Year In Nature

10/02/2026

🌿🎨 Calling all young nature lovers and artists!

Our new Nature Study Art Sessions begin October 13 at Oak Newton Park in Monterey!

In this 6-week outdoor series, kids ages 7+ will discover the fascinating world of insects while creating art inspired by what they observe. 🐜🐞🦋🐝

From ants and jewel beetles to butterflies and honey bees, each week brings a new nature study and creative project.

✨ Tuesdays, 3:30–4:30 PM
🌳 Oak Newton Park, Monterey
🎨 All art supplies provided
💚 6-week series • $180

Come explore, observe, imagine, and create with us!
Register today: www.yearinnature.org/art-studies

Would an online version be something your child would enjoy? Let us know in the comments! 💚

03/21/2026

Calling all runners ages 5–16! Join us for a fun 5K or 1.5-mile trail run at beautiful Garland Ranch—open to beginners and experienced runners alike. 🌿 Space is limited to protect the trails, so be sure to sign up early! 🌿

REGISTER Choose Your Trail: Two Routes to Explore Canyon Breeze 5K Starting and finishing at the Visitor Center, this breathtaking route takes runners through Maple Canyon, featuring a few steeper sections that reward runners with sweeping views along the way. Runners will pass the peaceful Fern Pon...

12/12/2025

Looking for a meaningful, nature-inspired gift to make with your child? This simple DIY bath sachet is the perfect blend of creativity, calm, and care. https://www.yearinnature.org/handmade-gifts/bath-sachets

12/12/2025

Give gifts that spark real adventure!
From kid-tested, parent-approved gear to everyday outdoor essentials, this curated list highlights the items that actually get used—making every outing more fun, memorable, and a whole lot more successful. 😉

https://www.yearinnature.org/gear/santas-list-outdoor-gifts-for-kids

08/12/2025

❗️The Bread Challenge❗️
Challenge your child with a task that reminds them: food isn’t just given — it takes resources, effort, and patience.

The result doesn’t have to be perfect — it’s about creativity, patience, and the joy of making something together.

Who’s ready to try?

08/09/2025

The Meal Planning & Nutrition Guide for Backpacking with Kids is FINALLY here! 🏕️🍽️

200 miles. 24 days. 4 young kids.
In July 2025, two moms and four kids (ages 4–8) completed a thru-hike of the John Muir Trail — carrying every calorie on their backs.

In this brand-new guide, Svatka Wright shares the full breakdown of how she planned, packed, and managed food for the journey — from nutrition strategies and re-supply logistics to bear-proofing techniques and kid-approved meals and snacks, including trail recipes.

💡 Real-life numbers. Trail-tested meals. Practical tips for families.

https://www.yearinnature.org/guides/backpacking-food-plan-with-kids-john-muir-trail

05/29/2025

🎉 New on Our Website: CELEBRATIONS 🌿

We’re so excited to share a brand-new section on our website — Celebrations — designed to help you bring more intention, creativity, and connection to your family’s seasonal traditions.

Whether you’re looking for inspiration to honor seasonal holidays, ideas for handmade gifts, or tips on eco-friendly wrapping, this new resource is full of simple, meaningful ways to celebrate with your kids while staying connected to nature.

🌱 What you’ll find:
– Thoughtful ways to celebrate the seasons
– Creative gift-making ideas for kids & parents
– Nature-inspired crafts
– Tips for sustainable, creative wrapping
– And more to come as the seasons change!

Let’s make celebrations less about stuff and more about connection. Check it out and let us know what traditions you’re excited to create or continue this year!

🔗 https://www.yearinnature.org/celebrations

CelebrationsEvery holiday and celebration hold a story—full of meaning, wonder, and the chance to connect. As we move through the year’s many celebrations, it’s powerful to help our children uncover the values and traditions behind them. Earthy Celebrations invites your family to honor these m...

05/29/2025

🚨 Big News! 🚨

Now that there are no more permit hurdles in our way, I can finally share the epic adventure ahead...

This June/July, two moms + five kids are hitting the trail for a 24-day, 200-mile backpacking journey through the breathtaking wilderness of the John Muir Trail — one of the most stunning and iconic routes in the Sierra Nevada! 🏞️

We’re talking crystal-clear alpine lakes, towering mountain passes, peaceful mornings, and a whole lot of snacks. 😉 It’s going to be wild, challenging, and unforgettable.

Follow along as we prepare, pack (and repack!), and eventually hit the trail. More updates coming soon! 🥾✨

https://www.yearinnature.org/

04/23/2025

🐰Easter, Reimagined — With Hiking Shoes, Backpacks, and Bunny Hops! 🐰

This Easter, we traded sugar rushes for a trail adventure — and it was unforgettable! Instead of baskets and bunnies at home, we hit the trails at Castle Rock State Park, CA for a 3-day backpacking trip with our kiddos. 🥾💚

To keep the little ones excited during our breaks, we created seven fun, eco-friendly Easter challenges to help the Easter Bunny get ready for the big day. From egg coloring using natural dyes, and crafting Easter baskets from found materials, to a "secret bunny hop", these games sparked laughter, curiosity, and a deeper connection with the outdoors.

It was more than just a hike — it was a memory-making adventure.

📹 Watch the video to see the smiles, hear the giggles, and maybe find some inspiration for your own wild Easter tradition!

👉 Link to activity details: https://www.yearinnature.org/intercultural-celebrations/hop-into-nature-7-fun-eco-friendly-easter-activities-for-kids

Let’s raise little adventurers who value nature, creativity, and fun over candy wrappers.🍃
Tag a fellow hiking family who’d love this! 👣❤️

04/11/2025