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Adrianna Skori, founder and CEO of Kids Who Explore, shares weekly episodes covering all things exploring with kids, from simple walks outside to camping in the backcountry. Expect interviews with explorers from all over the world and lots of takeaways for your own future adventures!
Instagram: @kidswhoexplore
Facebook: Kids Who Explore
Website: www.kidswhoexplore.com
Episodes
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Our Summer Bucket List:
- Hike
- Road Trip
- Picnic
- Swim
- Paddle Board
- Backyard Games
- BBQ
- Festival
- Seasonal Café
- Camp
- Canoe/Kayak
- Fish
- Bike
- Rock Climb (hire local guide)
- Grounding/Earthing
- Bird Watch
- Sail/Boat
- Local Outdoor Theatre
*You should not feel the need to fill time when your child is bored. Down time, or quiet time is super important, and needed, by both children and parents. It's also important for your child to have unplanned time so that when they are "bored", they are able to find their own ways to busy themselves that is unstructured. This allows their creativity and imagination to flow.*
Get Kids Involved:
- Allow them to make the list
- Write each adventure idea on popsicle sticks and place in a jar (pull one out at a time for a surprise adventure)
Tip: Pack the car before the kids!
Thank you to Sawyer for sponsoring today’s episode! https://besawyer.com
Production: @ kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday Jun 28, 2021
Monday Jun 28, 2021
MJ Singletary-Villalobos practices Gentle Parenting, but there are many other names for it - Conscious Parenting. Mindful Parenting. Respectful Parenting. He believes that all of them come down to a long-term approach in regards to both discipline and the relationship one has with their children. He believes the parent-child relationship should focus on respect and seeing a child as a whole person (no matter their age). From parenting without the use of fear, to handling meltdowns on the trail respectfully, MJ is here for all of it!
Skills of gentle parenting:
- Love
- Patience
- Positive Affirmations
- Treating yourself AND others with love and respect
- NEVER using fear as a guide
In modern society, we separate nature and life…but, in reality, they are one. MJ says that the root of a loving relationship with our children is the same root of our love for nature. He calls on us to empower our children; to let them lead.
When it comes to child meltdowns on the trail:
- Don’t worry about concurring the summit; concur your relationship
- Get on their level
- Let them talk and lead the conversation
- Accept their emotion
- Be a “safe spot”
- Don’t tell them what to think or feel
*In America, a lot of highway systems make nature inaccessible for various classes
Call to action: Get involved. Vote. Speak at town halls. Advocate with non-profits that make nature accessible. In nature, do unto others as you would want done unto you. Be a gentle person, not just a gentle parent.
Book recommendation: Raising Cain by Dan Kindlon, PhD & Michael Thompson PhD
Find MJ Singletary-Villalobos’ book, A Flower Never Picks Itself via Amazon
Follow MJ:
IG: @verdelobosproject
Thank you to Rumpl for supporting today’s episode! Use EXPLORE15 for 15% your first order at www.rumpl.com
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday Jun 21, 2021
Monday Jun 21, 2021
Continual snacking, which Dr. Ashley calls “grazing,” increases the chance of cavities, so she suggests sticking to somewhat of a “scheduled” snack schedule, especially on adventures!
Best Foods for Teeth:
- Cheese
- Raw Vegetables
- Nuts
- Eggs
- Fruits
- Crunchy foods (ie. apples)
Foods that Increase Chances of Cavities:
- Foods high in sugar
- Foods high in carbs
- Sticky foods (ie. crackers, that get stuck in teeth)
- If you’re going to eat chocolate, chocolate over 70% cocoa is best for teeth (still in moderation)
This doesn’t mean not to have any of the “foods that increase chances of cavities”; it just means balancing those foods with foods that are good for your teeth! Also, after eating, drink water to wash away the excess food and sugars.
Another tip: Chewing xylitol gum or sugar-free gum after eating can help, because it promotes the saliva in your mouth, allowing the mouth to repair the enamel.
Drinking:
- On adventures with kids, bring a straw cup!
- Kids need water after age 1.
- Before age 1, water is just for practice, as you do not want water to displace a breastmilk or formula feed.
Book Recommendation: Big Steps - We’re Going to the Dentist
*Reminder: Children should visit the dentist for the first time at 1-year-old, or 6 months after first tooth erupts*
Follow Dr. Ashley at: IG: @drashleytop
Thank you to Bloom Nutrition for supporting today’s podcast! Find them on IG: @yourbloomnutrition or at www.yourbloomnutrition.com
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday Jun 14, 2021
Monday Jun 14, 2021
On today’s episode, we sit down with Jennifer and LJ, the founders and owners of 3 Moms Organics, which carries a product we love, TickWise. TickWise is an organic, DEET-free, family safe, insect repellent, that also repels ticks, among many other bugs! Their product is EPA compliant, and is registered in all 50 states in the US. It is sold in over 300 stores and that number is increasing every day. It is also sold on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Lowes.com. Furthermore, 3 Moms Organics was recently certified as a prestigious Women-Owned Small Business. Both Jennifer and LJ have lived in the Hamptons of New York for all their adult life. They have both raised families in East Hampton and learned early on the dangers of ticks, and the diseases they carry. LJ’s children have each been infected with tick-borne diseases multiple times, as have Jennifer’s. The tick problem has gotten so bad in East Hampton that you cannot even step onto your lawn without finding at least one crawling up your leg.
LJ shares her story of having Neurological Lyme Disease [Neurological Lyme Disease requires a Deet-Free product]. We learn how LJ’s tick knowledge, paired with Jennifer’s essential oil knowledge, sent them down the path to protect their children from ticks (and now, thankfully, many other people)!
All the Tick Safety Tips:
- Spray Permethrin on your shoes (spray it outside, and let it dry before wearing; repeat every 2 weeks)
- Spray yourself (with TickWise)
- Spray your belongings, including your backpack
- For babies, do not spray hands or face, but you can spray their clothes, their carrier, their stroller, etc.
- Wear light-coloured clothing, so you can easily spot ticks
- Tuck your pants into your tall socks
- Wear clothes that cover your skin
- Avoid walking in long grass; although, ticks can also be found in short grass, depending location, and closer to trail where they are looking to feed
- Use a lint roller (or duct tape) right after adventuring, to take off any ticks that are hanging on clothing
- At home, strip down, and put your clothing in the dryer on high heat for 1 hour (ticks do not like high heat)
- Shower and do a thorough tick check, especially warm areas of your body, and your hair
- Be cognisant of anything that is itchy once inside – look before you scratch!
If You Find a Tick:
- If you find a tick around your house, get rid of it
- If a tick is found on you, remove it immediately with needle-nose tweezers, or a tick twister (remove it slowly, and make sure all of the tick is removed)
- If the tick has bitten you, put it in a bottle or a plastic bag to send in for testing (do not put it in tape) – check www.tickreport.com
- If a tick has bitten you, do the full 28-days of antibiotics (as that brackets the life cycle of the bacteria) – testing for Lyme disease in people is very flawed. The CDC says that just because you test negative, does not mean you don’t have Lyme disease. Testing is only 30% positive
- **Don’t do the “soap on a cotton ball trick” to remove a tick, because it could leave some of the tick behind, or the tick could regurgitate their stomach contents
Facts about Ticks that will Scare You (Sorry!)
- They can sense when someone has walked in the last 5 hours
- There is a type of tick that can reproduce without a male
- Mice, rabbits, deer, squirrels carry them around
- Possums eat ticks
TickWise Spray Info:
- It’s been field tested for its efficacy
- It’s registered in all 50 states in the US
- It lasts for 2 hours for ticks, and 1.75 hours for mosquitos; then it must be re-applied
- It is also good for dogs, but not cats.
**If you’re trying to keep ticks away from the yard, it’s best to set up tick boxes, because if you spray the yard, it negatively impacts other animals**
Follow:
Website: https://www.3momsorganics.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3momsorganics/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3momsorganics/
Shop at:
Website: https://www.3momsorganics.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/
Walmart: www.walmart.com/
Lowes: www.lowes.com/
Thank you to Rumpl for supporting today’s episode! Use EXPLORE15 for 15% your first order at www.rumpl.com
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Cindy Dowsett, from Kids Who Explore, along with her husband, John Dowsett, are sharing their knowledge!
How to Book for Backcountry Camping:
- choose site via Provincial or National Park sites (albertaparks.ca)
- book a reservation and then it’s usually first come first serve for specific spots
How to Get to Backcountry Camping Site:
- hike in
- pack everything in a chariot and bike in
- canoe in!
What to Expect:
- usually zero service
- many locations have bear locks and fire wood, but some have no amenities
- don’t expect a lot of sleep
- sometimes there are communal cooking areas, sometimes not
How to Start with Kids:
- plan for one night (maybe two)
- pick a close location (smaller hike to get into site, for example)
Safety Tips:
- always watch kids
- make a “safety circle” with a stick around the fire for kids not to cross
- pack warm, “winter” gear even in the summer (plan for all weather)
Backcountry Camping Packing List:
- Backcountry tent
- Sleeping mats
- Sleeping bags
- Hiking backpack
- Garbage bags
- Clothes (layers)
- Hiking boots
- Hat/sunglasses
- Food
- Water
- Water filter
- Camping stove and pots
- Backcountry plates/bowls/mugs/utensils
- Propane for stove
- Backcountry dish soap
- Headlamp/flashlight
- Fire starter/matches
- First aid kit (Benadryl for allergies (bee sting), After Sun, After Bite, Band-Aids, Antiseptic wipes, Polysporin, Tylenol, Dehydration packages, Water filtration tablets, etc.)
- Sewing kit/patch kit
- Toiletries
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Susncreen/Bug spray
- Bear spray
- Camera
- Day hike pack, whistle, knife, rope, duct tape
- Hand/foot warmers
- Extra batteries
- ID
- Backcountry permit (if required)
- Rain covers
- Satellite phone
- Games
Backcountry Camping Additionals for Baby:
- Baby carrier
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Layers (wool base layers and socks, fleece mid-layer, waterproof outer layer, neck warmer, mitts, boots or slippers) & extra layers!
- Sleep sac
- Milk
- Soother
- Toys
- Sunhat/Sunglasses
*Don’t over pack! It will get heavy! Many items are backcountry camping specific, so they are much lighter and smaller to pack down.*
Borrow or rent to get started, if you don’t want to commit to buying everything.
Thank you to Rumpl for supporting today’s episode! Use EXPLORE15 for 15% your first order at www.rumpl.com
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday May 31, 2021
Monday May 31, 2021
About Annika: Annika Mang is a content creator, storyteller, writer, and photographer. Her book, Hikes for Families: A Guide to the Canadian Rockies has over 45 family-friendly hikes. In 2014, she created the Born to Explore Adventurous platform founded on the belief that “Adventuring does not end when you have children, it is only the beginning.”
She has lived all over Western Canada with her family, including three months in a van! Although she hiked as a kid herself, her love for hiking really flourished in University.
She has recently started a new initiative called Trail Collectiv, that determines difficulty level of hikes in 5 different categories, making it more clear for families what is accessible to them! She also shares which hikes are friendly for all-terrain strollers.
Annika loves rock climbing, because it allows her and her family to see nature from a new perspective.
Starting Rock Climbing with Your Kids:
- Get certified [Annika took the Outdoor Climbing Course through the Calgary Climbing Gym – they used an ACMG Certified Instructor]
- Be able to climb a 5.10 in the gym
- Learn to create proper anchors and how to set up with proper etiquette
- Pick a location with smooth ground and not a lot of rock fall
- Check in with locals from the area for suggestions
- Always think of safety first!
Make It Happen:
- Bring your kids by 2-years-old up to a hold to “hang”
- Let your kids see you enjoying it!
- Find friends interested in taking turns between watching the kids and climbing
Recommendations for Rock Climbing Spots in Alberta with Kids:
- Wasootch (https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/canada/kananaskis-country/area/11922961) -Sunshine Rock (https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/canada/alberta/banff/area/547764147)
Not Recommended for Rock Climbing in Alberta with Kids:
- Grassi Lakes
Links: Calgary Climbing Gym (to certify) – www.calgaryclimbing.com Mountain Guides (to certify) – https://yamnuska.com/mountain-guides/
Follow Annika: IG: @borntobeadventurous Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BorntobeAdventurous/
Follow Trail Collectiv: IG: @trailcollectiv
Find Annika’s Book: Her Website – https://www.borntobeadventurous.com The Great Outdoors Store Calgary - https://www.thegreatoutdoorscalgary.ca Valhalla Pure Canmore - https://vpo.ca/topic/VPO.StoreLocator.Canmore All Out Kids Online - https://alloutkids.com
Thank you to Sawyer for sponsoring today’s episode! https://besawyer.com
Production: @ kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday May 24, 2021
Monday May 24, 2021
Lauren Rodych-Eberle is the Communications and Media Director for Kids Who Explore, and her passions with KWE really lie in sharing knowledge, tips and tricks, and promoting even the smallest of adventures!
Outside of Kids Who Explore, Lauren is the owner and instructor of Miss Lauren’s Music Studio, where she just released a Preschool Music eCourse: https://laurenrodycheberle.mykajabi.com/store
She is releasing her 4th cookbook in 2022 that is specifically for kids! She hopes it helps others pack food on their adventures: https://laurenrodycheberle.com/shop/
In today’s episode, she will also discuss:
- How she involves her daughter in ALL things
- How she’s meditated for 4 years consecutively
- How she’s learned to check safety for different adventure areas, from bears to ticks
- How KWE and the IG community inspire her to write
Links: Jan&Jul Sun Hats: https://janandjul.com/sun-hats/
Follow Lauren at: IG: @laurenrodycheberle; www.laurenrodycheberle.com; or over on Kids Who Explore!
Thank you to Rumpl for supporting today’s episode! Use EXPLORE15 for 15% your first order at www.rumpl.com
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Wednesday May 19, 2021
Making friends can be hard! Making friends who want to do the same outdoor activities as you can be even harder! Tanya Koob, a Calgary-based mom, found herself in that predicament 12 years ago, when she first had her son. The solution? She started Facebook groups that brought like-minded, outdoor loving families together! Calgary Outdoor Play Groups run by Tanya: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1570536683159307/ Cross Country Skiing YYC: https://www.facebook.com/groups/562727260820378/ Mighty Mountains Kid Group (6 to 12/14-years-old): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1880664988893275/
Also mentioned – YYC Family Biking on Facebook
Other fun suggestions:
- Geocaching: https://www.geocaching.com/play
- Bike closed highways: One example is Highway 66 outside Bragg Creek, starting from Elbow Falls to Beaver Dam Flats Campground (check if it is closed before you go)
Follow Tanya at: IG: @mountainmomyyc; the Facebook groups listed above; http://www.rockiesfamilyadventures.com
Check out KWE’s #patch4apurpose to support 1, or all 8, charities: https://kidswhoexplore.ca/product/original-explorer-patch4apurpose/
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday May 17, 2021
Monday May 17, 2021
Carrie Malin grew up camping. She loves being in the outdoors - camping, hiking, backpacking, and canoeing, joined by her spouse, her son, and her dog! She is the Marketing Manager for Kids Who Explore, and we loved talking all things camping with her! Alberta Camping: https://www.albertaparks.ca To Get Kids Excited to Camp:
- build up anticipation
- involve them in packing camping gear
- let them pack a backpack of toys that they carry
Carrie’s Camping Essentials:
- Tent
- Sleeping Bag
- Hammock
- Head Lamp
- Tylenol/Advil
- Google: 10 Must-Bring Camping Essentials
Carrie likes to camp May-October, until it gets to -5 degrees Celsius. Tip: Learn to build a fire to keep warm! A perfect camping trip would be 3-4 days for her, but she will take even a night, if that’s all she can get. She loves playing camping games with her son - tag, or X’s & O’s.
Her Advice to Beginner Campers:
- You don’t need fancy gear
- Start small and add as you need
- Plan for one night to start, close to home
Links:
- Carrie’s Post, Let’s Get Camping: https://thatoutdoorsyfamily.com/lets-get-camping/
- Hug a Tree Foundation: https://www.adventuresmart.ca/programs/hug-a-tree-and-survive/
Follow Carrie at: IG: @__carrielynnn & www.thatoutdoorsyfamily.com
Thank you to Rumpl for supporting today’s episode! Use EXPLORE15 for 15% your first order at www.rumpl.com
Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.
Monday May 10, 2021
Monday May 10, 2021
Back in Episode 5, we learned from Wildlife Specialist, Kim Titchener, who is the Owner of Bear Safety and More. In this episode, we dive deeper into wildlife safety when it comes to camping. Kim camps in all seasons and is building a cabin right in the heart of grizzly bear habitat, so she knows a thing or two first-hand!! The safety we talk about applies to all wildlife, even though we specifically address bears most often. Before Heading Out Camping:
- Find out if your camp site is in bear country
- Find out if there are bear warnings for the camp area (if so, don’t go)
- Contact campsite beforehand and ask them what has been going on at their site (Provincial or National Parks are often good spots)
Before Setting Up:
- Check site to see if anything has been eaten, if there is a carcass nearby, if birds of prey are flying overhead, or if there is bear food, like berries, near your site…all of these are very dangerous signs and the bear will come back
Once Camping:
- Be self-sufficient and keep your food away from animals with bear-resistant garbages or bear lockers
- If there are none of the above, you will need to know where to put your garbage…the car is fine for some locations, but some places in the USA, bears have learned how to get into cars – in that case, you will need to look into a bear hang or bear keg
- Keep anything with scent away from campsite (even to go on a walk or to the washroom): food, toiletries, cans of kerosene, etc.
- Make sure where you are eating and where you are sleeping are separate from each other
- Have bear spray nearby at all times – even on the picnic table with an air horn – and then by your head when in the tent at night, with a glow-in-the-dark safety
- Keep kids supervised, and stay together
- Keep dogs on leash
- Leave no trace, and pack up everything you brought in when leaving
*When hiking, have food sealed up in good containers* *Teach kids bear safety, without scaring them – Give them knowledge to make lots of noise, make themselves big, back away, get to safety* *Take a course to feel knowledgeable on what to do in any encounter*
Remember that it is also dangerous for wildlife to come near your site, as they will have to be shot, or put in a zoo, and no longer be allowed to live on the land. Don’t feed bears/coyotes/wolves/birds/etc. Stay in groups!
Some other great tips Kim has for getting kids outside:
- Have layers for them and be prepared for all weather conditions
- Carry a first aid kit, and bliss wool for blisters
- Play games and make checklists for kids to look out for, and check off, on the trail
- Bring stuffed animal, for the kids to focus on and take care of (take selfie with stuffie!)…but, do not leave stuffie on site
Learn more at: www.recsafewithwildlife.com and www.bearsafety.com Follow Kim at: IG: @bearconflicts and @bearsafetyadventures Thank you to Scat Belt for sponsoring today’s podcast! Get your Scat Belt today to always have your bear spray accessible at www.scatbelt.com and on IG: @scatbelt Production: @kpmediaproductions. Music: @michaelferraro_music.