Kids Who Explore is based in Alberta, Canada, so some of our favorite spots to adventure are in Kananaskis Country. There are many hikes available for families and kids of all skill levels. With the help of Megn, @_hideandpeak, we've come up with a list of our favorite Family-Friendly Hikes in Kananaskis, Alberta, to share with you! Troll Falls 3.4kms out & back, 154m elevation gain Troll Falls Trail is a beautiful, easy hike for all skill levels to a set of waterfalls at the end of a horseshoe-shaped canyon. There is a lovely mixture of aspens and evergreen trees with wispy lichen hanging from the branches. There are several teepees in the forest made from fallen tree trunks. This is a huge hit with the kids! In the winter time, the trail to the Upper Falls can be closed due to unsafe conditions. Prairie/Barrier View 10kms out & back, 400m elevation gain This trail is perfect for those wanting to gain a bit more elevation for those views! Starting at Barrier Lake, the parking lot for this trail can get very busy, so make sure you arrive early to get a spot. As you make your way up Yates Mountain, which you can choose to summit if you're up to it, you will find the trail very easy to follow. Your first view of Barrier Lake is when you make it to Prairie Viewpoint. You can stop here for lunch, continue on to the summit of Yates Mountain, or make your way back down via Jewell Pass. Fun fact -- there is a helicopter landing pad on the top of Yates Mountain, and someone lives there! Upper Kananaskis Lake 15.3km loop, 453m elevation gain Although the trail is long kilometer wise, this is still a beautiful trail to take those of all skill levels! This is a great trail to allow the kids to be out of the hiking carrier and walking themselves, and also not to vigorous for you to bring the carrier along. Be aware that this area does sometimes have closures for bears, so watch for any signage indicating any closures! You can access Rawson Lake and Upper Kananaskis Falls from this trail aswell. This is a great loop for families! Vents Ridge 4km out and back, 300m elevation gain This trail is in the Bragg Creek/Elbow Valley area, right beside Prairie Mountain. You also pass the White Buddha climbing & bouldering area. Be sure not to throw rocks from the top since there are climbers below! This easy summit is doable in the summer or winter. Vents Ridge gets its name from the five vents you can see on a chilly day! Wedge Pond 1km loop, 33m elevation gain Wedge Pond is a great option if you have tiny hikers just starting out and you want to keep it light. This is a nice little walk around a beautiful pond that has picnic tables, firepits, a water pump, and tons of space to enjoy lunch! You can meet up with your mom friends for a relaxed afternoon here, or end your day here after a long hike. Did you know there is also fish in this lake? Stop by to see if you can see them in the clear water! Enjoy these Family-Friendly Hikes in Kananaskis, Alberta! Thank you for reading this week's blog post on family-friendly hikes in Kananaskis, Alberta with the help of Megn from @_hideandpeak. You can click here to find Megn's Instagram and follow along on her mountain adventures with her little girl. Do you have a destination you would like to share your favorite trails from? Send us a message!

This week we hopped on a Zoom call with Michelle Dias, a Waste & Recycling Educator for the City of Calgary, to talk about food waste and ways we can reduce food waste. Did you know that upwards to 60% of individuals black-bin waste in Calgary is food waste that can either be eaten or composted? The City of Calgary is working hard to encourage households to implement certain practices in their life to help keep compostable & organic material out of landfills. Michelle shared some great information, videos, and resources that we will link below! Here are 3 easy tips she shared with us on how we can reduce food waste in our homes. Plan it out Planning your meals is a big help when it comes to making sure you're only buying food you know you will eat. Create a realistic schedule based on how many meals you'll be needing for the week. There are tons of great resources available to help with planning, whether that be a printable meal planner calendar, or a grocery-list shopping app. You can find ways to make this step easier for you & your household! If you're stumped on what to make, you can find recipes on websites like Love Food Hate Waste or any other website you can find by googling recipes or certain ingredients. Here are some more reminders to help you reduce food waste under 'Plan it out'. Don't grocery shop hungry Always do a scan of your fridge & pantry before heading to the grocery store Stay away from "deals" -- just because the price may be better for larger amounts, doesn't mean it's always good if you can't guarantee you will eat it all before it goes bad Know the difference between best-before dates & expiry dates Plan meals based on using up items that may be going bad soon—this ties into the last tip! Here is an example of a meal planner you can use! Store it Right Do you enjoy organization, or do you find it time-consuming? Did you know it actually takes the same amount of time if you take just a little bit of time at the beginning to organize, compared to spending time finding and moving items around each time you're looking for something? Organization is a great way to cut down on overbuying and food going to waste. Keeping your fridge and pantry organized helps make everything visible for you. Another tip is to label your items -- that way you know exactly what you have or what you are grabbing that day! The second part of this tip is to make sure you're storing things like herbs, vegetables, and fruit properly. Did you know there is actually a specific way you should organize items in your fridge based on keeping them fresh? Above is a photo Michelle shared during her PowerPoint! Use it Up All 3 of these tips tie well into each other, and are very easy to follow! If you plan out your meals (and stick to them by keeping items organized and visible), you have a higher chance of using things up instead of needing to throw items out that could've been eaten. Keeping leftovers easily visible in your fridge is a good way to make sure they are being used up. You could pick a certain day(s) of the week where you only cook with what you have -- no buying anything, no take-out. This is one of the biggest and easiest ways to not only cut down on food waste but also help you save some money! A great way to use up fruit & vegetables is muffins! Click here to find a recipe on how to use up fruits & veggies in some healthy, delicious muffins! Here are clickable links Michelle Dias has shared with us regarding reducing food waste. Reducing Our Food Waste (City of Calgary) Love Food Hate Waste Fridge Guide How Compost Is Made: Calgary's Green Cart Program Food Waste with John Oliver Second Harvest: The Roadmap to Avoiding Food Waste We Hope YOu Use These Tips to Reduce Food Waste! Thank you so much for reading this week's blog post about Food Waste. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know!

This week's blog post is written by Cindy Dowsett, a Mama within our behind-the-scenes community! As travel begins to ramp up again, she has shared some of her best tips for international travel with kids! Here is what she had to say. How to Backpack Internationally with Kids Now that there is discussion on borders opening up again post pandemic, there is going to be a lot of interest in international travel again. While everything is still up in the air, we don’t know yet what that will look like, or what vaccinations will look like for kids. While some may be ok with the idea of traveling immediately, others are on the fence and wondering whether they should wait it out and see what happens. Since we can’t speak to the future, here are some tips for what travel looked like with kids BEFORE the pandemic. Pick The Best Flight Times While I myself love finding the cheapest flights, usually the milk runs with multiple layovers, I completely understand that this is not for everyone. We like to extend our layovers and visit multiple cities and countries in the same trip, and yes we are doing this backpacking. When we were younger, we used to backpack frequently and stay in hostels and meet new people and see new places. Now that we have children, we still do those things! We just skip the full moon parties and nightclubs now. We also prefer airbnb over hostels, but as our kids are getting older, I would likely start staying in hostels again, just with a private room. So for us, the milk run flights work well. If you are looking at more direct flights, just know the price often goes up by quite a bit. When looking at flights, try to consider children's sleep schedules. It can be easier to fly during nap and or bed time, though this can also backfire if flights are delayed. Know that there is a good chance your child isn’t going to sleep great anyways, and if you have a baby, look in to seats with bassinets. There are weight and height restrictions for the infant airplane bed, and while I never had the opportunity to try one personally, the idea is great. They are reserved quickly so I've always used my soft carrier on the front to let my babies sleep on my chest. You can loosen the straps to give them a bit more space, but also help you be hands free. Pack Only Carry-On Ok, this is again personal preference, but after way too much time in the airport as it is, the last thing you want to do is hang out any longer waiting for baggage to arrive. If you have travelled before, you know this can be a nightmare, and with sleep deprived kids (and parents!) who have been confined to a very small space for hours on end, the last thing you want to do is add waiting time. Infants and toddlers are allowed their own bag and you are allowed a diaper bag. With the amount of carry-on pieces you are allowed, we were able to pack (lightly) for all of our family vacations. We would gate check the stroller, with a sleeve of diapers and wipes in the storage pocket on the bottom, our kids carry their own backpacks with their toys, books and a change of clothes/extra diapers and wipes, and we carry our own backpacks with all the rest of the clothing and needed items. This has worked very well for us in the past and we plan to continue this approach for future travel. If you are wondering about a car seat, many rental agencies supply one or you can request an uber with a car seat in some countries. We also like to travel to places where we have family and friends and they often supply one for us on the other side. Packing only carry-on can be time consuming at security, and add some weight in the airport, but once we get to the gate we can onload and we’re fine. The stroller is also super handy here as usually I am baby wearing and the stroller is used as our storage during this time. I always make sure I have everything that needs to be removed at security (such as toiletries) in a bag so I just have to grab that one item and put it on the belt with the other bags. I do the same for the diapers and wipes that will be kept through gate check in our stroller so that there are less pieces going through the security gate. Since the stroller can’t go through the belt, everything needs to be removed from it to scan and they take it through another area to inspect and test, so it's good to have this organized and liquids finished before you go to security. Depending on the agent, you may or may not have to remove your baby/toddler from the baby carrier in security. Note that this will only work for larger planes. Smaller flights, like Ryan Air in Europe, will make you check your extra carry on. What to Pack for The Plane Since we only have carry-on, we have everything we need with us constantly. The adult backpacks go in overhead storage and everything else is by our feet. It makes it super easy if you need something and then remember you checked it. The reason our kids have a change of clothes in their own little backpacks is so that we don't have to rummage through our bigger ones. Have you ever read Robert Munsch “Too Much Stuff”? Yep, picture that if I were to unzip my backpack containing 2-3 weeks worth of stuff for 4. We always pack on the plane: -snacks -water (empty bottles for security and you can fill them on the other side) -diapers and wipes (not needed anymore but good for anyone reading still in this stage) -special teddy -water wow books -coloring books -reading books -head phones (for using the airplane tv) -tablet, yes we allow our kids special tv time on the plane, but they have to alternate shows with play and reading, and only one can use it at a time. One of us will entertain the other (this may change now that the kids are older). -new toys. These are wonderful surprises that the kids love. It's usually a putty or a fidget toy. Something that will keep their little hands busy but not make a mess. -little toys like cars or trains or dolls Our bags in overhead contain a few days worth of clothes each and I bring travel size tide laundry packets to hand wash our clothes if necessary. We wear our bigger items like sweaters and runners on the plane. What to Expect When You Embark on International Travel with Kids The nice thing about most airports and travelling with kids is that you get to skip many of the long lines and go through customs and security a little faster. Trust me, they don’t want any screaming kids any more than you do. This doesn’t happen at every airport though, so be prepared to wait in long lines. Many airports have children’s areas where there is a little playground or area they can play. If you can and have time, try to eat and use the washroom before getting on the plane. You will be the first on the plane, which is nice for storing your things, but also means you are on the plane a lot longer. Be prepared for that, the novelty can run off quickly. Once you're on the plane, the flight attendants will come and ask you questions such as whether you have travelled with a child before. They will instruct you on extra safety, how best to hold an infant on take off and may or may not provide you with a seat belt extension for your little one in your lap. If you have the funds and want to, some of our friends purchase an extra seat for the extra space. Once they are two, you will need to purchase their own seat. Once you are in the air, the flight attendants are great at helping get you what you need. If your kids ears start to hurt like our eldest, they are always concerned and try to help. Once your child can chew gum, let them on take off and arrival. Other tips are breast feeding, bottle feeding, food pouches or water bottles during this time. One thing we never let our kids do when they were young was walk on the airplane while in flight. This worked great for us because we always carried them on and off, and to the washroom, and rocking them in the back area to settle them if needed. They didn’t actually know that it was possible for them to walk, so they never asked or cried to get out of their seats. They were, for the most part, happy to stay, and as they got older we explained that it was just like being in the car-seat belts at all times. Always check ahead to see if meals and drinks are included. If not, either bring them with you or purchase ahead of time from the airport. Time Change This is child and situation dependent but we've always lucked out in this department. Everything is so new and exciting for the kids that they usually stay awake until local evening anyways. Then we all have a good sleep and feel pretty good the next day. It's coming home that we notice it more. It usually takes the kids about two weeks to get back to normal routine. Now that they are in school though, that may change. And anyone reading this who has children in daycare may have a different experience. I personally love the extra snuggles during the few slow and quiet days after we get home from a big trip. Our Favorite Countries so Far Morocco and Greece!!! We've loved everywhere we have traveled with the kids, but these two countries stood out for going above and beyond to help families. They love children. Everyone will go out of their way to get you sorted. Safety & Getting Around If you're worried about travelling with your children for safety, be street smart. Research where you're going and just like anywhere, keep them within sight and close. Mainland travel usually consists of trains busses, boats, cars and or flights. Many countries don't use car seats, so you will either need to plan ahead for this by bringing your own, contacting car rental agencies to see if they can be supplied or getting comfortable with your child sitting on your lap like the locals. Explore and Have Fun! Travel certainly looks different with children. You often get to see the sights before the rest of the city is awake, and have a child sleeping on you during naps and bed time (baby wearing means you don't have to miss out on exploring what you want to to see/do). Meal times are usually quieter as our kids eat earlier and we usually rest during the hottest part of the day in a shady park or coffee shop. Travelling with young kids is unique in that you really get to slow down and explore the area you're in, so enjoy the pace, talk with the locals, and enjoy the world through their eyes. Thank you for reading this week's blog post! Have you started thinking about international travel now? Click here to check out Cindy on Instagram! Make sure to tag us in your adventures by using @KidsWhoExplore and #KidsWhoExplore for your chance to be featured on your Instagram page. Happy Exploring.

Adrianna, Michelle, Rowan & their families spent September Long Weekend in Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in British Columbia, and they've compiled a list from their experience to create the ultimate guide to Fairmont Hot Springs! Here is their Family Guide to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort! Family Guide to Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Here's what your family needs to know about spending a weekend getaway at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort. First: Rooms for families big and small The resort features rooms that sleep up to six guests, and you'll want to book at the lodge if you want to be close to the pools and restaurants. Many rooms feature kitchenettes that have a fridge, dishwasher, 2-burner stovetop, microwave, and other small appliances and cooking utensils. The loft suites have 2 queen beds as well as 2 single beds, but if you're looking for a separate space from your older kids, booking adjoining rooms might be a better fit for you. There are fun activities for all ages Included with your stay are a variety of fun activities. At Basecamp, you can enjoy mini-golf, volleyball and a horseshoe course! Here's an example of the daily activities schedule: 8:45-10:45am: Guided Kayak Tour 10:00-11:00am: DIY Fairy House Craft 11:00-12:00am: Unicorn Paper Plate Craft 11:30-1:30pm: Guided Kayak Tour 1:00pm-2:00pm: DIY Blossom Bracelet 2:15-4:15pm: Guided Kayak Tour 2:30-3:30pm: Bonfire & S'mores 4:00-5:00pm: Popsicle Gnomes 5:00-6:00pm: Family Bingo 7:00-9:00pm: Kids Movie Night As you can see, there are so many amazing activities available for kids of all ages! Awesome live music for all tastes We were pleasantly surprised to find out live music was being played both in the green space near the large hot spring pool. Great tunes were played from all genres, making it easy for everyone to groove along to and enjoy. They only have live music on weekends during the summer, and if that isn't your thing, make sure to request a room not facing the pools. Exceptionally clean pools You can visit the resort for the day for a swim in the hot springs, which include a large warm swimming pool and large hot springs area (both are filled with springs water, just different temperatures). The pools are fully drained and replenished every night, which is highly unusual for swimming basins! If you stay at the lodge, you will also have access to a smaller hot spring, steam room, sauna, and indoor cold plunge pool (4 degrees celcius). Hiking for all abilities There are many hiking trails in the area available for all ages and abilities right from the resort. We were able to experience a guided hike to learn about the history of the hot springs -- highly suggest taking advantage of this opportunity to get the chance. Patti was an amazing tour guide! Here are some of the trails in the area for you to check out when you stay at Fairmont Hot Springs, BC: Owl Loop -- 3.7 kms/185 m elevation Poet Trail -- 3.5 kms/137 m elevation Hunters Way -- 11.6 kms/654 elevation Hoodoo Trail -- 3.2 kms/120 elevation Restaurants to satisfy all cravings Multiple dining options are available while staying at the Fairmont, but depending on the season, not all are open. While we visited, there were three options available: Antlers at the Lodge for breakfast, Bear's Paw Bar & Grill for lunch and dinner, and Steamers Cafe for a quick bite or coffee. We ate at Bear's Paw Bar & Grill twice, and we all tried different things each time. Everything was delicious, and the drinks were great! I highly suggest getting a booth and bringing crayons or books of your own if you are going with your little ones to keep them entertained. They do have booster seats and high chairs available. Big adventures for big kids and grown-ups Although closed for the winter season, Mineral Mountain Zipline is fun for those ages 10 & up. There are 6 lines that whisk you through the forest, giving you views of the beautiful Fairmont river and Columbia Valley. There is also horseback riding available during the summer months, and skiing available during the winter months! Golf fans? There is 3 courses available for you to use -- Riverside, Mountainside and Creekside -- 2 being 18 hole, and one nine-hole 3 Par 3. There is truly adventures for the whole clan! If you're looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate, this is the place. We are so grateful to the team at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for giving us the best experience we could ask for. Use code KIDSWHO to get 10% off your reservation. Reservations must be booked starting October 1st. Thank you for reading this week's blog post!

Rowan Rocskar and Michelle Klatt spent a couple of days in August in Golden, BC, exploring around and visiting the best of what Golden has to offer. In partnership with Tourism Golden, they were able to check off many bucket-list adventures. Here's what they had to say about some of the best Family-Friendly Activities in Golden, BC: You can find all of this info and more over at Rowan's blog by clicking here! Visit Boo the Grizzly Bear Boo has lived at Kicking Horse Mountain for 19 years after his Mom was shot by a poacher on the side of the road. Boo had 2 siblings, who both did not make it. Boo has been there since the early 2000s and has escaped twice -- AND he walked right back in after about a month each time! Meeting Boo the Bear was like nothing we had experienced before. We were able to safely watch him chow down on his breakfast from only a few feet away - who knew that bears loved corn on the cob, not me! Due to his being orphaned, researchers were able to create a 20-acre home for him at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. When you visit you will learn all about Boo, what else he loves to eat, and how they keep him safe and healthy in his home. Ride the Gondola up Kicking Horse Mountain & Eat at Canada's Highest-Elevation Restaurant After our morning with Boo, we headed back down to the day lodge area on the chairlift. If you’ve got kids with you, you might experience a few tears at first, but as long as you assure them that they are safe, they will love the open-air view from up high! Rowan suited up with her hiking carrier, grabbed a coffee from the General Store, and then headed up to the summit in the gondola. From the gondola, you can watch the mountain bikers riding below, and you might even get another glimpse of Boo! We had about an hour to explore before our lunch reservation, so we decided to hike up the Terminator Peak. This hike is short, but not for the faint of heart. Lunch at Eagle’s Eye was well-deserved, and all seats offer stunning views for individuals who aren’t able to (or simply don’t want to) make it up the mountain peaks. Visit the wolves at Northern Lights Wolf Center If you thought you knew about wolves in the wild, the 25-minute interpretive tour at Northern Lights will knock your socks off. Northern Lights is open year round, is fun for the whole family, and brings you close to seeing wolves as they go about their daily business from just outside their enclosures. We were blown away by the information and knowledge we learnt about the importance and value of wolves in the ecosystem. It was truly an eye-opening experience and recommended for all families to visit. You can book a walk with the wolves if everyone in your group is over 16 years old. Walk Across Two of Canada's Highest Suspension Bridges This was such an exhilarating experience, like none other! The two bridges are 426 feet above an expansive canyon, and is sure to be a new family favourite. There’s also a tree-top challenge course, Play Park, zipline, and a canyon swing is coming soon (sure to make your stomach drop!). Stevie, Rowan's Daughter, enjoyed the Play Park and did not want to leave! Make sure to check it out when you visit. Explore the Golden Farmers Market & Historic Downtown Parking is free within the town, and on Wednesday’s you can enjoy browsing the vendors at the Farmer’s Market from 11-3. After we picked up some baked goods we wandered down the Rotary Pathway system and ended up at the Dogwood Playground. It’s surrounded by green space and is great for toddler-age kids. There are many restaurants, quaint stores & trails to explore throughout downtown Golden. If you’re craving an elaborate burger, The Wolf’s Den is the place you have to check out. They have 17 different burger types, from bison, elk, chicken, salmon, and bean patties… you name it, they’ve got it. They also have an extensive drink menu, with lots of beer on tap. The patio is expansive, which means there’s ample space for your kids to roam without getting in the way. Have Fun Exploring These Family-Friendly Activities in Golden, BC! Please be sure to follow us on Instagram at @kidswhoexplore and use #KidsWhoExplore and #KWE for your chance to be featured on our social channels. Happy adventuring, friends!

This week's blog post focuses on the topic of our latest podcast - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for the Planet with Michelle Dias. You can click here to listen to the full episode! We've also kicked off our second Planet Clean-Up Month, where info can be found all about the event by clicking here! Michelle Dias teaches us what the three R's REALLY should be, with a little bit of a C mixed in there! Michelle works for the Waste & Recycling Services at the City of Calgary. She has been a naturalist and environmental educator for over 20 years, and has always felt curious and inspired by nature. Below are some tips and information Michelle shared with us on the podcast. Some of the information below will be specific to Calgary, AB, so please check the rules for the recycling and composting programs in your municipality. The Three R's REDUCE (as much as possible, first) Then REUSE, And if you can’t do either of those, RECYCLE (recycling does require a lot of energy, so put YOUR energy into the first two!). Reduce Try products with less packaging, like laundry detergent strips, or bar shampoo and conditioner Remove purely recyclable items from your kitchen, such as Ziploc bags, and use reusable jars or bags instead. You can buy reusable sandwich bags and although the invest may seem large to begin with, it is worth it in the end! Reuse Get things second-hand. There are tons of secondhand resources, including Facebook Marketplace, MEC Used Gear, Consignment stores, and so much more. Reuse items like jam jars and other containers! You can use jars as water glasses, and re-use butter or sour cream containers to store leftovers. Recycle The three categories of recycling are: Containers (plastic, tin, glass…think kitchen and bathroom packaging), paper, plastic bags Loose bags do not belong in the blue cart. Plastic bags should be stretchy material and bundled all in one, so they do not fly away at the facility. Crinkly plastic bags, like pasta bags are not collected Household items like toy trucks, shoes, and toothbrushes are not for the blue cart (when recycling, think about packaging over items) Black plastic can be a challenge to recycle in some systems, because of black conveyor belts camouflaging the items and the scanners not recognizing them Recycling metal, glass, and paper is way more valuable than recycling plastic (although, we should still recycle plastic that can be recycled...or reduce it in the first place!) Rule of thumb: anything smaller than your hand cannot be recycled. For example, Starbucks lids or to-go sauce containers. However, if recycled at the locations you received them, they usually have a program to recycle! Compost Remember, no food packaging and plastic can be composted, even if it says compostable (remember, it also takes a lot of resources to make compostable containers) Some offices or festivals have their own compostable systems that can handle compostable containers Food, yard scraps & cat litter can be composted Paper towels are compostable in most places Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for the Planet All of these tips and practices are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to implementing solutions to help preserve our beautiful Earth. The more people follow these practices, the more of an impact they can make. Thank-you for following along with this week's blog post & podcast! We hope you love our Earth as much as we do and will work to help us this month by following these practices and cleaning up the outdoors! Sign up for Planet Cleanup here! Please be sure to follow us on Instagram at @kidswhoexplore and use #KidsWhoExplore and #KWE for your chance to be featured on our social channels. Happy adventuring, friends!

This week's blog feature is written by our ambassador, @together_wewillwonder. Kellie created this piece for Australian magazine, MamaMag, which was published in the Aug/Sept 2021 issue. Kellie and her family live in Australia, and aimed to promote Kids Who Explore through this piece, encouraging other families to go beyond their front door while still staying close to home. Here is Kellie's piece, which she has allowed us to share! Raising Kids Who Explore: Spending time outdoors offers our children countless opportunities for discovery, experimenting, problem-solving, and creativity! With my children, I have also found outdoor play to have an immense calming power. For that reason, I believe spending time outside is great for a child’s physical and mental health and cognitive development. The added bonus for kids and adults alike is that outdoor play can be HEAPS OF FUN! At times, the perceived lack of access to large green spaces may be seen as a barrier to raising kids who explore. I’ll admit I love nothing more than jumping in the car and driving to a National Park or our local beach. But if the COVID-19 pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that we can replicate outdoor play we’d previously done further afield, very close to home or even in our backyard! Here are ten ways we encourage our kids to explore the outdoors closer to home 1. Sweep fallen autumn leaves into a big pile and let the kids jump till their hearts are content (we put our pile at the bottom of our backyard slide!) What kid doesn’t like jumping in big piles of leaves? 2. Grab your picnic rug, pack some food and have lunch or dinner in your backyard or local park. 3. Get creative with chalk. Remember all the hours you spent drawing on the footpath as a kid? Go one step further and encourage your kids to add things they find in nature to their chalk drawing, e.g. acorn eyes or a pinecone nose. 4. Find and follow an ant trail. Place a small piece of food, or some crumbs close by and watch what happens. 5. Look at various flowers around your local area and carefully sketch them. Can the kids draw the veins and add the textures? 6. Run a scavenger hunt with a twist, e.g., find a rough leaf, a soft leaf and one that releases an aroma. 7. Let the kids have a spot in the yard to dig (we have a dedicated area in our backyard that the kids have lovingly named ‘the construction site’. Here, they are allowed to dig as deep as they want, make ponds, and build small dams. 8. Camp in your backyard! There is no need to pack the car with this one, so it’s a win win for everyone! 9. Go searching for a street library – can you walk/ride to a local street library to swap a free book and explore parts of your local area you may not have previously (on the Street Library website, you can search by postcode for libraries close by). 10. Bring old sheets from inside, bits of timber from the garage and other treasures to draw the kids into a magical world of imagination. What games will they come up with? If you feel like you need a little more encouragement or direction, there are many local groups you can get involved with to get outdoors. One of these is Kids Who Explore, a social enterprise established by mothers with young children whose goal is to inspire other families worldwide to connect with nature, and with each other! Their website is full of great tips and tricks to help get your kids exploring nature. Kids Who Explore also plan worldwide virtual events that families can participate in regardless of where you live. Initiatives such as rubbish clean-ups and hike challenges are a great way to connect with like-minded families. If we can encourage our kids to spend time outdoors, we can develop life-long habits, supporting physical and mental health well into the future! Whether it’s in our backyard, local park or somewhere further afield, nature stirs on kiddie creativity. Outdoor play can mean more with less, and less can often lead to more fun! I’ll end this blog post on Raising Kids Who Explore with a ‘let’s get real’ tip. Of course, you will experience meltdowns while exploring outdoors (we all do), but a lolly snake can do wonders as a kiddie motivator for those little ones who may be a little reluctant at first! Written by Kellie Floyd, a self-proclaimed outdoorsy mama who works in marketing and communications and as a freelance writer. If you’d like further inspiration, you can follow Kellie’s family outdoor exploration at @together_wewillwander and connect with Kids Who Explore at kidswhoexplore.com or @kidswhoexplore. We are so honored to have our name featured in this Australian magazine, expressing the topic we all feel so strongly about -- the importance of the outdoors. Kellie's voice is an influential part in spreading our message across Australia and we couldn't thank her enough! You can click here to check out the blog post through MamaMag. Follow Kellie at @together_wewillwander on Instagram to continue to be inspired to explore the great outdoors. You can click here if you'd like to read the whole magazine Kellie's piece was featured in! Thank-you for reading this week's feature blog post.

This week's blog post is written by our Ambassador and Diversity Committee member @runawaymusbus. Kaitlin writes about the importance of the outdoors allowing children to grow and find themselves while experiencing nature daily. Travelling with her family in their 18-foot school bus, they are able to experience our beautiful earth at their fingertips. Kaitlin is a foster and adoption advocate, who has fostered 34 children and shared with us her story of how outdoor therapy helped her foster child. "I am sure you have read somewhere on some blog post, some inspirational quote, or some feel-good news article that outdoor time is good for your mental well-being. And I am sure fellow outdoor lovers will agree with the feeling of fresh air bringing fresh healing to whatever rottenness you may have been experiencing before treading among the forest giants. Even a self proclaimed mountain woman myself I still would chuckle that maybe it is not as great as everyone likes to say it is. That was the truth, at least until I met little Miss May. The first time I laid eyes on this brazenly beautiful creature was on a rainy dark evening at a run-down McDonald's right off the Blue Line in downtown Long Beach, California. I lowered myself to my knees to softly say hello to this three-year-old creature in front of me. Her eyes sparked light against hazel crispness as she grabbed my hand in her tiny ones to declare- ‘ok you can be my mom now.’ I took a breath as I found myself pushed off-kilter, yet not truly surprised by her response. After my many years working with at-risk families whose children need a home to land in for various reasons, all normal expectations are quickly dashed. Miss May, in one breath of a second, quickly nestled herself deeply into my shattered heart. Miss May rubbed her eyes in confusion as I tried various-sized boots on her feet the next morning. ‘What’s hiking?’ – she asked softly. ‘Well, it’s just walking. Or maybe even skipping. And sometimes even dancing up mountains and in forests.’ She chuckled as her gaze left mine to stare into a world I was not privy to. ‘I don’t really go outside.’; was all she sighed as we found a suitable shoe to dawn on her Cinderella foot. A drive later, a mountain climb later, a few snacks later, a few wild animal spottings later – Miss May crumbled into the hillside trail. I prepared myself for the unavoidable meltdown. We had hiked five miles, and usually, the first outing with our new babes results in protests within the first thirty minutes. Poor diets fueled by EBT cards mixed with no exercise constraints with urban lives create children just physically overwhelmed with running around as children should do. I looked to my husband and nodded that – yes this is the time to hoist her on his shoulders for a break. But much to our joined confusion, as he went to pick up her tiny body into his strong arms she fought back with tears and protests of no! Miss May just wanted to walk. She wanted to stay among the trees. She did not want to leave. She wanted to climb more mountains. She wanted to find more waterfalls. But her legs—her tiny legs of grit and determination—were letting her heart wander down, and her anger at her own inabilities filled the still air. Tears and wrestling later, Miss May rested her tired head on my husband’s shoulders as she drifted to sleep. I watched over the better part of the year when Miss May was in our family, and she began to thrive. She gave up her protest to only eat fast food. She ran more and out-hiked us on every mountain. She laughed more. She sang more. She grew as strong as the beautiful light within her. The wilderness wrapped its delight around her as memories of past shelters, past cars sleeping, and past cramped one-bedroom state housing gave way to summer nights sleeping in tents underneath a vast sky. I never really believed being outside could heal a person. I thought we all simply wanted reasons to grant us permission to do what we find enjoyable. But then I met Miss May, and everything changed. I love you, Miss May. I miss you. You will always have a place here if you need it once more." This blog post reminds us that the smallest moments in life can bring one so much joy, self-worth, and love. Through Kids Who Explore, we aim to create an inclusive atmosphere that allows you and your child to feel motivated to explore beyond your front door, and Kaitlin motivates us to do so through her thoughts and words. You can follow along with more of Kaitlin and her family through their blog, www.runawaymusbus.com, and you can find this exact blog post right here. Head over to our Instagram to watch our IG Live with Kaitlin and her family on August 18th at 7:00 MST as we ask about their journey thus far. Thank you for following along with our blog!

Growing up, Summer Break has always meant road trips and traveling to our families, and we are sure many agree! School is out, and we are all ready to unwind while exploring beautiful places – but the most stressful part easily could be packing. We’ve reached out to our ambassador families and they’ve given us their must-have tips and items to make road trip planning for your family a little bit easier! Here Are Our Community's Tips for Family Road Trips Bring/learn Car games and toys – keep it fun, easy and entertaining! I-Spy is a great one to play with little ones in the car and keeps them entertained for a long time. Magnet toys are a great idea as they are less likely to roll down an airplane isle or under car seats. Sticker books are another hit amongst many of our families! Allowing your child to pick out a new item to increase “wow” value. If you let them pick out a new colouring book or small toy, it can keep them entertained longer as they’ve never seen it before. This works great for long plane and train rides! Patience. This one may a little self-explanatory! The longer you stay patient, the happier you and your children may be! Learn to appreciate the little moments along the way because you may only experience that moment once. Sense of humour. Sometimes plans can go haywire, kids start a rebellion, and even a bear might even break into your car while you sleep. Laughing about it together bonds your family and gives you the joy to keep exploring. Travel Trays! These help prevent mess, as it gives your kids a flat surface to eat on, but also gives them a place to play and colour on. Colouring and drawing while having legs as the surface can become frustrating which could lead to meltdowns! Bring items that are familiar to your children for sleeping. A pack-and-play have been what most of the families have suggested, as well as a favorite blanket or two and any stuffed animal they may love. Make it familiar to home so they are more comfortable and fall asleep faster Organize family member items in color coded packing cubes. Nothing is worse than having to make a quit stop to find something, and tearing the vehicle apart to find it! Packing cubes that are color coded per family member make it easy for everyone to put their stuff where it belongs, and makes it so you don’t even have to unpack the car if you please! If you carry around a pocket knife and vegetable peeler, it is easy to stop at a local market/store to get fresh vegetables and fruit! Bring a soft carrier if you’re pressed for space. If you have a larger stroller, this can take up the most space out of all items. Consider purchasing a soft carrier to free up room in the car! Some Absolute Must-Pave Items for Road-Tripping with Kids Water bottle Food pouches and sandwiches Cloths/wipes to clean up At least 2 sets of clothes – one that is easily accessible Extra diapers, wipes, and bum cream First-aid kit with Baby Tylenol, especially for a teething baby! Walking shoes Hat, sunscreen & bug spray! Towel – kids will always find a way to get wet! Coffee – this one was suggested a lot as a Do Not Forget! Thank-you to all of our Ambassador Families for lending their knowledge to help make this blog post! We hope you can put these tips to good use. Send us your favorite tips and don’t forget to tag us @KidsWhoExplore & #KidsWhoExplore on Instagram so we can follow along on your next travels!

This may sound obvious, but having a family is a lot of work. It’s also a lot of work to get everyone ready to go outside and then actually enjoy it. Some families are composed of children who run laps around their parents in the forest, participate in biking competitions, and can out-swim their parents before they reach their teenage years. Well, mine isn’t. Don’t get me wrong! My kiddo has energy and I love and nurturing everything about his beautiful blossoming personality. But, his energy is usually thrown face-first into building with Lego, and more recently, embarking on his own construction projects (literally, his grandpa gave him a real drill and tool set). It does actually take some motivation to get him to dive into activities that involve running up mountains. This sometimes poses a slight challenge for our very outdoorsy family! I like the challenge, however, and nothing is more satisfying than prying an unwilling child from the couch just to win him over in the outdoors. The fact that my son can be a little bit of a challenge to motivate has done wonders for my creativity, and for that, little man, I thank you! I’ve had to come up with some really good ideas over the years to help distract him from the fact that… Yes, we are climbing to the top of that mountain… and no, it’s not 5 more feet, it’s 5 more kilometers. Here are a few of my tried-and-true motivating ideas for hiking with kids: 1. Get in tune with nature and make up silly songs I love singing (but trust me when I say I’m no Mariah Carey), and so does my kiddo. This makes outdoor adventures fun as we make up really funny songs about some of the things that we see. On our most recent backcountry hike, we spent a decent amount of time singing to the wilderness (and conveniently warding off bears, as we learned from Kim Titchener on our blog and podcast). I was singing about hoping the bears wouldn't eat us, while Lucca thought it was hilarious to sing a serenade in hopes of the bears coming to dangle themselves from the trees in front of us. 2. Create a story or virtual world This one is a lot of fun, too! My son loves stories (what kid doesn’t?), and he loves thinking about the hypothetical. My favourite topic to date was “design your dream house”. This little imaginative activity took us about two hours and made a hike feel like 5 minutes. To share, this is essentially where my son would live and what his house would look like: Lucca would live in Antarctica, in a large, 3-story house strategically placed on a very thick portion of the ocean ice. He would have 8 penguins living with him, two of which would sleep with him in his large, multi-bedroom (I get to sleep on a single bed in the corner… yay me). He would have a fridge with a tube that went straight into the ice and sucked up nothing but fresh, ready-to-eat fish for the penguins. Side note: Please, Lucca, engineer this for us... you’ll make us millions of dollars. I could go into painful detail (we designed everything down to the couch cushions), but let me finish off by adding that his vehicle of choice was a hovercraft. He would also cruise around on said hovercraft while “properly” dressed in fleece-lined shorts and his pink Paw-Patrol Crocs. 3. Become closer to nature (without disrupting it) For the most part, getting creative by singing and using our imaginations is enough. There’s also this amazing thing about hiking, though, and that is the nature around us! There’s so much to do just by being outdoors. We also play eye-spy games to spot funny mushrooms and tiny living beings. We also try to imagine how a fallen tree got where it was, what hides under the bridges we cross, and what kinds of butterflies we might encounter. If he tires of that, sometimes we just simply play a game of “don’t touch the roots”, which almost always ends in a giggle fit and a few more minutes closer to our objective. 4. When motivating doesn't work, bail out, and be proud of it People often ask me how I get my kid to hike the things he does. While it does take some motivating, he generally (and genuinely) loves nature and enjoys it. The most important thing I tell people is that if they’re not having fun, it isn’t worth it anymore. So, like all solid plans, be ready to bail out, turn around, and make a positive decision for your family and your relationship. I know I have, and I’ve never regretted it! I try to never make my son feel unaccomplished or ashamed, either. Sometimes summits happen and sometimes they don’t. I greatly enjoyed our podcast episode with MJ Singletary-Villalobos on Gentle Parenting. In the episode we hear not to worry about conquering the summit, but to "conquer your relationship." and, yes, that couldn't be more true! 5. If you do succeed... CELEBRATE! If we head out and do accomplish a hard hike, though, oh man, does Lucca ever know he accomplished something BIG! I feel like that has also helped motivate him. He almost always gets big praise (and ice cream) after a hard day’s work. I do realize that bribery isn’t always the best parenting tactic, but… I do it sometimes. He keeps hitting the trail with us and looking for more adventures, though, so I will keep doing what works for our family and us! 6. Gear up for your adventures with our favorite gear Over the years, I've also found that the secret to a happy explorer is gear that makes them happy. For my son, this means reliable, comfortable shoes, warm base layers, and his favourite water bottle. Check out our affiliations page to get some great discounts and shop some of our most trusted brands today!

Ticks. They are not our friends. But, it seems that we are destined to share the outdoors with them. Ticks are scary, there is no doubt about that. They are the definition of small, yet mighty! However, we don’t want the fear of ticks to keep us from getting outside. When you know how to keep ticks away, check for ticks, and what to do if one is found, you can more confidently adventure, especially with kids in tow! Keep reading to learn some of our favorite Tip Prevention Tips for Hiking with Kids. Tip Prevention Tips for Hiking with Kids At Kids Who Explore, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Jennifer and LJ, the founders and owners of 3 Moms Organics, which carries a product we love, TickWise, on our podcast. You can learn all about ticks over on that episode, but let us sum up some tick information for you here! Before going outside Before heading out, there are some safety precautions you can take. Spray Permethrin on your shoes (spray it outside, and let it dry before wearing; repeat every 2 weeks) Wear light-coloured clothing that covers up your skin (light colours will make it easier to spot ticks) Tuck tall socks into long pants Spray yourself and your belongings with a tick repellant (check your tick repellant for reapplication instructions) While adventuring While out adventuring, there is still more you can do to be cognisant of ticks. You are already prepared with your gear and your spray, so now… If you can, avoid walking in long grass (that being said, depending on your area, ticks can reside in short grass as well) Pull your hair up and/or wear a hat (ticks can fall from trees, or climb up your body) After being outside You’ve had your fun outside, so now we do the checks. As soon as you’re done adventuring, use a lint roller (or duct tape) all over your clothing (if ticks are just hanging on, you’ll get them off easily) At home, strip down and put your clothing in the dryer on high heat for 1 hour Shower and do a thorough tick check, especially around warm areas of your body, and your hair Remember, if you’re itchy after being outside, look at the area before scratching to determine if a tick is trying to make a new home!! If you find a tick If you find a tick, stay calm…do NOT yank the tick away instantly, as you do not want the tick to regurgitate into your body (sorry…we know, we know…not the nicest image, but we are talking about ticks here). You want to make sure the entire body of the tick is removed. To remove the tick, use needle-nose tweezers (or a Tick Twister or Tick Key) to gently and slowly remove the tick. If the tick has bitten you, keep the tick in a bottle or a plastic bag (do not put the tick in tape), to send in for testing. You can check TickReport for more information. The Mamas from 3 Moms Organics informed us that Lyme disease testing for humans is only about 30% positive, and that the CDC says even if you test negative for Lyme disease, it does not mean you don’t have Lyme disease. That’s why testing the tick is more effective. The Mamas also urged people to make sure they take the full 28-days of antibiotics if bitten, as that brackets the life cycle of the bacteria. There are many other tick-borne diseases, and we want to protect ourselves (and also our pets!). TickWise If you decide to check out TickWise, here are some quick facts about the product: It’s been field-tested for its efficacy It is DEET-free It’s registered in all 50 states in the USA It lasts for 2 hours for ticks, and 1.75 hours for mosquitos; then, it must be re-applied It is good for dogs, but not cats It can be bought via their website or on Amazon, Walmart, or Lowes. Well that’s all for ticks... for today at least. We hope you can avoid these pesky critters, and in the instance you cannot, we hope you feel confident in knowing exactly what to do! Happy Adventuring! Don't forget to tag us on Instagram @kidswhoexplore so we can see where you explore next.

What is the idea of the Ten Essentials? The concept of the “Ten Essentials” was formalized in 1974, according to Mountaineers. The idea, however, dates all the way back to the 1930’s, when it was included in climbing and mountaineering courses! Adventurers from around the world acknowledge that when heading outdoors, there are at least ten items that are deemed necessary for survival. The goal of the Ten Essentials list is to answer two basic questions: First, are you ready to respond to and/or prevent emergencies? Second, are you prepared to spend a night (or more) outdoors? Come along with Kids Who Explore and Campers Village today as we walk you through the Ten Essentials and some car camping basics to get you started on your outdoor adventures! The Ten Essentials, Broken Down 1. Navigation Carry a map & compass (and the knowledge of how to use them), an electronic GPS device, or other trail-map application (such as AllTrails). Even if you think you know where you're going, hiking 5km on a broken foot (or even toe!) can quickly become a dire situation. 2. Illumination Light it up, whichever way works best for you. Pack a flashlight, lantern, or headlamp (or if you're like me, all of the above). USB-powered headlamps are a great option if you carry a power pack to recharge it. Alternatively, battery-operated gear is less expensive if you're starting out! If you're expecting a decent amount of sun, BioLite also engineers some fantastic solar-powered lights. 3. First-aid There are a couple of options for a first-aid kit. If you have an idea of what you might need, making your own kit is a less expensive option. If you want a nicely packaged kit that's all ready to use, Campers Village has you covered! Check them out. 4. Fire Typically, it's a good idea to pack a primary fire starter and a backup. So that might mean waterproof matches and a lighter or torch. Fire-starters are also very useful for (attempting) to start a fire in a downpour (trust me, it'll happen at least once). 5. Shelter Apologies that this probably sounds obvious. Packing a shelter (even on day hikes) is essential! Mind you, it isn't necessary to pack a 3-person tent on a 5km hike. An emergency bivy is sufficient to get you through a tough night in an emergency. 6. Food Again, another obvious-sounding item on the list of the Ten Essentials. Food is important to throw in your pack, even on short day hikes! If you're someone who gets "hangry" (like me), the lack of food can make any situation worse... And quickly. Heading out for multiple days? Ensure you pack enough food for the number of days plus one extra day's worth. Everyone has their own opinions on dehydrated food, but personally, I prefer Backpacker's Pantry. 7. Water Carry more water with you than you think you'll need, especially if you're not exploring near a water source. If you have water nearby, pack something with you to ensure water is safe to consume, should you need to. I personally own the MSR Miniworks EX Filter and carry purification tablets as a backup. New to safely consuming "wild" water? Read this article by Campers Village to educate yourself on all the different methods to prepare water for safe consumption! 8. Clothing Pack clothing that keeps you covered in all types of weather. Research the area you're exploring in to see what extreme weather could occur and prepare for it! Some essentials are a raincoat, warm base layers, and a puffy jacket. In the Rocky Mountains, packing a toque and gloves is a smart addition as well, even in the summer (thank you, mountain weather). 9. Knife (Or, a multi-tool) Are you a little surprised this made it on the list of the Ten Essentials? I was. But, after reading the reasons, it makes complete sense. A sharp knife or multi-tool is useful in first-aid situations, preparing a fire, repairs, cutting rope (more essential for mountaineering and climbing), and for general protection. Are you convinced now? Very useful! 10. Sun protection Pack a sun hat and sunscreen to stay protected against sun exposure. Additionally, carrying clothing that will provide sun protection (long-sleeved, light coloured) is also helpful. Packing sun protection is essential, so bring it along even if the forecast predicts cloudy skies! Car-Camping Basics If you’re embarking on your first camping adventure or looking to streamline your experience, we’re here to simplify the process with this six-step guide to help you prepare for camping! Step one is simple: Look up what’s in your area and decide your basic 5 w’s: who are you going with, what will you be camping in (tent, RV, yurt, etc.), where are you going, when are you going, and why are you heading out (fishing trip, hiking & camping combo, a restful weekend, etc.). Know before you go! Look at what gear you have, what gear you need, and test out your essentials! Make sure your tent doesn’t have leaks, that your camp-stove will fire up (literally), and that your air mattress won’t leave you roughin’ it. Additionally, if this is your first time camping, practice chopping wood and starting a fire! It can be harder than it looks. Make sure you’re animal-safe. Know what wild animal encounters are possible in your area and prepare to deal with them. Take bear spray with you wherever you go! If you’re in bear country and need some tips, check out our blog post on animal safety to get you prepared. Another tip is to know your campground etiquette (if you’re campground-camping). Each campground has slightly different rules. Here in Alberta, if you’re camping in Banff National Park, even your water must be safely stowed away for the site to be considered “bear safe”. Also, follow the local rules for wood-gathering, quiet times, and check-in and check-out. Prepare for all types of weather! I’ve been poured on when the forecast “guaranteed” me a sunburn. When we set up our site, we always tie everything down like Hurricane Katrina is coming for us. I’m all about telling stories to give advice so picture this: It’s 30+ degrees (Celcius) and we’re on the beach in B.C., Alberta. Within about 20 minutes of setting up the tent, the wind kicks up but we’re still happy and living it up. That is, until I watch my tent, with all my belongings in it, fly away. It tumbled about 30 feet down the bank and landed just before the water. So, take my advice! I’ve been sorry… a lot, and it isn’t a whole lotta fun. Last, but not least... Get packing! Ensure you take the time to pack everything you need. Below is a very basic list of everything I pack when camping, but if you would like my comprehensive packing list, check it out here. A sleep system: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and optional pillow and sleeping liner or (Unightie!). Camp-cooking supplies: Stove & fuel, grill for cooking (if you're fire-cooking), pots & pans, cooking/eating utensils, plates, bowls & cups, a cooler, and fire-starting supplies. Misc important gear: Axe, camp chairs, rain canopy or tarp, bear spray, first-aid kit, and sunscreen. Campers Village expert opinion: Books to get you ready for the wilderness I am such a book person, and I'm glad that a lot of outdoor experts are, too! We've compiled a list of Campers Village-recommended books and resources to educate you on some of the most important topics. Check them out: Wilderness survival & basics Fan-favourite for wilderness survival. Short & simple wilderness survival guide. If you're looking to know what and what not to eat: Edible Plants of Canada. Into foraging for mushrooms? Check this book out. All about berries in this one! Important read: Fire building. Camping & hiking Here's a great Alberta and B.C. family campground guide. Getting started with hiking and backpacking? Click here. The Rocky Mountain Books are a great area-specific resource for almost any hiker! If you're looking for a great, all-around hiking book, check this one out. Hiking with the kiddos? Lynda Pianosi is a Canmore-based author who has created a wonderful family hiking guide for the Canadian Rockies. Navigation & animal safety Most maps are area-specific, but these are the great ones that Campers Village carries! The Alpine Book Peddlars are a staff recommendation since they are lightweight and waterproof. An animal safety must-have--the Scats & Tracks of the Rocky Mountains book. Here's another great option for learning about animal activity in the Northwest. If you're in bear country, specifically black bear country, check out this tiny pocket guide to educate you on an encounter! Please be sure to follow us on Instagram at @kidswhoexplore and use #KidsWhoExplore and #KWE for your chance to be featured on our social channels. Happy adventuring, friends!