This is my whole crew!!

Kayaking with kids

I have had great experiences kayaking with my kids. We go one-on-one or all together. Most kids get the basics down pretty quickly, and can get their kayak to go where they want. I would say five (my two year old loves the tandem kayak ) is an acceptable age to start if your kid is enthusiastic. By seven or eight most kids can get in the boat and just go with very little instruction. Kids love cooling off in the water and the independence of being in charge of their own boat. It's nothing like sitting in the front of a canoe that is being paddled by an adult.

The development of kayaking gear for kids in the past several years has really made kids kayaking possible. It can be very expensive, but it does not have to be. It just depends on how advanced you might want to take it. You can get a kids sit-on-top kayak with a paddle at Walmart for $100, then add $20 for a life jacket and you are ready to get out on a sheltered lake or pond the same day. We take a lunch a small fish net and usually have a three or four hour activity. You could probably use this setup for several years and sell it for $60, so they whole thing only costs you $20 a year for three years. If you really enjoy it, you can spend a lot more money upgrading to a more performance set up for white water paddling or maybe a fishing set up. Of course you will need a kayak as well. This activity can take a lot of time especially if you do not live close to water. It's not like rolling a few bikes out of the garage and going down to the park. You have to load and unload the boats and gear (twice) in or on your vehicle, and you must be present for every minute on and near the water. You can't email work from your Blackberry, but that's the point. Wear a hat, take it easy and enjoy. Someone once told me "kids spell love like this: TIME"......time with their parents.

Kayaking with my two year old son in Jackson Kayak's new tandem kayak the Dynamic Duo

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder

My inspiration for writing the Outdoor Dads Blog comes from the rich outdoor experiences that I have shared with my own children (2,5 and 8 years old). I have attended or facilitated many trainings, retreats and conferences using the outdoors as a powerful learning environment. Before I had my own children, I spent fifteen years working with all sorts of people (corporate leaders, families, parents, foster children, city kids, country kids, gangs, and educators at all levels) in all sorts of outdoor environments. I have never seen, along with countless others, someone not benefit from an outdoor experience or the seeds it planted for the future.

I would like to pass on some of the things I have learned so that other parents will feel more inspired and confident to step out into the wilds (or nearby park) with their families. One of the best new books, supporting the importance of outdoors for children is Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. What is great about Louv'sbook is that he pulls together a huge amount of research based evidence of the benefits of the outdoors and free play. I already consider my self an outdoor dad, but after reading Louv's book, I was extra motivated to make sure I was putting my time and money where I had been putting my mouth. If you are the type who is on the fence and thinks that TV and video games are an "O.K." substitute for outdoor play and that maybe it's just the new way kids play, then Louv is going to give you a wake up call. Its a must read for outdoor dads!