Best Puffy Jackets for Kids 2025

A great way to help keep kids warm in the winter is a puffy jacket, filled with either a down or synthetic insulation, these jackets often give a very “puffy” appearance, hence the name. Puffy or puffer jackets come in all styles, shapes, and budgets. If you want to skip the info on insulation, click … Read more

How to Organize Outdoor Gear

Having all your gear perfectly organized is the thing of dreams. And although I try my best, we still go through bouts where we get unorganized. And it seems like the only way to fix it would be a week of only me in the house to put it back in order (which obviously will … Read more

Family Winter Play After Dark

A swingset in a snowy backyard at night it lit up with lights

Getting outside at night offers a sense of calm after a busy day with the kiddos. Family winter play after dark can help calm some of the busiest bodies. The dark sky, the quiet street, the freshly fallen snow and the crisp night make for a relaxing breath of fresh air and some time to … Read more

Favorite Make Ahead Camping Meals

girl leans over a counter where she has her hand on a green muffin on a blue plate, with a freezer bag of more muffins next to the plate

Food preparation for camping trips can be a point of stress for many people. Planning what to make, how to make it, and remembering all required ingredients and cooking supplies can be a big challenge. Over the years, we have found that having a repertoire of favorite make ahead camping meals is a huge help … Read more

Outdoor Parenting Books

Stack of hardcover library books outside

Did you know the average time an American kid spends in outdoor free play each day is only 4-7 minutes? Meanwhile, the average child spends an average of 4-6 hours on screens each day with teens spending up to 9 hours a day using a screen. More and more research is coming out about the … Read more

Gear for a Family Thru-Hike

Dad and two children wearing backpacking packs looking into the distance from a trail overlook.

If you are going to take kids on a thru-hike (or really any long-distance backpacking trip), you need to think a bit more carefully about gear than if you were just taking them in a mile or so to basecamp at a lake for your backpacking trip. If you get nothing else from this post, … Read more