01/02/2021
Hello Family Adventurers,
Family Adventures in Nature has been an inspiration to my family for over a decade since we started the club in 2008. Well over 2,500 families have been involved with this group over the years, through some 1,500 activities ranging from hikes to tree climbing, tide pooling to camping. From rattlesnake safety presentations to movie screenings for “Mother Nature’s Child”. Playing in creeks and on the tops of mountains…
With love, we dedicated much of our time and passion over the years to connect families - not only to nature, but to each other as well. Indeed, we have made true friends and seen other friendships blossom both between children and adults. And there have been so many “firsts” for people: babies and toddlers dipping their feet into ponds or streams, skipping rocks, tide pooling, camping, tree climbing, boulder scrambling, discovering salamanders and birds and worms and bugs galore… the list truly goes on and on. I just love seeing the faces of children light up with a combination of surprise and pride in these “first” accomplishments. Family member’s faces were a sight to behold as well. The goodness that has come from this group is immeasurable in my opinion, in so many different ways. Priceless.
We started Family Adventures in Nature over a decade ago, inspired by Richard Louv’s best-selling book, Last Child in the Woods, aiming to share our family’s passion for nature, hoping to inspire others to join us in the adventure and many gifts of connecting to nature. We wanted adults to understand the importance of developing a sense of place in nature for kids, a refuge for hard times, a place to play and sometimes a place to just “be”. We wanted to break down some of the barriers that get in the way of kids playing and growing and learning and developing in nature, all the while developing a deep personal connection to the natural world, and to oneself. We wanted to provide as many opportunities for families to get out in nature together as possible both with our club and with other people they’d met along the way. Thus, we developed “Nearby Nature Clubs” to expand opportunities and help people to realize that nature doesn’t only happen at far away, beautiful places such as the Redwoods or the Sierras. Nature happens everywhere. Literally. These “subgroups” typically met several times per month at simple locations nearby their homes in local canyons, parks, local trails, and other nature-rich places. During the peak of Family Adventures in Nature, there were some 18 to 20 different opportunities each month to connect with nature and each other.
Together we learned that kids (and adults) really are happier, healthier, and smarter when they spend regular time in nature. In this ultra-organized and highly competitive society, we hoped to help families give their kids times to just play outside and be kids… unstructured nature play with imaginations soaring, bodies moving, minds and muscles being used in ways we just don’t see often enough anymore in our society. We wanted to help families literally get nature back on their family calendar, knowing they would be providing priceless gifts to their kids in the process.
I could go on and on, really. I haven’t even talked about one of our favorite adventures with this club - camping! That could be a book in itself. As could all of our annual traditions, In fact, as I write this, we would normally be getting ready and packing up for our Annual New Year’s Day Romp at Oakoasis County Park. This outing usually attracted anywhere from 80 to 100 people who wanted to start the New Year “right”. Maybe some of you will follow the tradition and do that hike today, complete with rock scrambling and a picnic.
You may have already predicted the main reason for this email. As a family, we are no longer meeting our goals with the club. When we started Family Adventures in Nature in 2008, our boys were 2 and 4 years old. Now, Luke is 14 and Owen is 16 (and taller than both Ron and me!). They have grown into really great young men and I know that this club - all of you - had a huge influence on them that they will carry throughout their lifetimes.
It is simply impossible to capture over a decade of adventures, experiences, friendships… so much love in one email, although this is a long one. With that, and with tears in my eyes, I have to say that we are closing this chapter of our own family adventures in nature. The time has come. I will make one final posting, where people can add favorite pictures from over the years, best memories, and any final comments. I hope that many of you will share a memory or two and lots of pictures! Maybe there is someone you’d like to connect with but need their contact information - now would be the time to collect that.
I am terribly sad to bring this to a close, but also eternally grateful to those who joined us in this ultimate adventure we call life, even if only for a bit. I know that I will, my family will, maintain contact with many of you and will carry the beautiful memories of our time with you in nature in our hearts forever. We’d like to extend a special thank you to the many, many people who also stepped up over the years, to share their passions, hearts, and time to lead groups in nature. We always hoped that someone would step up and “take the reins”, taking over the club, providing an ongoing connection to nature for themselves and others. That hasn’t happened, at least as of yet.
We’d like to thank Richard Louv and his wife Kathy for so much inspiration, encouragement, and support over the years. There are also many other people and organizations that have supported and encouraged us as well, including San Diego Children and Nature, the Children & Nature Network, REI, Mission Trails Regional Park, A-16, University of San Diego, San Diego State University, and countless others.
We wish you all the best that nature, and life, have to offer. Stay connected to nature and to each other.
As my husband Ron would often say after a hike or camping trip, “We did a good thing.” We are so glad to have done it with you.
Warmly,
Janice and the "boys”: Ron, Owen, and Luke
05/28/2026
11/07/2025
10/25/2024
09/17/2024
08/09/2024
08/06/2024
08/02/2024
05/16/2024
12/24/2023
01/02/2021