Adventure Tykes Resources

Nature can be a great learning tool and it is much better than sitting in a stuffy classroom or in a boring living room.

Help your tyke explore their 5 senses in nature with these fun activities.  Go for a hike or explore in your own backyard.

See: Give your tyke a few items to find.  It could be an ant, a bird, a leaf, a rock or whatever is in the area.  Make them search a bit to find them.  You can also ask them what they see around them or pick a color and ask them to find 5 things of the same color.

seeing the ducks in the lake

Smell: Have your tyke smell a flower, a bush, leaves, dirt or the air.  Ask them if it has a pleasant smell and what it smells like?

smelling the flowers

Feel: Give your tyke different textures to feel.  Maybe a pine needle, a rock, the grass, dirt, a branch or water.  Help them compare the different textures between each object.  For older tykes blind fold them and have them guess what objects they are touching.

feeling the sand for the first time

Taste: Bring along a snack that came from the earth, such as, fruits or vegetables. Explain to them that their snack came from the earth and grew either in the ground or a tree.

eating dried mango

Hear: Have your tyke sit quietly (that might be asking too much) and ask them what they hear.  Birds chirping? Wind blowing? Cars passing by? Kids playing? Silence?

hearing the water rush over the rocks

Obviously, these activities are for older tykes but even so, it is never too early to get your tyke outside.  The sun, the wind and the grass helps stimulate a young tykes senses.  So, get outside!

saying 'Hi' to an ant

My daughter, Viola, is 16 months old and has an addiction…..the outdoors!!!   Right after breakfast every morning, she beats on the front door like a jailed prisoner!  We go outside and she starts exploring.  We walk down the sidewalk and she points out all of the bugs.  She loves to wave and say “hi” to the ants.  Sometimes she will pull along her wagon with her shovel and dig in the dirt.

saying 'hi' to a beatle

There are so many lessons we can learn while out in nature.  I’m trying to teach her to “be kind to nature”- this means NO stepping on bugs or pulling up flowers (because usually these flowers are in our neighbor’s garden!).  She has learned what wind feels like, what birds sound like and how to stay away from prickly plants.   She has learned how to approach strange dogs, never to step into the street without first holding mommy’s  hand and never to throw rocks.  She has learned that the red strawberries and tomatoes taste a lot better than the green ones, she will pick them off of my plants on the deck and have a little feast.  She loves to help me water the plants, too.  My husband  and I have learned that if she doesn’t get adequate  “exploring time outside”, she will start acting up and won’t sleep as well.

exploring

We have just recently moved to Colorado from New York City, so we are slowly learning the ways of being outdoors.  We are a busy family and often don’t have the time to head up to the mountains or find a trail.  For now, we are exploring the adventures in our own neighborhood!

found a leaf

(Laura Downie is a working mom in Colorado.  She splits her time between being a veterinarian, a wife, a caretaker to their 4 cats and dog, and a mom to a very active 16 month old, named Viola (who would rather play in the dirt than do anything else). Thank you Laura for sharing and showing that nature and adventures can be found in your own neighborhood, not just while hiking or camping.)

The harmful rays of the sun can be dangerous to your tykes scalp, skin and eyes.  Using the right protection will help keep them safe and protected.  Even though summer is almost ending and fall is approaching it is still important to be protected from the sun, no matter the time of year.

Having your tyke wear a sun hat and sunglasses will help keep the suns dangerous rays away.  There are many different types of sun hats available for your tykes that offer great coverage from the sun and there are also sunglasses available in infant and toddler sizes to protect their precious eyes.

Our son has been wearing sunglasses and a sun hat since he was 3 months old and many people ask us how we manage to keep them on him.

Here are some tips:

1. Start them young.  I think because we started our son so young with wearing them that it is just second nature when he is outside.

2. Make sure the sunglasses fit properly.  Some of the sunglasses were too big for our sons head or didn’t cover his eyes well.  Also, the ones with an elastic strap that goes around the head helps keep them on.  If the strap is a little big, strap it around the outside of the hat. That helps it stay on better.

3.  Make sure the sun hat is not too tight and finding one with an elastic back allows for some give making it more comfortable and                                                                                           allowing for some growth. (since our tykes are growing ever so quickly)

4.  The sun hats with a flap in the back provides great coverage protecting                                                                                      the nape  of the neck and ears or find a hat that has a big wide brim.  The more                                                                    coverage the better.

5.  Using distractions while putting on the sunglasses or sun hat can help.  You may also want to try repeatedly distracting them if they keep trying to take them off, as well as a firm NO.

6.  Be consistent.  Every time you go outside put the hat and sunglasses on, even if it is just a short trip to the mailbox or the store.  They will learn that outside coincides with sunglasses and a sun hat.

7.  Monkey see monkey do…show them that you wear sunglasses and a sun hat, too.

Hopefully, these tips will help keep your tyke protected from the suns harmful rays.  If you have any other tips on how you keep your tykes sunglasses or sun hat on please share in the comments section below.

I’m a firm believer that you’re never too young to start enjoying nature. But if you’re like I was when I became a parent, you might wonder how exactly one goes about exploring nature with a toddler.

While grand adventures are a wonderful way to introduce the outdoors to little ones, simpler activities often have just as much to offer. Here are 10 of my favorite ways to enjoy time in nature with my “very-much-a-toddler” 2-year-old son.

Play in the dirt.

Playing in dirt (and even better, in mud) teaches the most important lesson about being outside: It’s okay – no, good – to get dirty. Dig it, toss it, mold it, wet it, whatever – just don’t be afraid to touch it!

Head to the trails.

Most toddlers will be ready to hit the trail if given the opportunity. Parents need only remember to practice patience as little legs find their way. Start small and make each adventure a success so hiking will become a favorite pastime.

Seek out sticks.

No walk around our neighborhood is complete without a good stick in hand. Sticks invite imaginative play and can become whatever your little one can dream up – from a magic wand to a fishing pole or a fairy house.

Explore tide pools.

I admit I haven’t taken my toddler tidepooling yet, but it’s on my short list! There’s so much to see and touch that it appeals to kids of all ages. Tide pools are best explored during low tides, when more sea life is visible.

Hunt for rocks.

Rocks are perfect for little hands. They’re the right size for easy grabbing and come in all different shapes and textures. My little explorer loves throwing rocks, jumping on piles of rocks, painting rocks and putting them in a bucket of water for a “wash” before taking them out again.

Spend time around water.

Water invites nature play and discovery. Play in the sand at the beach. Look for ducks and waterfowl at local ponds. Throw rocks into the river. Get adventurous and take your tyke out in a canoe or kayak.

Go on a bug hunt.

We’ve grabbed worms and ladybugs in our garden and stared at lizards and stink bugs on hikes. Little kids are fearless and usually won’t think twice about grabbing creepy crawlies. Your challenge is to teach safety while fostering a love of, and respect for, living things.

Visit a farm, zoo or wildlife rescue center.

Larger animals are always a big hit with little kids. Look for places that allow for up-close encounters, like farms and petting zoos.

Plant a garden.

We planted our first veggie garden this spring and the 2 year old loves it. He was a big help when we planted the seeds and continues to enjoy watering and even more so, harvesting the goodies we’ve grown!

Pick your own fruit.

Sure, most of the berries will wind up in your kid’s tummy instead of in the basket, but it’s still a ton of fun. Picking fruit allows little ones to explore the dirt, planting, fruit and more.

What’s your favorite way to explore nature with your toddler?

(Debi Huang is a Los Angeles-based wife, mom and adventure guide for two young boys. Her blog at Go Explore Nature is all about getting kids and families outdoors and connected to nature.)

If you are anything like me, you have to have your morning joe to kick start your day.  I wish I didn’t need a kick start but due to a persistent lack of sleep it is a must.  The thought of going camping for 2 weeks and leaving my precious espresso maker behind pretty much put me in a panic.  That is until Planetary Design came to the rescue with their Big Sky Bistro French Press.

I had never used a french press before and to be honest I haven’t been drinking coffee very long and only on a daily basis for the past 15 months –  pretty much since my son was born. Ha! So using a french press was completely foreign to me. I have one of the espresso makers that is automatic – add beans, water, hit a button and BAM I have espresso.  I definitely had to make sure I brought along the directions for this french press.

I took the Big Sky Bistro camping with me for the two week trip to Glacier National Park and the first morning I whipped out the directions, my ground coffee, sugar packets, creamer and the Big Sky Bistro.  The instructions said to add coffee, sugar, creamer, water and then the top with the plunger.  I added the coffee, sugar, water and top but left out my all important creamer.  Having a blonde moment it didn’t make sense to me to add the creamer along with the other ingredients.  I always add it last at home and it just seemed weird. Yes, a total blonde moment.  After letting it steep for the recommended 5 minutes I went to take the lid off to add the creamer and realized that you can’t do that.  If you remove the lid the plunger comes with it and then your coffee grounds are just floating around.  BIG MISTAKE!  I barely lifted the lid and snuck the creamer in. Took a sip of my “camp coffee” (as I like to call it) and to my surprise it was yummy.  I guessed on the appropriate amount of coffee to give it the strength that I like – no weak coffee for this girl – and I was right.  The next morning I added all the ingredients as instructed and once again, delicious “camp coffee”.

I LOVE my Big Sky Bistro and it’s ability to give me the kick start I need to begin my day.  It is so easy and quick to use. You can have a hot steamy cup of joe in less than 10 minutes and cleaning it is a breeze.

The only draw back that I found to this particular style of french press is that the cup is big so it does not fit into a cup holder. After making my coffee I wanted to take it with me on our drives around the park and I had to hold onto it the entire time. However, I did  figure out on day 5 that I could pour the coffee into my travel coffee mug and then I was good to go.  For the quality of coffee, the price and convenience you can not go wrong with the Big Sky Bistro.

First, I’d like to thank Melissa for inviting me to guest post here at Adventure Tykes. If you haven’t read my blog, familycampman.com it is about camping, family and my personal quest to get my two young sons and wife interested in the outdoors.

Enough about me, let’s focus on you and what you need to do for your first camping trip.  The goal of your first camping trip is quite simple – to be enjoyable enough to ensure a second trip.  Unless you want to suffer from a lifetime of room service and mints being left on your pillow, YOU CANNOT. YOU MUST NOT.  FAIL.

Okay, now that I’ve put enough pressure on you, here are a few tips I’ve learned over the past few years that will help ensure family camping success:

Tip #1 – The checklist is your friend

If you think you can just wing a camping trip, you’re wrong. Be prepared and don’t assume you have everything. Make a list and cross items off as you pack. For your first trip, I’d re-verify you have everything before you leave.

Tip #2 – Weekends only, please

Since this is your first trip, don’t go for longer than a weekend. The longer you stay the more likely something will go wrong and therefore putting a second trip in jeopardy. Weeklong trips (or longer) can come later.

Tip #3 – Leave early or pay for it later

I am a big believer in the earlier you leave the better. The last thing you want is to be setting up your tent in the dark.  Your frustration level will increase exponentially if kids are involved and the only thing worse than setting up a tent in the dark – is doing it in the dark while dealing with tired, cranky kids. Well it could be raining too. That would be worse – see Tip #7

Tip #4 – Activities cannot be left at home, unless they’re made by Nintendo or Sony

I know that camping is about relaxation, but when it comes to camping with kids, I cannot stress enough the benefits of having activities planned. Keep your kids occupied by bringing board games, fishing poles, a telescope, binoculars and or even a kid-safe digital camera. However, since camping is about connecting with nature, video games and DVD players are to be left at home.

Tip #5 – Relax

This is tough for a lot of people – my wife included – but when it comes to camping you really need to learn how to relax. What good is a camping trip if you’re stressing about how dirty the kids are or if the food doesn’t come out perfect? Camping is about having fun so please leave the day-to-day anxiety ridden mindset at home.

Tip #6 – Go simple on the eats

Yes, I know that this is a sacrilege to those camping culinary experts out there, but for first-time campers, I strongly suggest going easy on the meals.  For meals, think hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner, sandwiches for lunch and cereal for breakfast. If you find that you can pull that off without major chaos then you can move on to fancier fare.

Tip #7 – Prepare for rain

This is the most important of all the tips and cannot be stressed enough. Nothing and I mean nothing kills a camping trip more than rain. Pack ponchos, umbrellas, waterproof matches, use plastic bins for storage (never cardboard) and tarps to protect the bottom and top of your tent. Knocking on wood is also recommended.

Well thanks again for reading my guest post for Adventure Tykes. If you have a few minutes, feel free to swing by familycampman.com. I’d love to hear what you think.                                                               Perhaps you can teach me a thing or two, I’m all ears!

nature's classroom

14 days on the road, 7 days camping, 2 nights at a backcountry chalet, 50+ miles of hiking, 1 boat ride, 1 flat tire, 4 Grizzly Bears, 1 Black Bear, numerous Mountain Goats, 2 Big Horn Sheep and an enormous amount of huckleberry ice cream.  Who says you can’t do all that with a 16 month old? (besides the guy at the chalet, but more on that below) We did and relished every moment of it.  Granted it was difficult at times but sharing the joy of the outdoors with our son was worth it.

We just got back from Glacier National Park and what a beautiful place it is.   I know that our son will not remember the hikes, the animals, the yummy huckleberry ice cream or the trip for that matter, but that doesn’t stop us from sharing it all with him.  We take him on these adventures not just for him but for ourselves, too.  We find great happiness in showing him new places and what they have to offer.                                                                                       You can’t see a mountain goat in Moab or a grizzly bear.

hidden lake overlook trail - logan pass

We did some amazing hiking while in Glacier and one hike in particular was long and grueling.  It was 13.4 miles round trip with 3300ft of elevation gain.  Not so bad for a day hike if you’re only carrying 10-15lbs on your back.  Makes for a long 8hr day when it is 40+lbs.  This hike takes you to the Sperry Chalet, where most people hike up or ride horseback to stay the night.  Not us, we made it a day trip and 3/4 of the way up we were wondering what we were thinking.  We aren’t one’s to start a hike and then halfway turn around and head back.  Many, many, many times I wanted to, but I also wanted to complete the hike so we kept on trucking.  Sometimes at a snails pace but we kept our legs moving.  Jackson did great during the hike.  We let him out for lunch, let him hike a bit of the trail, he ran around the grounds of the chalet and then babbled practically the whole way back.  That is one hike we can check off the list and not have to do again. Ha!

The Adventure Baby cruising around the chalet

The stay at the Granite Park Chalet was wonderful.  It is a 7.5 mile hike in on the Highline Trail with 1400ft of elevation gain (computed by hubby’s watch)  and follows the Garden Wall.  This time there was definitely more than 40lbs on my back and coming at the end of the trip and all the hiking we had already done my legs were sore and tired.  We had friends join us on this portion of the trip and they were great company.  As we hiked along the Highline Trail we were road blocked by a mountain goat, greeted by other mountain goats, crossed numerous waterfalls and streams and passed a few dozen friendly hikers.  We got kudos from hikers passing by seeing Jackson on my back.  The comments went something like this – “Great, start’em early”, “Go Mama”, “That’s great”, “Good for you” and on and on.  It is so nice to hear encouragement and positive thoughts since it is still uncommon to see young ones on the trail.

road block on the highline trail

The stay at the chalet was a treat.  Rustic living quarters but that’s ok.  It was all about the experience and experiencing it with our son.  Although one guest of the chalet didn’t think so.  He was over heard saying that it was “unsafe” to have our son there.  Not sure what he meant by that but it sure got under our skin for the rest of our stay.  We are experience outdoorsman with safety and medical backgrounds and we would never do anything to put our son in harms way.  If he was referring to the bears, believe  me, we were prepared.  The chalet was a wonderful ending to our trip.

So, the next time you doubt whether you can take your tyke on a hike, a camping trip or even a road trip know that you CAN.  There will be a little more planning involved, a bit more gear needed and you might have to go at a slower pace but just think of the fun you will be sharing with your tyke and the memories you will be making.

Share with us on Facebook your summer adventures along with pictures.  Let’s see your tykes in action.

Lake McDonald

the end to a wonderful trip

Fishing with Dad at 8 months

Nature Deficit Disorder - Have you heard of it?  It is a term that was established back in 2005 by Richard Louv.  He wrote a book called Last Child In the Woods and today there is a lot of talk about Nature Deficit Disorder and its effects on our children.  Many people believe the lack of outdoor activities is causing our children to lack appreciation for nature, become obese and cause behavioral problems.  So the question is – Do our children have Nature Deficit Disorder?

Looking back on my childhood I was always outside playing until sundown during the weekdays.  On the weekends my family would go for picnics in the mountains, fishing at a nearby lake or camping.  We never did go “hiking” per say unless a walk around a lake or a jaunt up a hill to see what was on the other side constituted a hike.  We were always playing outside, discovering the outdoors not just in the mountains but in our neighborhood, inspecting insects, climbing trees and breathing in the fresh air.  I think the introduction to the outdoors at such a young age set the foundation for my love of nature and the great outdoors.  These days kids are glued to the TV, computers, playing video games and hanging with friends at the mall.  Today’s children live a much more sedentary life than children 20 years ago.  Does that truly affect their behavior, their physical well being and their appreciation for the outdoors?  What do you think? Do today’s children have Nature Deficit Disorder?

We just got back from our first family adventure of the summer and what a bummer it turned out to be.  We traveled to Grand Teton, NP where it proceeded to rain every day of our trip except the last day.  Not only did we have tons of rain but all three of us came down with head colds.  So, with the rain, head colds, intermittent hail, evening temps in the 30′s and lightening strikes we decided to forgo the tent and stay in a hotel.  We don’t mind cool temperatures in the evenings but when you have a little tyke with a cold it’s not the best for them to sleep in the cool weather.  This definitely was not our ideal vacation but with no control over the weather and our heads pounding and absurd coughs we had to make the best of it.  Being so far from home we didn’t really want to just turn around and go back and plus, this vacation had been planned for months.  So how did we make the best of it?

Moose

We slept in every day, which we rarely do.  You always want to lounge and relax when you’re sick so we took advantage of the foul weather and did just that.  With the weather being so poor it wasn’t drawing us outside.

Great Gray Owl

We took drives through the park looking for wildlife and in doing so we were rewarded with the sights of a beaver, badger, great gray owl, moose, coyote, many prairie dogs, birds, bison, antelope and a grizzly cub looking for it’s mama. For us it never gets old seeing these animals in their true habitat.

Nature trail around Jenny Lake

When the rain became a drizzle or intermittent we meandered around the town of Jackson, Wy and allowed Jackson (aka: Adventure Baby) to walk around, stretch his legs and practice waving and showing his belly to the other tourists.  Keeping him confined in the hotel room was not an option.

On the last day of our trip the clouds broke and the sun came out.  We took full advantage of the beautiful weather and did two hikes.  Our colds were subsiding except for hubby’s, which turned into bronchitis but that didn’t stop him from hitting the trail.  We hiked up to Taggert Lake and then did a second hike after lunch to Leigh Lake and Spring Lake.  That day is what our entire vacation was suppose to be like, but what can ya do?  Just enjoy what you can and that is what we did.

The Adventure Baby on a short hike between showers

Taggert Lake - Hiking with Dad

Oregon Coast

Exposing your tyke to nature at an early age can have positive physical and mental affects on them.  It could also stir something inside of them…maybe a passion, a hobby or even a career in a specific area of the outdoors. Learning about wildlife could spark the biologist in your tyke or examining insects could open the door for a future entomologist.  An ecologist, geologist, botanist or even a nature photographer could spring up from the adventures in the outdoors – you just never know.  If your tyke doesn’t develop a passion, hobby or career from their outdoor adventures I am sure they will develop an appreciation.  So get outside!