February 15, 2017

How to Make a Terrarium | Nature Based Projects with Kids

I’ve waited over a month to share our terrarium project here on the blog. Do you want to know why? I wanted to make sure little plant world survived before I wrote about how we created it!

First off, what exactly IS a terrarium? For our purposes, a terrarium is an enclosed (covered) clear glass vessel containing living plants. Creating a terrarium is a great way to teach kids about the water cycle, and it’s a low maintenance way to add a little life into your home! It’s also very easy to make & once supplies are gathered will just take 30 minutes or so!

In theory, if created properly, a covered terrarium doesn’t require a lot of upkeep. Once watered, the container produces it’s own little ecosystem. The soil releases water vapor, which collects on the sides of vessel, trickles down back into the soil, and the process starts over again! The only other requirement is to place the terrarium near sunlight. We’ve placed ours by our large front bay window, and it seems quite “happy” there!

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February 10, 2017

Spring Training Cactus League in Arizona: Secrets to a Fun Day at the Ballpark

We are coming up on our sixth year of traveling down to Arizona for Major League Baseball’s Spring Training. Since Slaed’s mom moved to the Phoenix area, we’ve made it a tradition to visit her every March. We get a much needed break from the cold and rainy Seattle weather, and we get to spend some time living the desert life.

One of the highlights, aside from catching up with family of course, is getting to see our Seattle Mariners baseball team prepare for the regular season via the Cactus League. Most of the time we watch a game or two at the Peoria Sports Complex, their home field shared with the San Diego Padres, but we’ve also visited several other ballparks around the Phoenix area, and love the whole experience.

Even though we catch a game every year, last year was the first time we really made a day of it with our oldest, Bergen. While Georgia relaxed with Slaed’s mom back at her house, we spent the morning and afternoon watching baseball. I thought I’d share a few tips and takeaways to make a Spring Training adventure with kids a big success!

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February 8, 2017

The Next Generation of Animal Responders: Teaching Kids How They Can Make a Difference for Wildlife

How do we inspire the next generation to care for our planet?

In the words of Benjamin Franklin,

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

One of the best ways to instill a genuine respect for living things is through experience. Children need to be provided with opportunities to be a part of the natural world. Formal and informal, structured and unstructured, adult-led and independent, this dedicated time leads to knowledge. And this knowledge leads to understanding, power, and action. Jane Goodall said, “Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved.”

There are so many ways to build upon a child’s “nature IQ”. Hiking, camping, nature-based projects, classes, field trips to environmental centers, and good old fashioned backyard fun are just a handful of ways to start learning! We also love utilizing zoos, aquariums, and science centers as we explore locally and when we travel. These facilities often provide hands-on activities and opportunities to observe flora and fauna in an engaging way.

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February 6, 2017

14 Family Travel Destination Ideas: Where the Experts are Vacationing in 2017

Do you have an exciting travel destination on the calendar for 2017? As we go about the new year, even though we have several other trips coming up, there is ONE in particular that we can’t stop thinking about. It’s the ONE we are most focused on in terms of preparing and planning. Slaed is purchasing travel guides and reserving books from the library. I’m scouring websites and daydreaming over gorgeous instagram photos. And together, we’re also watching all the YouTube videos we can find on the location!

It finally dawned on Slaed how much we are turning our attention to this one single trip, and that got me thinking. Are other families doing the same? Where are other traveling families headed in 2017 that they can’t stop thinking about? Is there one particular place they are telling their friends and family about, and focusing all of their planning and preparation on?

I asked my fellow family travel writing friends to share their “family’s destination of the year”, and YES, it turns out, we are not alone. Other families are also equally excited about one vacation in particular, and they were gracious and generous enough to share!

Here you’ll find 14 family travel destination ideas from the experts. You’ll learn a little bit about each locale including why it was chosen and what makes the destination a great choice for families. If you’re looking to add adventure into your 2017, you just might glean some inspiration and ideas!

Where the Experts are Vacationing in 2017

North America

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands: Our Family!

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January 22, 2017

Travel Planning: 6 Tips for Making Camping Reservations

Summer might not be “right around the corner”, but in the world of travel (especially for those on a budget), it’s important to start planning now. Since we recently booked a camp site for a long weekend in August, I thought I’d share a few quick tips for making camping reservations.

I love how camping combines my love of travel and the outdoors. Even with all the extra work that goes into organizing and setting up, the uninterrupted outside family adventure makes it all worth it! We plan to travel back up to Whidbey Island, Washington, and will stay for 3 nights in Fort Ebey State Park.

This will be our first time tent camping as a family for more than just 2 nights. We decided on our last trip that 2 nights is just too short for all the effort of setting up tents, organizing the food, starting a fire (and on and on). It’s hard work, and we’d like to be able enjoy the glorious parts for a little longer.

Tips for Making Camping Reservations

Book ahead (now!) for summer. If you are hoping to stay at a state park campground or similar spot that takes reservations, it’s smart to start looking now. When we made reservations this week (mid-January), for the dates we selected, there were just a handful of spots remaining.
If possible, take a day trip to the destination, and poke around. Get an idea of the layout of campsites, and see which one(s) would work best for you and your family.
Consider privacy. Many booking/reservation systems will include information or ratings on various aspects of the campground and individual sites, and privacy (how open the site is to others passing by) is important to think about.
Know where the closest bathroom is located. You most likely won’t want to be right next to the bathroom, but if you have young children, you will want to be fairly close.
Be aware of high traffic areas. Take a look at the campground map. Camp sites located right next to trail access, beach and lake entrance points, and other “attractions” will be noisier (and sometimes less private) than those more “off the beaten path”.
Do a quick google search. Folks love talking about their favorite sites within campgrounds, and you can gain some good insights! Trip Advisor, Yelp, and YouTube are also great resources. Typing in something like, “best camping spot in ________state park” will often yield good, helpful results.

More Camping Tips and Inspiration on the Blog:

Have you made your camping reservations for the summer? Where are you headed? We’d also love to know some of your favorite spots to camp!

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January 19, 2017

Nature-Based Projects: Twig Crafts with Kids

What do your kids naturally gravitate towards when your out on a walk or hike? For my 5-year old son, it’s sticks. He turns them into walking poles and imagines he is some kind of magical-being, such as a fairy or sorcerer.

A few weeks ago on a walk with friends, I noticed so many fallen branches and sticks on and around the trail. Those sticks combined with some enthusiasm that needed “directing”, I decided to challenge Bergen to collect sticks of a certain size for a few projects. Winter seems to be the time to find an endless supply!

One of the projects I shared recently was our alphabet twig books. Today I’m sharing our twig crafts–stars, snowflakes, and other formations made out of sticks, yarn, and treasures.

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