Amanda Schmidt

Amanda, her husband, Josh, and their children, Colby and Lua, live in Oberlin, OH where Amanda is a Geosciences professor at Oberlin College. Amanda's parents live in New Hampshire and so they spend a lot of time there as well. They take advantage of homeschooling to maximize outdoors time for everyone. Amanda grew up in Hong Kong and spent summers in New Hampshire, where she found her love for nature. Pursuing a PhD in geosciences to study why Earth looks the way it does and how people change those processes was a natural outgrowth of her love for being outside. Their outdoor sports sort of follow seasons: the winter they love to ski, in the fall they race cyclocross, in the spring they ride bikes on day trips, and in the summer they rock climb, bike tour, take overnight canoe trips, and backpack.

Helpful Tips for Adventuring with Neurodiverse Kids

Kids playing at a playground

Who is this post for? This post is for everyone, but… we are really focusing on parents of neurodiverse kids! Whether your child is formally identified/diagnosed or not, if you think your child experiences the world differently, this post is for you. Neurodiversity is a broad term. We have personal experience with ADHD, anxiety, and … Read more

Best Hiking Shoes for Kids 2026

best hiking shoes for kids

Spending the money on pint-sized hiking shoes for kids can feel like a waste, especially when your child is going to grow out of them so quickly. Can your child just get away with wearing their basic kids running shoes or sandals on a hike? Well, yes, but mostly no. If your hikes are mainly … Read more

Sleeping Pads for Families 2026

None of us like the feeling of waking up on a flat air mattress in the middle of the night. We can tough it out, but it still makes for a cruddy night. Sleep is universally accepted to be important, right? Many folks’ number one fear of camping is being unable to sleep. They have … Read more

Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets for Kids 2026

Choosing the best ski and snowboard helmets for kids is a crucial step in getting them safely through winter activities. Not sure a helmet is really necessary? Check out some of our reasoning here. And helmets aren’t just for skiing and snowboarding. A lot of us have our kids wear winter helmets for ice skating, … Read more

25 Gifts for a Skiing Family in 2025

Child in red jacket and blue pants on skis with mountains in the background.

Its never to early to start thinking about those gifts for everyone on your list. I’m here to help you find gifts for your favorite skiers. Gifts don’t have to be expensive to be wonderful. These gifts for a skiing family include everything from new clothing to skis to fun and useful accessories. We’ve included … Read more