Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail with a Baby Update

Parenthood is an Adventure. Bring it Outside. Shanti Hodges, founder of Hike it Baby, just wanted to get outside after giving birth to her son six years ago. “When I had Mason, I knew it would feel isolating,” she says, “but I didn’t expect to feel like I had no friends or that I couldn’t get out into nature.” Hodges knew about various active mom groups, such as Stroller Strides, but that wasn’t what she was after. “I didn’t want to work out, I just wanted to get outside,” she says. “I knew it would be good for me and for the baby.” Shanti Hodges, Founder of Hike it Baby, with her son, Mason. Creating an Outdoor Community for Families Beyond how to get outdoors with your child, Hike it Baby is focused on creating the community parents and caregivers of young children need to make getting outside easier and more enjoyable. It's proven that getting outside more often benefits everyone, and that time in nature can have lifelong, positive impacts on children. Read the full article New parents join a real movement for their babies and themselves: Hiking by Amanda Loudin published in The Washington Post. Find a community of like-minded families at Hike it Baby. Join a hike near you today! About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Arika Bauer.

Celebrating National Take a Hike Day “Hipsters tend to stick to hiking backcountry rivers. They’re less mainstream.” We at Hike It Baby, love hiking...obviously and having fun, so I thought I’d kick off the holiday with a good (or bad depending on how you feel) pun! Ok, all joking aside, November 17th is National Take A Hike Day, as in “Let’s go for a hike!”, not; we just had an argument “Go take a hike!” Actually, that would be a weird holiday to celebrate! Anyway, National Take A Hike Day is a great opportunity to either add another hike to your tick list or to hit the trails for the first time...with your feet not a stick ala Amelia Bedelia! If you’re getting on the trails for the first time Hike it Baby is a great way to get involved. With 1600 hikes a month, 350 different branches and 275,000 families there is a hike for everyone.  Tips for Your Hike it Baby Hike If those numbers feel too “in tents” and this is your first hike with Hike It Baby here are some helpful tips: Once I’ve found the perfect hike on the calendar I like to use Google Maps to see exactly how long it will take me to get there and then I add roughly half an hour because it’s winter (where I live) and I have an octopus, I mean 2 year old to get dressed and ready. The hike details are usually pretty thorough, but I also check the Family Trail Guide for more specific details about the trail - it’s perfect because the info is geared toward families with little trekkers.   I double check the diaper bag to make sure I have an extra set of clothes, plenty of snacks and water.  Me!! Sometimes, I forget to pack food, warm clothes and water for myself! Most of us are so focused on getting the wiggly ones out the door that once we get them in the car we just go, go, go! Lastly, if I have questions about the hike, conditions, parking or if I’m just feeling nervous, I’ll put the hike host’s number in my phone and text or call.  Choose Your Own Adventure My son and I have been hiking with Hike It Baby for awhile so when we go now, I like to challenge myself to see how far we can make it. This can mean different things on different days. Some days it’s how far can we get before the next meltdown, other days it’s how many miles can we do? I also find that I am more motivated to get out on a hike if it’s somewhere that I’ve never been before. Adding new trails to my tick list also helps me to explore the city a bit more and since we are still relatively new to the area, this is one of my favorite ways to explore.  Pass it On! Since I’m comfortable with hiking and the Hike It Baby model now I often invite friends and family who are new to the group or the area. I’ve found that regardless of hiking experience, meeting like-minded parents on the trail and exploring our city have been invaluable aspects of joining Hike It Baby and I want to pass that on!  So, this November 17th “Hit the road/trail Jack (or Jill)!” and come hike with us!  About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Jacobson