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.

Surviving (and Thriving) Below Zero with Kids

Surviving (and Thriving) Below Zero with Kids There is a lot of great information out there about how to handle and dress for winter, but I find that when we start talking about subzero weather many families feel it’s just easier to skip it. I’m here to convince you otherwise. Subzero temperatures require more work … Read more

Best Rain Bibs for Kids

We are big fans of rain bibs. So much so, that we own this piece of gear from three different companies: Polarn O Pyret, Reima, and Playshoes. I’ve found pros and cons to each, and would recommend each of them in different situations for families looking for the best rain bibs for kids. >>>If you’re … Read more

Kinderpack for Hiking

kinderpack for hiking

Kinderpack for Hiking For me and many people I know, the Kinderpack (KP) is the Cadillac of soft structured carriers (SSCs). It is so comfortable, easy to adjust, and well fitting that you can actually forget you are using a carrier and just concentrate on enjoying your hike! It is why we think the Kinderpack … Read more

Best Reima Rain Gear

Best Reima Rain Gear I consider myself and the kids to be rain gear aficionados. We get a lot of wet weather up here in Alaska, and we spend a great deal of our lives outside in it. We don’t believe in “bad weather”, in fact rainy days are some of our favorite! Of course, … Read more

Easy Solstice Celebrations

Celebrating Solstices (and Equinoxes) is one of my favorite things to do with my kids. Studying seasonal rhythms and cycles is part of our everyday homeschool curriculum, and it doesn’t even feel like “learning” (which for young kids is when I think the very best learning happens!). Solstice celebrations are an important part of our … Read more

REI Tarn 40

The REI Tarn 40 pack instantly impressed us with how it looks and feels. I have always loved REI backpacking packs for adults, and this one for children doesn’t sacrifice the quality. It is a great size for backpacking for kids from approximately age 8 to 12+. As an Amazon Associate and member of other … Read more