My best memories have come from real life experiences outside in nature, starting with the pine groves behind my house before I was two years old. I remember the earthy smell, walking on the thick bed of decaying pine needles, and leading my parents deeper into the forest. Now that I have my own children, I am making it a priority to help them develop both great memories and purposeful life skills while living close to nature. 

​As a professional guide, I have been asked by many parents and caregivers on how to get children into nature with safety, fun, and learning. I have come up with this list based on both my professional and personal experiences.

1. Make it a family affair; schedule time to be outdoors all year.
Get dressed for the weather and head outdoors with a purpose--birdwatching at sunrise, physical activity for a break during the day or after school/work, an evening stroll, and stargazing at night. Here in the Northeast we enjoy summertime activities such as gardening, walking, hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, and camping. In winter we go hiking with snowshoes or snow spikes depending on trail conditions, and cross country or backcountry skiing on groomed or ungroomed trails.
 
2. Remember the performance triangle: Food, water, and pace.
​Paying attention to everyone's physical needs can help keep the party happy. Three things to consider during self-propelled outdoor activities are food, water, and pace. Travel at the pace of the slowest person and take breaks often to adjust layers of synthetic clothing and to have food and water often. Another important point is to teach kids how to pee and poop in the woods. Doing all these things helps maintain body temperature and good judgement, which can prevent problems from grumpiness to serious survival situations.

3. Use your senses, model awareness, and stay outside.
​Awareness is a skill that is developed. In enhances our aesthetic experience and it is an important survival skill. "Cool, look at the bubbles beneath the ice!" "Did you hear that red squirrel?" "Mmmmm...do you smell that balsam?" "Feel this moss, what does is remind you of?" It's very easy to get kids curious in this way. They will want to explore and investigate. It's important to allow time for this, especially in very young children. My kids will play in one area for an hour or more. 

For adventures on the move such as canoeing and hiking, stopping to take breaks for any reason is a great opportunity to slow down and notice mushrooms, songbirds, and tree roots growing around boulders. Teach respect for nature: Just look at, or handle gently, living things, play with (dead) things like sticks, stones and water, and keep an eye on the weather.

4. Let kids get dirty, take risks, and play with nature.
​Leave toys and electronics at home. Children will play with rocks forty different ways, climb trees and logs, and build things with snow, sticks, and mud. Scan the scene for high risks such as gravity, water, and weather issues--a cliff overlook, rotten logs and trees that might fall, river current deeper than a child's knees, and thunder. With freedom, kids will discover new things and move in new ways, making brain connections and strengthening core muscles. It's fun to watch young scientists, artists, gymnasts, and engineers at play in nature. In my opinion, free-play outdoors is the best child-led activity, ever. 

As a nature leader, it's a good idea to take lessons in outdoor leadership, survival, and backcountry skills. Older children and teens are usually interested in these skills as well. At the very least, check for ticks every day, teach kids to stay together as a group, and give each person a whistle to use if they get separated. 

5. Gather appropriate gear and provisions for each person.
For most outdoor activities, use a comfortable, well-fitted backpack, lined with a plastic bag, to carry food (bite-sized finger-foods work best in summer, and something hot in an insulated container in winter), water, first aid, repair, and survival kits, tissues, insect repellent, sunscreen, glasses, camera, diaper bag items, and layers of synthetic clothing that you're not wearing (wicking next-to-skin layer, fluffy insulating layer, and weatherproof outer layer--don't forget hat, mittens, extra socks, rain jacket and pants). Appropriate footwear is most important, such as hiking boots, sneakers for biking, and paddling shoes. Make a pack list for each activity you do and check it twice before leaving home.

​6. Splurge on kids' equipment, or not.
A child can carry their own backpack starting at age 5-8. Here are some child-sized equipment that helps keep the family moving: baby carriers (front), toddler carriers (back), harnesses, strollers, sleds, various types of bike trailers, and pulks, which are basically toboggans with a solid harness to pull behind X-C skis. Find used equipment from online groups, boards, and classifieds, and at local thrift stores, recycling centers, and yard sales. Be sure to inspect the equipment to make sure that all the components are there, it fits properly, and is safe. 

7. Consider nutritional fuel.
Active people need food for energy. I'm not a nutritionists but these are things I've been told by professionals over the years and it works for my family. Bring along carbs, proteins, and fats. Bring a source of B vitamins for extended trips--they're supposed to help with emotional stability. If you eat dried snacks, be sure to drink water for easier digestion. If you drink lots of water, have a snack or meal with it so you don't flush out nutrients. Bring big meals or graze on snacks often. Bring enough water with you, or have a way to treat the water that you find in nature before drinking it to prevent illness. In winter bring along (or cook enroute) warm food and drink, and take into consideration bite-sized snacks that are easy to chew when frozen. 
​  
8. Share enthusiasm for nature.
Packing up children to leave the house is a lot of work, and I know this because I have two little ones with extra needs, but mentoring a positive attitude about getting into nature regularly is an important part of developing healthy habits. Spending this precious time outdoors allows children to personally know, love, and care about nature. The fun is contagious. It is so worth seeing kids explore the forest with eyes filled with wonder and to hear them create songs about discoveries and their love for nature. These memories just may impact their future decisions regarding lifestyle, career, and their environmental impact.

​9. Research locations to explore nearby or farther away.
You can go in your back yard if you're lucky, or you can ask for maps of recreation areas at town/city halls, chambers of commerce, county/state/federal offices, hiking clubs, and conservation centers. There are many regional guide books for nature walks with children, waterfall hikes, paddling lakes and rivers, and winter trails. You can also research locations online, but it's probably best to go first with someone who's "been there." Ask the children where they'd like to go and make a check list of adventures to achieve throughout the year.

​10. Hire a guide for a family adventure vacation, take lessons, or go to camp.
​If you are not a do-it-yourselfer, at least initially anyways, or you simply want someone else to take care of all the logistical hassles of a trip the first time you try something, or you want to learn something new such as paddling a canoe or kayak, camping, animal tracking, or survival, you can hire a guide or an instructor. These knowledgeable and friendly leaders will ensure that your experiences are safe and fun. Traditional summer youth camps and local conservation/nature center programs are also a great option for getting kids into nature.
 

Get a free quote and itinerary for a lesson/tour by completing this online Custom ESCAPE Reservation Request Form. 

This is one of the stories of what happened this summer. While driving to guide a backpack trip on the Cohos Trail in northern New Hampshire, I heard a thud but felt no bump as I ran over a manhole cover near my hometown's hospital. At that moment I wondered if that patch of gray fur that I saw just prior to the sound was the cause of it. I looked back in the rearview mirror and saw nothing unusual in the road, so I thought the squirrel was safe.

Driving through Berlin, New Hampshire, the driver of an old Jeep in front of me stuck his fully tattooed arm out the window making a strange signal that I did not recognize--it wasn't the usual "pass by me" wave that considerate wildlife viewers give. He pulled over and stopped, so I passed him--not having a clue about what that was all about. I continued on my journey so as not to be late to meet the backpacking participants.

Upon driving into a parking spot at my destination, a campground, a bunch of guys dressed in camouflage, who were attempting to fix a 4-wheeler with various tools, looked at my car pulling up. As I opened my door they were laughing and one of them asked me, "Do you need a stick to get that out?"  I said, "What?!!!" and he replied, "Look." I then saw the unfortunate entire, lifeless, gray squirrel hanging from the front bumper, arm wedged between the plastic and rubber.

My usual feeling of guilt following a road kill discovery was minimized by my muffled laughter while thinking how in the world did that happen? I also reflected upon the fact that motor vehicle collisions with wildlife didn't exist 150 years ago. And then I thought of my belief that nothing should go to waste, but knowing that the poor squirrel had been hanging for three hours in the heat of summer, at speeds of up to 70 m.p.h., the meat was already spoiled for human consumption. So to the crows and coyotes and insects it went--not really wasted, part of the food chain, circle of life...

You see, there is something I wish every human could experience during a New Hampshire summer. That is, to feel the sensation of waking up in the morning, having slept outside, and to immediately breathe in the fresh mountain air of the forest. You won't need a weather station to tell you the temperature and humidity--you will feel it. The first few barefoot steps are on the bare ground, and either sunshine or precipitation will hit your face. Then, listening to the surrounding peace of nature, you eventually, but suddenly, become aware of singing birds, flowing water, and a breeze howling through evergreen treetops.

It may be a challenge to get to this spot, but your presence here in nature is calming. By living in harmony with nature's cycles, if only for a weekend, you develop a sense of connectedness that leads to an appreciation that you are only a very tiny bit of this big world. Devoting some time to get into nature in this manner, without meetings, appointments, or dates in the near future back home, you reflect on things that really matter.

I have two small children, and as a wilderness guide and outdoor educator running Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC for the past twelve years, I am constantly wondering what the future holds for all our children.

In my lifetime, I have spent many weeks and months each year living off the grid in situations as I've described above. The north woods, mountains, lakes, rivers, and seacoast areas of New Hampshire are my comfort zone. On the flip side, many people flock to cities using mass transport to visit museums and work in cubicles, surrounded by plastic and electricity. I prefer to surround myself with nature, every day.

Sharing these wild experiences and passing on the traditions of "backcountry" living is my life's work. Residing in natural environments is natural, meaning it's achievable and sustainable with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and culture. After all, our ancestors and predecessors got us this far, before the latest technological inventions.

I truly love guiding journeys with natural scenery and teaching history, purposeful crafts, and all kinds of outdoor skills. I also love the physical and mental challenges that come with being in the great outdoors. Most of all, I am grateful for the wonderful companionship of the people from around the globe who participate in our adventures and courses. Seeing the excitement on their faces in the beginning, watching them experience awe and self-growth during their experience (and not wanting it to end), and hearing about their feelings of accomplishment, is all worth it to me.

As long as I am able, I will strive to share the natural wonders of New Hampshire, and to teach people of all ages how to survive close to nature, which is where I believe our future lies. Each of us are a speck, and together we need to personally know about nature, learn how to live with it, and be inspired to protect it.

Outdoor ESCAPES New Hampshire, LLC offers events and custom guided adventures, nature tours, and outdoor education to individuals, families, and groups--statewide in every season. For more information, please click the links at the top or bottom of this page.

With automatic digital camera technology it is way too easy to get terrible shots. But with a little basic know-how, I'll let you know my tried-and-true techniques that you can use to produce stunning outdoor images.

1. Lighting: My mother always reminded me to put my back to the sun. That's what gives you the blue sky, reflections in the water, and puts light on any foreground subjects. (If the location is not perfect, such as imagine a person standing in the shade of a tree in the foreground of the photo above, then you can try putting your camera's flash on its mandatory setting, to brighten the person's face.)

2. Distance: Even though your camera might have zoom and macro, getting close enough (or far enough) to begin with usually produces a better shot.

3. As far as composition, be sure to fill the image with 90% subject(s). It just looks better with no distractions. You can also divide things in thirds, and remember that repetition is pleasing to the eye.

4. Steady the camera for clear focus (a) with a tripod, (b) setting the camera on a rock and using a time-release if available, or (c) by holding it steady with one hand while "squeezing" the trigger, ahem, shutter button. The most blurry pictures I've taken in the wilderness were without tripod while in a canoe/kayak in rapids, on windy days, and when trying to get a shot of the night sky. It's much better to be steady.

5. In cool temperatures, keep extra batteries warm, and remember that freezing temperatures are not good for most digital cameras/phones.

6. When taking outdoor adventure portraits, keep these things in mind: clear weather, sun to your back but angle it slightly so  people aren't squinting (think about taking hats and sunglasses off to better identify people and minimize shadows), and compose it so you can tell what the activity is, the trail/water surface, and get an idea of what the surrounding landscape looks like.

7. The best action shots require people doing things naturally and performing recreation activities/sports with perfect body position and form. Make sure arms and hands are not blocking anyone's face. If using automatic preset settings, use the quick-action one for photographing moving birds, animals, and people. In any case, moving your camera with the moving subject can improve the focus of action shots.

8. Scenic shots are more brilliant earlier and later in the day (colors get washed out mid-day). Sunrise shots--towards the sun (east) before it rises, and in the opposite direction (west) after the sun rises. Sunset shots--away from the sun (east) before it sets, and towards the sun (west) after it sets.

In summary, think about what makes your photos TIC. Our eyes and minds have expectations for good images. Successful photographs fulfill these three essential qualifications:

A. Good Technical Quality (focus, exposure, light)
B. Impact or Interest (tells a story)
C. Good Composition (keeps attention)  

Our readers would benefit from more outdoor photo tips--please add yours by commenting below.

Autumn is my favorite season to hike and ride a bike in my home state of New Hampshire. The temperatures are cool, there aren't so many bugs around, and the leaves are stunningly beautiful. There are only two places in the world where the changing colors of the leaves on the the trees during the fall season are most magnificent: the Northeast U.S. (particularly New England) and into Canada along the Appalachian Mountains, and Japan. I was told long ago by an expert that our large trees' natural red color happens because of the mineral content of the soil. 

Here are some of my favorite outdoor things to do in the fall season, having to do with nature, history, and culture.

1. Get yourself to the top of Mount Washington, by car, van, train, or hike.

2. Take a boat, canoe, or kayak tour on one of N.H.'s largest lakes: Winnipesaukee, Squam, Umbagog, plus Great Bay.

3. Drive through the Notches: Franconia, Bear, Dixville, Jefferson, Kinsman, and Crawford, plus Kancamagus Pass.

4. Bike a rail trail: Rockingham Recreational, Sugar River, Ashuelot, Northern, Presidential

5. Paddle a river: Connecticut, Androscoggin, Saco, Pemigewasset, Merrimack

6. Hike a mountain: Monadnock, Major, Morgan, Moosilauke, Monroe.

7. Visit a country fair: Rochester Fair, Hillsborough County Agricultural Fair, Deerfield Fair, Sandwich Fair.

8. Visit historic places/events: Strawberry Banke, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, Northern Forest Heritage Park, Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum.

9. Pick your own apples and pumpkins.

10. Purchase locally produced gifts and food from arts and crafts festivals and farmers' markets.

The best time to visit New Hampshire to see some kind of colorful foliage is during the first week of September (further north and at higher elevations) to the end of October (valleys and southern NH). So pack a picnic and protective clothing for the unpredictable weather, and head into New Hampshire's outdoors in Autumn.

One of my goals in life is to help my little children (and others) paddle as many lakes and rivers as possible. Earlier this summer I went kayaking with my family and friends on New Hampshire's largest lake, through motorboat traffic in a highly settled area on Lake Winnipesaukee, which is centrally located in New England. That noisy, stinky, and unnatural experience inspired me to think of the following reasons to get into a canoe or kayak and paddle into the wilderness.

Paddling is an opportunity where you can:

1. Get really close to nature.

2. Learn a lifelong, healthy, recreational sport.

3. Pass on the tradition of wilderness travel. 

4. Use human power to transport yourself and anything else that fits in your boat.

5. Listen to the silence of nature.

6. Breathe deeply and smell the fresh air of the forests.

7. See all the shades of green in summer.

8. Watch animals, birds, bugs, and fish hunt and collect food.

9. Enjoy the wildflowers along shore and on the water.

10. See nesting ducks, loons, geese, osprey, and bald eagles through binoculars.

11. Get fit.

12. Participate in healthy outings with friends, family, and co-workers.

13. Raft up and have a picnic lunch in the middle of "nowhere."

14. Prevent pollution--no gas required. 

15. Take a vacation and paddle a long river, camping on the shore each night.

16. See lots of stars and the Milky Way.

17. Watch the Northern Lights dancing in the sky.

18. Catch fireflies.

19. Hear the call of a loon any time of day or night.

20. Witness moose walking to the water's edge to feed on aquatic vegetation.

21. Watch a bald eagle swoop down over your shoulder to grab a duckling and take it to a tall pine tree or sandy shore to eat.

22. Feel the clean-air breeze against your skin.

23. Put your rainsuit on and hear the pitter-patter of raindrops on the water's surface.

24. Wake up to see an osprey diving for fish through the morning fog.

25. Take lessons to learn how to paddle in both swift water and wind currents.

26. Experience the thrill of a whitewater ride.

27. Meet like-minded people on the water or in camp.

28. Gaze at fall foliage as it mirrors on the water during autumn.

29. Take amazing pictures and videos.

30. Keep a journal or even write a poem, song, blog, or book about your experience.

31. Sit around a campfire and share amazing stories.

32. Bring a guitar, drum, or harmonica and hear it echo into the evening.

33. Compare old-fashioned and conventional styles and uses of boats, gear, equipment, etc.

34. Learn traditional ways of North Woods living, as the Natives once survived here (aka bushcraft).

35. Live simply.

36. Find your own drinking/cooking water and make it safe.

37. Forage for wild edibles.

38. Learn various camp cooking methods.

39. Spend time preparing awesome meals.

40. Build a shelter using natural materials.

41. Figure out how to set up a modern tent and a wind-proof kitchen shelter.

42. Discover game trails.

43. Investigate animal tracks and signs.

44. Detect bird calls and animal sounds. 

45. Deal with all kinds of weather.

46. Take a lesson--learn paddle skills and how to navigate and communicate with your party.

47. Hire a guide to take care of all the logistics and lead you into the unknown.

48. Get really good at packing light, but right, for any trip.

49. Read and scout a river.

50. Portage around beaver dams and log jams.

51. Float along the water grasses and lily pads and see dragon flies, damselflies, bees, butterflies, frogs, turtles, snails, and red-winged blackbirds. 

52. Relax and feel a deep sense of freedom that comes from putting yourself in a natural spot.

53. Challenge yourself both physically and mentally to do something unfamiliar for the first time, such as exploring a remote pond, taking up whitewater kayaking, and camping overnight in a boreal forest.

54. Expect the unexpected, such as river otter greeting you in the morning as they collect mussels and eat their breakfast at the foot of your campsite. 

55. Develop a haunting sense of history, imagining those before us living near, and traveling on, the great waterways of the past.

In summary, the more time you spend in an abundance of nature, being a part of it, the more you benefit from it. Most likely, you will go back home with enthusiasm and a new zest for life, and maybe even wonder how you can get back into nature again, sooner than later. 

The Assignment
Canoe lesson and nature tour for a dad and his teen boys from Montreal during their RV vacation throughout northeastern United States. 

The Experience
For convenience, I transport the three enthusiastic participants from their campground to a section of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Along the way, we discuss New Hampshire’s history of the land, waterways, people, and wildlife. The population ratios of humans to moose is always an interesting topic.

Canoeing Adventure
It is a cool overcast day with no wind. After some dry-land training, we practice paddling skills on calm waters. Heading up river, the boreal forest is alive with songs and calls of birds:  loons, kingfisher, red-winged blackbirds, white-throated sparrow, American bittern, great blue heron, bald eagles, ducks, geese, grouse, wrens, and thrushes. After a long, frozen winter it seems as if summer is finally at its fullest, with fish jumping out of the water catching flies, frogs croaking along the grassy shore, and the needled trees—white pine, cedar, red spruce, tamarack, and balsam fir—blending with the bright green leaves of maple, willow, aspen, and yellow birch.