Outdoorsy Families

Audrey Withycombe
Outdoorsy Families Podcast

Getting outside with kids can be hard work. At times it can feel overwhelming, scary, or not worth the effort. But it doesn’t have to feel that way! I’m here to help you get outside with your kids and enjoy it! Outdoorsy Families podcast includes stories from parents like you, tips for getting outside, and the big, beautiful adventures that happen when we step out our door. I believe any family can be an outdoorsy family, and I’m here to help make that happen!

  1. 01/04/2022

    Episode 22 Reintroductions and 2022 Goals

    To join the No Inside Days Challenge go to outdoorsyfamilies.com! Follow along on Instagram @outdoorsy.families   Hi and welcome to Outdoorsy Families! This is episode __.  I’m Audrey Withycombe, the host of Outdoorsy Families. Somehow it’s been 2 months since our last episode, and a lot has happened since then! I’m so happy to be back in this space and to share what I’ve been up to for the last two months. In today’s episode, I’m going to be doing a reintroduction and share my why for doing this podcast. Honestly, this is going to be helpful for me as I get back into the podcasting habit. I’ll also share what you can expect from the podcast since things will be changing a bit.  I’m going to wrap up this episode by sharing my goals for 2022. I’ll admit I don’t typically make many goals, but this year I have some fun ones to share!    But before we begin, I wanted to encourage you to check out the website, outdoorsyfamilies.com. There I have an ever-growing list of resources to help you get outside as a family, and maybe even try a new, bigger adventure!   Reintroduction: I don’t know about you, but 2021 was a year of huge change, overcoming challenges, and a lot of growth for me. It’s the year that my baby became a toddler and we found our stride as a family of 4. It’s also the year I took a leap and began this podcast. It’s something I wanted to do for a long time but was afraid to learn something so foreign. But I finally cast those fears aside and did it! I’m really proud of that accomplishment and can’t wait to see where the podcast goes in 2022.    As I mentioned, I’m Audrey Withycombe. I’m a mom of two little kids - River who’s 4 and Hattie who’s 2. I’m Richie’s wife. He’s been my adventure partner for over 11 years. We are so honored to get to live at a beautiful summer camp on the shores of Flathead Lake in Northwestern Montana. Richie and I have lived in 5 states together. River has joined us in 4 of those 5 states. We’ve moved around several times since we sold our home in the suburbs of Salt Lake City in 2019. Each move has felt like a step towards being where we want to be permanently. And now I think we’ve found our spot!    What started this sequence of moves was a big decision for our family to leave the daily grind behind and simplify our lives. We wanted to maximize our time together and maximize our time outside. With a background in working at camps, Richie decided to begin looking for a director position at a camp that provided housing. This opened the opportunity for me to stay home with River (and eventually Hattie). We felt pretty sure that we could live on one small income as long as our housing was covered! So we took a big leap and moved to a summer camp in Oklahoma. It was away from the mountains that I loved, but it was near family. I loved seeing my parents frequently and enjoyed getting into a rhythm as a “stay outside mom”. Shortly after our move, I found out I was pregnant with Hattie. A few short weeks before her birth we found out that the camp we sold our home for and left our jobs for was closing. It was a tough blow.    At 35 weeks pregnant we were able to move to another camp - this time in Minnesota. It was a hard adjustment to be in the bitterly cold weather with a newborn and no family nearby. Eventually, we found our groove and learned to love the extreme seasons that Minnesota brings. We felt so fortunate to live in such a rural space during the pandemic, with ample opportunities to explore outdoors. As we began finding our community in Minnesota we thought we’d be there for a while. We were content in our home, Richie’s job, and our life. We did still miss being closer to family, skiing, whitewater rafting, and hot springs. But we figured that we would have those parts of our life again someday.    Of course, things have a way of changing, and quickly! I don’t remember why or how, but I saw a job open at a c

    19 min
  2. 10/26/2021

    Episode 21 Joe Mailander from The Okee Dokee Brothers

    I am so excited to share today’s episode because it features one of my family’s favorite musicians - Joe Mailander from the Okee Dokee Brothers. My kids love listening to the Okee Dokee Brothers nature-inspired albums. They are one of our favorites to turn on for a morning dance party. My family had the opportunity to see the Okee Dokee Brothers in our small town in Minnesota. It was a free outdoor concert - and my kids loved it! After the show, Joe agreed to come on the podcast and share the inspiration for their outdoor influenced music. Three of the Okee Dokee Brothers albums are influenced from first hand adventures. Joe is also a father. He discussed with me how his music has changed after fatherhood, as well as how his approach to the outdoors has changed. We also talk about how he and his band mate, Justin grew up playing in the creeks and woods near their homes in Denver. The Okee Dokee Brothers have won a Grammy for their album, Can You Canoe and have been nominated several times since. This year they declined the nomination after the category for best children’s album was once again filled with white men. We discuss this decision and I have included works of BIPOC musicians in the show notes.  Before we begin the show, I want to encourage you to go to outdoorsyfamilies.com and sign up for the weekly newsletter. I am including tips for getting outdoors with your kids, as well as links to some great gear. So come join this awesome community! BIPOC Playlist  The Okee Dokee Brothers Outdoorsy Families Outdoorsy Families Instagram

    34 min
  3. 09/14/2021

    Episode 18: Morrison Outdoors

    Today on the podcast I am talking with Tavis Malcolm, the founder and creator of Morrison Outdoors, an outdoor gear brand that makes sleeping bags for babies and toddlers. Morrison Outdoors is quickly growing something of a cult following amongst parents who want to get their little ones camping. And for good reason, as I found out on my recent camping trip to Voyageurs National Park. The Big Mo and Little Mo sleeping bags provide a safe sleeping space that will definitely keep your little one warm and comfortable throughout the night. Hattie tried out the Big Mo 20 degree sleeping bag and she honestly slept better than she has on any other camping trip. Now I don’t know if this is because of the Big Mo, or because I weaned her about a month and a half ago but I’ll certainly give some credit to Morrison Outdoors for keeping her cozy and warm on some chilly nights! The Big Mo 20 degree sleeping bag consists of ethically sourced down, quality zippers, and soft fabric. The hands do not have cuffs. This ensures your little one will stay nice and warm. However, Hattie did want some more freedom to use her hands as she fell asleep (She’s gotta snuggle her dolly and her sloth, Fuff.). I kept her arms out of the sleeping bag while she fell asleep and then tucked them in once she was out. This sleeping bag also made a great spot to stay warm on our extra chilly days in rainy Voyageurs National Park. She snuggled in her sleeping bag as we played card games in the tent! In this episode Tavis shares the story behind Morrison Outdoors and their journey to becoming an outdoor gear company - including how quickly they got into REI and some awards they’ve received from Gear Junkie! I love hearing the inspiration behind small, independent companies and I hope you enjoy Morrison Outdoor’s story as well!  Purchase your Morrison Outdoors sleeping bag here: https://morrisonoutdoors.com/ Follow Morrison Outdoors on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrisonoutdoors/ Enter the giveaway with Morrison Outdoors: https://www.instagram.com/outdoorsy.families/ Gear Junkie award: https://gearjunkie.com/outdoor-retailer/best-in-show-winter-gear-outdoor-retailer-2020  Tavis’s Favorite gear: https://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-category/mats/megamat-duo-10-m-green

    33 min
5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Getting outside with kids can be hard work. At times it can feel overwhelming, scary, or not worth the effort. But it doesn’t have to feel that way! I’m here to help you get outside with your kids and enjoy it! Outdoorsy Families podcast includes stories from parents like you, tips for getting outside, and the big, beautiful adventures that happen when we step out our door. I believe any family can be an outdoorsy family, and I’m here to help make that happen!

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