Summer in my mind equates with good old fashioned mess. Squishy wet beach sand between your toes as you prance along without shoes. The tangy sweet smell of sunscreen on warm, tan skin fresh from the lake. Sticky, gooey and delicious campfire s’mores and burnt marshmallows squashed between your finger tips. Before you head off…
Get Outdoors: Hiking with Kids
Mother Nature has finally decided to give up the grudge on this winter. You can imagine my surprise this week when I looked out the window and watched the little temperature gauge creep into the “+”. This was especially great since I had literally stopped checking it because every day was below -20˚C. When you’re…
Mini-Adventures: Dining En Plein Air
It’s been a hectic couple of weeks while we pack our house to move. There is very little remaining to do, and the choices for what to play with, what to entertain ourselves with and what to eat grow slim. Thankfully, kids are incredibly adaptable. I think we should all take a lesson from them…
Camping in the Backyard
I’ve noticed the mornings have been chillier lately. I pulled out my fleece sweater to wear on the way to work. Most of the plants in the garden are done for the season, or have started bursting into flower to create seed for next time. The leaves from the trees are slowly turning yellow and beginning…
Mini-Adventure: Spontaneous Spray Park Visit
The last few weeks have been tough. Living away from my children makes me miss them everyday. So right now, I live for weekends. On the weekends, there’s nothing else I have to do but play. The weather has turned gorgeous with those hot summer days that we fantasize about all cold winter long. Our…
My Outdoor Roots Were Forged in Guiding (or Why You Should Enroll Your Daughter in Girl Guides)
We all have to start somewhere. For me, my love of camping and being outdoors were forged in tents, and on the shores of Lake Erie. From ages 7 to 16, I attended a Girl Guide summer camp for at least a week. These were not the type of camps we think of…