In each  Family Field Guide volume many different species are introduced in clear detail.  Pictures, descriptions, symbols and diagrams are printed on one page to fully educated you about each new interest.

Pros: Very detailed and interesting for any member of your family, clear pictures, choices of items to feature are very much in tuned with children's interest.  A fun fact always grabs someones attention and makes these books a great addition to outdoor explorations.

Cons:  Four different volumes, therfore too heavy to bring all of them on one excursion, the symbols are a bit hard to remember or understand.

We used these books on different occasions and always could find many of the featured species. Our children wanted to look at them even when we were indoors, to learn more about their environment. Each book has an appendix with great resources that make learning about nature interesting and explains how all of it fits within a large context.

BearBop Press has a great sneak peak, so check out inside the books:  Family Field Guide Series

OutdoorBaby.net reviewed both the Colorado adn the Catskills and Hudson River Valley editions.   Both books come with handy 'how to' tips on ways to prepare and be safe while traveling with children.

Introducing children to hiking can sometimes be tricky.  Selecting a route that will assure kid's continuous interest is also a challenge.  These books really help in sending off parents in the right direction.  Hiking in the Catskills and the Hudson River Valley is usually easier because their is often less steep grades, lower elevation and a good tree cover ( provides shade) and water.  Hiking in Colorado with children is also wonderful but parents should be more savvy in finding appropriate trails and getting prepared because of the altitude, possible lack of water or shade and quick changing temperatures.  The Best Hikes with Children book Series by The Mountaineers Books provides excellent choices of hikes in both these states.

I was a little overwhelmed after the birth of my first child, Ciro.  My body felt miserable and I wasn't sure what my days were supposed to look like - but then I got out.  Thanks to a moby wrap, I rediscovered my arms and realized that I could get a few things done and soothe my baby at the same time.  And then I rediscovered my legs and I haven't stopped since.  Ciro has had his diaper changed on many a patch a dirt and I've treasured all of our outdoor time together.  It's empowering to know that life doesn't stop with a newborn - in fact, it's more rich.  You get to share your favorite activities and places with new eyes and a sweet new friend.  I'm grateful that he enjoys our outings and I'm looking forward to his continued exploration as he grows.

Sun valley bar is an energy bar made from wholesome ingredients.  Compared to many energy bars on the market Sun Valley bars have a relatively short list of ingredients which means you are more likely to know that you are getting your nutrition from real food sources.  We liked that we could taste the oats in the bars.  The fruit flavored bars were a bit too mushy for our taste, but we liked that all the bars were not too sweet and had good levels of protein/carb/fat.  These bars do contain some soy which may affect some people.

Other energy bar reviews

As I got larger and larger and less mobile during my last pregnancy, I struggled with the idea that our summer was wasting away with very little outdoor adventures.  This is when Cora, three years old, gave me a great idea.  As we passed by a fire pit on one of our mini toddler hikes, she mentioned that it would be fun to cook a meal.

This is how our summer hot dog roasting outings started. OK, we don’t eat hot dogs, but we brought juicy bratwurst-like sausages and fixings for hot chocolate. We would pack the car with all our needs for a day at a campsite, drive to a beautiful national campground and spend the day walking around, exploring rivers, and then cooking a meal on a fire.  A few times we packed our things in a backpack and hiked on a trail for a while then set up camp for the day.

After Ramona was born, we found that this was also an easy way to head into the wilderness without taking the extra steps that camping would require.  We would also bring Cora’s paints, sand castle making kit and her bike.  It was wonderful to sit around a fire and have her play around us in the sunshine, while I nursed Ramona and she would fall asleep on me.

Then my father visited at the end of September to help out when Erik was gone for a week.  We once again headed down a trail with our supplies.  Since, my father has bad knees he no longer can go on long hikes.  It was the perfect way to share one of our favorite family activities (spending time in the outdoors) with my father.  I was so grateful that Cora got to see her grandfather cooking around an open pit wilderness area fire and that her grandfather could see her in all her glory in such a setting.  Of course, Ramona came along for the day and she got to observe the light coming through the branches above her resting place, while taking in the sounds and smell of the forest.

A few suggestions:  Bring long skewers or a grilling basket, something to sit on and extra layers in case the weather changes, and a lighter too.   Keep it simple.  We would bring carrots and a few other no fuss snacks and we could just relax as a family.  Always, bring plenty of water and some shade for the baby and sunscreen for the older folks.

Heidi

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While my husband has been out of town I've been responsible for two boys, two dogs, two jobs, one house and an inordinate amount of laundry.

Walking two dogs with a stroller is too much for me. We hardly fit on the sidewalk. Hiking on a trail doesn't really work because I never know when Anders (2.5) will hit the wall and "need" to be carried. It could be a couple miles into a walk or it could be a few minutes after we hit the trail. Carrying him and his one-year-old brother is out of the question. I'm tough and all, but two kids is too many to carry.

I've been trying to come up with ways I can get all four boys outside, exercised and having fun. Last weekend I took them to a place I don't normally think of as a recreational/dog walking/kid entertaining place.

A closed campground.

We are lucky to have several campgrounds less than 30 minutes from our house. We hit up a Forest Service campground (Pine Creek Campground) after it had closed for the season. No one was there, so the dogs could run amok and the roads were perfect for pushing a stroller.

Turned out that Finn fell asleep in the truck just before we got there, so I left him in there. Anders and I found plenty to do within sight of the truck.

It wasn't exactly a wilderness experience, but there were trees, snow, shrubs and, most importantly, sticks. (Do all kids LOVE sticks and rocks, or is that a boy thing?).

Anders played in the campfire ring, stirred snow and chased the dogs. The dogs ran around willy nilly without bugging anyone, Finn slept and I could check a couple things off my to-do list: run dogs, get kids outside.

Where do you take your kids to connect with nature that's a little outside the box?

by Melynda @ www.yourwildchild.com

Truckee Toddler hiking shoe:

These are some great rugged shoes!  They are not waterproof but they have great support and grip for little hikers.  They look like they would be easy to put on, but they are kind of hard to handle for little hands.  Our testers always needed assistance, but they are worth it since the elastic lace system enables each wearer of the Trukee hiking shoe by Keen to have a good, snug fit.

Shay Toddler slip on shoe:

This slip on shoe is made of leather and is topped off with an ankle high sock.  They are great shoes for fall or spring or quick winter outings when boots are not needed.  Toddlers can easily put them on and off. They are well constructed and have a good no slip sole.  Unfortunately, the Shay by Keen are a bit wobbly and make some wearers’ ankles to roll in high activity on uneven surfaces.  They can fall off while swinging or biking vigorously, but they protect the whole foot better than most slip on shoes.

Bali sandal for women:

This sandal is a most unusual sandal.  Why?  Well, because it is really comfortable and you can walk a long time in them without having sore legs.  The Bali is a slip on sandal that has a bit of toe protection and is made of waterproof materials.  Great for going to explore a trail by the river with your children, to bring to the pool or for all day use during the summer.  I love my pair of Bali sandals.

Charleston Clog for women:

This shoe is once again an amazing Keen product.  Not only are they comfortable and look relatively good with any outfit, they are sturdy enough for long walks or mellow hikes.  This is the only pair of shoes I bring while traveling since they can be used for different purposes.  The Charleston Clogs are made of leather but stand up well in the rain and have good support and foot bed for a clog.

Newport sandal for men:

This is probably one of the most popular Keen products.  It is a sandal that acts like a shoe.  It is a good sandal for river trips or for someone who wants to have toe and heel protection yet have the coolness of a sandal.  Our testers did not feel like they were particularly good looking.

Targhee 2II hiking shoe for men:

A good solid shoe, the Targhee 2 by Keen was our male testers favorite shoe because it gives good support to the foot, can be used for walking, hiking and holds well while slightly wet or if it is cold outside.

Keen socks:  Keen socks were disappointing.  They felt like you were wearing synthetic (plasticy feel, not pillowy or soft) fibers on your feet and they did not give any kind of controlled fit.  After a few washings they became quite ugly.

Wenger, known for their excellent Swiss army knives, have recently launched a line of footwear. We tried their Matterhorn hiking shoes.  They were very comfortable and the insole was very cushiony, so much so that they felt like cozy slippers.  The shoes never gave any blisters to any of the people who tried them.   They give good support and a controlled fit.  They weren’t tried in inclement weather so we can’t comment on performance in wet or cold conditions, but some did say that they were a bit hot/stuffy on warm days.  We have tried two different pairs of Wenger shoes and their sizing was a little bit off.  The box was labeled for a specific US sizing but the Euro size did not match.  Make sure you get a pair that fits.  The Matterhorn looks good, so it could be a good cross over shoe for hiking, bringing your kids to the park and going out to lunch or for a long day of errands.

Ergo baby carriers have come up with a new system to carry infants.  If you read my other reviews about Ergo products you will see that I am a big fan of their carrier, but really didn’t like their previous infant insert.  Recently, they came up with a new system called Heart to Heart.  It enables you to use your regular Ergo carrier and convert it to an infant carrier for the few months that your child cannot fit into the regular Ergo.  Heart to Heart is an insert that keeps your child in an upright position and does not place any strain on their hips.  It also keeps your babies’ chest close to yours (Heart to Heart) which is a good thing.  Although Heart to Heart is a vast improvement over their infant insert, it is still quite lumpy and bulky.  It adds warmth to your baby carry system which can be great in winter but not in the summer, since Ergo packs are already kind of warm.  Heart to Heart is easy to use and place into the carrier but I have a hard time clipping the strap in the back on my own.  If you are looking to save money, then I do really recommend you get the Ergo and the Heart to Heart and deal with the not so perfect few months and then enjoy the luxury of the Ergo.  If you are not so cash strapped, I suggest you go for another system (like the Moby wrap) to carry your newborn and then switch to the Ergo when they are six months old.  I really would not want you to miss out on the great advantages of the Ergo.

Ergo is offering one lucky reader of OutdoorBaby.net a free Heart to Heart.  All you need to do is share a story on the site about any of your outdoor adventure. .

At first look these meat sticks might be expected to be really good for you, partly because they use an old family recipe to make them and also because the meat is locally bought and processed.  These snack sticks also taste good and come in four different flavors.  We tried three ranging from plain to spicy.  We did not try the bacon flavor. They seem fresher and much plumper (not dry) then the gas station variety.  Unfortunately, they have MSG, corn syrup and dextrose added;   making them unappealing health wise.   I personally don’t feed those ingredients to myself, my children or my guests.

If you share a story on OutdoorBaby.net you can win a whole box of Pop’s Authentic Snack Sticks.  If you purchase two boxes of their meat sticks you get one free.

In the travel section of Sunday October 4^th, New York Times, Author Eric Wilson, writes about the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park.  (Article Title:  Adventures in Wonderland).  As a complete novice to backpacking, he takes us on his journey of discovery.  Even though he ‘battled’ swarms of bugs, extreme heat conditions, altitude and ice cold dips, Mr. Wilson leaves the Wonderland trail feeling a sense of accomplishment and beauty.

His 93 mile hike enabled him to see the ice-capped Mount Rainier, glacier landscape and fields of wildflowers.  He did manage to complete the hike with the help of a little  time in a hotel and near his car.  Here’s a list of suggestions for Mr.Wilson in case he decides to try out another one of those hikes:

1.      Read up on Leave No trace Protocols: leaving toothpaste and food in a pit toilet is a no-no.

2.      Eating is important on the trail.  Bringing too much food sucks, but not eating because of exhaustion breeds even more exhaustion.  Buy a good book on how many calories you need for a specific hike and pack accordingly.

3.      Visit a good local outdoor store and ask them to review the content of your backpack, so that you bring the right clothing and gear for the area and weather.

4.      Always bring a first aid kit.

5.      Mr. Wilson, you hiked too many miles the first days.  I presume you live in New York City and you should acclimatize to the elevation before starting a hike with elevation gain.  Then you should hike only a few miles the first few days.

6.      Bottom line, plan ahead.

I’ve been on many trips that have been tainted by harsh weather, bugs, or foul moods between participants, yet I return to experience that sense of awe and beauty that you can only get from arriving in a landscape, carrying only the bare necessities, propelled only by your own body and will power.  I am so glad that Mr. Wilson wrote this article.  I think it is a great reminder to all of us who do love to spend a good week in the backcountry that it is not easy, and that if our friends who have never done this before want to join, we need to help them out.  It takes a lot of courage, determination and will to accomplish such a task.  An article like this will hopefully inspire people who have thought the wilderness to be inaccessible.

Why do you still go on outdoor adventures?  Why do you want to test out what nature has to offer you? Why do it with kids?

Heidi

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