Whether you put boot to dirt or follow the pavement for some urban hiking, answering the call of the trail with your baby is not only do-able, it’s a bit of trail magic for your mind, body and baby. Across America and as far away as Japan, hiking mamas and their families are exploring the trail for fun, friendship and wellness. They’re finding each other and taking parenting outside through Hike It Baby, an organization that is equal parts hiking and building community.
The Hike It Baby concept came to mother and avid hiker Shanti Hodges after a group of new moms joined her and son Mason on the Lower Macleay Trail in Portland, OR. That group mushroomed to 50 mamas, and Shanti suddenly had a movement afoot. She says, “I realized my experience on the trail was something I could share with others. When I saw how grateful new parents were to have someone ‘hold their hand’ in getting out there, I knew I had to be a leader.”
In 2013, Shanti launched Hike It Baby, a non-profit with a mission to connect families with babies and young children to the outdoors and each other. She created the user-friendly hikeitbaby.com website and added facebook.com/hikeitbaby to start building hiker communities worldwide. By 2018, Shanti’s initial thought of “Wouldn’t it be cool if families could find each other around Portland and go hiking together?” manifested over 20,000 hikes in 250 cities.
Hike It Baby supports the skills and interests of hikers from novice to experienced, prioritizing the safety and comfort of babies and children while families get a dose of nature. Hikeitbaby.com is an adventure hub providing Trails Near You, Hikes Near You, and a free Family Trail Guide. Once you locate your nearest Hike it Baby branch, you can join events such as urban strolls, toddler crawls or family trail hikes. An optional $10 per year Hike It Baby membership gives you access to more features like Suggest a Hike and helps keep the organization and website running.
Hiking mamas appreciate being part of a hiking community and enjoy the mental and physical positives of hiking. Getting active can boost your mood, calm anxiety and reduce the risk of depression. Hiking provides an excellent cardio workout while strengthening the core, improving blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease and helping to control weight. With a content youngster marveling at the sights, sounds and smells of the world or napping in the carrier on your back (or front), hiking is good for you and good for your baby.
Hike It Baby branches in Shasta, and Butte Counties lead excursions in majestic Northern California. The Shasta branch typically hosts weekly events from stroller park and plays to trail hikes. The Butte branch hosts four to five hikes a month, including a weekend family hike and a monthly “story-venture.” The May 27th story-venture will feature “Picasso: The Green Tree Frog” and a nature rainbow collage craft.
Katie Fox of Chico, CA encountered a Hike It Baby group when vacationing in Oregon with husband Doug and sons Rory, 4, and Malcolm, 1. While out for a walk, they were welcomed into the Rogue Valley group, prompting Katie to look for a local group when she returned home. Finding none, she teamed up with Jennifer Brock and the two became co-ambassadors of Butte County Hike It Baby.
“I started with easy paved hikes that were good for a stroller and a child’s balance bike,” says Katie. “Now, we’re out on the trail. I think my favorite hike is the Chico Canyon trail in upper Bidwell Park. It’s a wide, kid-friendly path with a rock wall separating the trail from the creek. There’s a lot of wildlife to observe, including deer, quail and fish in the creek.” She’s tickled to add, “One of Malcolm’s first words was ‘walk!’”
Katie reveals, “Being able to get myself outside has helped me be less stressed. Hike It Baby provides a social connection for women. Walking or hiking together gives us a chance to talk about our children, our challenges and forge meaningful friendships.”
Shanti Hodges’s 2018 book Hike It Baby:100 Awesome Adventures with Babies and Toddlers offers more guidance to parents seeking safe and age-appropriate trail options. Shanti says, “The truth is hiking with young children is different than just hiking. Things like distance, elevation, steep drop-offs, boulders to climb over when you have a baby on your back, and poorly marked trails are very real when it comes to getting out on the trail.”
People can’t help smiling at babies in nature. Just like trail angels leaving special treats, water and other trail magic for thru-hikers, Hike It Baby is sharing ultimate trail magic by bringing babies to the trail. Katie says when her group encounters other hikers, “They’re surprised to see us out there with our kids, and we get a lot of ‘Good jobs!’”
Do you hear the trail calling? Take a hike with a pack full of magic – your baby!
Hike It Baby
Website: hikeitbaby.com
Facebook: facebook.com/hikeitbaby/
Butte County Branch
Website: community.hikeitbaby.com/branches/butte-county
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/hikeitbabyshastacounty/
Shasta County Branch
Website: community.hikeitbaby.com/branches/shasta-county/
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/hikeitbabyshastacounty/
Tehama County: CM Mountaineers
Friday walks/hikes; sign up for email notifications: cmmountaineers@gmail.com
Hike It Baby: 100 Awesome Adventures with Babies and Toddlers by Shanti Hodges
Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Google Play Books
Safewise: Best Baby Carriers for Hiking 2019
Website: safewise.com/blog/best-baby-carriers-for-hiking/
Ultimate Trail Magic
On May 19, from noon to 3pm, the Center for Spiritual Living and Reverend Lisa are offering a special hiking event for all ages. Come with family, friends or alone for a beautiful afternoon hiking and mindfully connecting with nature and others at Horseshoe Lake in Chico. For directions and more details, call (530)895-8395.
Posted in: Health & Nutrition
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