Since the birth of Jack our outdoor activities were limited compared to what they have been in the past.  We have just started some short hikes with him and plan to camp with him for the first time this October.

I just wanted to share a picture of him in the tidal pool at the Sebastian Inlet having a radical time on Dada's surf board.  For any famalies in the central Florida area, this is an awesome place to bring a toddler to play.  This particular day 3 manatees were also sharing in the fun in the tidal pool.

Allie, my now 18 month old, started running, hiking, and fly fishing with me while in utero. She still loves to run or hike every day, especially if we take our 2 labs and Great Dane with us! Allie's first fly fishing trip was at 5 weeks in high water on the Little Red River in Arkansas. Her first fish was a 21" brown. This was followed by a trip to Bozeman, Montana at 3 months of age where we fished the Madison and Jamie received the Orvis Guide of the Year! As an infant, Allie pretty much was content in the front pack for long periods of time. Allie loves to help her dad get the boat ready for trips. She still enjoys being in the front pack to watch us cast and see the fish up close and personal. We make sure that she wears sunglasses for eye protection. We also have a life vest that she wears when not in the front pack. Now that she is a toddler, she needs time to explore. Jamie and I take turns fishing and spending time on the bank with Allie. She loves to find rocks and drop them in the river. She never gets tired of this--better than any toy she has!! Visit us at www.snuggbuggbaby.com to see some of Allie's favorite outdoor gear!

After a deceptionally fabulous 4 day camp in Moab with our 3 year-old and 11 month old, we were feeling bold, confident and decided for another trip. 2 nights this time. When it goes wrong it can go terribly wrong. Some highlights included: camping in a restoration area by accident and then having to move and camping in a sand pit- which I initially thought would be great for sleeping but then realized was terrible for all things related to children: eating, dressing, playing, etc.

On our second night my daughter got a fever- 101.6. Gave her Tylenol and it didn't drop at all within 45 minutes. Didn't know what to do. We were about 1 hour from "civilization" and 4 hours from home. 1 hour from bedtime and counting. What would you do?

We abandoned ship. Packed it all up and went home. It was exhausting and felt unsuccessful. We decided that in the future for camping we're observing an Hour Rule. 1 hour drive= 1 night camping minimum, 2 hour drive= 2 nights camping, etc., etc. It is just so difficult to never feel settled and having to move our site threw the kids and us off. Never fear though, we will head back out there with our new knowledge.

And where’s the proof?  What do we actually do?  Despite the mountains of dishes and various other household responsibilities that are present no matter how many children there are, we do manage to make it out the door to see what in the world is before us.  Though sometimes getting out the door takes more time than before, I am compelled to create an adventure every day for my children in the outdoors for various reasons, some increasingly more than others in the recent years, I realize that the most important connections they can make are with each other and natural relationships to the world around them.  As a former Wilderness Orientation Director for Prescott College, it would be hard for me not to draw the parallel here between developing a clan with common wilderness experiences which in turn create solid foundations for individuals to launch from.

Though we have spent a good few of years introducing our children to backpacking, camping and rock climbing, most recently we seem to be addressing our desires with taking a temporary position at the  Prescott College Kino Bay Facility for an adventure that has truly expanded our capacity for learning and loving one another.

 Moving to Mexico for 8 months has been a great opportunity to not only ditch some material stuff from our house that was bogging us down but also push my desire onto our family of five to live out of preverbal “backpacks” for the time being and just be free of it all.  After much packing, selling and giving away, we packed up our three kids into our minivan and headed to Kino Bay from October to May.  Anything that was not in the car didn’t need to come; conveniences, toys, food treats (however, as time revealed, the many arrivals of half and half for coffee did exceed the contents of my “backpack

 and was greatly appreciated)  All that we really needed would be provided by the Sea of Cortez.

Much like spending an extended period of time backpacking in a remote area removing ourselves from the ever dominant consumer culture that, although we try to circumnavigate, we are deeply immersed in has allowed us to enjoy the place we are in even more.   Our children have surprised us more than once in the ways they have begun embodying lessons we never planned on giving them ( we didn’t, the Sea of Cortez did…)  On one of our first adventures up the coast Hailey illustrated this  nicely:

"I think that one is enough" Hailey said

"Don't you think that two is better?" I asked

"If we have two then it won't be as special."  she replied

That settled it, we would not be hunting for more sea urchins this morning.  She has a point. Since we have been in Kino, the few things we brought with us have seemed more special

Okay, I think they got that point.  What about personal goals or just being able to get out there?  Yeah, that will come, more slowly, probably more infrequently and yes sometimes, getting out there to paddle around a point by yourself for hours, may not happen exactly when you want it to or at all but it sure is better when you can take your kid for a spin only to get back to shore and hear, “Can we do it again?”

As I watch my children navigate the world before them, Hailey spotting Colter, telling him how important it is to look where he is planting his foot on a boulder, listening to Claire explain to Hailey that there is a sea cucumber under the rock, I realize that this little clan will care for each other on numerous adventures long after we are gone and will be the greatest gift we will have given them.

 This posting was placed on this website by Heidi Ahrens. K Donovan was having a hard time with internet service in Mexico and asked me to do this for her.

KP Donovan

Visit my blog: kpdonovan.typepad.com/kino/

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.

Visit our website:  http://sweetstream.wordpress.com/

Let’s go on a little journey, shall we.  Imagine yourself a nursing mother of, say, one to three children. Imagine that you are constantly and consistently covered with children or summoned by their needs.  Imagine that you have a history of long backpack trips, remote destinations, and challenging routes.  Imagine that your once honed body has accumulated some cellulite and bulges in the recent year (s).  Welcome to my life and that of my good friend Kristine.

 

Somehow, we got “clearance” from the fathers of our collective four children ages 1 to 6, to leave home for two nights and hike into the Grand Canyon.  We were so desperate for the time hiking, the time together, and the time away from our families (if family members are reading this - of course we love them dearly, we just needed a break).  Now both of us like to work our bodies and to take risks.  We packed somewhat haphazardly (more on that soon), and kept our bags relatively light.  Kristine claims that she carries so much baby/kid oriented stuff around each and everyday that she would prefer to hike empty handed simply for the change.

 

We planned to hike to the river, spend a night, hike along the river, spend another night, and then hike all the way back.  I think that was the itinerary.  I was to procure three items that would be shared and were considered critical (as opposed to our shared pots and tent which were less critical).  I was to bring a breast pump in order for us to “pump and dump” and therefore continue lactating for our breastfed one-year-olds.  I was also to bring a coffee press mug for Kristine.  Since she would be pumping and dumping, she could indulge in coffee on this trip -- something she was looking forward to nearly as much as the hike itself.  Finally, I was to bring one of the two dinners.  Now remember, packing was somewhat haphazard.

 

When I arrived at her house pre-dawn for our three hour drive up to the canyon, she was practically running down the driveway in excitement to GET OUT.  I let her know that I was unable to find the coffee press mug I had promised – strike one!  Though her confidence in me was certainly shaken, we decided to gamble on finding one on the rim (in a store, that is).  It turns out that they don’t sell such a mug on the rim and we had to suffice with a cheesy tourist mug and a child’s sock for her coffee brewing.  Nevertheless, after a few more stumbling blocks, we were on our way.  As we began our hike in, eight miles in length and one mile in elevation change, I realized that I hadn’t put rice into the bag of dinner I had prepared.  Strike two.  We decided we still had enough collective food (thanks to Kristine’s haphazard packing), though confidence was shaken again.  Be warned: think twice before trusting a breastfeeding, sleep-deprived mother to handle the important details.  Good thing I had not forgotten the breast pump given that our babies’ livelihood somewhat depended on it.

 

About a mile down the canyon, we encountered two men about our age, who claimed to have turned back after realizing they had bitten off more than they could chew – this trail was, in one old dusty book on my shelf, ranked as the most rigorous decent on the south rim when compared to the eight or so most popular trails.  One of the men looked ‘worked’ though they both passed us without asking for assistance – typical men.  We were close enough to the top, Kristine and I did not insist on helping.  Besides it was our time to be selfishly absorbed in our own trip.  Another man passed us a mile farther.  He reported his disappointment at having passed a stash of abandoned gear on the trail below; undoubtedly left behind by the first two men who had tried to lighten their load for the ascent.  This second man did not bother to remove the items from the canyon however.

 

Another two miles or so farther, we came upon the stash.  A lot of shiny new metal, expensive freeze dried meals, and all the accoutrements for COFFEE!  Knowing that the ravens would ravage the perishables, and that abandoned gear was an eyesore for visitors and an annoyance for park employees, we decided to take as much as we could.  Of course the new meals, the coffee pot, and the brand new flask of peach Schnopps could possibly help our situation as well.  Strikes one and two reversed.

 

Though we would have loved to keep our heart rates up and our legs pushing on, it was time to think of our babies and do some pumping (the rock hard breasts were another indicator).  I pulled out the breast pump and handed it to Kristine.  No suction.  Pump harder.  No milk.  Uh oh.  A vacuum seal was missing and the sucker part was not getting any “purchase.”  Yep, strike three.  The food mistake was minor, the coffee blunder was somewhat remedied, but this one… eeek.  We likely would not find an abandoned breast pump along this trail.  So far we were the only ones around who even had breasts.

 

Both of us would consider ourselves very independent, self sufficient and resourceful.  Hey necessity is the mother of invention right?  I tried stuffing the tin foil from a chocolate bar in the holes where the vacuum should have occurred.  No luck.  Then I pulled a piece of dried fruit from my trail mix thinking that the peach, if hydrated, would swell into the hole sealing it well.  Slight success.  But certainly not enough to drain the four breasts which were hours into this journey and therefore hours from the last nursing.  We would have to hand express.

 

The following hours and days were spent mashing our breasts every few hours to try to relieve the pain, maintain lactation, and reduce the size of our gargantuan chests so backpack straps could be fastened.  Had anyone wanted to track us, they need only set a hound on the trail of milk. Luckily, we had the canyon to ourselves and no one else had to witness our plight.  Even more lucky, we were two lactating women in the canyon together, not one, and could encourage and console each other.

 

Once fed, caffeinated, physically exerted, and present in the presence of the awe-inspiring canyon, we were able to enjoy our trip (actually we were enjoying our trip the minute we left our neighborhood; I just had to let the drama build).  We kicked off our shoes, dawned sarongs, and relished in not having kids asking us for anything.  Though our breasts were sore from the mashing, we began to feel like our previous selves – at home in the canyon, sleeping outdoors, becoming part of our natural surroundings.  It was our little secret that we carried a few extra burdens as mothers.  From the outside we looked like a couple of able bodied women out for a backpack.

 

While lounging on the river, we spoke of previous experiences where handsome young boatmen arrived on our beaches offering treats like cold beer or to carry away our trash.  Dreaming of such an experience, we turned our heads up stream.  Low and behold, just then there was a boatman rowing in our direction – the only human we had seen on the river in two days.  Now November navigators of the Colorado River in the inner gorge are inherently capable, adventurous and prepared folk given the air and water temperatures.  But would this nice man have what we needed?....A breast pump?  Would we have the gumption to ask?

Why Baby Daughter #2 is already an outdoor baby:

Trips done with daughter in utero:Frequent cross country skiing outings and hiking trips, Travel to Virginia

Second Trimester:

·         Hut ski trip at 9,000 feet

·         Two week car camping trip

·         At 36 weeks of pregnancy:  Camping trip at 9,000 feet

Why Coralie is an outdoor baby:

Coralie ( three years old) has been on more than 20 airplane rides,  12 camping trips, 25 hikes, 2 backpacking trips, One cross country ski hut trip, and has snowshoed, downhill skied, sled, swam, bikes, and played outdoors daily.

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.

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.

Every year for the past 8 years, we've gotten together for a canoe trip in North Western Ontario.  We make a standing camp and go out exploring from there.  Last year we found a hidden gem - a small waterfall which was just the right size for lounging in.  We've just learned by doing over the past years.  I'm glad to have discovered this website to learn from others as well.

Friends of ours came to visit us from Thunder Bay, which is located on the north shore of Lake Superior in Canada.  The landscape were they come from is full of coniferous trees, enormous bodies of water (Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world) and literally hundreds of thousands of rivers and lakes.  There is so much water and greenery.

Somehow, it seemed the obvious choice but to bring them to Utah on their first visit of the Western United States.

We drove two hours south of Moab into the southeast corner of Utah with them and visited different archeological sites. In this part of the country there is very little water, if any, the earth is dry, the trees short, and the desert is sprinkled with sage, cactus, and rocks.  To get to some of these sites was quite easy.  A short hike from the car was all that was required to see ruins and to discover thousand-year old sites full of old pot chards and other little artifacts (which we put back exactly where we found them as archeological site etiquette demands). This proved to be a true delight for our ten year old visitor.

The other site that we visited required us to backpack in and to stay the night.  We found an amazing campsite on flat river rocks that overlooked an enormous canyon.  A cliff-skirting hike was required to get to the cliff-dwelling that we visited.  This was a scary but worthwhile adventure.  Although Cora (who is two years old) accompanied us on all these adventures she did not go on this part of the hike. She stayed behind and played in the dried up river beds, looking at frogs, tadpoles and snakes that were stuck in deep water pits that were filled by flash floods probably a few weeks earlier.  Since Zach is ten years old, he introduced Cora to exploring small crevices for live creatures.  It held Cora’s attention more than anything else ever did.

It is great to travel outdoors with another family. You get to learn how others interpret the natural world, what they do to get prepared for a trip and how they camp.  It was really a delight to share this terrain with them since they are very comfortable in the outdoors.  What was interesting was to see that most of their skills were very transferable to this new environment, but others were not. For example, they were suspicious of my concern that we did not have enough containers to carry the right amount of water.  I insisted that we stop and purchase a large dromedary to carry water.  This water became invaluable on the cliff dwelling section of the trip.    Having another child along during a trip makes it fun for your own child, even one who is comparatively much older. Coralie found it so exciting to see how Zach was a capable outdoors person and what he was interested in.  Everyone on a trip can really open their horizons when they are in the company of new people.

I really recommend visiting the area south of Moab.  It provides such an amazing landscape and has so many interesting historical sites to visit.  You would need to find yourself a book on the area to better find pictographs, petroglyphs and archeological sites.  If you are not a huge outdoor adventurer you can find drive-up sites near the town of Moab.

Heidi

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