Kristin Katoski

Kristin grew up in Western Massachusetts but moved north to Alaska in 2008 in search of more snow and bigger mountains. She homeschools her three children and tries to spend as much time as possible learning outside. Kristin loves hiking, camping, puddle stomping, laughing, igloo building, reading, science, baking, photography, and watching the sun go down from on top of a mountain; and is passionate about sharing her enthusiasm for the natural world and her knowledge of the gear that can get you out there in every kind of weather. She works part-time from home as an Environmental Scientist and technical editor.

Barefoot Winter Boots

When many people think winter footwear the images that come to mind are big thick clunky boots. For footwear minimalists, luckily there is an alternative “barefoot” option: the mukluk. And these zero drop winter boots excel in the harshest environments. Mukluks are available for adults and there are a few options for kids. Every year … Read more

DIY Fire Starter Ideas

DIY Fire Starters Kids Can Make Everyone loves having outdoor fires with kids, but sometimes starting them takes time and patience that you don’t have. Luckily, fire starters to the rescue, and as a bonus it’s really fun to get the kids involved by participating in making their own fire starters! The basic principle here … Read more

Solo Stove Review and Comparison

Solo Stove Review Solo stoves are stainless steel, smokeless fire pits and camp stoves designed for home and camping use. If you’ve ever been frustrated having to move your chair all around the firepit to avoid the smoke (and not being able to escape it!), these are the fire pits for you. I was very … Read more

Hiking with Toddlers Tips

Hiking with Toddlers Many parents find their stride living life outdoors while carrying or pushing their babies, and may even enjoy long outings while baby sleeps. But the toddler years present a lot of challenges, and it can be frustrating if you aren’t ready to back up a bit on the speed and distance you … Read more

Mud Kitchen Recipes and Ideas

Mud Kitchen Recipes

Printable mud kitchen recipes and how to set a mud kitchen up Having a mud kitchen in your yard is one of the easiest ways to encourage hours of messy play for your kids. It does not need to be elaborate or pinterest-worthy to be tons of fun! However if you want to make it … Read more

Take Better Photos of Your Kids with your Smartphone

Take Better Photos of Your Kids with your Smartphone Phones are fantastic for pictures these days. As someone who is passionate about photography, I never thought a phone would be the only camera I’d carry. But I leave my SLR behind every day and rarely miss it. Here’s why. As an Amazon Associate and member … Read more