Many of the things I know about nature I have learned from my son, Stephan. Everything from how to really enjoy the outdoors (allowing myself to be surprised and engaged), to getting as much as I can from its healing powers. But the truth is, I wasn't always an outdoor person. This is just one of many gifts Stephan has presented me with since he came into my life. We try to get out as much as we can: we go biking, hiking, swimming. We go to the park or take little walks around the neighborhood. We throw rocks into the river, collect pretty leaves, stop to watch the birds, the flowers, the people in a hurry... and we stay outside for as long as we can, because that usually means a happier kiddo and a happier mommy. Nature helps us stay relaxed, focused and recharged. This winter we'll be sledding again and we'll try to make it to the local playground most days of the week, scraping the ice off the slides and building snow castles; and as time goes by and he continues to grow, going out provides us with more and more possibilities to have fun. My Stephan truly is an outdoor baby and I'll do anything and everything to support and encourage his love of nature. He eats better, sleeps better and conects better with us when he's been outside. And honestly, it doesn't get any better and easier than this: it's cheap therapy for me and a world of things to see and learn from for him... and all we have to do is open the door (literally) to the new adventures and experiences life has to offer.

We took our 5 1/2 month old Anna to the Hotsprings in Ridgway on a nice sunny day.  We just got some Cabanalife sun protective clothing with SPF 50 and what a great find!  We didn't need to slather as much sunscreen on her head because the hat was the sun protection- and how cute!  She had a blast splashing away for over an hour.  I highly recommend the hotsprings for babies.  The water is warm enough for them to really relax and have fun.  Body temp is best - 98 degrees.  As the weather gets cooler we plan on splashing around the indoor pool at Ridgway for more winter fun.  Her sun hat also does well on hikes and washes up great, keeps its shape and color.

My wife and I recently accepted jobs as managers of a resort fishing lodge in southwest Alaska.  So, we uprooted from western Colorado and started our journey to Alaska with our three and a half year-old Reya.  She likes outdoor adventure and travel so it was not very difficult to convince her that she would be in for a treat to spend two months in a remote environment. 

Working upwards of sixteen hours a day can be exhausting on individuals as well as on the family.  One way to break up those long days is to connect a little with your surroundings and a great way for us to do this is to spend time on the river.  Our lodge is located on the banks of the Naknek River, home to the largest salmon run in the world.  World renowned for several species of spawning salmon, this river has been used for its subsistence value for hundreds of years.  With this knowledge we feel we are fortunate enough to harvest salmon for our nutritional benefit and to educate Reya on the importance of sustainability and riparian dynamics.

After a few days of listening to our fishermen talk of their adventures in the wild with salmon, grizzly bears, float planes and eagles, we decided it was time for us to experience it first hand.  Reya couldn't wait to catch her first fish!  She watched our guides clean and fillet many salmon so she saw the end result but she wanted to see the fish being caught.  So one afternoon, Reya and I went to our boat dock and started fishing the small tributary located next to the boats.  After about a half an hour we landed our first salmon and I let Reya feel the tension on the pole and feel the energy of the fish.  After we pulled in the beautiful silver (coho) salmon, Reya wanted to see if it was a "mommy" or a "daddy."  I then took the fish to the table and we filleted the fish, vacuum sealed it and put it in the freezer.  This whole process opened Reya's eyes to the concept of subsistence fishing.

By exposing our children at an early age to the opportunities to provide yourself with organic wild meat, be it fish, elk, deer, etc., we are doing them a favor by establishing an ethic that can distinguish good food products from bad ones.  I am not condoning hunting or fishing solely for the sport of it, but I am in support of using animal products in a responsible, respectful, educational, and sustainable manner. 

I too hope that you are in favor of teaching your children the value of knowing where your food comes from because you never know when that responsibility may rest on your shoulders, not the local market

Otter has always been a strong bike rider, he loves it and asks to ride all the time.  He wears his helmet to dinner and to the movies and forgets to take it off when he takes a nap.

When grandparents visit we always go on a bike ride – we’re lucky to live next to a rails to trails bike path and can travel all the way to aspen or, soon all the way to glenwood springs.  When summer comes and the trails around us open, we love to ride along the river, bringing a lunch and picnicking along the trail.  Peter pulls Wrenny in the bike trailer and I have Tucker Mac on the back of my bike; Otter rides his own bike.  Because Peter has an Extra-cycle, we can travel longer distances and put Otter in the bike trailer when he gets tired.  The  Extra-cycle can easily carry the kids bike.  We try and have a destination, like a park or spot next to the river and it always fun to push each other.  It takes lots of patience, just like anything with kids, we stop lots and have drink breaks and snacks and let little ones run around.  These are always some of our best memories and that is what childhood is all about.

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Violet, 19 months, recently had a big adventure.  We went backpacking for four days.  She was a bit whiny on the first day but soon got into the groove.  Eventually, she was keeping track of her own gear; shoes, baby doll, sippy cup, and fleece pullover.  She felt comfortable to walk around each of our camps solo and check out the scenery  (Luckily her legs are only about 10 inches long so a big journey for her still had her well within a comfortable zone for us).  She even chose a favorite Ponderosa Pine which she gazed at and loved on even when we weren’t taking pictures of the quintessential tree-hugging baby scene.  During each trip we take her relationship with nature grows deeply and beautifully.  Jason (Daddy) and I survived as well.  We got our outdoor fix, exercised our bodies and cultivated confidence that we could bring our family life into the outdoors.

My favorite memory of our long trip, was when I awoke to a frosty fall morning in Colorado and mentioned to no one in particular how cold I felt. Gathering my clothing and toiletries inside the tent, our son toddled outside on his own. We had chosen a camp site with an obvious borderline of trees and shrubs, which our son understood as his exploration boundary and I rarely worried that he would wander away. But I heard loud scraping noises and I rushed out to see what he was up to. I found him piling wood and newspaper into the firepit and he said to my husband, in possibly his first complete sentence, "Mommy's cold, I need to make a fire."

We had 2 main tricks for our trip. 1) We camped just outside the city. We were always within a five minute drive of the regular city services, so I was never without the little things I'd become accustomed to using with my son-including a laundromat. 2)We purchased quality gear, such as: a roomy tent, deluxe sleep bags, self inflating sleeping mats, camp kitchen and baby backpack for hiking. Also we chose an extended trip, so that our son really had a chance to settle into his new surroundings and the rthymn of a camping lifestyle; he really blossomed.

Wally and Owen ( 3 mo.) take a nap as mom and dad pack the car at the end of a camping trip.

Tips for climbing/rappeling for kids:

right size harness (kids)

Let them watch how you do it first, involve them in some easy and basic tasks.

include them and explain them what you're trying to do and why

make sure you're with people who knows or certified in how to set up top rope anchors, belay techniques and rope work

chose easier route for kids 'appropriate reach for hands and legs with friendly holds.

start going to a climbing gym with your child before you venture out with natural rocks.

make it hand on, carry extra slings or other devices for your child to  practice with.

explain basic safety and discuss with your child i.e hydration, regular breaks, warm ups before you climb, first aid kit, history of place, kids like the attention and responsibility they get and they will be very happy to help you and remind as well.

make sure to take permission from local authorities before you do anything whether their policies allows for kids at that age to climb.

make sure you've got appropriate clothing (decide based on seasons and duration of your day)

have other alternate activities for kids ( board games, writing and drawing materials)

educate and be familiar with poison ivy and lime ticks

set boundaries ( make sure she/he is running around while you're belaying your partner)

be respectful to other climbers

what not to do...

don't force kids

don't plan for long days with one activity

don't take your children to when you go for setting up anchors.

A great place to take a rest, don't you think?

After such a hard day of paddling and portaging...

This was early July. We went camping with friends and their father. IT was great to have other adults around to support us during critical times like setting up the tent, cooking, etc.  The one thing we forgot is to prepare for mosquitos.  A bug tent is essential with small babies if you don't want to use bug dope.