Do your kids like to play outside?

Are you looking for ways to get your kids more interested in nature?

To learn how to have amazing outdoor adventures with your kids, I interview Eugene Buchanan for this episode of the Parenting Adventures podcast.
More About This Show


The Parenting Adventures podcast is a show from My Kids' Adventures.

It's for parents (and grandparents) who are looking for creative things to do with their kids.

The show format is on-demand talk radio (also known as podcasting).

In this episode, I interview Eugene Buchanan, author of Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids: A Guide to Getting Your Kids Active in the Great Outdoors.

Eugene is the former publisher of Paddler magazine. He's covered the Beijing Olympics for NBC and written for ESPN, the New York Times, Men's Journal and National Geographic Adventure, to mention a few. He also has a site called Recreating with Kids.

Eugene shares ways you can get your kids excited about exploring the great outdoors.

You'll discover the advantages of exposing your kids to nature, how to get them interested in outdoor pursuits and where to start.

Share your feedback, read the show notes and get the links mentioned in this episode below!


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Here are some of the things you'll discover in this show:
Outdoor Adventures
How Eugene came to have a passion for kids and nature

Eugene explains how he grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where he had the mountains in his backyard.

He was one of six kids, who spent most afternoons outside until they were called in for dinner. Growing up surrounded by nature had such a huge impact on his childhood that it became his career.

He has been able to pass along his love for nature to his daughters, who are 11 and 15 years old. He and his family still live in Colorado, where they have many outdoor amenities at their disposal.



When their first child was born, the birth announcement included a photo of all of their outdoor apparel and equipment, with a big for sale sign. This announcement was made with the perceived notion that once you become a parent, you don't have time to enjoy the outdoors. In reality, he says, it has the opposite effect.



Listen to the show to find out how adventures in nature get better after you have kids.

Advantages when you expose your kids to nature

Eugene believes that nature creates an unrestricted play area for kids. When kids are outside, you can see their faces light up, and the huge smiles that go with it.

Although it does compete with technology, the best way to combat the predilection for screen time is just to get your kids out in nature and let it change their minds.

Eugene shares a few examples of when his kids were so in awe of nature that they didn't even miss their electronic devices. One trip was on the San Juan River in Southern Utah, and the other was on an 80-mile sea kayak trip along the south coast of Crete in Greece.



Even though these trips were away from home, Eugene explains that you don't need to travel far to experience nature. All you need to do is go outside and make nature a priority.

Listen to the show to discover ways to explore nature near your home.

How to hike with kids

To get started, all you have to do is go for a walk, visit your local park, go for a bike ride or hike on a nearby trail.

According to surveys from the Outdoor Industry Association, biking is one of the most popular outdoor activities for youths. Eugene explains that the reason kids love biking so much is that it's their extension to freedom.



Eugene explains how hiking for his kids is a means to an end. He suggests that you don't tout hiking as fun, but instead tout the destination as fun. You need to focus on where you are heading to, and see the hike as a way to get there.

You first need to start out with a one- or two-mile hike.