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,...
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 ea...
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 appr...
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...
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...
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 ambassador...
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 ...
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 ...
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 Ore...
September tends to be one of the busiest months for families. Between back-to-school chaos and busy work and activity schedules, it can be difficult to find time to enjoy nature. However, countless studies have shown the benefits of spending time in nature for the whole family, from stress relief to tighter parent-child bonds (check out this article to learn more about the benefits of getting o...
