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

What happens when your partner heads into one of the world’s hardest mountains while you stay home with the kids? Shannon from Restless Crusade shares an honest look at family adventure, parenting through risk, and supporting a spouse’s big goals. From her husband going to climb Denali’s demanding glacier, to her leaving the kids to go climb Mount Rainier climb, this conversation explores outdoor adventure, marriage, and family life. Shannon talks about the emotional weight of staying home while a partner climbs, keeping kids connected with a satellite communicator, and what conversations her and her husband had before going to reach the summit.You’ll hear about: Supporting a partner’s solo adventure after having kids

Meagan shares how she got into riding as an adult, how she built confidence in the sport, and why riding with other women has been such a meaningful part of the journey. We discuss biking as a family, choosing the right kids’ bikes. Then she shares about riding through pregnancy and postpartum, and we chat about outdoor movement and mental health in motherhood. I asked her about bike styles, including all-mountain, cross country, and downhill setups. We talk about biking with kids, including shotgun seats, strider bikes, tow ropes, and keeping rides fun and flexible. Meagan explains what to look for in kids’ bikes, especially fit, handbrakes, and when gears start to make sense. We discuss the value of making time for solo rides and women’s trips, even in a busy household. Gear mentioned: Strider bike/balance bike Shotgun bike seat - https://alnk.to/1Y1xDBy Tow rope/bungee tow strap for helping kids up hills - https://alnk.to/2FGzyPT Connect with Meagan: [email protected] 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 Danika on IG: @besidethemountain Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/ Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain Email me: [email protected] Codes & Discounts: Family Backpacking Gear Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pUSPRn2aFl_eFRcn90IMG5qf1vsW8atk/view?usp=sharing Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook Snack Prep Pro ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/

How to Poop Outside with Kids — because eventually, every outdoor family has to figure out what to do when someone says, “I have to poop!” and there’s no bathroom anywhere nearby. In this episode, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about taking kids to the bathroom in the woods, including some of the funniest (and most ridiculous) poop situations we experienced. We’ll talk through how to dig and cover a cat hole, where to go, what to pack, what to do with toilet paper and wipes, when you need to pack human waste out, and how things change when you’re camping in one place for several nights. I also share practical tips for periods in the backcountry, potty training while camping, and what to do when you’re caught without the right supplies. Plus, we’ll talk about being proactive with kids before heading above treeline or into places where finding a bathroom—or even a good place to dig—isn't an option. Most importantly, we’re getting into how to actually help kids poop outside without making it a huge, stressful ordeal. From different ways to hold a squatting toddler to helping embarrassed kids, finding a system that works for your family, and teaching older kids to eventually do it themselves, this episode is all about making one of the less glamorous parts of outdoor adventures feel a whole lot more manageable. If you’ve ever wondered how to poop outside with kids, this is the practical, honest conversation you need before your next camping, hiking, backpacking, or family adventure. Resources mentioned: Backpacking with Babies and Small Children Book, Goldie Sliverman - https://amzn.to/4hu7I3j Leave No Trace - Pooping Outside Leave No Trace - Dispose of waste Gear mentioned: Ultralight backpacking trovel - https://amzn.to/4xnzkMt Lightweight plastic trovel - https://alnk.to/gKV5Kq0 Midsized Shovel (for the vehicle) - https://amzn.to/4xvfBKS Mycelium Tabs to breakdown poop - ⁠https://amzn.to/4cKzWnP⁠

Have you wondered how to do diapers while travelling, camping, hiking, or backpacking with a baby? And when does it make more sense to use disposable or cloth diapers? In this episode, I’m sharing everything we’ve learned from using cloth diapers with all three of our kids, from the newborn stage through potty training, as well as our experience using cloth diapers while travelling internationally, camping, and spending extended backpacking trips. I’m sharing some real-life examples of cloth diapering while travelling and camping, including trips to Vancouver Island, Cuba and Belize, where we washed diapers by hand or used washing machines when available. We’ll also get into diapering on a 24-day backpacking trip with our 6-month-old baby. Since we were hiking every day and couldn't reliably wash and dry cloth diapers, we chose eco-friendly disposable diapers instead. I’ll share what we looked for when choosing diapers, how many diapers our baby used each day, and what we did with used diapers in the backcountry. I also share best practices according to Leave No Trace and how we did the very best we could while still actually going! We’ll also talk about other options for outdoor diapering, including compostable diaper liners, elimination communication, and bringing a small potty for babies and toddlers. If you're wondering how to manage diapers while travelling with a baby, cloth diapering while camping, using cloth diapers on a road trip, hiking with a baby, or backpacking with a baby, this episode is full of the practical things I wish I had known before doing it myself. Nora's Nursery — cloth diapering basics, covers, inserts, and information for getting started https://norasnursery.com/ Green Mountain Diapers — excellent resource for learning about cloth diapers, natural fibers, washing, absorbency, and different diaper systems https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/ Let's Go Outside – Episode 21: Elimination Communication with Joanna Romano — using elimination communication while getting outside with babies and kids https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nHkvgmkEQxR63K4P2poK1?si=mpdJbw1iS8W1Ah3KiIALEA Leave No Trace Canada — responsible outdoor practices https://leavenotrace.ca/services/3-dispose-of-waste-properly/ Our cloth diaper setup for travelling 2-3 Nora's Nursery covers

In this episode of Let’s Go Outside, we sit down with Samantha Foote to explore the challenges and benefits of taking neurodivergent children into nature. Adventuring, camping, and exploring the outdoors offer massive developmental and regulatory benefits for kids with ADHD and Autism, but the transition can also introduce unfamiliar sensory triggers. Samantha breaks down how to anticipate common pain points beforehand, offering practical advice on preparing your child for the new sights, sounds, and sleeping arrangements that come with spending a night outside. Beyond supporting the kids, Samantha shares wisdom for parents on managing their own expectations and staying calm when a highly anticipated family adventure doesn't go exactly as planned. This is a helpful episode if you want to go camping with your kids but want to figure out how to prepare them ahead of time for a new experience!