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Today you will be hearing stories of adventures in the National Parks from other families just like yours! The stories in this episode are listener-submitted and pre-recorded. This new format is my solution to a bit of a problem I’ve had since moving to Montana. The problem is my internet. It’s so awful I can’t do zoom calls, which has ruled out interview-style podcast episodes. My plan is to give these story episodes a try and see what you think, while also doing informative episodes on how to do different outdoor activities with your family. I’m very interested in hearing your feedback on this episode! Please leave a review and let me know what you think.  outdoorsyfamilies.com

To join the No Inside Days Challenge go to outdoorsyfamilies.com! Follow along on Instagram @outdoorsy.families   Hi and welcome to Outdoorsy Families! This is episode __.  I’m Audrey Withycombe, the host of Outdoorsy Families. Somehow it’s been 2 months since our last episode, and a lot has happened since then! I’m so happy to be back in this space and to share what I’ve been up to for the last two months. In today’s episode, I’m going to be doing a reintroduction and share my why for doing this podcast. Honestly, this is going to be helpful for me as I get back into the podcasting habit. I’ll also share what you can expect from the podcast since things will be changing a bit.  I’m going to wrap up this episode by sharing my goals for 2022. I’ll admit I don’t typically make many goals, but this year I have some fun ones to share!    But before we begin, I wanted to encourage you to check out the website, outdoorsyfamilies.com. There I have an ever-growing list of resources to help you get outside as a family, and maybe even try a new, bigger adventure!   Reintroduction: I don’t know about you, but 2021 was a year of huge change, overcoming challenges, and a lot of growth for me. It’s the year that my baby became a toddler and we found our stride as a family of 4. It’s also the year I took a leap and began this podcast. It’s something I wanted to do for a long time but was afraid to learn something so foreign. But I finally cast those fears aside and did it! I’m really proud of that accomplishment and can’t wait to see where the podcast goes in 2022.    As I mentioned, I’m Audrey Withycombe. I’m a mom of two little kids - River who’s 4 and Hattie who’s 2. I’m Richie’s wife. He’s been my adventure partner for over 11 years. We are so honored to get to live at a beautiful summer camp on the shores of Flathead Lake in Northwestern Montana. Richie and I have lived in 5 states together. River has joined us in 4 of those 5 states. We’ve moved around several times since we sold our home in the suburbs of Salt Lake City in 2019. Each move has felt like a step towards being where we want to be permanently. And now I think we’ve found our spot!    What started this sequence of moves was a big decision for our family to leave the daily grind behind and simplify our lives. We wanted to maximize our time together and maximize our time outside. With a background in working at camps, Richie decided to begin looking for a director position at a camp that provided housing. This opened the opportunity for me to stay home with River (and eventually Hattie). We felt pretty sure that we could live on one small income as long as our housing was covered! So we took a big leap and moved to a summer camp in Oklahoma. It was away from the mountains that I loved, but it was near family. I loved seeing my parents frequently and enjoyed getting into a rhythm as a “stay outside mom”. Shortly after our move, I found out I was pregnant with Hattie. A few short weeks before her birth we found out that the camp we sold our home for and left our jobs for was closing. It was a tough blow.    At 35 weeks pregnant we were able to move to another camp - this time in Minnesota. It was a hard adjustment to be in the bitterly cold weather with a newborn and no family nearby. Eventually, we found our groove and learned to love the extreme seasons that Minnesota brings. We felt so fortunate to live in such a rural space during the pandemic, with ample opportunities to explore outdoors. As we began finding our community in Minnesota we thought we’d be there for a while. We were content in our home, Richie’s job, and our life. We did still miss being closer to family, skiing, whitewater rafting, and hot springs. But we figured that we would have those parts of our life again someday.    Of course, things have a way of changing, and quickly! I don’t remember why or ho

 I am so excited to share today’s episode because it features one of my family’s favorite musicians - Joe Mailander from the Okee Dokee Brothers. My kids love listening to the Okee Dokee Brothers nature-inspired albums. They are one of our favorites to turn on for a morning dance party. My family had the opportunity to see the Okee Dokee Brothers in our small town in Minnesota. It was a free outdoor concert - and my kids loved it! After the show, Joe agreed to come on the podcast and share the inspiration for their outdoor influenced music. Three of the Okee Dokee Brothers albums are influenced from first hand adventures. Joe is also a father. He discussed with me how his music has changed after fatherhood, as well as how his approach to the outdoors has changed. We also talk about how he and his band mate, Justin grew up playing in the creeks and woods near their homes in Denver. The Okee Dokee Brothers have won a Grammy for their album, Can You Canoe and have been nominated several times since. This year they declined the nomination after the category for best children’s album was once again filled with white men. We discuss this decision and I have included works of BIPOC musicians in the show notes.  Before we begin the show, I want to encourage you to go to outdoorsyfamilies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter. I am including tips for getting outdoors with your kids, as well as links to some great gear. So come join this awesome community! BIPOC Playlist  The Okee Dokee Brothers Outdoorsy Families Outdoorsy Families Instagram  

Today I’m talking with Nikki Samuels. Nikki recently published her first book, Nature Parade, a beautiful, lyrical story told by the point of view of a pair of shoes. These shoes lead a parade of different sounds and events taking place on an adventure in the outdoors. This book is the perfect transition to fall book, as the beautiful illustrations show the changing of the seasons. It’s been one of our favorites lately, and my daughter loves to join the nature parade by making the sounds along with me.  I really enjoyed chatting with Nikki about the inspiration for her newest book. We also talk about outdoor play. Nikki is an early childhood educator who loves to teach children through outdoor play, and she provides some great ideas for teaching your own children while playing outside together. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! Follow Nikki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikkisamuelsauthor/ Buy Nature Parade: https://www.tinytwigspress.com/product/nature-parade/ https://amzn.to/2YL3DlR    Follow Outdoorsy Families on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/   Check out the website: outdoorsyfamilies.com    This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.  

Today I’m talking with Emily Isenbarger. Emily is a podcast host of the Happy Outdoor Family podcast. She first published her podcast a few weeks before I released mine. I’ve enjoyed listening to her podcast and talking with her about podcasting. Emily does a great job at prioritizing outdoor play for her three daughters and has homeschooled them for the last few years. Now her oldest daughter has started attending public school. She’s thriving in this new environment, but it’s added some challenges on how to incorporate plenty of outdoor play into her daily routine. Emily has gotten creative! From running laps around the house after school to doing early morning playground time, Emily is ensuring her daughter is still getting the outdoor time she needs to thrive! Our conversation is all about outdoor play and how to sneak in more outdoor playtime on a public school schedule. Emily's favorite outdoor gear: a metal bucket! Tinkergarten classes: https://tinkergarten.com/ Happy Outdoor Families link: https://anchor.fm/emily-isenbarger Happy Outdoor Families Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyoutdoorfamilies/  Outdoorsy Families Website: https://www.outdoorsyfamilies.com/  Outdoorsy Families Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/ 

Today on the podcast I am talking with Tavis Malcolm, the founder and creator of Morrison Outdoors, an outdoor gear brand that makes sleeping bags for babies and toddlers. Morrison Outdoors is quickly growing something of a cult following amongst parents who want to get their little ones camping. And for good reason, as I found out on my recent camping trip to Voyageurs National Park. The Big Mo and Little Mo sleeping bags provide a safe sleeping space that will definitely keep your little one warm and comfortable throughout the night. Hattie tried out the Big Mo 20 degree sleeping bag and she honestly slept better than she has on any other camping trip. Now I don’t know if this is because of the Big Mo, or because I weaned her about a month and a half ago but I’ll certainly give some credit to Morrison Outdoors for keeping her cozy and warm on some chilly nights! The Big Mo 20 degree sleeping bag consists of ethically sourced down, quality zippers, and soft fabric. The hands do not have cuffs. This ensures your little one will stay nice and warm. However, Hattie did want some more freedom to use her hands as she fell asleep (She’s gotta snuggle her dolly and her sloth, Fuff.). I kept her arms out of the sleeping bag while she fell asleep and then tucked them in once she was out. This sleeping bag also made a great spot to stay warm on our extra chilly days in rainy Voyageurs National Park. She snuggled in her sleeping bag as we played card games in the tent! In this episode Tavis shares the story behind Morrison Outdoors and their journey to becoming an outdoor gear company - including how quickly they got into REI and some awards they’ve received from Gear Junkie! I love hearing the inspiration behind small, independent companies and I hope you enjoy Morrison Outdoor’s story as well!  Purchase your Morrison Outdoors sleeping bag here: https://morrisonoutdoors.com/ Follow Morrison Outdoors on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrisonoutdoors/ Enter the giveaway with Morrison Outdoors: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/ Gear Junkie award: https://gearjunkie.com/outdoor-retailer/best-in-show-winter-gear-outdoor-retailer-2020  Tavis’s Favorite gear: https://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-category/mats/megamat-duo-10-m-green     

Today's episode is a long one and that's because we're tackling a huge subject. We're talking about camping! Specifically, this episode is for folks new to camping. My husband, Richie, is joining the discussion to talk all about camping. We go through everything you need to know about camping from different types of camping to where to find your next camping spot. Things also get a bit silly as we recall some of our more memorable camping experiences - like the time we camped near an active train track while also facing 30 MPH winds! If you are ready to get camping then this is the episode for you!   https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/ outdoorsyfamilies.com

Today I’m talking with Naomi Noyes from Niños and Nature. Naomi is a mother to twin 3-year-old girls and an educator. She’s passionate about nature play, Spanish immersion, and spending quality time outdoors with kids. Naomi’s course, Con Mi Familia allows parents and young children the opportunity to learn Spanish through play, especially nature play. Naomi’s newest course, Spanish in the Wild is a nature-based Spanish course for ages 5 through high school. This course focuses on learning Spanish while also learning about nature and the natural world! Naomi is also opening a forest school in her hometown near the Blueridge Mountains in Virginia. Naomi’s cheerful attitude and her amazing pursuit of her goals made our conversation so much fun! Before becoming a work-at-home mom, Naomi was a high school Spanish teacher. Just before the pandemic began, Naomi realized she needed to step away from her career as a public school teacher and focus on herself and her family. Knowing that their family needed another income - Naomi began brainstorming ideas for her future business. The idea for Niños and Nature actually came to her in the shower! From there, she launched into action, creating the framework for her popular online course, Con mi Familia. Now that restrictions on meetings are easing, Naomi is beginning her dream of starting a forest school this month! She will be teaching preschool students at a park near her home, with a fully outdoor setting! The focus of the forest school will be to provide an immersive, bilingual forest school experience. I love this unique take on forest school education. If you are not familiar with forest schools, check out this article from the Forest School Association. Check out Naomi’s website, Niños and Nature. Follow Naomi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninos.and.nature/ Watch her awesome crafting videos on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG19ezhMTwoBsCphgVG6rzg Follow Outdoorsy Families on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/

Today I’m talking with Rachel Sanchez about risky play. Rachel and her family love to explore the red rocks of southern Utah. They access beautiful and remote locations through their van conversion. While exploring all the beauty Utah has to offer, they also allow their daughters to explore what their bodies are capable of. From climbing rocks to swimming in hot springs, the Sanchez kids have the opportunity to take risks and learn from their experiences. Rachel and her husband Mike keep close proximity to their young children as they explore. I loved talking with Rachel on this topic because it’s something I try to practice in my daily outdoor play with my own young children. I hope you learn something new about risky play, and that you’ll feel open to let your own children challenge themselves in new ways outside! I think risky play is such a powerful and important part of outdoor play for children. Our society has shifted in a way that the phrase “be careful” is the normal background to kids outdoor playtime. I encourage you to rethink what you mean by the phrase “be careful” as your kids explore the outdoors this week. Is there something else you can say instead to build confidence in your child? Examine your own relationship with risky play this week and see if you are willing to give space for your child’s exploration.  Follow Rachel Sanchez and her family: https://www.instagram.com/beboldlittleones/   Check out the Outdoorsy Families website: outdoorsyfamilies.com   Follow Outdoorsy Families on Instagram:  instagram.com/outdoorsy.families        

I am so excited to share my conversation with Amelia Mayer today. Amelia is the mom behind the website Tales of a Mountain Mama. I discovered her website back in 2017 when my son was just a newborn. I discovered her page when I was looking for information on some outdoor baby gear. She gives thorough, honest reviews of all sorts of outdoor gear for families. After finding her website, I also began following along with her family’s adventures in Jackson, WY on Instagram. She was one of the first outdoorsy mom accounts that I started following! Amelia is a mom to five kids. She manages to get everyone out the door and explore in all seasons, each day. During our talk, she discussed strategies she uses to make this go more smoothly (getting help from older siblings!). She also shared how she manages different skill levels on their adventures. One of her favorite tips is to use walkie talkies to give independence to older kids. We also discussed Amelia’s newest book, Camping with Kids Cookbook. Amelia has published 4 books now, including 2 cookbooks. Her recent cookbook is filled with simple recipes that everyone in the family will enjoy around the campfire! It also discusses the basics of camping with kids and includes thoughtful tips, such as how to properly pack your cooler. Link to Tales of a Mountain Mama: https://talesofamountainmama.com/ Link to Amelia’s books: https://mountainmamashop.com/ Link to Amelia’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtnmamatales/ Link to Rocky Talkies: Use code mtnmama for 10% off! https://rockytalkie.com/   Link to Outdoorsy Families: https://www.outdoorsyfamilies.com/ Link to Outdoorsy Families on Instagram: (Be sure to enter the giveaway to win Amelia's newest cookbook!) https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/  

Today I'm talking with Jess Sproat about Instagram vs. Reality. We also talk about making time for the outdoors and finding time for solo adventures. Jess is also the co-founder at TrailCollectiv. We talk about how she became involved in this awesome project and what you can do to join TrailCollectiv.   You can follow Jess at https://www.instagram.com/jesscsproat/  Check out TrailCollectiv:  https://www.trailcollectiv.com/  https://www.instagram.com/trailcollectiv/    Use code OUTDOORSY15 for high quality outdoor kids gear from Reima! https://us.reima.com/  Follow Outdoorsy Families on Instagram.com/outdoorsy.families  - and share your adventure with us by using #outdoorsyfamilies  Check out the website! outdoorsyfamilies.com 

Today I'm bringing you the first solo episode since the first episode of Outdoorsy Families! I'm discussing a topic that is important to me, as a parent living on a waterfront. That's water safety. Anyone recreating in or near water needs to be water safety aware. Today I'm sharing some tips for keeping your family safe as you play at the water this summer.  Safekids.org Information:  https://www.safekids.org/poolsafety  https://www.safekids.org/checklist/open-water-safety-checklist https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/water_safety_study_2018.pdf Useful Links for more information: https://www.safekids.org/other-resource/useful-links-swimming-and-boating-safety American Red Cross Water Safety Parents Resource Guide: https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/water-safety/WHALE_Tales_Resource_Guide_04-2020.pdf US Coast Guard Life Jacket Information: https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php https://uscgboating.org/images/howtochoosetherightlifejacket_brochure.pdf   Outdoorsyfamilies.com instagram.com/outdoorsy.families