Confessions of a Sometimes Squeamish Adventurous Mom
I have a confession to make. I do not like bugs, or worms, or mice, or any creepy crawly creatures. As a kid, I was not interested in catching frogs or inspecting critters –...
Category: Nature
Why Urban Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature
I did not go tent camping as a kid. I grew up in the inner-city, and the closest my family ever came to communing with the outdoors was a trip to some sort of family camp...
5 Things for Families to do in our National Parks!
We are so fortunate to have a national system of almost 400 protected historical, urban, and natural sites spread throughout our country. Since 1916, the U.S. National Park Service has provided the world with many...
National Walking Day – 3 Activities For Family Fun
I never met my Pop – my maternal grandfather. He died from a massive heart attack the year before I was born. Just 46 years old, he left behind eight children, the youngest of...
Gardening and the Unfortunate End for a Little Mouse
We are having unusual weather in New England – it was 75 degrees today, and it’s supposed to be sunny and warm all week. I was inspired to start our garden today! On the...
Adventures in Snowboarding at Pat’s Peak!
Yesterday we took the Outdoor Adventure Club to Pat’s Peak in Henniker, NH. I work at an inner-city high school, so most of my kids have never been skiing or snowboarding – it’s too...
The Simple Pleasures of a Snowfall
I have been waiting for this day all winter – it finally snowed! We have had an uncharacteristically snowless winter in Massachusetts. Usually by now I am ready to throw my shovel at something....
Nature as a Source of Strength
Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. – Rachel Carson For the past three weekends, Kendra and I have been going...
First Hike of 2012!
Today Kendra and I took Addie on her first hike of the year! We went with my sister Kim, her three kids, Grace, Eoin, and Bria, and our friend Christina, to one of our...
Hiking in Sumter National Forest in South Carolina
Today we went hiking with Kendra’s parents. Boris drove us all to Sumter National Forest in Walhalla, South Carolina to hike the Yellow Branch Falls Trail. One of two National Forests in the state,...