Year In Nature

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! 🌿

Trail Goats Adventure Run - April 12, 2026, Garland Ranch — Year In Nature 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...

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

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

🎉 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

Celebrations — Year In Nature 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...

🚨 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/

Kids backpacks. It wasn’t easy to find a backpack for our kids that had all the important features - light, big outer pockets, water resistant, durable, roll top closure, and a top strap to attach a foam pad. @melooki_outdoor reached out and sent us a prototype pack. A couple years later we tweaked it and @melooki_outdoor did an incredible job of sewing the dream backpack for kids. I can’t recommend it enough! It’s got it all - and the really cool color/design options are a bonus sure to bring a smile to any kid! Another feature I love is that it has a zip along the back, making access to the inside super easy for you and your child. I also recommend attaching a little pocket and water bottle holder to the shoulder straps so they can access water easily and the pocket to keep all their little treasures in/or toys. When should your kid start wearing a backpack? I’m not sure, I don’t think there’s a set answer for that, but I do recommend that if you go hiking with more than one child, all children wear a backpack (or none). Otherwise there are almost guaranteed problems to ensue. What’s inside? Only their stuff. Mainly clothes, and on longer hikes, snacks for the day. Another upside is that it’s even comfortable for me to wear, so I have used it as a day pack! It would even make an excellent school backpack! Suitable for kids ages 3+ Ask any questions below 😊 #wild #childhoodunplugged #toddlerhood #freerangekids #raisethemwild #familyadventure #backpacking #hiking #optoutside #wanderlust #hikingwithkids #backpackingwithkids #outside #adventure #parenthood #hikertrash #nature #letthemexplore #campingwithkids #live #family #homeschooling #friends #mom #learning #longtrail #parenthood #kidsbackpack #melookioutdoor #kidsbackpacking

Svatka and her backpack. We started backpacking together with our children in 2022. Back then, Svatka’s backpack was so big she toppled over after putting it on at the trailhead. Today, her backpack nicely holds all the necessities her and her 2 daughters need for an extended backpacking trip. We’re gearing up to tackle the John Muir trail in a couple months and here I’ll be talking about some of the gear we use and why we think it’s worth every penny. We both use the @hyperlite_mountain_gear 70 liter southwest pack. Even though it’s ultralight, it can hold even 60 lbs if needed (thoroughly tested this on the PCT), which really sets this pack apart from other light options. 70 liters is huge but believe it or not, we even use this pack for day hikes because of the roll top closure. It is durable, versatile, comfortable, and gets the job done. We really love this backpack and recommend it - especially to parents that are looking to start adventuring with their kids! Her first backpacking trip with this pack she excitedly told me “I can’t believe how comfortable it feels even though it’s so heavy.” That’s exactly what David told me on the PCT when he was carrying 60lbs in it. If you have any questions please ask them below! #wild #childhoodunplugged #toddlerhood #freerangekids #raisethemwild #familyadventure #backpacking #hiking #optoutside #wanderlust #hikingwithkids #backpackingwithkids #outside #adventure #parenthood #hikertrash #nature #letthemexplore #campingwithkids #live #family #homeschooling #friends #mom #learning #longtrail #parenthood #johnmuirtrail2025 #gear #hyperlite #hyperlite_mountain_gear

Hiking with 3 kids over 1,300 miles? Here are the secrets from Year In Nature co-founder, Marketa, that thru-hiked with her family the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).

https://www.patagonia.com/stories/a-family-of-five-on-the-pct/story-143510.html