Get Outside With Kids: Recent Episodes
Jennifer Kolbuc and Kate Le Souef
Life with kids is messy, why not get outside and have fun! Learn how to start small, find your crew, get the right gear, and spend more time outside with your kids. Podcast hosted by Jennifer Kolbuc and Kate Le Souef, recording from Vancouver, BC, Canada
To celebrate episode 100, we are thrilled to have Kate’s parents Sue and Peter Le Souef back on the podcast! We are talking about what the future holds, and how we can continue to get outside with our kids as they get older.
And from everything we heard, there’s so much to look forward to.
We have loved bringing our podcast to you for the last 100 episodes! We will be hitting pause on the podcast for a while, but we are so grateful to all our guests and all our listeners. Thank you for being here!
My parents’ first episode on the podcast:
- Exploring with kids in the ‘80s, from the Aussie outback to the Canadian prairies to the Kenyan savannah, with Sue and Peter Le Souef
If this podcast means something to you, would you let us know? Find us over on Instagram and tell us what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Tonight we share a major announcement that we’ve been pondering for a little while about the future of our podcast.
We reflect on all that we’ve learned in the last 99 episodes, and look back on amazing messages that we have received from our listeners that make us feel all teary and emotional. We also share what the future holds for us, our lives, and our podcast.
If this podcast means something to you, would you let us know? Find us over on Instagram and tell us what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
As we approach our 100th episode, we reflect on the top 10 episodes (OK it’s actually 11, but who’s counting) from our show. We share the guests that we think about the most, and the stories that have really stuck with us. So many laughs, so many stories, so many fails!
Episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep: 75: Trekking to Everest base camp with 4 year old twins, with Tyson and Shannon from Restless Crusade
- Ep 53: How our obsession with kids’ sport has become serious business, with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game
- Ep 45:Why movement and outdoor play are essential to your kid’s development, with Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist
- Ep 64: How to achieve a huge hiking goal with kids and prioritize your family’s time together, with Stu and Dev from Next Family Adventures
- Ep 46: Getting outside in an inaccessible world, with Laura Van Doormaal, conservation professional and disability advocate
- Ep 69: The episode that made us laugh and cry, with special guest Jennifer Kolbuc
- Ep 70: From down under to a mountain top: moving to Canada and starting this podcast, with special guest Kate Le Souef
- Ep 96: Why we disagree with this popular parenting expert
- Ep 22: Live for the weekdays - our hack for avoiding weekend crowds
- Ep 41: Exploring with kids in the ‘80s, with Sue and Peter Le Souef
- Ep 42: Our most epic fails: fall 2022 edition
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside
Could this be our most controversial episode yet?! Perhaps!
We recently saw a post by a very popular parenting expert about indoor vs. outdoor play that caused such a strong reaction from us both, we knew we wanted to talk about the topic here on the podcast.
We love @busytoddler, and her tips for entertaining little kids were such a lifeline for us during early COVID days (rice bin anyone?). But a recent post that Susie shared about indoor vs. outdoor play really got us thinking about and reflecting on outdoor play and the role it plays in our lives. This week we share our thoughts!
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 7: Remove the walls, with Jane Pilskalnietis, outdoor play specialist
- Ep 45:Why movement and outdoor play are essential to your kid’s development, with Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist
- Ep 52: Why getting outside is good for your health, with Dr. Melissa Lem, family physician and director of Canada’s national nature prescription program
- Ep 66: Outdoor play (with the correct shoes) is crucial for your kid’s growing body, with Maegan Mak, paediatric physiotherapist at Playworks Physio
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside
He’s baaack! Fan favourite Pete Clarkson is back on the podcast to tell us even more stories about raising outdoor kids around mountains, beaches, grizzlies, waves, guns, helicopters, and wildlife!
You’ll love Pete’s energy and his perspective on parenting, and his stories will have you laughing along with us.
Tune in to hear:
- How to beachcomb with your kid and encourage their creative side
- Pete’s approach to risk (and we're talking real risks like grizzlies, guns, and helicopters) in the outdoors with kids
- The hilarious escapades that Pete’s family got up to living in the mountains in Jasper
- Pete’s legacy to water safety in the Tofino area (CoastSmart website)
Don't miss Pete's first episode with us!
- Ep 39 “Raising beachcombing kids in a small town, with Pete Clarkson, marine debris artist and former Parks Canada Park Warden”
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside
Here in the northern hemisphere, cold and flu season is in full swing. The combination of cranky, tired, sick kids and cranky, tired parents (who might also be sick!) who have all spent too much time indoors can be nasty.
Today we share our best ideas for getting outside when your kids are sick, when a family member is sick, or when you yourself are sick. Because we all know a little bit of fresh air will probably do us all a world of good!
Tune in to hear:
- The lowest energy options to get outside when your kid is sick
- How to adapt your outdoor activities depending on how sick your kid is
- What to do when you are sick yourself but you’re in charge of caring for the kids, and you all desperately need a change of scenery
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside
Being a parent is hard enough, but when you feel lonely and unsupported, it’s about a million times harder.
This week, we have invited two of our amazing mom friends, Katherine and Aimee, onto the podcast to talk about all the ways that good friends can help you in your parenting journey.
Tune in to hear:
- How we have met moms who we actually want to hang out with when the kids AREN’T around
- Why some mom friendships don’t last (and why that’s OK)
- How we attempt to balance personal time, time with our partners, and social time
- The super easy, low effort way you can begin a friendship with someone new
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside
When the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting darker, and there’s a definite eeriness to the evenings, it can only mean one thing… Halloween is nearly upon us! This is a time of year when it’s tempting to snuggle down inside. But you know that your kids need the fresh air just as much as ever.
Never fear, we have you covered. This week we are sharing five spooky ways to embrace the season, from putting those costumes to good use, to preparing for the big night of trick or treating, and some imaginative ways to deal with way too much candy in your house!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside
Atmospheric river, heat wave, ice storm, air quality warnings… depending on where you live, there are lots of reasons why you might not actually be ABLE to get outside with your kid on a particular day.
So what do you do? Let the kids run riot and trash your house?
We have a better solution! Today we are sharing all our best tips for keeping everyone happy and sane inside, including:
- how to stop squabbling between siblings,
- how to maintain structure when everyone is cooped up inside, and
- how to plan outings where you don’t even have to get out of the car!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
If you need a little extra motivation to take your kids hiking, you’re going to love this week’s guest! Gina from Our Little Hiker has been hiking all over Ireland with her three kids for years. She shares practical (and magical!) tips to keep your kids moving and get them to their next peak, castle, or lookout.
Tune in to hear:
- Why your kids might love hiking in costume [05:56]
- How to make hiking easier with three kids under 6 [07:44]
- What “Jelly Bean Mountain” is (and why you need this ASAP) [20:32]
- Gina’s lovely message for parents [23:53]
Follow Gina at https://www.ourlittlehiker.com/ and on Instagram @ourlittlehiker
Connect with us over on Instagram and follow us for tips: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
We are back with our epic fails from the summer! And wow, there are some big fails this season, including our most serious one yet.
Every season, we share all our mistakes from the last few months so that you feel less alone. If you’ve also experienced meltdowns, forgotten gear, and terrible weather when getting outside with your kids, you’re not doing it wrong, that’s just how it goes sometimes!
Tune in to this episode to hear about a seriously unexpected incident on a trail, camping trips cut short, disastrous cartwheels, and a chaotic summer of camps.
Let us know about your epic fails over on Instagram and follow us for tips: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Does your kid ask questions you can’t answer? We all want to raise inquisitive, observant, respectful kiddos but unless you have an actual teaching background, it can be really challenging!
Enter the amazing Jade Berrill from the Outdoor Learning Store, who has all the prompts, questions, and activities to help you help your kids. Beginning with the simple “I notice, I wonder, it reminds me”, Jade talks to us about how to inspire a love of nature in our kids by helping them learn outside.
Tune in to hear:
- How to learn about Indigenous history and connections to land when you’re not from Canada [09:00]
- The gear you actually need to get outside with kids [16:28]
- How to talk about tough environmental topics like climate change with kids [22:31]
- Jade’s beautiful message to parents [31:11]
Follow The Outdoor Learning Store on their website and their podcast Earthy Chats.
Also check out Earth Rangers 'Anxious for Action' Parent Resource
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Can you imagine moving your family, including two kids and a dog, into a converted school bus? That’s just what Nicole and Bo did, and the results have been life changing!
Together, they have minimized their lives to roam the U.S. in their bus and as a result, they spend tons more time outside together.
Tune in to hear:
- Why (and how) they decided to convert an old school bus into a home [01:32]
- Their advice to those who want to downsize [16:49]
- The biggest challenges of living in a small space [23:46]
- How the move has changed almost every aspect of their lives [19:40]
Follow Nicole and Bo on Instagram and on their website.
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 10, “Live tiny, adventure big, with Kaili Sutton, tiny home owner and entrepreneur”
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
How do you find trail information for hikes and walks? There are so many online sources these days, it can be overwhelming to find reliable information that won’t leave you stranded in the middle of a forest!
This week, we are joined by the delightful Sarah Lamagna who is talking to us about the value of a real hiking guide that has been hiked, researched, and written by a real person, ideally with a good dose of sass.
Tune in to hear:
- Why hiking books are still one of the best sources of trail information [08:48]
- Why we need to stop calling moms superheroes [14:49]
- Epic fails galore from all of Sarah’s outdoor adventures [21:19]
- The amazing book that Sarah is writing next [28:05]
Find Sarah on Instagram, check out Sarah’s website sarahlamagna.com and read Why you should stop calling moms superheroes
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 16, “Hiking with kids with Stephen Hui, author of 105 Hikes and Best Hikes and Nature Walks with Kids”
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Has a total stranger offered you total unsolicited parenting advice? Maybe it happened at a really low moment for you and made you feel terrible!
This week we’re sharing the most terrible advice we’ve ever received, as well as the best. Best of all, our favourite piece of advice can be applied to pretty much any parenting situation.
This fun little episode is part of our Summer Minis Series! We are bringing you short minisodes packed with tips and advice to help you create more amazing memories outside. We’ll be back with our regular episodes with amazing guests closer to fall!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Does the end of summer make you feel like you’re in struggle town? You’re not alone! Today we are talking about all the things that can compound to make summer with kids feel long and irregular and a little bit hard! This episode is the pep talk you need to make it through to some cooler weather and a more regular routine. Because we know you’re going to make it.
This fun little episode is part of our Summer Minis Series! We are bringing you short minisodes packed with tips and advice to help you create more amazing memories outside. We’ll be back with our regular episodes with amazing guests closer to fall!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Have you ever regretted going on an adventure with kids? It has happened to Kate and today we’re telling you all about it!
Spoiler alert: never go straight from the Emergency Department to a camping trip…
This fun little episode is part of our Summer Minis Series! We are bringing you short minisodes packed with tips and advice to help you create more amazing memories outside. We’ll be back with our regular episodes with amazing guests closer to fall!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Now that you have kids, if you could go back in time, what would you say to yourself to calm the nerves and reassure yourself? What has surprised you about parenting? What has been harder than you expected? What are you proud of?
In this week’s mini episode, we are casting our minds back to before our first kids were born and we are sending a message back in time to those pre-kid selves.
This episode is part of our Summer Minis Series! We are bringing you short minisodes packed with tips and advice to help you create more amazing memories outside. We’ll be back with our regular episodes with amazing guests closer to fall!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Only got a few minutes? Great! In this short and punchy episode we’re sharing what we’ve learned from our five favourite guests on the podcast this year. Their wisdom and adventures have inspired us to try new and awesome things, and we know you’ll feel the same!
This episode is part of our Summer Minis Series! We are bringing you short minisodes packed with tips and advice to help you create more amazing memories outside. We’ll be back with our regular episodes with amazing guests closer to fall!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Only got a few minutes? Great!
In this short and punchy episode we’re giving you 5 tips to get outside with your kids when you don’t want to! These ideas will help you build some momentum to just get out the door and hopefully get the balls rolling on a bigger adventure.
This episode is part of our Summer Minis Series. We are bringing you short minisodes packed with tips and advice to help you create more amazing memories outside. We’ll be back with our regular episodes with amazing guests closer to fall!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Sometimes it feels like we should be doing bigger, longer, more epic adventures with our kids. But what if two nights of camping a few times a year was actually the perfect amount for your family?
Freshly back from a camping weekend, on this episode we share our insights into how to make the most of your weekend trip to fit your work schedule, lower the stress, reduce the amount of laundry, and get some sleep!
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Do your weekends feel like a chaotic stress fest? Do you feel like you’re trying to cram in fun activities, social time, chores, and family time, and maybe not doing very well at any of it?
Never fear! Because today we share our secret to removing the stress from weekends by focusing on bite-sized weekday adventures.
A little mindset shift, a bit of prior planning, and voila, your weeks will feel transformed!
Tune in to hear:
- How to plan activities around your work schedule
- Why we put so much value on time spent outside without kids on weeknights
- How we can build resilience and flexibility in ourselves AND in our kids
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Is your kid starting kindergarten this year? Or maybe your kid has been in school a few years but you still don’t really understand what goes on at that place? Either way, if you’ve ever wondered what actually happens at school, you’re not alone.
Today, we are talking to our favourite teacher Lauren MacLean and asking all the questions we WISH we had known to ask a year ago when our own kids started kindergarten.
Tune into hear:
- What a day at school actually involves
- What kindergarten kids have to be able to do alone (here’s a link to a helpful article! How to teach your child to wipe - Busy Toddler)
- Questions you can ask your kid to get them to talk about their day
- How one afternoon a year at your kid’s school can help you and your kid
- How to support your kid’s teacher to spend more time teaching outside
Other episodes we mentioned:
- Episode 20: Taking kids’ education outside, with Lauren MacLean, teacher and children’s book author
Check out Lauren’s website at Teachoutdoors.ca and on Instagram @teachoutdoors.ca
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Do you need some inspiration to get into camping with your family? Are you curious about camping for the first time with your baby or kid? It can be intimidating knowing where to start, but our guest Carolyn Regehr from Prairie Crew Adventures has tips and tricks for all ages and stages in this week’s episode!
Carolyn is from Manitoba, Canada, so she knows all about cold winters, black fly summers and everything in between. She’s worked with youth and kids in Canada and around the world and has the best advice to help you and your family spend more time outside!
Tune into this episode to hear:
- Tips for camping with babies [12:15]
- Tips for camping with toddlers [16:32]
- Tips for camping with school aged kids [18:04]
- Tips for camping teenagers [20:32]
- A catastrophic epic fail story! [29:31]
Follow Carolyn on Instagram @prairie.crew
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Today we are talking about our favourite summer gear, including the gear that we always keep in our backpack, as well as our favourite summer clothing and shoes for kids!
As always, we recommend buying gear and clothes second hand when possible. Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside (and then search your second hand groups for these items)
Tune in to hear:
- The summer items you actually DON’T need to buy
- The essential items that stay in our backpack
- The items we always have in the car
- Our favourite kids’ shoes, shirts, shorts and hats to keep them comfortable and cool in the summer, including:
- Sunday Afternoon Play Hat
- Jan and Jul hats
- Patagonia Baggies shorts
- MEC Rapidi-T Long Sleeve Sun Shirt
Episodes mentioned in this episode:
Episode 66: Outdoor play (with the correct shoes) is crucial for your kid’s growing body, with Maegan Mak, paediatric physiotherapist at Playworks Physio
Episode 59: How to organise your kid’s clothes to save money, save the planet, and do less laundry, with Kaili Sutton from Coast Kids Reshop
Episode 74: Our most epic fails: spring 2023 edition
Follow us on Instagram: @getoutsidewithkids
We participate in MEC's affiliate program and we may receive compensation for items sold through the links above. We will only ever list products that we truly believe in based on our personal experience.
Have you ever dreamed about trekking to Everest Base Camp? Would you ever consider taking one of your kids with you one day? Now, what about taking twin 4 year olds?
That is exactly what our amazing guests on this episode did! We are thrilled to have Shannon and Tyson back on the show to tell us about their amazing travels around the world, including most notably, their adventure to Everest Base Camp with their awesome twins.
We do not say this lightly when we say this is one of our FAVOURITE episodes of all time, and you have to hear this one. Tyson and Shannon’s approach to parenting and life is just the inspiration that you need to try something new!
Tune in to hear:
- Why Tyson and Shannon decided not to sail across an ocean and instead trek to Everest Base Camp [02:06]
- All the logistics of how they approached the trek [06:03]
- The day they reached Everest Base Camp [17:56]
- How the Trail Magik was a game changer for their mountain adventures (get 10% off Trail Magik with code RESTLESSCRUSADE) [24:11]
- What is was like to return home after 6 months traveling the world together [28:56]
- The life changing diagnosis that Tyson shared with Shannon on just their second date, which completely changed their relationship and their future [32:35]
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 36: Backcountry hiking with twins, with Tyson and Shannon from Restless Crusade | Get Outside With Kids
Follow Tyson and Shannon on Instagram, their blog and on Youtube
Follow us on Instagram and send us a DM to let us know what you thought of this episode: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Are you ready for our messiest, muddiest episode of the season? We are back with our hilarious epic fails from the spring!
Tune into this episode to hear about kids walking fully dressed into both lakes AND rivers, camping trips thwarted by rain AND rising lake levels, and forgotten items that have nearly ruined a day out in the sun.
Laugh along with us as we share all our mistakes from the last few months so that you feel less alone. If you’ve also experienced meltdowns, forgotten gear, and terrible weather when getting outside with your kids, you’re not doing it wrong, that’s just how it goes sometimes!
Let us know about your epic fails over on Instagram and follow us for tips: @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Want to hear a family friendly version of “Would you rather”? You’re in luck! We sit down with this week’s guests, Maritza and Brandon, to talk about the good, the bad, and the overrated gear, hikes, and advice.
Maritza and Brandon have been busy exploring the Pacific NorthWest for the last few years with their young kiddo and they have all the messy muddy stories to prove it!
Tune in to hear:
- How to hike Joffre Lakes with a toddler [03:10]
- How to choose a toddler friendly hike [07:25]
- The most overrated and underrated outdoor gear [15:01]
- GOWK’s Amazing “Would You Rather” Game (Outdoor Parent Edition)!! [24:22]
Follow Maritza and Brandon on Instagram @thewestcoastfam
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
What do minimalism and getting outside have in common? Diane Boden from the Minimalist Moms Podcast is here to tell us all about it!
We are so thrilled to talk about how you can apply minimalism not only to the things in your house, but also to the way you prioritise experiences and schedule activities with your family.
You’ll hear so many practical tips from Diane that will inspire you to declutter, destress, and get outside.
Tune in to hear:
- What most people get wrong about minimalism [07:17]
- How minimalism can help you get outside with your family [09:37]
- What you actually need to take with you to have a good time outside [16:17]
- How to manage toys inside your home [19:13]
Find out more about Diane and the Minimalist Moms podcast on her website and follow her for awesome tips on Instagram!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Feeling safe and well prepared for an outdoor adventure is key to having a good time! It’s hard to enjoy an experience when you’re worried that the trail might be more challenging than you can handle or that maybe you’ve packed the wrong gear.
But never fear, because today we have Sandra from BC AdventureSmart to help you! Sandra knows exactly what you need to do to make sure you and your family stay safe and reach your final destination, which is not the summit, but your home.
Tune in to hear:
- What your kid needs to know in case they ever get lost [06:52]
- The Three Ts you need to remember for every adventure [09:06]
- The amazing volunteers who respond to rescue calls in Canada [12:01]
- Why search and rescue incidents have increased in the last few years [20:57]
Find out more about all the programs and information that we discussed here:
- Hug a Tree and Survive Program
- Survive Outside Program
- Book AdventureSmart programs here
- Three Ts
- Three Ts promotional video
- Summer Stoke vide
- BC AdventureSmart Summer Series
- BC SAR Association outdoor education
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
This week our cohost Kate Le Souef is in the hot seat! Following up from last week’s episode where we dived deep with Jen, this week we turn the tables as Jen interviews Kate.
You’ll hear all about Kate’s Australian childhood filled with beaches and spiders and sand dunes and hear why she moved to Vancouver.
Kate tells you why she started this podcast, how she knew almost nothing about the topic when the started, what the future looks like, and her number 1 dream guest (if you know this person, introduce us!)
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 41, Exploring with kids in the ‘80s, with Sue and Peter Le Souef
- Ep 45:Why movement and outdoor play are essential to your kid’s development, with Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist | Get Outside With Kids
- Ep 53: How our obsession with kids’ sport has become serious business, with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game
- Ep 64: How to achieve a huge hiking goal with kids and prioritize your family’s time together, with Stu and Dev from Next Family Adventures
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
We guarantee this episode will make you laugh and cry, because we’re going deep! Are you ready?
This week our special guest is our very own co-host Jennifer Kolbuc, interviewed by our other co-host Kate Le Souef. We are diving into Jen’s life as a kid, what she wants for her family, and her favourite parts of being a podcaster, as well as talking about an enormous event that rocked her childhood, and continues to impact her life as a parent.
If you’re new, or if you’ve been around here for a while, this one is really special. You’ll get to know our amazing Jen in a new way and love her even more.
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 64: How to achieve a huge hiking goal with kids and prioritize your family’s time together, with Stu and Dev from Next Family Adventures
- Ep 53: How our obsession with kids’ sport has become serious business, with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game
Follow Jen’s work as a social media consultant on Instagram @socialwithjen and on her website!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Can you imagine moving around the world to a tiny island with a 2 month old baby? Well, our guests this week did just that!
Anthony and Kristin Quill traveled extensively before kids and wanted to continue once they started their family. Since their first big trip from the U.S. to Malta with a tiny baby, they’ve continued to travel the world (64 countries and counting!) and have all the travel tips you need.
Tune in to hear:
- Why you don’t need a stroller when you travel [12:21]
- How to choose accommodation when traveling to big cities with kids [15:18]
- How to deal with your kid peeing through all their clothes on the first day of a long trip! [22:14]
- The best way to build your confidence to explore with your kids [26:36]
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 11: The secret to making mom friends
- Ep 65: Babywearing made easy, with Cassidy from Let’s Talk Babywearing
Follow Anthony and Kristin on Instagram @fromtenttotakeoff and on their website!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Taking photos of tiny kids can be a challenge at the best of times. But our guests this week do it at sunset AND at the top of mountains!
Deep and Tanvi from In Two the Sunset know how to capture the beautiful, perfectly imperfect moments of getting outside with kids and we are so thrilled to talk to them this week.
Tune in to hear:
- Why sunset hikes might be an amazing way for your family to get outside together regularly [08:10]
- How to schedule time in your busy life for adventure [11:30]
- How you can take better photos of your kids [18:20]
- What Deep and Tanvi have learned about how some people in the south Asian community experience the outdoors [05:10]
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 28: Diversity and inclusion in the outdoors
- Ep 64: How to achieve a huge hiking goal with kids and prioritize your family’s time together, with Stu and Dev from Next Family Adventures
- Ep 65: Babywearing made easy, with Cassidy from Let’s Talk Babywearing
Follow Deep and Tanvi on Instagram @intwothesunset and on their website intwothesunset.com!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Why is play so important for children’s bodies? How important are kid’s shoes? And how exactly does screen time affect kid’s bodies?
We dive into all this and more in this week’s episode with the amazing Maegan Mak, the owner of PlayWorks Physio, a paediatric physiotherapy clinic located in Port Moody, BC.
Tune in to hear:
- How a paediatric physiotherapist can help kids from birth to age 18 [4:55]
- Why outdoor play spaces have a different impact on kids’ bodies than indoor play spaces [7:47]
- How screen time affects little bodies [13:35]
- How to choose appropriate shoes for your kids (this one blew our mind!) [18:39]
- How to help your kids develop awareness of their body so they know how hard they can push themselves [24:14]
Check out PlayWorks Physio at www.playworksphysio.com, on Facebook and on Instagram!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Cassidy from Let’s Talk Baby Wearing really knows babywearing! If you’ve always wanted to try babywearing (or even if you have tried it but it didn’t feel quite right), you need to hear this episode.
Cassidy is taking us from birth to toddlerhood with all her tips and tricks for choosing the right type of carrier to suit you, your baby, and your lifestyle.
Tune in to hear:
- How to choose a baby carrier from birth to toddlerhood [6:55]
- How to safely get started with tandem carrying [19:11]
- Cassidy’s method to transfer a sleeping baby from a carrier to their bed [26:54]
- When things went wrong with three kids and a whole lot of lightning on a hike! [30:48]
Find Cassidy online on Instagram and Youtube and see all the gear she recommends, including heaps of discount codes!
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 36: Backcountry hiking with twins, with Tyson and Shannon from Restless Crusade | Get Outside With Kids
- Ep 56: Pelvic health is core to getting outside with your kids, with Lacey Forsyth, pelvic health physiotherapist | Get Outside With Kids
- Ep 46: Getting outside in an inaccessible world, with Laura Van Doormaal, conservation professional and disability advocate | Get Outside With Kids
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Our guests this week completed an epic 100 hikes with their family in 2022! If you need inspiration to try hiking as a family, this is it.
When Stu and Dev moved with their four kids from Texas to Washington State in the US, they were determined to explore their new state. And explore they did! They’ve hiked their way around their new home and picked up so many great life lessons along the way. Tune in to hear:
- How Stu and Dev motivate their kids to keep moving on the trail
- Why having a big goal is important to their family
- How they prioritize their family’s time together while balancing their four kids’ unique interests
- Stories of epic fails, foggy summits, emergency blankets and a whole lot of mosquitos!
Follow along on their adventures at www.nextfamilyadventures.com and on Instagram @nextfamilyadventures
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 53: How our obsession with kids’ sport has become serious business, with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game | Get Outside With Kids
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
If you’ve ever put off going on adventures because you’ve been trying to clean and tidy your home, you need to hear this episode.
This week’s guest is no stranger to moving. As a kid, Leslie Alder moved all over the world with her military family and now that she’s a mom to four kids, she takes the same approach. Their recent move to New Zealand required her family to cut the clutter, sell most of their stuff, and prioritise adventures over housework.
Tune in to hear:
- How to balance living your life with managing your family’s home
- How to be a tourist in your own city, even if you’ve lived there for a while [17:17]
- The very weird (but true!) fact about when kids start school in New Zealand [20:55]
- A truly horrific epic fail story that you’ll have to hear to believe! [23:16]
You can find Leslie on Instagram and check out her website, as well as Leslie’s viral TikTok video about brooms!!
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode: How to vacation with kids: an honest account of the good, the bad, and the tantrums, with Jennifer Kolbuc and Kate Le Souef | Get Outside With Kids
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
If you want to educate and inspire your kids about environmental issues, but you don’t know where to start, this is the episode for you!
To celebrate World Water Day, award winning author Rochelle Strauss joins us to talk about her latest book, The Global Ocean. She takes us through how to balance environmental messages with messages of hope and change, so that our kids can make connections and feel inspired.
Following on from the worldwide success of her books Tree of Life and One Well (which has sold more than 500,000 copies!), The Global Ocean can be found at your local bookseller and at all major bookstores.
Follow Rochelle on her website and on Instagram
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
If you need a laugh, this one is for you!
Our seasonal “epic fail” episodes round up our most ridiculous, most meltdown-y, most painful fails from the entire season and lay them out for your listening enjoyment!
Highlights from the winter include forgotten gear, massive skiing wipeouts, public meltdowns, and so many plans disrupted by illness. We throw in one huge win to balance it out and remind you that things will improve and spring is coming.
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode:
- Ep 53: How our obsession with kids’ sport has become serious business, with Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game | Get Outside With Kids
- Ep 42: Our most epic fails: fall 2022 edition | Get Outside With Kids
- Ep 32: Our most epic fails: summer 2022 edition | Get Outside With Kids
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
You know that a catchy song can stay in your head for days! So why not harness the power of music to connect to nature?
Today’s guest Sara Ernst sings, writes and draws about nature to help kids get outside and learn about the world around them. Tune in to hear:
- How to find wild places wherever you live
- How nature treasure hunts can inspire your kids to spend time outside
- What on earth an “ootheca” is and why Sara wrote a song about them!
- How Sara’s musical journey evolved from a simple desire to connect kids to nature
Find Sara and her books and music at wildpicklepress.com and on Instagram @wildpicklepress
Other episodes we mentioned in this episode: Taking kids’ education outside, with Lauren MacLean, teacher and children’s book author | Get Outside With Kids
Listen to the other music we talked about in this episode, including Snoop Dogg’s Affirmation song and the Treebies.
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Dressing your kid in the right clothing means that they will get outside and stay outside. But what about all the holes, stains and rips that happen in the meantime?
Today, we’re talking about all of it to Kaili Sutton, from Coast Kids Reshop. Kaili is a mom who also happens to live in a tiny home. Tune in to hear:
- How to organise your kid’s clothes to save money and do less laundry
- How to care for the clothes that you do have and make sure they really last
- Which items stand the test of time, and the items that you should invest in for your kids
- Why a fleece onesie is the answer to the question you didn’t think to ask!
Find Coast Kids Reshop online and follow Kaili on Instagram!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Getting outside in the rain can be hard enough with one kid, but this week’s guest works outside with entire groups of little kids every single day in the rainy city of Vancouver!
Maria Jose Obando from Little Paws Outdoor Classroom is originally from Ecuador but she fell in love with the outdoors in Vancouver and decided that she wanted to work in the forest everyday with preschool aged kids. Tune in to hear:
- How growing up in a country with a high degree of actual criminal risk has influenced Maria’s approach to risky play with kids
- How to prepare kids to get outside (and have fun) in the rain
- What we can learn from how little kids remember challenging days
- A lot of sweet, muddy stories of kids exploring the outdoors!
Check out the environmental education programs offered by Little Paws Outdoor Classroom in Vancouver! And find them over on Instagram @littlepawsoutdoorclassroom
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
If you’ve been thinking about going on vacation with your kids, you might want to listen to this!
Many kids thrive on routine and schedule, as well as the comfort of knowing exactly what to expect at all times. But what happens when you’re in another country and everything is different or unpredictable?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you. We’ve already made all the messy, sandy mistakes on vacations with kids, so that you can learn from where we went wrong!
Tune in to hear:
- How being away from home can affect different kids
- Why vacations aren't always relaxing for kids
- How to set your own expectations and avoid disappointment
- What we'd each do differently before our next vacation
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Your pelvic health is core to almost everything in your body! But pelvic floor challenges can hold a lot of women back from participating in life, particularly after having kids, so on today’s episode we are talking about all of it with Lacey Forsyth.
Lacey is a pelvic health physiotherapist, and the Founder and CEO of Bump Physio & Co, a boutique physiotherapy clinic that treats clients at all ages and stages.
Tune in to hear:
- What your pelvic floor is, who might experience challenges with it, and the times in our lives when it can be a more common issue
- How you’d know if you had a problem with your pelvic floor
- The best way to 💩 (seriously, we’re talking about it!)
- How to safely wear your baby after giving birth
- How your pelvic floor can hold tension, anxiety, and emotion
- What pelvic floor physiotherapy actually is and how it can help you
Follow Lacey @bumpphysiomom
Follow Bump Physio @bumpphysio.co and the online store @bumpgoods
Find out more at www.bumpphysioco.ca and www.facebook.com/bumpphysio.ca
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Do you live far from your hometown? Maybe you and your kids live across the country or around the world from where you grew up (or from the place that feels like “home”).
We get it. We both live far from our family and our home towns. So this week we’re talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly of living far from home, and how it can all affect how and when we can spend time outside with our kids.
Spoiler alert? There are actions you can take right now to make it a little easier on yourself. Because you’re an awesome parent and deserve to be living your best life.
Links to past episodes we mentioned in today’s episode:
- Why getting outside is good for your health, with Dr. Melissa Lem, family physician and director of Canada’s national nature prescription program | Get Outside With Kids
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Today’s guest Nicki Farrell was motivated by the mental health crisis in teenagers to create her amazing business Wildlings Forest School with her business partner Vicci Oliver. Nicki and Vicci offer all kinds of programs in nature for preschool and school aged kids in southeast Queensland, Australia, and have even developed a course to help you start your own nature school!
Listen to hear:
- How kids can learn just as well (and probably better) when they are outdoors
- Why we should reframe “risky play” as “play with risk” and what that shift in language can do for your mindset
- How educators can incorporate nature into the classroom in really easy ways
- How you can be the squeaky wheel and ask your school to make changes to help your kids get outside more
Find out more about Wildlings Forest School at Wildlings Forest School and on Instagram at @wildlings_forestschool
Links to past episodes we mentioned in today’s episode:
- Why getting outside is good for your health, with Dr. Melissa Lem, family physician and director of Canada’s national nature prescription program | Get Outside With Kids
- Why movement and outdoor play are essential to your kid’s development, with Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist | Get Outside With Kids
- Exploring with kids in the ‘80s, from the Aussie outback to the Canadian prairies to the Kenyan savannah, with Sue and Peter Le Souef | Get Outside With Kids
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
As parents, we hear a lot about the benefits of kids living active lifestyles. And sports are one way that we are encouraged to introduce our kids to this idea. But what happens when we take it too far?
We are thrilled to be joined today by the amazing Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game: how money and mania are ruining kids’ sports - and why it matters. She takes us through how we got to a place where sports participation has become an obsession and the impact that this can have on your family.
Tune in to hear:
- How kids’ sports have evolved over the years from local and relaxed to hyper focused and stressful
- Why organised sports can get so intense and how this can have negative effects on kids and parents
- How you can set boundaries to avoid sports taking over your family’s life
- What you can do to encourage your kids to be active, without being obsessed
Find Linda (and more information about her book) at lindaflanaganauthor.com, on Twitter and on Instagram
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Have you ever wondered why you feel better outside? Sure, the fresh air feels nice, but what is actually happening in your body? And how can you maximise the health benefits of nature in your everyday life?
Today we have all those answers, and more! We are joined by the amazing Dr. Melissa Lem, who is leading a national movement to connect health and nature. Melissa is a family physician, the founder of Canada’s national nature prescription program, and a mama to an active kiddo, and she’s based right here in Vancouver.
Tune into this fascinating episode to hear:
- The evidence that proves nature is good for your health
- How you can maximise the health benefits of nature (and what type of “nature” is best)
- Why healthcare professionals have the power to help your family create healthy habits
- How Melissa creates time outside with her kid everyday
Find Dr. Melissa Lem on Instagram and learn about the Parks Prescriptions program at www.parkprescriptions.ca
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Get Outside with Kids is the podcast that helps you have more awesome adventures outside with your kids!
Tune into this minisode to hear sneak peeks of the show in 2023. You have been telling us you want to hear from experienced parents, medical professionals, authors, and educators, so we know you’re going to love the guests coming to your ears in the coming weeks and months, including:
- Dr. Melissa Lem, a family physician who started Canada’s first nature prescription program
- Linda Flanagan, author of Take Back the Game, a fascinating analysis kids’ sport
- Nicki Farrell, an outdoor educator from Wildlings Forest School
- Deep and Tanvi Desai, adventure parents who take beautiful photos through In Two the Sunset
- Plus many more!!
As always, we’ll have loads of messy, muddy mistakes to go with it, because we like to keep it real. Parenting isn’t supposed to feel lonely. Join our conversations and laugh about all the times that things go wrong in the pursuit of outdoor adventures!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Celebrating our 50th episode! Every time a guest comes on the show, we ask them to share a story of a time when things did not go according to plan.
On this episode, we round up the three most shocking epic fail stories. Together, these hilarious stories remind us that getting outside with kids can be pretty darn messy… Enjoy!
Listen to the full episodes:
- Lauren Maclean (episode 20, “Taking kids’ education outside with Lauren MacLean, teacher and children’s book author”)
- Pete Clarkson (episode 39, “Raising beachcombing kids in a small town, with Pete Clarkson, marine debris artist and former Parks Canada Park Warden”)
- Sue and Pete Le Souef (episode 41, “Exploring with kids in the ‘80s, with Sue and Peter Le Souef”)
And don’t worry, we will have plenty more fails for you on the show in 2023!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
What a year it’s been! We have loved bringing you stories and tips from parents, authors, coaches, gardeners, medical professionals, outdoor educators, and all round awesome human beings in 2022.
Today, as our holiday gift to you, we recap our top 10 tips from our guests on the show in 2022! Here are the episodes if you want to catch up:
- Lauren Maclean (episode 20, “Taking kids’ education outside with Lauren MacLean, teacher and children’s book author”)
- Jane Pilskalnietis (episode 7, “Remove the walls, with Jane Pilskalnietis, outdoor play specialist”)
- Sue and Pete Le Souef (episode 41, “Exploring with kids in the ‘80s, with Sue and Peter Le Souef”)
- Kaili Sutton (episode 10, “Live tiny, adventure big, with Kaili Sutton, tiny homeowner and entrepreneur”)
- Cheryl Zandbergen (episode 43, “When moms go wild (and why you need to go wild ASAP), with Cheryl Zandbergen, founder of Moms Gone Wild”)
- Laura Van Doormaal (episode 46, “Getting outside in an inaccessible world, with Laura Van Doormaal, conservation professional and disability advocate”)
- Stephen Hui (episode 16, “Hiking with kids with Stephen Hui, author of 105 Hikes and Best Hikes and Nature Walks with Kids”)
- Angela Hanscom (episode 45, “Why movement and outdoor play are essential to your kid’s development, with Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist”)
- Bri Brunner (episode 35, “How to garden with kids, with Bri Brunner, community garden activist from Moms2tables”)
- Pete Clarkson (episode 39, “Raising beachcombing kids in a small town, with Pete Clarkson, marine debris artist and former Parks Canada Park Warden”)
We have learned so much and can’t wait to bring you even more amazing tips and guests in 2023, as well as all the messy, muddy mistakes.
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Do you really want to play with your kids? Honestly, we kind of don’t. We worry that we will get the game wrong, or that we’ll be bored out of our minds.
Today’s guest Reagan Fulton is a professional nanny, a mom, and an outdoor educator, and she has some great tips to help us ACTUALLY enjoy playing with our kids!
Tune in to hear:
- How to play with your kid in a way that makes everyone happy
- How nannying and parenting are the same, and also, completely different!
- The important role that caregivers and nannies can play in getting kids outside
Follow Reagan over on Instagram @playfulacre or check out her website
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Getting outside with kids can be hard at the best of times, but when you have one kid plus a set of twins, you’re just, well, outnumbered!
Today’s guest Amy Elvidge takes us through what getting outside with twins looks like in reality and shares her honest thoughts on why it’s a juggling act.
We also talk about the grief she experienced just 6 months after her twins were born when Amy’s beautiful mom passed away, and how that’s impacted her parenting.
Tune in to hear:
- How to get outside with twins (plus another kid) without totally losing your mind, or any of the kids
- How Amy coped with grief when she was elbow deep in parenting tiny kids
- How to find the right work to life ratio for you (and why it keeps changing)
- All the twin gear you need if you’re expecting two babies!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
We are so honoured to be joined by an amazing mama and advocate Laura Van Doormaal. Laura is originally from Ontario and moved to Vancouver with her now husband to be closer to nature. Their outdoorsy lifestyle shifted when their daughter was diagnosed with a rare disease but they are determined to find a way to give her the same experiences they enjoy.
Laura is just an all round awesome human and we are thrilled to speak with her in this episode!
Tune in to hear:
- Laura’s experience navigating the outdoors in B.C. with a child in a wheelchair
- What it means for a playground to be truly accessible
- How small, mom-owned businesses rallied around Laura and her family in their time of need
- What you can do to contribute to a world that is actually accessible for all kids
The great organisations mentioned in the podcast:
- British Columbia Mobility Opportunities Society
- Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports Society
- Not a Wheelchair
Some of our favourite accounts around disability and physical accessibility on social media:
- Life with Lucy (Laura’s account)
- Nina Tame
- Disability Reframed
- Crutches and Spice
- Laesa Faith Kim
Some of our favourite books about disability for kids:
- What happened to you, by James Catchpole
- Bodies are cool, by Tyler Feder
- You are enough, by Margaret O’Hair and Sofia Sanchez
Support the brands who have supported Laura and her family, including:
- Simply Merino
- Beansprouts Consignment
- Petits Villains
- Jax and Lennon Co
- Hey Folks
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Today’s guest Angela Hanscom brings so much expertise in childhood development and the importance of movement! We found her research and experience absolutely fascinating; we could have talked to her all day.
Angela is a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook— an award-winning developmental and nature-based program that has gained international popularity. She is also the author of Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children.
Tune in to hear:
- What’s actually happening in your kid’s head when their body is moving
- How movement affects the vestibular system as well as (not to overstate it) pretty much everything else in our bodies!
- Why unrestricted outdoor play is the absolute best thing we can do for our kids
- How you can get started with getting your kid outside at any age
This episode is full of fascinating facts and things you can do right now!
Find out more about Angela’s work and Timbernook at Timbernook.com and on Facebook, and watch her fascinating TED talk The Real Reason Kids Fidget
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Today’s guest Jenny Nielsen doesn’t let big mileage or big vertical scare her away from attempting big peaks with her awesome 5-year-old. She really believes that kids can do hard things, and as you can see from her awesome Instagram account, her kid is walking proof of that. As far as Jenny can tell, at just 5 years old, her kid is the youngest person to have summitted King’s Peak, the highest peak in Utah at 13,534 ft (4,125m).
Today we talk about how (and why) she does it all. Tune in to hear:
- How Jenny got started hiking with her kid
- How they have gradually moved on to bigger, harder, longer hikes
- Why it’s so important for Jenny to connect to other adventure loving moms
- The tricks and tips she uses to motivate her kid to keep going
Follow Jenny on Instagram @wasatchwildchild
Check out the episodes we mention in today’s episode:
- Backcountry hiking with twins, with Tyson and Shannon from RestlessCrusade
- How to motivate a toddler who doesn’t want to hike
- The secret to making mom friends
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
We know it’s important for kids to get outside. But what about moms? Don’t moms deserve to have some fun and go wild too?!
Today we are joined by Cheryl Zandbergen, founder of Moms Gone Wild, an award-winning organization that redefines motherhood by hosting adventurous, empowering, and rejuvenating events for mothers in Maple Ridge and beyond.
Tune in to hear:
- How you can start putting yourself on the calendar, and making time for fun!
- How Cheryl accidentally discovered a huge need for moms only events in her community
- Why discovering new experiences, visiting new places, and spending time outside is conducive to forming strong and lasting friendships
- How a bunch of moms from Moms Gone Wild with no dancing experience found themselves dancing in front of thousands of people
Follow Moms Gone Wild on Instagram @momsgonewildcanada and on their website
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Epic fails are back! After we shared our most epic fails from the summer earlier this year, we heard that you loved hearing about all the times that things went wrong. So here it is: all our messiest, muddiest, and most frustrating fails from this fall!
Tune in to hear about:
- Our last doomed camping trip of the year, which went wrong in so many ways it’s laughable (we still can’t believe how many things went off the rails!)
- How we are coping (or not) with our kids starting school
- Our attempts to create perfect outdoor moments with our kids after school, and how it’s backfired a few times!
Catch up on “Our most epic fails: summer 2022 edition” on Apple or Spotify
Also check out our episode with Pete Clarkson, who we mention in this week’s podcast on Apple or Spotify
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
Sue and Peter Le Souef loved traveling and exploring, and saw no reason to stop just because they had kids. Today we are thrilled to have them on the podcast to share their thoughts on raising outdoor kids in the 1980s. They share some truly hair raising adventures that you’ll have to hear to believe!
Tune in to hear:
- How parenting looked in the 1950s and the 1980s compared to today
- The outdoor adventures that Sue and Pete had when they were kids, including starting fires and cooking their own food
- The ambitious camping trips that they took with their kids across entire continents
- Close encounters with lions, giraffes, dingos, a cemetery, and a car full of sand
- Sue’s extraordinary career journey and how Sue and Peter created a life that could include Sue studying at law school while also going on adventures as a family
Sue and Peter also just happen to be Kate’s parents, and they joined us on the podcast on the exact day of their 50th wedding anniversary!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Check out our website for our favourite gear to get outside!
If you really want to get outside everyday with your kids, you need to deal with all kinds of weather. And if you live in a rainy city (like Vancouver), a strong rainy day strategy will help you survive some of the bleakest months of the year without your kids bouncing off the walls.
Tune in to hear:
- The tried and tested gear that we love to keep our kids dry, including rain suits, rain pants, and all the rain boots
- Where to go when it’s really pouring, how to travel in the rain, and what to do once you get there
- The lowest of low bar activities that can get you outside with very little actual effort
- Our messy, muddy parenting fails in the rain
Check out our gear list for our favourite items!
Gear we mentioned in this episode: Bogs Waterproof Boots, MEC Newt Suit for Infants, MEC Newt Suit for Children
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Artist and former Parks Canada Park Warden Pete Clarkson has had enough adventures to fill an entire podcast series! In addition to making waves around the world with his colourful and inspiring marine debris artwork, Pete has worked in two of the most iconic National Parks in Canada and raised three kids with his wife in the beautiful town of Tofino.
Now that Pete’s kids are adults, he takes us through his family’s journey from the mountains to the ocean.
Tune in to hear:
- About Pete’s amazing career, starting on horseback in the backcountry of Jasper, to the shorelines of Tofino, and around the world as an artist
- How Pete and Jen approached kids’ organised activities in a small town with few facilities
- One of the absolute wildest “when things went wrong” stories we’ve had on the podcast (seriously! It was even wilder than the bonkers story shared by Lauren Maclean in this episode)
- So much wisdom, lots of great takeaways and a whole bundle of laughs
Check out Pete’s work on his website and on Instagram
Places mentioned in this episode: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Jasper National Park
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
We love mini adventures! But every now and again, we love to plan a BIG DAY OUT with our kids.
How often? As often as you need! And what does a big day out involve? The only requirement is that you and your family or loved ones choose to spend the whole day together, outside. No scheduled activities, no devices, no distractions.
Tune in to hear:
- Ideas for what you can do on your big day out
- How to incorporate nature sketching into your adventure
- How we use our 3 “S”s to keep the kids moving (plus a bonus 2 additional “S”s suggested by our listeners)
- The snackegy (it’s a word) that works for adults and kids when you’re out and about all day
- The surprise waiting for you at home after a big day out!
Books that we mentioned on this episode: The Hike, by Allison Farrell
Places mentioned in this episode: Widgeon Falls, canoeing on Pitt Lake, North Beach Trail, Golden Ears
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Did you grow up spending time in the outdoors? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. As adults, it can be hard for us to pick up the skills we need so that we can go on amazing outdoor adventures.
Today we are talking to Christina Tutsch from the Wonder Outdoor School on the Sunshine Coast here in B.C. all about how adults can learn skills that will help them explore the outdoors (safely!). We also had a great conversation about risk and our kids, and Christina shared her advice from years of outdoor education.
Tune in to hear:
- How you can learn real, practical skills to spend more time outside
- How to introduce your kids to risky play
- How to think about risk as a dial, rather than an on/off switch
- Why Christina opened the Wonder Outdoor School (and how it’s filling a real gap in outdoor education)
Check out the Wonder Outdoor School on Instagram!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Our guests today have literally climbed massive peaks and go on some of the most amazing backcountry adventures with their kids here in British Columbia, Canada.
Tyson and Shannon, the couple behind @restlesscrusade, are parents to adorable 4-year-old twin girls, who join them on backcountry hiking trips in the mountains.
We asked them all about how they actually do this and had a great conversation about what we are modelling for our kids when we pursue our own goals.
Tune in to hear:
- The story of their first (incredibly ambitious!!) hike with their twins
- How they motivate their kids to hike
- Crazy encounters their kids have had with bears (everyone is safe, everyone is OK!)
- The logistics of carrying camping gear for the whole family while ALSO carrying kids who don’t want to hike
- How they pursue their own goals and dreams after having kids
Check out Shannon and Tyson’s Instagram and website for more awesome inspiration!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
If you’ve always wanted to try gardening with your kids, this is the episode for you! We are joined by the fantastic Bri Brunner, who is a mom, volunteer, and community garden activist, as well as the force behind the Moms2Tables account on Instagram. Bri’s journey into gardening started right after she received a serious diagnosis for her kid, and has brought so many benefits.
Tune in to hear:
- How a recommendation from an occupational therapist changed Bri’s life
- The developmental changes she’s seen in her kid since he started gardening with her
- How gardening has been therapeutic for Bri herself, as she dealt with her son’s medical challenges
- Why Bri choose to grow plants that are rare, bright and fun
- How to start small, and avoid things that can be intimidating (like seeds! Raised beds!)
- Why we need to accept loss as a normal part of gardening
Check out Bri’s Instagram and website for more awesome inspiration!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
We love a mompreneur! And Jocey Newman is such a great example. On this episode, we speak with Jocey, the founder of First Peak baby and toddler clothing, about how she started her clothing line to help families feel more confident outside.
Tune in to hear:
- How a trip to Yosemite with her baby changed Jocey’s view about kids’ clothing forever.
- Why Jocey and her husband packed up their toddler, their dog, and all the First Peak inventory and drove across the U.S.
- How to care for your kids’ clothing so it lasts longer.
- How connecting with families across the U.S. brought Jocey much needed connection.
- Why Jocey likes leaving a place with the messiest kid!
All First Peak clothes are made in the USA with a custom jersey knit fabric that’s odor-resistant, quick-drying, UPF-rated, and super soft. Use GETOUTSIDE10 at checkout for 10% off! www.firstpeak.co
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Let’s be honest, kids are not always excited about hiking. If they’re anything like our kids, the allure of their favourite playground might be so strong that they outright refuse to go hiking. So today we’re applying some marketing tactics to the problem! Tune in to hear:
- The words we use to pique their interest, and the “h” word that we definitely DON’T use
- The things we pop in our backpack to encourage their curiosity
- How hiking with friends helps us
- The trick our guest Tammie Bennet from @showupsociety shared when she was on the show (listen to her episode here)
- How reading books about hiking and camping can help
Gear mentioned in this episode: Hape 5-in-1 Beach Set
Books mentioned in this episode: The Hike by Alison Farrell, Me and My Sit Spot by Lauren MacLean (hear her episode with us here)
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Today we are laying it all out for you. Cue: the messiest, muddiest, silliest mistakes we made this summer!
We’ve seen it all in just 3 months: injuries, gear fails, accidents, sunburned bums, mud, illness, kid meltdowns, regret… we tell you about all of it so that you can either avoid these pitfalls, or just have a good laugh with us.
You don’t want to miss this episode, it’s easily our favourite episode so far!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
This week we are sharing what we learned from our kids’ very first overnight backpacking trips! Our eldest kids were 4 and 5 and a half when they did their first overnight camping trips, and we definitely learned a lot!! Tune in to hear:
- How to pick a trail
- How to prepare your kid
- What gear to pack
- Our snackegy (you know we’re making it a word) and the food we recommend
- The things we regretted!
Gear we mentioned in this episode: MSR Hubba Bubba tent, Deuter Junior Daypack, MEC Centasaurus Kids’ sleeping bag, Thermarest NeoAir
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Hot weather and kids aren’t the greatest combo! Today we are sharing all the tips and tricks we use to keep our little ones cool (and to stay sane ourselves!). Tune in to hear:
- How to plan your day to avoid burning your kids’ bum on a hot slide
- Our favourite water activities
- Our favourite icy activities and tricks!
- How to stay cool yourself!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
We love hiking around Vancouver with our kiddos! Today we’re sharing our favourite hikes in the region, along with all the tips and tricks that we’ve picked up along the way. Tune in to hear all the details about our favourite hikes, including:
- Sasamat Lake, Admiralty Point and Jug Island (Belcarra Regional Park)
- Lynn Loop (Lynn Canyon Park)
- High and Low Knoll (Minnekhada Regional Park)
- Lower Falls and North Beach Trail (Golden Ears Provincial Park)
- “Uno Vista” (the first view point of Diez Vistas at Buntzen Lake)
Gear we mentioned in this episode: Ergobaby 360, Deuter Kid Comfort 3
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Diversity and inclusion have become hot topics in so many fields. But how do these topics actually apply to the outdoor world?
Today, we dive into this huge topic with Rike Moon, a passionate advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. Rike works for a park agency here in B.C. and identifies as LGBTQ2S+ (and she’s also a mama in the making!)
Tune in to hear:
- Why it’s important to create welcoming spaces in parks and why everyone should be able to feel comfortable in the outdoors
- What’s happening in parks to remove barriers so that everyone can enjoy them, and what needs to happen in the future
- How you and your family can contribute to creating more inclusive outdoor spaces
This is such an important conversation and we were so thrilled to bring Rike’s knowledge and expertise onto the show!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Camping with kids under the age of 6 can be amazing, and, well, intense. Today we are sharing our hacks to make the most of your camping adventure by:
- bringing the right toys (think open ended toys like buckets, spades, bubbles, and even bikes if you have the space),
- choosing the best location in the campsite,
- researching hikes and walks in the area before you leave home, and
- encouraging little activities to engage your kids when you need to prepare a meal.
Gear we mentioned in this episode: Little Kids Fubbles No Spill Big Bucket, Hape 5-in-1 Beach set
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Sometimes you have to drive to get to cool outdoor locations. And unfortunately, kids and car trips are not always a great match. Today we share our tips for smoother and more enjoyable car trips with kids. Listen in to hear:
- What our kids love to listen to in the car
- The games we’ve invented to occupy our kids
- Our snack strategy (snackegy?!) to prevent those “but i’m huuuuuuungry” moments
- How to prevent kids from feeling carsick
And when in doubt, plan more stops!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Our guest today is no stranger to outdoor exploration and creating awesome communities of amazing women and moms. Jessica Sproat is an outdoor enthusiast, traveller, and explorer. She believes in the power of the outdoors, and is an advocate for access to nature for all. She is the founder of a new app, TrailCollectiv, that seeks to break down barriers to accessing nature and the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities.
Listen in to this episode to hear:
- How you can connect to other moms and women through communities that Jess has built
- What makes TrailCollectiv different than any other trail app you’ve used
- What motivates Jess to get outside with her little one
- And, as always, a lot of messy muddy mistakes!
Jessica Sproat on Instagram
TrailCollectiv on Instagram
Www.TrailCollectiv.com
Www.jessexploring.com
Jessica Sproat on TikTok
Women who explore Vancouver Facebook group
Born to be adventurous mamas Vancouver Facebook group
Places mentioned in this episode: Quarry Rock, Dog Mountain
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Potty training is a major milestone when you have kids. And it’s easy to think you have to be confined to the house for days, maybe even weeks, until your kid reaches a certain level of accuracy. But today we’re sharing our tips (as well as the gear) that have helped us get outside even while potty training our kids.We talk about:
- the logistics of potty training girls and boys outside,
- the gear that has helped us feel more confident while potty training, and
- the potty training mindset that we use to stress less!
Potty training methods mentioned in this episode: Oh Crap Potty Training Book, The Tiny Potty Training Book, @biglittlefeelings Potty Training Course
Gear mentioned in this episode: Potette Plus 2-in-1 Potty, IKEA Lilla Children’s Potty, PeaPod Mat
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Summer camps can be a great way for kids to get outside and learn about their surroundings. Today we are joined by Hailey Renaud, general manager at Sea Smart. Throughout her career, Hailey has worked with more than 20,000 kids in camps at Sea Smart, Vancouver Aquarium, and in Ontario, and she has empowered all of these kids to take action for the ocean and the environment. Tune in to hear:
- How to encourage your kids to learn (especially when you don’t know anything about the topic yourself!)
- Why Hailey chose to work in environmental education
- How camp can have amazing benefits for kids of all ages
- How challenging situations with kids can often be fixed with a shift in attitude, a nap and a granola bar
Find out more about SeaSmart and follow them on Instagram
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Weekends with kids can be packed full of activities and sometimes it’s hard to find the time for adventures.
In this episode, we talk about our favourite way to pack in extra adventure every week. Tune in to hear how to :
- remove the emotional labour and stress of planning outdoor activities with kids,
- find some social connection in the middle of the week,
- avoid weekend crowds at the busiest lakes and parks, and
- feel less like you’re in the rat race, and more like you’re in charge of your own adventures!
Places mentioned in this episode: Buntzen Lake, Sasamat Lake at təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Finding a comfortable way to transport your child can be your ticket to freedom as a parent. Today we talk about all the types of baby and child carriers we have tried, from when our babies were newborns all the way up to 4.5 years old.
We talk about the features to look out for, like storage, sun protection, back support, buckle system, and many more, and share which models were our absolute favourites!
Gear that was mentioned in this episode: Beluga Wrap, Baby K’Tan, Ergobaby Classic, Tula Explore, Ergobaby 360, Deuter Kid Comfort, MEC Kid Carrier, Phil and Ted’s Escape Carrier, Osprey Poco Carrier
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
We are joined by Lauren MacLean to talk about taking school outside, and how we can inspire a love for outdoor learning in kids of all ages.
This episode also contains our favourite ever example of a time when things did NOT go according to plan when getting outside with kids… trust us, you’ll have to tune in to believe this one, it’s a doozy!
Lauren MacLean is a mentoring support teacher and host of the Mentoring Nature Connections podcast where she interviews educators from across North America on their outdoor learning experiences. She is also the author of the children’s picture book, Me and My Sit Spot, which helps introduce this nature routine to young kids and their families. On the weekends, you will often find her and her two young toddlers exploring in their forest playground.
Planning a vacation looks very different after you have kids! Before kids, you can be spontaneous and move around between different exotic locations, exploring new cities and restaurants! After kids, that sounds, well, completely exhausting.
Today we share our tips for planning a great vacation that gets you outside with your kids, whether that’s a big overseas adventure, or a long weekend close to home.
Main takeaways:
- We like to stay at least 3 nights in one place so the trip is not just packing/unpacking/packing/unpacking….argh!
- Book accommodation with big gardens, or on the ground floor backing onto green space
- Keep it really simple, particularly when there’s jetlag involved. Don’t overschedule.
- Plan your accommodation around the activity you really want to be doing so you can minimise driving time.
- Don't prepay for activities if you can avoid it.
Places mentioned in this episode: Wells Grey Provincial Park
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Today we are joined by special guest Sandi Schwartz to talk about the intersection of nature and mental health, and how it applies to kids. Here’s what we covered:
- The scientific research that shows why getting outside is good for our mental health
- The simple activities that you can try with your kid to spend more time outside, including kids’ yoga, art projects, picnics, volunteering, fruit picking and more
- How to get outside with kids and inspire a love for the environment, without having to do big outings like camping or hiking. It can be sharing a meal together outside, or painting pictures inspired by a trip to a botanical garden.
- How to incorporate volunteering into your time outside
Sandi is the founder and director of the Ecohappiness Project; author of the parenting book Finding Ecohappiness: Fun Nature Activities to Help Your Kids Feel Happier and Calmer, co-author of the children’s book Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness; and journalist specializing in parenting, environmental, and wellness topics. Check out Sandi’s work at the Ecohappiness Project and @getecohappiness
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Today we’re talking about the first time we went camping with a baby and share tips on expectations, sleeping and gear. Main takeaways:
- If you have friends who are camping with kids, could you stop by their campsite for a day trip and see how they’re doing it? This might give you the confidence to try it yourself.
- For your first trip camping with a baby, go with someone who is familiar with camping - your partner, a friend, your parents, or anyone who can lend a hand when you need it.
- Go somewhere familiar and close to home, and keep it simple! Can you just go for one night?
- Sleep will be the most challenging part, expect to be tired. Forget the schedule you have at home, it probably won’t work while camping!
- What’s the worst that could happen? You don’t sleep? You might not be sleeping at home anyway, at least you’ll be in a beautiful location!
- Invest in coffee! And pack as many wipes as you can fit in the car.
Places mentioned in this episode: Squamish Riverside Campsite, Cultus Lake Provincial Park
Gear that we love that was mentioned in this episode: BabyBjorn Travel Cot, Peapod Travel Bed, Bumbo Seat, phil&teds Lobster Highchair
Connect with us on Instagram @getoutsidewithkids
We are thrilled to be joined by Vancouver legend Stephen Hui, author of 105 Hikes and Destination Hikes. We talk about Stephen’s brand new book Best Hikes and Nature Walks With Kids In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, coming to bookstores in May 2022.
Stephen shares how he learned to adapt his hiking style from the massive 20km+ big mountain adventures (such as the ones described in 105 Hikes), to looking at slugs and icicles on 1km loops with his son. Check out all of Stephen’s books at 105hikes.com
Places mentioned in this episode: Lynn Canyon, Killarney Lake (Bowen Island), Cypress Falls, Seymour suspension bridge
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Today we are casting our minds back two years to a time that really motivated us to start this podcast. We talk about how we learned to get outside with kids and what helped us make it a regular habit.
Main takeaways:
- Incorporating getting outside into your everyday routine makes it easier to overcome toddler resistance
- Open ended toys like buckets and shovels help your kids make an adventure out of anything
- Consider having fewer toys (both inside and outside)
- Spending time outside without any big plans can increase your confidence for bigger adventures
Gear mentioned in this episode: Hape 5-in-1 Beach Set
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Today we are joined by Tammie Bennett, cross country runner and coach, to talk about how to make running fun for kids (and their parents). The key? Embrace the muddy mess of being outside with kids!
Takeaways:
- We have to keep things fun and social for kids!
- Encourage your kids to explore their physical limits while getting messy and muddy
- Let the kids lead the adventures outdoors. Give them the power and the choice
- If you can’t find a community, can you create one?
- It’s OK for you to get messy and have fun with your kids too. Kids love to see their parents having fun and racing alongside them!
Find Tammie’s podcast at the SHOW UP society on Apple Podcasts and follow her on Instagram @showupsociety
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Anyone else feeling pretty tired? Yup, us too. Today we share what we do when we want to get outside, but the exhaustion is real.
Main takeaways:
- Set the bar so low you can’t fail
- Can you text a friend right now and make a plan to meet outside?
- Can you incorporate getting a caffeinated drink or snack for yourself along the way? Because you need something to look forward to when you’re going outside!
- Could you clip your kid into a stroller or bike trailer and go for a tiny outing? And while you’re doing that, could you put in one headphone and tune out just a bit?
- Is there an errand you can incorporate into an outing?
- It gets easier. You’re doing really well.
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Would your kiddo like to try their hand at being a scientist? On today’s episode, we are joined by special guest, NASA Master Trainer Izolda Trakhtenberg, who has taught people aged 3-83 how to be community scientists. We talk to Izolda about all the amazing ways kids can learn about the world through science.
Main takeaways:
- Science is one way to encourage kids to spend more time outside
- So much learning happens when kids are given tangible activities to study their environment
- Your kids are never too young to learn that they can have a positive impact on the world
Learn more about Izolda at Izoldat.com
Community science activities and programs mentioned in this episode: GLOBE, iNaturalist, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. Cloud chart (elementary), Cloud chart (secondary)
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
We were never meant to parent alone. But for lots of people, parenting young children is a really lonely time. We want to change that!
In this episode, we talk about how to make friends in a meaningful way that goes beyond just sharing your baby’s milestones and saying that everything is "fine".
Takeaways:
- Treat making parent friends like speed dating. It’s OK if you don’t hit it off with everyone.
- For us, focusing on a couple of really close friends has been far better than getting to know a large group at a superficial level.
- If you’re looking for friendship, going for a walk or a hike can be a great way to get to know someone
- Just because someone also has a baby, doesn’t mean you have to be friends. Find people whose lifestyle and parenting style resonates with you.
- The best way to feel included is to include someone else. Be brave and reach out!
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
We are joined by entrepreneur, tiny home owner and mom Kaili Sutton! We talk about how living in a tiny home means more time outdoors, and more adventures. Because space is limited, Kaili shares her thoughts on essential kids gear and how to encourage kids to get outside and, maybe more importantly, stay outside.
Takeaways:
- The less space you have inside, the more time your kids might need to spend outside
- Invest in quality gear, either new or secondhand, that will stand up to the outdoors and reduce the amount of gear you need
- Set a timer to encourage your kid to spend just another 10 minutes outside
- Tiny living might not be for everyone, but spending more time outside is something we can all work towards
Check out Kaili's new secondhand kids store on the Sunshine Coast: Coast Kids Reshop and find the store on Instagram at @coastkidsreshop
Kaili's beautiful tiny house was built by Sunshine Tiny Homes (and many of the photos on that page are of Kaili and her family!)
Follow us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Ah camping! The campfire, the fresh air, the snacks, a relaxed drink with friends. It all sounds amazing! But how exactly can you plan a successful camping trip with toddlers?! We’ve got you covered.
- Plan in advance - particularly in the Lower Mainland, you need to book in advance
- Think about noise - is there a loud train passing the campground in the night? Are there are any sound barriers between you and other campers? Are there quiet hours?
- Consider booking a campsite next to a playground or a large grassy space
- Visit the campground on a day trip before you go
- Always pack ear plugs!
Places mentioned in this episode: Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Porteau Cove Provincial Park, E.C. Manning Provincial Park, Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park, Rathtrevor Provincial Park, Cultus Lake Provincial Park, Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, Goldstream Provincial Park, Golden Ears Provincial Park
Connect with us on Instagram, we love to hear from you! @getoutsidewithkids
Kids walk slow. Which is fine! We love walking and exploring with our kids. But sometimes you actually want to get to a place. Like, maybe today. Enter: bikes! We talk about our tips for getting started with a bike with your kid, and making the transition from balance to pedal.
Takeaways:
- Take your kid somewhere they can see other kids their own size on bikes.
- Get the right size bike. Small and super light is a good place to start.
- More time on a balance bike makes the transition to a pedal bike smoother.
- Buying bikes second hand makes sense when your kids grow fast!
Gear mentioned in this episode: Yvolution Y Velo Junior 9 inch Balance Bike, Cruzee Balance Bike, Strider Bike
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Outdoor play specialist Jane Pilskalnietis joins us for a fascinating dive into the world of outdoor free play and why it’s so important. Get ready for a visualisation exercise that will help you understand how different our kids’ world might be to when we were kids!
Takeaways:
- Free play can help kids’ bodies, brains and social skills.
- Begin with a mindset that getting outdoors with your kids is an essential part of life.
- Start with 15 minutes a day.
- Consider bringing “loose parts” outside, which are open ended things that kids can play with, such as buckets, shovels, piping, milk crates, rope (with supervision!) and kitchen utensils.
- Follow Jane on Instagram at @janepilskalnietis and wildbrightplay.com
Gear mentioned in this episode: Hape 5-in-1 Beach Set
Connect with us on Instagram @getoutsidewithkids
For better or worse, toddlers have some limits when it comes to hiking. We discuss what we look for when choosing a toddler friendly hike, including all the times we haven't followed our own advice!
Takeaways:
- Accept that shorter can often be better
- Short hikes can be deceiving - remember to check the elevation gain and starting elevation.
- Read descriptions for safety hazards (e.g. river crossings, exposed ledges)
- A lake, beach or (safe) lookout make the destination more tangible for kiddos.
- Just because someone posted a beautiful photo on Instagram, does not mean it’s an appropriate hike for you and your kids.
- Check out websites like Vancouver Trails for great info and comments
- Do your research, but remember to believe in yourself. You can do hard things!
Places mentioned in this episode: Golden Ears Provincial Park, Grouse Grind, Haleakalā National Park (Maui), Kicking Horse Resort (Golden), Angels Landing in Zion National Park, Stawamus Chief, Jug Island in təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park, Glacier National Park, Strathcona Provincial Park
Gear mentioned in this episode: Deuter Kid Comfort
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
What is the worst thing that can happen while you’re out with your kids? Today we are sharing some our “worst case scenario” situations so you can learn from where we went (horribly?!) wrong! A little doomsday planning can make you feel more prepared to take on an adventure. Takeaways:
- Check out AdventureSmart for great tips
- Pay attention to the forecast and the elevation of where you’re going. Rain can turn to snow pretty easily.
- Always have spare pants and socks for your kids (and maybe you!) in the car
- Learn what animals are in your area and how you should react if you encounter one.
- Sometimes it’s worth ruining a nap to have an adventure!
Places mentioned in this episode: Lindeman Lake (Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park), Rocky Point Park
Gear mentioned in this episode: ErgoBaby
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
You’ve probably experienced this - your toddler has had enough and refuses to go on. How can you motivate them to continue to walk? We’ve been there too and we know how hard it is! Here are the main takeaways from this episode:
- Story - tell a riveting, long story with plenty of magic and intrigue
- Surroundings - bring their attention back to their surroundings. Look for rocks. Point out trees. Run to the next hill. Look out for the coolest bug. Count something together.
- Sit down - if your kid is really upset, sometimes the best thing you can do is just sit down and ride out the waves of emotion together.
- Snacks, but more importantly, secret snacks!
Places mentioned in this episode: Coquitlam Crunch
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Taking a baby to the snow can be intimidating. We talk about what to look for in winter gear, how to get you and your kids dressed, and how to decide where to go, as well as all the times we have forgotten crucial items and lived to tell the tale!
Takeaways:
- Layer up those kiddos to keep them warm and dry. Avoid cotton!
- Don’t forget to wear layers yourself. Carrying a baby makes you WARM.
- Take a lot of spare mittens and hats and neck warmers.
- Always wear waterproof pants, because you’ll end up sitting down to breastfeed, change a kid or get snacks out.
- Choose a well trafficked trail so you can possibly wear spikes instead of snowshoes
- Start small and lower your expectations so that you can learn how you and your kid react to the cold.
Places mentioned in this episode: Mt Seymour Resort, Cypress Mountain, Callaghan Valley, Sea to Sky Gondola
Gear that we love that was mentioned in this episode: MEC Toaster Snowsuit, MEC long johns, Columbia Snuggly Bunny snowsuit, Baby Tula Explore, Deuter Kid Comfort
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Do you want to try hiking with a baby but don’t know where to start? This episode will help you set realistic goals, take the right gear and get outside with your baby. Main takeaways:
- Keep your expectations low - even lower than you think!
- Go with someone you trust, who has the same expectations as you
- Get up and go early - even when you’ve had no sleep. Just go!
- Pack your bag and your carrier the night before.
- Take as many wipes as you can carry. Trust us.
Places mentioned in this episode: təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park, Minnekhada Regional Park
Gear that we love that we mentioned in this episode: Baby Tula Explore, Ergobaby 360, Baby K’Tan Original Baby Wrap
Connect with us on Instagram for more tips @getoutsidewithkids
Meet Jen, a mom of two, who grew up in Ontario and had never been hiking until she moved to Vancouver as an adult.
And Kate, also a mom of two, who grew up camping in Australia with her family (and dingoes).
Despite very different backgrounds, Jen and Kate have learned a thing or two about getting outside with kids on adventures big and small and introduce their key tip: lower your expectations!
Places mentioned in this episode: Stawamus Chief Provincial Park (https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/stawamus/)
Connect with us on Instagram @getoutsidewithkids