Outdoor Kids

In the era of screens and devices, the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, and children are no exception. Not only does this phenomenon have consequences for kids’ physical and mental health, it jeopardizes their ability to understand and engage with anything beyond the built environment. Thankfully, with the right mind-set, families can find beauty, meaning, and connection in a life lived outdoors. Here, outdoors expert Steven Rinella shares the parenting wisdom he has garnered as a father whose family has lived amid the biggest cities and wildest corners of America.

We are living in highly evolved times. However, all the progress we enjoy come at a high cost, especially when it comes to our children’s ability to engage with the world around them. According to the Child Mind Institute, the average American child “spends about 4 to 7 minutes a day playing outside and over 7 hours a day in front of a screen”. That, in itself, is a significant cause for alarm. Playing outdoors isn’t just a great past-time, it’s also necessary for kids’ overall happiness, focus, and mental health.

Have you ever dreamed of embarking on epic outdoor adventures, where you’re the hero navigating the wild? Imagine mastering the skills to thrive in nature's playground—discovering hidden treasures, building shelters, and finding food in the wilderness. What if you could transform ordinary hikes into thrilling quests, all while learning essential survival skills? With "Outdoor Survival Skills for Kids," this dream can become a reality!

Does your child love adventure but lack the skills to stay safe outdoors? This fun and engaging guide is here to help kids explore nature while building confidence and learning essential survival skills. From packing a bug-out bag to treating minor injuries, your child will discover practical skills like making fire, building shelters, purifying water, and identifying edible plants.

Campfires, Kids, and the Outdoors is a book of stories about the lessons I've learned from my parents along with the successes and mistakes my wife, Kristen, and I have experienced in raising our own kids. It's a book of examples of the things that have worked and the things that have not worked for us as parents. It's not a "how you should raise your kids" book, nor is it a step-by-step parenting guide. And even though the book is set in the outdoors, the principles I discuss in this book apply to any of life's activities.