature craft every week and then we were allowed to borrow the snowshoes for FREE. We were able to get the kiddos all bundled up in the classroom and then headed out for a VERY short snowshoe hike. It was a wonderful experience for everyone involved and we are planning on doing it again this year! – Natalie, Capital Region and Southern Adirondacks Branches A few years ago we hosted a "muddiest hike" event. We get rain, not snow. We encouraged puddle jumping and playing in mud. The winner got a little crown made of sticks. – Samantha, Portland Branch An easy and cheap winter activity is to fill small spray bottles with colored water to decorate the snow. It helps kids practice their fine motor skills while they squeeze. And for the younger crowd, a travel shampoo or lotion bottle can be used instead to drip colored water onto the snow. No cleanup and it is easy to do again and again! – Kate, Morrison County Branch First, we like to aim for “first tracks” on trails after a big snowfall. My school-aged kiddo loves this, especially on snow days. It motivates us to get out of the house right after breakfast and spend hours outside instead of inside with TV, etc. Second, we hike some areas only in winter due to how busy they are in summer. Sometimes we are the only hikers or we’ll see maybe a handful of other hikers when we visit the popular places in the off-season. The feeling of solitude is so rewarding, especially when it’s a super crisp and quiet day! – Elizabeth, Holland, MI Branch Adjust Your Expectations We make it an adventure and set no expectations on distance or accomplishing any more than enjoying the fresh air and getting outside. Because we live in a “snow belt” with cold snowy winter weather from late October to early April, so we dress as waterproof and warm as possible and just have fun. Making sure we get outdoors is very important, even if it’s a “hike” we’ve only traveled 200 yards playing in the snow and snowmelt. – Corie, Cleveland and Akron Branches We completely throw distance and time expectations out the window and focus on taking in the nature around us. We like to choose some of our favorite trails and bring along photos of them in different seasons so we can compare what we see in spring/summer vs. what we see in winter in the same spots. On particularly chilly days, we will stay close to the parking lot and just explore the nature nearby or look for signs of animal life. – Becca, Kitsap Peninsula Branch Do you have any tips, tricks, or hacks for getting your family outdoors in the winter? Let us know in the comments below! Read more: How to layer when babywearing in the cold 8 Ways to get out and enjoy winter with kids How to keep your family warm on trail in winter Photos by Amy Diebold, Laura Castro and Kim Ives.     ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

It’s the time of year when we focus and reflect on everything we are grateful for. We all have people, places, and things that bring joy and wonder to our lives and it is these very things we should show our gratitude. As you and your children begin to reflect on all the things you are grateful for this year, don’t forget about nature. Children seem to instinctively know how to appreciate and embrace the wonder of nature. But understanding the concept of gratitude and giving thanks to nature is something that is learned. Share your love of nature and model gratitude with these five simple gratitude nature activities for kids. Gratitude (noun): the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Photo Credit: Ali Chandra 5 Simple Gratitude Nature Activities for Kids 1. Spend Time Outside It really is that easy. Take your children outside and simply enjoy nature together. Go for a hike, meander your neighborhood, play in your backyard, enjoy a playground, or do any number of other outdoor activities together. Nature is there for us to enjoy (and protect), so show your gratitude by being present in and finding joy in the nature surrounding you. You can also use this time to share the meaning of gratitude with your children and ask them to name one thing they are thankful for in nature. 2. Go on a Gratitude Adventure This can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. The whole point is to share what gratitude is and model how to be thankful to your kids. You can walk through your neighborhood while you and your children point out all the things that they love about nature. You can go for a hike, find a resting spot, and together reflect on everything you are thankful for. You can go to your local park and send your kids on an epic gratitude scavenger hunt. The options are endless. Example: I am so thankful for this tree in fall because the leaves turn orange-red and I think it is beautiful. I also am grateful for this log because it is fun to climb on. Photo Credit: Jessica Human 3. Pick Up Trash Giving back to nature is a wonderful way to show you are thankful and it models gratitude perfectly for our children. Spend Thanksgiving morning (before things get too busy) picking up trash in your neighborhood or local park. Better yet, get the whole extended family together and go on a trash cleanup walk. Again, this can be a simple as you want it to be, but a quick explanation as to why you are picking up trash will go a long way toward helping your children understand gratitude. Example: I am so grateful nature is here for me to enjoy, so let’s show how happy nature makes us by helping to it nature clean. 4. Plant a Tree or Pollinator Garden Another way to give back is to literally add to nature. Planting a tree or shrub or wildflower garden gives back to all that nature is. You will give animals homes, help pollinators do their good work, give people shade and beautiful nature to look at, and so much more. If you aren’t able to do this at your own house, join a local environmental group at one of their tree planting events or plant a small wildflower garden in a pot on your porch. Share with your children how adding to nature is spreading kindness and appreciation. 5. Feed the Winter Birds Kids love watching birds and believe it or not, winter birds struggle to find food when it gets cold. Make simple bird feeders and show nature your gratitude by helping some of nature’s critters survive the harsher winter weather. This is easy and is another direct way your kids can learn how to show they are thankful for nature. Photo Credit: Ali Chandra Showing our gratitude for nature is easy and our kids need to see us do it. Sometimes we need to explicitly say why we are doing something in order for them to learn. (example: I am thankful this trail exists, so I help to keep it clean.) Other times, actions speak louder than words. How will you show your gratitude toward nature with your kids this year? ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

Last weekend we had the opportunity to help organize and co-host a Fall Adventure event for families in the Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham, OR. The event was held in Nadaka Nature Park, a recently renovated urban park with a nature play area, accessible trails, and a community garden in the heart of one of the most diverse neighborhoods of the Portland metro area. Our friends from the City of Gresham, PGE Project Zero, Access Recreation, NW Family Daycation, and Teton Sports showed up to help us host a variety of fun fall themed family activities in Spanish and English. Wox made an appearance thanks to Turtle Fur and Merrell's sponsored Wander Walks. Families who tried an activity got their choice of Turtle Fur We're Outdoorsy beanies. A variety of baby carriers were available for families to try out. We also handed out our bilingual Footprints workbooks, made possible by our partnership with Joules.         A hunt for Green Beard's treasure with the Daycation app had families exploring nature with the help of their smartphones.           Access Recreation engaged families in a fun and creative packing and preparation challenge that got them thinking about the challenges of accessibility when adventuring as a multi-abled person.       PGE Project Zero shared pelts and nests from local wildlife to engage families in learning about how we can care for local habitat. City of Gresham helped share and promote the event around the neighborhood, provided the space, and sent Spanish speaking staff to help welcome bilingual families.         The Teton Sports team came all the way from Utah with rocks they hand painted (collected before we left to minimize impact) for a special scavenger hunt along the trail. Families who shared one of the rock's messages about what we love about nature received a free backpack or hydration pack of their choice.       As adults, we all did the Wander Walk activities together. We may have been trying to stay warm, but we had a lot of fun too! My favorite was Animal Charades. Many people across a range of organizations worked together to pull this event off in a short amount of time and I am truly proud of the results. We were able to show up in an underserved community that's rich with diversity and offer a welcoming and heartfelt invitation to empower families to Bring it Outside. We were able to show them We Got Your Back in a very real and tangible way. Many of our partners joined us in Raising a Generation to Love the Outdoors. This is the heart of what I hope Hike it Baby is able to accomplish in communities across North America throughout 2022 and beyond. This is the work that helps us remove barriers and create opportunities so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. With time and dedication, this is the work that will ensure all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors, and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. The weather was wet and unpredictable in true Pacific Northwest fashion, yet the sun shone down upon us for most of the event. I like to think Nature was smiling and sharing her love and warmth to this gathering of community in the outdoors        ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

It was dinner time, and frustration was high.  Cooped up inside all day, I was anxious to get my two preschoolers outside before the sun went down.  Deep into the shortest days of the year, that literally felt like a race against time.  My daughter awoke from her nap just before sunset, and both kids seemed completely uninterested in pulling themselves away from the toys in the warm living room.  Feeling the resistance to my suggestions we go outside, I gave up, and turned my thoughts to dinner. A little while later, just before dinner, my daughter announced, “I want to go for a walk!”   My reply that dinner was almost ready put her on the verge of a meltdown (note: that doesn’t take much at 2 ½.)  For a moment an internal argument raged something like this:  Dinner is almost ready.  But Curt is here and could finish it for me.  It seems so late.  But the clock says it’s only 4:45p.m.   It’s dark.  But it is a full moon tonight.  When I told them we would go for a walk today I meant earlier.  But I did tell them we could go for a walk after nap.  I don’t really want to go out in the dark and cold.  But they are asking to go walking after dark…shouldn’t I encourage that?   Before I knew it I heard myself say, “Okay, let’s go.” Dressed in boots, down coats, hats, and mittens, with the snow tube and sled in tow, we took off down the dirt road toward our usual destination, the lake overlook.  Our boots crunched on the icy snow.  The moon made flash lights unnecessary.  It was huge and so bright it made moon shadows of everything: bushes, trees, us.  My daughter excitedly pointed out stars.  My son found Venus and had a million questions about planets.  When my daughter spotted Venus on her own a bit later my 4 year old son knowingly informed her, “That’s not a star, Riley.  That’s a planet.” Then we heard a train whistle in the distance, so clear and loud in crisp air. On and on they walked in the darkness and solitude of our rural neighborhood. No hesitation.  No fear.  Just excitement and wonder.  It turned out to be one of those “magical” outdoor experiences for us. A few days later my kids again wanted to go out just as the sun dropped below the horizon.  This time I didn’t hesitate.  They stayed out until long after dark, playing by the glow of the twinkling Christmas lights hung around the house. I’m glad I listened to them that chilly night, and also glad we discovered something to appreciate about midwinter.  The shortest days of the year allow my early-to-bed kids a chance to see the stars and experience the magic of night, all before dinnertime! ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

Last month Hike it Baby invited me to participate in a diversity, equity and inclusion training hosted by DEI advisor Mante Malepo and sponsored by our long-term partner Joules. The goal of the two-part online training was not only to educate HiB staff (we’ve done several DEI trainings as a staff over the last few years), but also invite in our partners at Joules as well as HiB ambassadors to better integrate our learnings into the heart of HiB, our community—you. We want to show up and better support YOU. Photo Credit: Ali Chandra Here are five takeaways from some of the participants that I encourage you to consider next time you head outside.  “Mante’s training was super insightful. The information provided helped me build an understanding around terminology, impact and scale of racism within our culture. She helped me realize that, regardless of personal intent, that the impacts of our actions and culture affect those around us and that the work that we do as an ally is a constant journey of working against the grain.” -Ashley Lo, Joules Marketing Manager   “What stood out to me the most was how we think of inclusivity within our branches. I know our branch members feel we are inclusive and welcoming simply because we truly feel as though anyone is welcome to join our hikes, but we need to take steps beyond that. We need to partner with other local groups that represent families that may not be comfortable in the outdoors, and determine ways we can address barriers to joining our hikes. I’m looking at organizations in our area to determine how best to do that.” -Jen Grenter, HiB Branch/Data Team Captain and Branch Ambassador Southeastern PA   “The most important underlying theme was how this is ongoing work we each need to continue to do each day. We must actively reflect and practice, practice, practice toward making more progress every day. We have plenty of opportunities to improve, but in my opinion, none greater than how we’re raising our children, and what we’re modeling for all the other little explorers around us. We have a huge responsibility to them and I’m excited to keep learning and doing this work.” -Laura Miller, Branch Ambassador La Crosse, WI   “One of my biggest takeaways was learning about how staying silent when someone says or does something racist (even if it wasn’t intentional) is considered covert racism. Mante explained that standing by and letting racism happen without action is actually a racist act. I’m practicing with my family on how we can stand up and say something as an ally instead of staying silent.” -Linzay Davis, HiB San Diego volunteer     “It’s important we partner with other organisations that are different from us so we can be more diverse like schools as well as offer content in different languages, and acknowledge the land we hike on.” -Christine Lamphear, Branch Ambassador Reno-Tahoe, NV Before the HiB team asked me to write this blog post about the training I was already feeling inspired to share what had happened during those meetings and it wasn’t actually part of the presentation (though I do have many of those takeaways that I’ll share below). It was the simple fact that so many HiB supporters showed up to do the work while also taking care of their children. Throughout the four hours of training we all were muting and unmuting the joyful (and also not so joyful) screams of newborns, toddlers and kids in the background. My daughter ran into camera view more than a handful of times. At least three of us breastfed our babies. Yes, kids in the background can be distracting, but showing up is more important. And Hike it Baby being an incredibly inclusive organization, particularly for mothers, doesn’t just tolerate parents needing to parent but also celebrates it. I understand why that might not be the case in a few spaces (bringing your child to work isn’t ideal if you’re a firefighter or nurse) but it was so incredible to experience how HiB was not only digging deeper into DEI learnings, but also embodying a piece of inclusion in this work. A big thank you to our partner Joules for sponsoring this event. To learn more about Hike it Baby’s thoughts on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, click here.    ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

It’s that time of year. The air is cooler, the leaves are changing colors and brightening up the trees and the world around, and everywhere you look pumpkins, skeletons, apples, spiderwebs, and more adorn homes and shops. It’s autumn and Halloween is coming. Cue, the Spooky Autumn Scavenger Hunt. Getting outside and exploring nature with your kids doesn’t always mean hiking a trail. Sometimes it looks like wandering through your neighborhood, biking to your favorite playground, or parking a couple of blocks away from a restaurant or shop, just so you can explore the urban nature around you. And this time of year there is no shortage of neat sights to see. In fact, with all the Halloween and fall-themed decorations, those urban outdoor adventures are even more exciting. Spooky Autumn Scavenger Hunt If you are looking for a fun and easy activity to do with your kids this Halloween season, download this Spooky Autumn Scavenger Hunt. You’ll not only be searching for autumn colors and leaves, but the spookier sides of nature (like spiders, spiderwebs, bats, and ravens) and a few common Halloween and Day of the Dead decorations too. ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.

THIS BLOG IS PART OF OUR ELEVATING VOICES SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH      My name is Adrienne St Clair. I work as a botanist with a local government in Portland, Oregon. Working in natural lands management means that I work toward equitable access to nature, and all the benefits of a clean environment, while considering how to maintain and restore healthy plant populations in that space.  I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and grew up between the ocean and the rainforests of the Cascades. When I travel to either of these places and open the car door for the first time, the smell of the salty ocean air or the humus rich soil of the forest seem to fill in all the cracks and I feel my body relax.    Parenthood, Nature, and a Pandemic I became a parent in June of 2020. The beginning of the pandemic was a difficult time for any big life changes, and becoming a parent was no exception. Through the last months of my pregnancy, my plans around my birth and the fourth trimester had to shift quickly. I am a queer single parent by choice, so getting pregnant took two years of working with a fertility clinic. I had a whole of horde of people just waiting to hold a baby and help cook and generally just be around. Covid swept in and I had to choose just a few close people to see regularly.  Many people met my daughter for the first time when there was a lull in the transmission levels and we all felt comfortable enough to meet out at a park together. It was my daughter's first birthday. One year.  One, very long (and short) year. Something that held my sanity through that year (and the year and a half since) has been going for walks in my neighborhood.  I think many of us found refuge in the outdoors during the pandemic. We found a new relationship to the out of doors—a respite from the four walls around us that was safe and welcoming in a way it never had been before. Quite literally a breath of fresh air.  In my last months of pregnancy, walking was the only exercise I could afford myself. I quickly realized that when I am walking is when I have my best thoughts. Problem solving comes easier, otherwise endless loops of anxiety are shortened. Everything seems easier when I’m walking.   In the months after having my daughter I came to realize how important they were for her, too. At three months when her eyesight started getting better, the patterns of dark leaves against a light sky background could keep her attention for minutes…what seemed like hours.  As she got older, we kept up our walks. Seeing her enjoyment of it was what got me outside on days when I didn’t feel up for it. As it turns out, she loves the time so much her first sentence was “let’s take a walk”, said with the insistent tone of a toddler and repeated until I acquiesced. “Okay. You’re right. We should take a walk.”   Our walks don’t have to be long. They can be 15 minutes after dinner and she is learning the route, the cats to visit, and the flowers to smell. She knows where the apple tree is, where  the apples she finds moved from “not ready yet” (stated a hundred times in a toddler voice), to “perfectly ripe,” to “now they’re for the raccoons to finish”.  Benefits of Time in Nature The evidence around the benefits of nature for the  health and well-being of both children and adults are numerous. While I have heard all of the stats and sound bites, I still have to remind myself to get outside. For years I’ve been telling myself that I will probably feel better if I go outside, go for a walk (but it’s raining), go for a hike (but i don’t have anyone to go with).  Honestly, I think it was seeing how my daughter reacted to going outside that finally flipped a switch Wow, look how much better we all feel when we’ve gone for a walk.  Most of my time spent outside has been through my work. Teaching outdoor education, working outside, year round for the nursery, and in my current field work. I think something I love most about working with plants is that my work changes with the seasons. I find a rhythm to my days and months. I find comfort in the coming of the rains after a warm summer and breathing the air in those first few days of cold autumn mornings connects me to my timeline in memories of years before.    Cultivating a Connection to Nature Some cultures have a connection to the natural world as inherent in their identity. The culture I was raised in has long ago lost this understanding and it has meant generations of decisions made to the detriment of ourselves and our environment. I feel this loss for myself, my daughter, and my culture. Through my work, I have gained a bit of that connection back and am committed to do the personal work needed to continue it. I am not sure where my daughter’s interests or skill sets will take her.  With her, I hope to instill that connection to the natural world so she can make the tough decisions that are to come.  For  the people around me, I hope to build a common culture that recognizes this connection. I think that only with this understanding we will be able to tackle our own survival with the challenges of climate change.  My Path to Conservation My path into conservation wasn’t direct. I had always had an interest in science, and I always found restoration interesting because it felt like a meaningful application of science. I didn’t go straight to college after high school, but instead taught outdoor education for many years. While I had begun my time teaching wildlife science, I found myself teaching botany and was hooked. I had found the perfect way to engage students in the natural world and the medium with which to do it. Plants were perfect for it, they never ran away from you as you walked up!  After attending graduate school in Chicago for Plant Biology and Conservation, I am now able to apply that knowledge on a regional scale. How can we help plant populations to be healthy and sustainable with all this fragmentation of their habitat? How can we help our ecosystem thrive  within a changing climate?  The questions are large and endless and I am grateful to have such a beautiful canvas on which to ask them.    My Advice for Other Parents My biggest piece of advice for parents engaging in the natural world with their kids is to take a step back, use a few less words, and watch what it is that’s catching their attention. As with most things, my daughter seems most engaged when she’s emulating my engagement. When I lean down to quietly look at a flower, she is likely going to bend down and look at it herself. When I stop to listen for a bird, she gets quiet and looks up to the sky.    Watch Adrienne's Story in English or en Espanol ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.  

This summer we launched our first Bring it Outside family hiking workshop series.  In the series, families from underrepresented and low income communities were provided the gear, resources, and a supportive environment to take their first steps out hiking with their families. We ran our hiking series in two locations in Oregon - Curry County and Clackamas County, thanks to a Oregon Community Foundation Grant. We were able to help 60 participants and their families connect to nearby natural spaces and their communities across Oregon, by working with local partners Northwest Family Services and Familias en Accion.  The six week series provided the opportunity to participate in three different tracks - Turn the Blues Green (babies under 12 months old), Toddle Waddle (12-36 month old children) and Wander Walks (3-5 year old children).    The Turn the Blues Green track focused on postpartum mamas taking their first steps outside with their newborn babies. Participants learned about all of the benefits of bringing baby outside - not only for baby, but for parents too! Parents were provided with soft sided baby carriers, and learned some tips and tricks about hiking with baby - from how to pack light (but effectively!) to how to deal with meltdowns and feeding on the trail. Even better, they had the opportunity to bond with other parents going through the same joys and struggles.   Toddle Waddle programming focused on those little ones from ages 1-3, and included short (ok, very short!) hikes, developmentally appropriate activities like sensory play and reading books to go along with the theme of the week, as well as age appropriate ways to get outside as a family.  (Pro tip - snack time is key to keeping toddlers and preschoolers going on the trail!)   Our Wander Walks crew included participants ages 3-5, and their curriculum centered around our Wander Walks activity based signage, incorporating facts and activities based on these signs into their weekly programming. They were provided with trail books to incorporate weekly “nature journaling” (aka drawing some awesome pictures!) into their events, while parents learned how to engage their children on the trail and make getting outside fun for the whole family. Families received over $250 in gear to support their journey outside including things like backpacks, baby carriers, hats, flashlights, shovels, books, and raincoats. Handouts and various resources were available to participants in English and Spanish to ensure families were able to access material in their native language.  By providing bilingual materials and partnering with community groups, we were able to provide resources to these families in a way that helped them feel comfortable and supported.  We were so honored to spend 6 weeks with these families and cannot wait to run our next workshop series!       ABOUT OUTGROWN OutGrown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create a world where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental benefits of spending time outside. We are focused on creating opportunities and removing barriers to access so families with babies and young children can take their first steps outside. We believe all families have the right to connect with nature, benefit from spending time outdoors and be inspired to a lifelong love of nature. Since its grassroots inception in 2013, OutGrown is a growing community of 280,000 families and over 300 volunteer Branch Ambassadors. More information on all of our programs can be found at WeAreOutGrown.org    EDITORS NOTE: We hope you enjoyed reading this article from OutGrown. We’re working hard to provide our community with content and resources that inform, inspire, and entertain you. But content is not free. It’s built on the hard work and dedication of writers, editors, and volunteers. We make an investment in developing premium content to make it easier for families with young children to connect with nature and each other. We do not ask this lightly, but if you can, please make a contribution and help us extend our reach.