Family Outdoors

"Something as basic and beautiful as experiencing the great outdoors together as a family shouldn’t be so challenging that you don’t even want to try... The physical, spiritual, emotional, and especially relational rewards of family adventures are too great to pass up." - Renee Tougas, More Outdoor Family Adventure With Less Stuff

This page is a summary of all of the family outdoors information that we have posted to date. This page is a work-in-progress and will continue to be updated as new content is added.

Why

Why we should be spending time together outdoors.

• In the Beginning... - How we got started.
• An Adventure Education - The outdoors as a means to educate our children.
• Disconnect - Re-connecting ourselves with the natural world for which we were designed.
• Let's Talk About the Weather - Being at peace with and appreciating the changes in the weather and seasons.
• Marriage in Progress - Building relationships and marriage.
• The Path Less Travelled - Living life according to your values.

What

Things families can do together outside.

• Seeking Winter Adventure - Getting out year-round requires being creative in the winter. Our family really enjoys Trail Sledding for Winter Adventure.
• Urban Adventure - Learning how to deal with foul weather by practicing close to home.
• "Wiffa" Certified - Take an outdoor first aid course together to build confidence and experience.
• Where is the Green in Your Neighborhood - When you can't get out to the wilderness, explore the green spaces in your neighborhood.
• What to do? Walk Somewhere! - Prepare for the bigger trips by making walking a part of your everyday lifestyle.

How

Things that work (and things that don't).

• One Day a Week - A practical strategy for spending time outdoors, from the father's perspective. Followed-up by the Homemakers Perspective.
• Getting Out the Door - Tips to make getting out the door easier.
• Backcountry Recipes - Some healty trail recipes.
• Traveling Light and On The Cheap - A summer's worth of inexpensive travel.
• Backcountry Poo-Poo Clinic - Once you have made it out the door, spent some time on the trail, and have eaten a healthy lunch... what do you do if you have to go poo?
• Setting the Pace - Ways to motivate children on the trail.
• Spring Transitions - The shoulder seasons are not always easy.
• The Fear of Wild Animals - If the fear of wild animals prevents you from getting outdoors, here are some thoughts on the subject.
• Toothpaste Tribulations - Some ideas for making oral hygene a little easier outdoors.
• Backpacking with your Wife - Tips for for supporting a reluctant backpacker.

Gear

• Going Light - Why we like to go light.
• Underpants - Build your chidren's outdoor clothing on a good foundation.
• Footwear - There is a whole section of ADVENTUREinPROGRESS dedicated to minimalist footwear.
• A Little Secret for Finding High Quality Children's Outdoor Gear
• 4 Reasons we Shop at Patagonia
• Making your own gear:
  • MYOG - This article discusses the benifits of sewing your own gear and features one of my early projects - a windbreaker for my daughter.
  • Does this mean I am a sewist? - More adventures in sewing featuring a fleece coat for my daughter, a pair of yoga pants for my wife, and a softshell jacket for my son.
  • Titanium Tupperware - Putting your camping gear to use while at home.
  • Make Your Own Bear Bag and/or Stuff Sack - A great starter sewing project.
• Tents:
  • Have Tent Will Travel - If you are a family who is on the fence regarding why you might want to use a tent when travelling, here are some reasons why we prefer it.
  • Our New Family Shelter - Our current family tent, for both backpacking and everyday travel.
  • Family Shelter Musings - More talk about tents, what works, and what doesn't.
• Wood Stove Testing - The Bushcooker LT III - A great family-sized backpacking wood stove.

Trip Reports

• Day trips:
  • Latest Adventure: Echo Lake, Cathedral Ledge State Park, NH (April 2009)
  • Latest Adventure: Mount Kearsage North, North Conway, NH (April 2009)
  • Treasures from Lord Hill, Stow, ME (May 2009)
  • July is for Blueberries (Bald Peak Trail, Pleasant Mountain, ME, July 2009)
  • Old Spec - Grafton Notch State Park, ME (August 2009)
  • Fall Hiking at Camden Hills State Park, ME (October 2009)
  • Trail Sledding at Bradbury Mountain State Park (January 2010)
  • Finding Snow at Black Mountain, ME (March 2010)
  • Spring Hiking is Wet Hiking (March 2010)
• Multi-day trips:
  • First Camping Trip of the Season (White Mountains, NH, May 2009)
  • Thoughts from Camden Hills - First Time Backpacking (February 2009)
  • Gentian Pond Backpacking - Successes and Failures and A Backpacking Journal from Gentian Pond, NH (September 2009)
  • First Hike of the Winter Season (December 2009)
  • This is Why We Camp and Camden Hills Backpacking Trip and Life Reflections (Camden Hills State Park, January 2010)
  • Backpacking at Horns Pond Bigelow Maine (May 2010)

Inspiration

• Books:
  • Reading Together (Zero Days)
  • A Long Trek Home
• Film:
  • Earth Expedition Documentary
  • Speaking With Conviction
  • Mt. Solitary Family Backpacking Trip
• Interviews:
  • An Interview with a Family on Bikes
  • Checking-in With the Joneses

Updates

Do you want to be notified when this page changes? Click on the link below to watch this post and recieve an email whenever it is updated.