Let's Go Outside | Adventurous Moms, Hiking, Camping, Travelling with Kids, Parenting Outside

Danika Vanderpyl
  • 4.8 (5)
  • KIDS & FAMILY
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Do you worry if your kids (or you) have the capacity to do the adventure or trip you want to do? Are you questioning if you have the right gear? Are you wanting to get into canoe camping, backpacking, or on an international trip with the kids but not sure where to start? You are in the right place! This is what this community is all about. We jump into the practicalities of adventuring after having kids from hiking, skiing, rock climbing, travelling and beyond. You’ll hear real experiences from other moms. Join the outdoor mom community.

  1. 2D AGO

    033: Breastfeeding on the Trail: Nursing Babies While Hiking, Camping, and Backpacking

    Becca talks honestly about how her breastfeeding journey looked different with each child, what it’s actually like to nurse on the go, and how she made breastfeeding work while hiking, camping, and backpacking. We cover practical details like clothing and gear that helped, feeding babies in carriers and tents in the middle of the night, eating enough to support milk supply, and whether or not pumping or saving milk played a role when she was away from her kids. We also chat about how adventures naturally shift as families grow, and how finding other moms online to adventure with made these trips possible — and meaningful — during the motherhood years. We wrap up with reflections on weaning, what she wishes new moms knew about breastfeeding. This conversation is for moms who love being outside, are navigating feeding their babies, and want reassurance that adventure doesn’t have to stop — it just changes. Gear mentioned:  Trail magik: https://trailmagik.com Morrison Outdoor’s Kids Sleeping Bag: https://morrisonoutdoors.com/ Connect with :  Becca on IG: https://www.instagram.com/becca_outdoors/ Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off

    44 min

  2. FEB 3

    032: From Exploring as a Couple to Raising Kids Who Canoe Camp, Road-Trip, and International Travel With Us

    In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation I had on the Adventures Mamas Podcast where we dug into our whole story: the outdoor ed trips that shaped me, the summer camp where I learned real backcountry skills (and met my husband!), and how those experiences eventually led us to raising our kids in the Canadian Rockies. We chat about bringing babies on overnight trips, road-tripping in a tiny minivan when our son was five months old, taking a baby on the Juan de Fuca Trail, and all the ways our kids have naturally folded into our adventures. You’ll also hear the simple systems that help us backpack with toddlers — staying warm at night, choosing a first route, and I share why we have moved more into canoe camping trips with kids.  We even get into our bigger leaps: long winter trips abroad, living life in “thirds,” and how we’ve made extended travel possible without a big budget… There is a lot covered in this episode, come listen - I know you are here because this is your kinda thing too.  Resources mentioned:  Trail Magik Carrier Trusted House Sitters Trail Collectiv App Check out The Adventure Mamas Podcast with Nikki Roth and Ashley S Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Snack Prep Pro Ecookbook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/   Travel Gear Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

    58 min

  3. JAN 20

    031: Raising Little Foragers: A Simple Guide to Herbalism and Teaching Kids About Plants

    If you’ve ever wondered how to introduce your kids to the magic of plants, this episode is the perfect place to start. Today, we sit down with a mama who has built a deep, joyful relationship with herbalism—and has spent years weaving plant wisdom into everyday family life. She shares how her own journey with plants began, the simplest way to explain herbalism to someone who may not be familiar with it,, and why learning about the natural world is such a powerful gift for kids. We talk about safe plant identification, easy herbs to grow with little ones, and gentle first steps for families who feel curious but unsure where to begin. You’ll hear practical, beginner-friendly ideas you can try this week, and ideas to help make herbalism feel approachable and fun. Whether you’re homeschooling, hiking, gardening in pots, or just hoping to help your kids feel more connected to nature, this episode gives you a clear and welcoming path into herbalism as a family. About Jackie Leed: I grew up a free-range kid in central Pennsylvania rooted in the Earth. My childhood was spent wandering through the woods, making jewelry out of cicada skins pried from trees, and cooking recipes that centered around the main ingredient mud. When I moved to Whidbey Island in 2020, herbalism came to me like a memory, a way back to the girl with skinned knees and soil under her nails. Now, motherhood carries me forward: barefoot in the garden, collecting nature treasures with my children, and appreciating the beauty of the moon from my backyard. I go outside because that's where I belong. I think a lot of us feel the same way. Resources mentioned:  Plant app - Picture This App Connect with Jackleen Leed:  Instagram: @raising_little_naturalists  Website: https://earthwisemothering.com/root-to-crown/  Photography Website: https://wildkinwandering.com/  Article Jackleen wrote for runwildmychild.com: https://runwildmychild.com/herbalism-with-kids/  Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook Snack Prep Pro ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/

    46 min

  4. JAN 6

    030: Trail Magik — How Adventures with Small Kids Led to Gear Families Love with Katie O’Mara

    In this energizing conversation, Katie O’Mara — co-creator with her husband of Trail Magik and outdoor-loving mom of three. We hear about her creativity, optimism, and a deep love for exploring and how it has shaped her family’s everyday adventures. We talk about the early days of hiking with babies and toddlers, and the stories behind the very first hand-sewn Trail Magik prototype. Katie opens up about how she realized this little piece of gear wasn’t just for her family anymore, and how she turned a homemade kid carrier into an approved piece of kids’ gear, and the joy of seeing another parent on the trail using something her husband dreamed up. She also shares one of her favorite memories from places Trail Magik made possible — and her encouragement for any parent wanting to get outside more, even when the season feels messy or overwhelming. This episode will leave you inspired, smiling, and ready to hit the trail with your own crew. Places mentioned:  Yellowstone, MT Valley of Fire, Utah Mammoth Mountain, CA Fossil Falls, CA Alabama Hills, CA Gear mentioned:  Trail magik: https://trailmagik.com Solly Baby: https://sollybaby.com Wild Bird Carrier: https://wildbird.co/ Connect with :  Instagram: trail.magik Website: https://trailmagik.com Email: katie@trailmagik.com Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off

    47 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    029: Backpacking Long Distance With Kids: From the John Muir Trail to the Pacific Crest Trail

    In this episode, I’m chatting with an incredibly inspiring mama who thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 155 days with her family, including a 1, 3, and 5-year-old — a journey that redefined what family adventure can look like. We talk about how she first fell in love with the outdoors, how they made the decision to take on long-distance backpacking with young children, and how much experience they had before committing to a full PCT thru-hike. Instead of rigid planning and perfection, she shares how they intentionally chose an open-minded approach — no mapped-out route, no perfectly planned food boxes, and no pressure to “finish at all costs.” They relied on their previous experience and expertise, trusting their intuition and remaining flexible to meet their kids where they were each day. Three years later, she’s still choosing a big adventure. This summer, she returned to the trail for a 200-mile, 24-day John Muir Trail trip with another mom and their kids, and she opens up about the experiences from that trip. We also explore what everyday trail life looks like with kids: how they sleep (including their tent-free system), what they bring for entertainment and comfort, how they build resilience, and how she navigates choosing bold adventures that others might label as “too risky.” This conversation is for moms who feel the pull toward the wild, long-distance hiking, and raising kids who grow up knowing they’re capable of hard, meaningful things. Places mentioned:  John Muir Trail Pacific Crest Trail Tahoe Rim Trail Timberline Trail Sierra Nevada Mountains Appalachian Trail Gear mentioned:  Hyperlite Southwest Backpack  How to Tell Stories to your Children  Connect with Marketa:  https://www.instagram.com/daleywalk/ https://www.yearinnature.org/ Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Travel Gear Guide https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook

    49 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    028: Learning to Backpack, Rock Climb & Canoe Trip Alongside Kids

    In this episode, we sit down with an adventurous mama who shares how she and her family got into climbing together, including why she took a lead climbing course to gain the confidence and technical skills needed to bring her kids safely into the sport. She opens up about how she stays practiced, informed, and comfortable as a parent when introducing children to higher-risk outdoor activities like family rock climbing. We also dive into their summer of outdoor adventures, from a cross-Canada road trip and long driving days with kids, to hiking classic Canadian routes like the Rockwall Trail, Flow Lake, and the Skyline Trail in Alberta. She shares their canoe tripping experience on Maligne Lake near Jasper and how they approach trip planning with both ambition and flexibility. As their children move into the teenage years, we talk honestly about navigating resistance, respecting autonomy, and balancing bigger adventure goals when not everyone feels ready. She explains why intentional discomfort is a powerful tool for building resilience, adaptability, and confidence — and how cultivating responsibility helps kids recognize their own capabilities. If you’re a parent who loves the outdoors and wants to raise resilient, capable kids through family adventures, climbing, hiking, and canoe tripping, this episode is full of encouragement, insight, and practical inspiration. Topics covered: How to get into family rock climbing Lead climbing for parents Outdoor adventures with kids in Canada Raising resilient and capable kids through discomfort Systems for successful family trips Back-to-back adventures & organized gear Canoe tripping with children Hiking with kids in Alberta Navigating teenage resistance to outdoor adventures Building confidence through shared challenges Places mentioned:  Prince Edward Island Halifax, Nova Scotia  Bay of Fundy  Juan De Fuca, British Columbia Rock Wall Trail, Alberta Elk Lake Hut, Alberta Flow Lake, Alberta Skyline Trail, Alberta Hidden Cove, Alberta Fisherman’s Bay, Alberta Coronet Creek, Alberta  Gear mentioned:  Excalibur Sqaure Food Dehydrator: https://amzn.to/4op88Z2 Connect with :  Jessica Bolton - jessica.m2410@gmail.com Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Travel Gear Guide https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook

    55 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    027: She Bikepacked Kyrgyzstan With Kids and Rode the Continental Divide Pregnant

    I chat with Eleanor from @designedtoexplore—because honestly, her adventures are just wild - in the best way. She shared two massive adventures: a six-week bikepacking trip through Kyrgyzstan with her kids and a throwback to what it was really like riding the Continental Divide at 4–8 months pregnant. Last time she came on the show, we talked about life on a sailboat with two young kids and how her family fell in love with biking, where she broke down the different systems of biking with kids (episode 015).  Why they chose to bikepack in Kyrgyzstan as a family The planning: she shares routes, mapping, transportation and how they figured it out  A realistic look at biking with kids How her 7-year-old absolutely rose to the challenge Stories from locals who shaped their experience about the landscape, culture, and people of Kyrgyzstan What riding the Continental Divide pregnant was really like Places mentioned:  Western & Columbia Rail Trail - British Columbia, Bike Trail Kyrgyzstan Tian Shan Traverse Kyrgyzstan Silk Mountain Road Race backpacker.com Mongolia Baja Divide  Continental Divide Oman Shanghai Istanbul New Zealand Gear mentioned:  Tag along kids bike  Connect with Eleanor Kebabian :  IG: @designedtoexplore https://designedtoexplore.com/  Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Wee Woolies: https://www.weewoollies.com/ Use code LetsGoOutside for 10% off Travel Gear Guide https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

    59 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    026: Risky & Child-Led Play: Raising Resilient Kids Outside

    In this episode, I’m chatting with Crissy — a mom and early childhood educator — about the power of raising kids outside and how nature has shaped both her parenting and her mental health. Crissy shares how her background inspired her to embrace ‘unstructured play’, ‘child-led play’ and to let her kids learn through play in the great outdoors. We talk about risky play outside, finding that balance between safety and freedom. Crissy also shares her go-to tips for a to-go bag full of creative, open-ended items for spontaneous adventures. This conversation is full of practical wisdom and encouragement to slow down, get outside, and let your kids (and yourself!) grow through play and fresh air. Connect with :  Connect with Crissy on IG: @wilds_play Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/  Connect with me on IG: @besidethemountain  Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com  Codes & Discounts: Wee Woolies: https://www.weewoollies.com/ Use code LetsGoOutside for 10% off

    40 min
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4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Do you worry if your kids (or you) have the capacity to do the adventure or trip you want to do? Are you questioning if you have the right gear? Are you wanting to get into canoe camping, backpacking, or on an international trip with the kids but not sure where to start? You are in the right place! This is what this community is all about. We jump into the practicalities of adventuring after having kids from hiking, skiing, rock climbing, travelling and beyond. You’ll hear real experiences from other moms. Join the outdoor mom community.

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