Go Play Outside!: Tips, Tricks, and Tales from the Trails

by Nancy Fresco, Elizabeth Cable (Contribution by), Molly Cable (Contribution by), Jay Cable (Contribution by)

Overview

Having children doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy every season in the great outdoors—even if you happen to live in the middle of Alaska. Whether you’re biking eighty miles into the heart of Denali National Park, cross-country skiing to a remote cabin, or merely enjoying the mud on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, fun for all ages abounds, with a little preparation and the right mindset. Using a deft mixture of storytelling and practical pointers, this guidebook offers advice and encouragement to families—those who live in Alaska, as well as those in less extreme climates and locales.
 
Organized by the age of the young adventures, from days-old infants to independent teens, each section invites readers to learn from the humorous real-life adventures and misadventures of the author, her husband, and their twin girls. Weaving in the kids’ advice in their own words, this guide covers challenges ranging from unexpected hailstorms to very-much-expected mosquitoes. Tips include everything from how to avoid moose, to how to get out in the rain, to the benefits of setting big kids free to explore. This family’s enthusiastic, joyful, and often hilarious tales offer the impetus and the tools to encourage new parents—or more experienced parents, or anyone who loves kids —to go play outside.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781602234390
Publisher:	University of Alaska Press
Publication date:	01/15/2021
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Nancy Fresco is a research professor at the International Arctic Research Center at University of Alaska Fairbanks; her professional research and writing focus on climate modeling and collaborative climate change adaptation planning.
 

Table of Contents

Age Sub-Zero: Planning for Kids 3

Age 0: Precious Cargo 15

Age 1-2: Large Opinions, Small Vocabularies 33

Age 3-4: Short Legs, Short Attention Spans 51

Ages 5-6: We Can Do It! 95

Ages 7-9: We Want a Vote in This 133

Age 10 and Up: Hey, Wait for the Grownups 175

Editorial Reviews

“An entertaining, practical, and illuminating manual for enjoying the outdoors with kids.”
—Kirkus Reviews 

“The writing is outstanding, with a humorous, down-to-earth vibe. . . . Whether readers are planning an ambitious escapade or a simple, local day hike with children, they will find engaging storytelling, ample food for thought, and a wealth of useful information.”
—Kirkus

From the Publisher

2022-03-03
A wide-ranging guide explores outdoor adventures with children.

Fresco, a mother of twin girls, opens with the question, “Can parents still be adventurous?” Her answer is an unequivocal and enthusiastic “Yes!” The author’s stories of hitting the trails with children—whether hiking with 2-week-old twins in 40-degree weather; multiday biking, skiing, and rafting excursions; or 13-year-olds completing a lengthy day trek—will convince readers that plenty of time outdoors is the best gift they can give their kids. Clear and pragmatic advice explains how to bring children along safely, be prepared, and have fun. Each of the seven chapters covers a different age—ending with middle schoolers—weaving tips and lessons learned throughout the trip descriptions. Appealing contributions from Fresco’s daughters highlight the kids’ perspectives, while sidebars offer details such as location, distance, weather, and terrain for 22 excursions. More than 60 photographs illustrate the family’s expeditions, and key information is set off in “Tip” boxes. Most of the book takes place in and around the author’s hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, where temperatures are below-zero Fahrenheit throughout the winter months. Vacations hiking the Grand Canyon and biking around Iceland provide variety and show the joys of being off the tourist-beaten path. (All of the lessons are equally applicable to places with less extreme climates.) The writing is outstanding, with a humorous, down-to-earth vibe. Fresco’s insights about child development and honesty about her own foibles are highly relatable. She doesn’t sugarcoat inconveniences, unpleasantness, parental worries, and the ubiquitous dirt. At the same time, the tales powerfully convey nature’s beauty, family togetherness, delightful moments, and all the ways getting outdoors and meeting challenges help build kids’ determination, confidence, independence, and resilience. The book examines everything the average family might need to know: going on potty breaks in the woods; dealing with bugs and wildlife; planning a trip; selecting gear (new, secondhand, and DIY); packing light; layering clothing; keeping kids warm, dry, fed, and amused; and bringing friends along. Whether readers are planning an ambitious escapade or a simple, local day hike with children, they will find engaging storytelling, ample food for thought, and a wealth of useful information.

An entertaining, practical, and illuminating manual for enjoying the outdoors with kids.

Kirkus Reviews