Camping as a family can be a transformative experience, creating lasting memories and fostering a deep connection with nature. Whether you're new to camping or looking to enhance your outdoor adventures, here's a comprehensive guide to help you get started.

In our fast-paced, tech-driven world, it's easy to let days, weeks, even months slip by without stepping outside to breathe in the fresh air. Yet, the benefits of spending time outdoors are undeniable, especially for families. Whether your goal is to bond, to explore, or to simply break away from the everyday rat race, making a commitment to get outside is a step towards a healthier, happier family life. And here's the best part: you can start at any point. The key is just to start.

The power of nature in kids is undeniable. It nurtures their health, happiness, and confidence, while also instilling a deep appreciation for life and the environment. By fostering a strong connection with the natural world, we enhance our children's well-being but cultivate future generations who are more in tune with themselves and committed to caring for our planet. So, let's encourage our kids to step outside, explore, and let nature work its magic.

One day, listening to an interview with Joel Salatin, he talked about the most sustainable meat source for those wanting to raise their own meat was rabbits. My mind started spinning, tell me more I thought. Rabbits have a 31 day gestation period, they have anywhere from 8-12 baby per litter and they grow really fast.

Well we began breeding and the saying “breed like rabbits” is true they are pretty good at making babies. 31 days later we have 12 baby’s running around. I few weeks later the dreaded day came. I had never butchered anything I raised myself but the day was here.

I told Rachael and the kids that it was all or nothing. I encouraged my kids to be a part of the process and sure enough they were. I believe it’s important for them to see and feel the emotion of being in touch with the life cycle of food.

The best and final moment came when there was no more meat left, and my daughter asked if we could go butcher another rabbit…..

As Rachael and I became more and more successful at hunting to provide our own protein for our family, our mindsets started to shift from solely providing meat to, “what else can we provide?” We were never raised to provide any of our own resources, so this was a new adventure for us. We believed that gardening was was not in our wheelhouse, or that it was for people who were way more experienced and the knowledge would be way too hard to obtain. But, as time went on the itch to grow our self sustainable lifestyle became stronger, until we finally took action.

We knew gardening was a major resource for our family to thrive but also to expand us as individuals. Gardening would be another skill for our family to learn together and ultimately, for our kids to pass down to their families.

At 24 years old, I was not “ready to become a mom”. I wasn’t ready to give up the spontaneity, the adventures, my fitness, my path to a successful career… bottom line- I wasn’t ready to “change”. What I didn’t realize then was, you’re never “ready” and that change is what makes a mother a better human being. Motherhood has taught me the true meaning of life and brought the ultimate challenge of adaptability, which has made me an even stronger human being.

It’s a family affair from cutting, to grinding, to packaging. The process has taught my children how to be food safe, safely and purposefully use a knife, and truly understand anatomy of many species of animals. Our kids are a part of the journey from beginning to end. What’s amazing is my children have found the natural interest in helping put their food on the table. It is so normal to them, it’s just something that must be done.

Family is everything. The time spent, your example, your love, the priorities you instill and the habits you teach…is everything.

Hunting Elk in the rugged country they live in is not an easy task for any individual, but hunting elk with a six year old and a 4 year old makes the challenge even more difficult and rewarding. As the leader and parent it will push you to be the very best person you could possibly be. The challenges of getting your children ready to climb 1500 vertical feet in pursuit of an idea is rather struggling. Teaching your children to challenge their own minds and take on the demons that deter them from the task is so difficult but so rewarding. I watched my children tell themselves to quit but ultimately after coaching themselves they found an inner strength to not only keep going but to push harder and motivate themselves.

When you walk hand in hand with your child and teach them to approach their fear willingly- you are able to coach and guide your child through the emotions, the feelings. They begin to understand the feeling of fear, of intimidation. You are able to coach them to tell themselves they CAN do it and they soon learn to KNOW they can. It is through repeated experiences of facing fear and learning the processes of overcoming and conquering that children develop confidence and perseverance.

LIU mindset is this- you are given the gift of life. It is in your hands, you are in control. It is up to you to learn what fuels you spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally in order to live fully. It is up to you to not fall into complacency and comfortability, we weren’t meant to be that way. To learn that small successes lead to big successes. It is in the complete defeat and failures that you feel the most alive and grow. The future is ours/yours go and get it.