It might seem silly to be sharing a tutorial on making nature paintbrushes for kids. After all, paintbrush have been made from natural materials for thousands of years! According to Britannica, paintbrushes are one of human's earliest art supplies and were used as...
If you’re hunting for mud kitchen ideas, here’s what I learned the hard way. Last year, after we moved, I finally set up a mud kitchen in our new backyard. We couldn’t bring our old one with us, and my kids loved it, so I rushed to recreate the magic. This time...
Straining to fit into a boot. Whining about a finger caught in the wrong mitten. Searching for that elusive toque. Getting your kids outside to play in the winter can feel like an hour-long ordeal—with the end result being piles of snowy mittens, dripping boots, and...
It’s already February 2025, and if you’re anything like me, those grand “new year, new me” ambitions might be feeling a little less grand (and a bit more guilt-inducing). If you’ve been trying to keep up with a nature challenge—like 1000 Hours Outside—maybe you...
This past December, I had the joy of collaborating with Alex Bodden, president of the South Okanagan Naturalist Society, to bring the first-ever Christmas Bird Count for Kids to Penticton, BC. The event was a resounding success, sparking excitement among families and...
It’s officially 2025—a fresh start for everyone! The new year traditionally brings resolutions and lofty goals, but if you’re anything like me, those well-intended plans often slip away by February. I’ve especially struggled with the 1000 Hours Outside Challenge....
A Gentle Guide to Inspire Your Year Ahead: A Nudge Word As 2024 comes to close, I find myself entering into a state of soft reflection. I've never been one to end the year strong. Instead, I prefer to lean into the slower paced days that fill the void between...
How should I dress my baby when it's cold outside? This is a question I get asked a lot. So often, in fact, that I figured the answer needed its very own post. I figure after raising five babies in the Great White North of Canada, I've learned a thing or two along the...
The Atlas Helium Trail snowshoes are a great beginner snowshoe for teens and adults looking to explore snowy trails. My teen went through a massive growth spurt, quickly outgrowing his MSR Shift Youth snowshoes and propelling himself into the world of adult snowshoes....
I am no stranger to Mountain Equipment Company's winter gear. I remember my parents flipping through MEC catalogues in the 90s carefully picking out hats, gloves, and winter suits for my siblings and I to wear. I grew up in Prince George, British Columbia where...
The MSR Shift Youth snowshoes are great for kids between the ages 5 to 12 that want to explore snowy trails. If I had to pick a winter activity that is unique, fun, and great for entire family, it would be snowshoeing. Snowshoeing has been underrated by families for a...
I sit in a small alcove of my small log home, my back the dining table which is stretched to its maximum length. Around its scratched wooden surface friends and family have gathered to play games. Their feet tap to tunes and their voices rise above the din of laughter...
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the official start of winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice typically occurs on or around December 21st. While there are many wonderful ways of celebrate the winter solstice with children,...
Trees are amazing plants. They convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, reduce airborne pollutants, bring water into soil, provide homes for wildlife, grow food, and prevent erosion. Trees make our planet, our cities and our families healthier and happier! This list of...
Using pinecones for arts and crafts is so much fun. Pinecones come in all shapes and sizes. Big pinecones, little pinecones, round pinecones and long pinecones. Finding the perfect pinecone is just as much fun as making these adorable pinecone gnomes. Disclaimer: This...
Valentine's Day is a day for sharing our love with family, friends... and the planet! One of the first steps to showing our children how to care for our planet is to let them explore nature at their own pace. This Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt is an invitation for...