Outdoor Inspiration for July

This is our monthly post to highlight the best writing and most useful tips written by outdoor parents over the past month and also a few other outdoor parenting related articles. Hopefully this inspires you to plan your next outdoor adventures, reflect on what you were able to accomplish over the past month, or what you learned and would do differently. Enjoy!

​CragKid on the Sharp End!!! | Cragmama Trip report of her 10 year old son's first lead climb.

Solo Distance Hiking and Kids: Six Things I Learned | The Trek by Tracy (Scrappy) Buro. Sometimes outdoor parents need to do adventures without their kids, and it's important to explain why.

Between the Lines: It’s Time To Change Offensive Route Names | Rock and Ice by Andrew Bisharat. "a good test for whether a route name passes the 'offensive' test is if it’s something you’d be uncomfortable hearing your own kid talk about climbing"

Independence Day (Hiking, Biking, Fear and Freedom) | The Brave Ski Mom I have also been known to (slightly) "wonder why the non-skiing partner doesn’t just suck it up, sign up for lessons, and get on with falling in love with winter" but this article has a good perspective on what it's like to be the parent who doesn't enjoy an outdoor activity.

A Sneak Peak at the Coming Ski Season | The Brave Ski Mom Contingency plans in case resorts don't open, plus insight into what the southern hemisphere is doing.

Free Printable Kids Hiking Bingo Cards | Hike Like a Woman by Crystal
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What Kids Can Learn from Ashima Shiraishi's Many Falls | Outside Online by Krista Langlois A children's book written by one of the best climbers in the world.

Risk Assessment is a Skill That Requires Time to Learn | 1000 Hours Outside by Ginny Yurich This is what I consider to be one of the great benefits of outdoor parenting - teaching our kids to take on risks (safely) and also giving us as parents the opportunity to get used to it gradually as they become adults.


I have also been spending the past month working to understand racism in the outdoor community, how to be a better ally, and learning about the diversity groups that exist to support People of Color and other minority groups. Here is some reading material that I as a white person have found helpful:

The Melanin Base Camp Guide To Outdoor Allyship | Melanin Base Camp by Danielle Williams 

Open Letter on Diversity in Our Sport | US Ski and Snowboard Association by Charles A. Harris 

Being black while in nature: 'You’re an endangered species' | The Guardian by Poppy Noor

Resources For Anti-Racism | NOLS Blog


Here are some groups to consider supporting that are doing work to support diversity in the outdoor community :
(Note: some of these exist as a safe space for the people they represent, but you can still support them financially if you don't belong to that group)

• Diversify Outdoors
• Outdoor Afro
• Melanin Base Camp
• Native Womens Wilderness
• Venture Out Project
• Unlikely Hikers

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