Tag Archives: Family Tips
Bring the Map! »
Posted on October 19, 2013
Six miles down a slot canyon with no possibility of going back up, we came to a creek bed junction. We knew we were making a loop back to our starting point 11 miles further on but had different concepts of which direction we should go. My intuition and brief memory of looking at the map in our hiking book said we should go clockwise and thus turn right. Alex’s memory on the other hand said to go counter-clockwise and thus take the canyon to the left. With no trail markers or foot prints to guide us, this would be the time to take out the map and find the correct trail. One problem, however, the book and map were back in the car!
Needless to say, it was some tense moments as we tried to figure out the correct course. I’ve always counted on Alex’s sense of direction but was pretty sure we needed to head down stream at this point. Alex, on the other hand, grew frustrated by my questioning his judgment. (This is a classic dynamic for fathers with young adult children. After years of your being in charge of everything, you want them to take more control. They on the other hand want to feel in control and also be respected by you. It’s an evolving relationship dance that can easily lead to toes being stepped on.) To make matters worse, we both knew that we wouldn’t know who was right for at least another 11 miles up the trail. Running low on water in the desert heat and sun made it all that much more stressful. If we did pick the wrong trail, we would have to retrace our steps the next day and then do another 11 miles to get out. And all without much water!
Needless to say, it was an anxious night’s sleep camping along the dry stream bed 5 miles up from where we hit the junction and wandering if we had made the right choice. We were all pretty exhausted from the day’s pack in and nervous about our dwindling supply of water. Starting out the next morning, it wasn’t until about 3 miles further up the trail that we saw our first signs of other beings in the area. While they appeared to be days old, seeing horse tracks and manure was encouraging. When hooking into another creek bed, we then found running water, deeper slot canyons and some spectacular water falls. Alex was right, we were on the right track. While we were able to laugh about it later, next time, we will all need to be sure that we have a map!
Dave, The Gratitude Guy »
Posted on August 28, 2012Dave, The Gratitude Guy is on a mission. His mission is to introduce individuals and businesses to the benefits of Gratitude as the source of abundant healing, joy and prosperity. Dave decided to change his life around because he felt it was important to take action and be part of the solution. He realized that despite anything that has taken place in life so far, Dave has the ability within his heart right now to turn any circumstance around. Because the only way to bring more of what you truly want in life is by being grateful for what you already have.
Dave has been writing a Gratitude Blog in which he posts empowering gratitude thoughts of people, places, things and ideas. Visit: http://www.mygratitudelife.wordpress.com Dave’s Gratitude brochure is also available. gratitude flyer
4 Trips Every Dad Must Take »
Posted on June 12, 2012“[By taking these trips] You’ll get to know your child in a new way,” says Christine Carter, Ph.D., director of the Greater Good Science Center’s parenting program at the University of California at Berkeley. Your kids are continually changing, be it their best friend, favorite TV show, or most enjoyable outdoor activity. Amidst all of this change, Men’s Health Magazine suggests one way to find out what ideals your kids hold true and don’t plan on changing. A simple day trip will serve to fortify the father-child bond… forever. Lila Battis has four tips of getting out. First, get in touch with nature! Activities like camping and climbing mountains are goal-oriented, team-centered, and all around enjoyable, offering plenty of one-on-one time. In Spring Hut Adventures Craig and Alex showshoed into a remote wilderness hut where a day’s duties include chopping adequate wood to heat the yurt for a night and collecting snow to melt for drinking water. Second is the educational experience. Learn from your kids; letting them teach you levels the playing field so you are not always the educator. Pursue one of your child’s interests; let them show off their knowledge on the subject. In Fire It Up!, Alex explains his favorite way to start a roaring fire. As a father, you need to step back and resist the urge to have things done the way you know as best. With any luck you just might learn something new (aside from things about your son or daughter). Third, a volunteer vacation is a wonderful way for kids to learn respect for others, become more empathetic and affect what they care about. Both Craig and Alex hold the environment close to their hearts and in Volunteer Adventures they work together to restore a landscape devastated by wildfire. Last but not least comes the road trip. The car trip is an American tradition that allows for plenty of close family talking time. Take a drive, but make sure to plan it with your kids, and let them share the work when on the road. This is a chance to pass on valuable lessons about cars, navigation, and travel in general. Forget about gas prices for a little while and let the odometer roll because a road trip will always turn out as an unforgettable adventure.
7 Father’s Day Traditions »
Posted on June 14, 2012Check out the Denver Post’s recent article by Amber Johnson, editor of www.MileHighMamas.com, on the humble role played by a father. Johnson refers to a piece written by Knippenberg for www.MileHighMamas.com. He gives great advice on his 7 favorite and affordable Father’s Day traditions. The article is available at www.denverpost.com. For more in-depth discussion of his tips, or to get other outstanding ideas from Craig, feel free to comment on this post or contact AdventureDad.org! Have a great Father’s Day, dads. And remember that althought the 17th is named after you, without your kids it wouldn’t be as special.
Family Support Line »
Posted on October 30, 2011Need some parenting support? Check out Family First’s, Family Support Line http://www.FamiliesFirstColorado.org. They offer support, information and community referrals from 10 am – 10 pm for Colorado families.
Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids »
Posted on September 7, 2011Are you a dad with younger children who is wondering how you and your wife can maintain your active outdoor lifestyle and include your kids in the fun? If so, check out Eugene Buchanan’s new book, Outdoor Parents, Outdoor Kids: A Guide to Getting Your Kids Active in the Great Outdoors. A fun and fast read, Buchanan covers all sorts of outdoor sports including camping, hiking, paddling, bicycling, fishing and climbing. He’s got lots of practical tips and covers each section from the beginner to the more advance level. At the end of the book, he has lots of great facts about our children and their need for activity as well as tons of on-line resources. Perhaps my favorite part of the book was reading the many quotes he has at the start of each chapter. Here is a sampling of my favorites:
“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it.” David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” John F. Kennedy
“Snow and adolescence are the only problems that disappear if you ignore them long enough.” Earl Wilson
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.” William Shakespeare
“Backpacking: an extended form of hiking in which people carry double the amount of gear that they need for half the distance they planned to go in twice the time it should take.” Unknown
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” Albert Einstein
Family Volunteer Opportunities »
Posted on July 29, 2011Would you like you and your family to get more involved with volunteering but don’t know how to get started? Perhaps you worry about the time commitment. Fortunately, the Family Volunteer Program through Volunteers of America has the answer. This monthly project program makes fitting volunteering into busy family life easy. Their activities cover a variety of talents and interests from gardening at a nursing home to delivering meals to creating craft projects.
According to Youth Service America, kids who volunteer just one hour a week are 50% less likely to abuse drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. When they donate their time with their parents, they are twice as likely to continue volunteering as adults. Do you need any other reasons to get involved!
To learn more about the program in Colorado, contact Rachel Dolgin at 303-297-0408 X 13310 or rdolgin@voacolorado.org. Nationally, check out Doing Good Together, http://www.doinggoodtogether.org/
Whole Man Expo »
Posted on July 22, 2011AdventureDads,
Check out this flyer for the Whole Man Expo. In addition to being a great day for men, it will also serve as the launch for Jim Sharon’s new book: Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Lives: Defining Moments. I’m pleased to be one of the men featured in the book as I looked back at my experiences from the Columbine High School tragedy.
Whole Man Expo to be Held September 10, 2011 at Sheraton DTC
WHAT: The Whole Man Expo, presented by Energy for Life, will provide an opportunity to explore various influences that are shaping men’s lives in our nation today. It will focus on trends contributing to the development of healthy, high-functioning and balanced men. The Expo will feature interactive presentations, discussions, activities and entertainment that celebrate and honor men of strong character. Colorado vendors whose services and products relate to the Expo theme will have display tables at the event. At the Expo, one man will receive the Whole Man of the Year Award. The Whole Man Expo selection committee is currently seeking nominees to receive this award.
WHO: Adults and teens of both genders are welcome to attend. The Expo is intended to honor men striving for balance and the women who support them.
WHEN: Saturday, September 10, 2011, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Sheraton Denver Tech Center, 7007 South Clinton, Greenwood Village, CO 80112
COST: $10 in advance; $12 at the door
INFORMATION: Jim or Ruth Sharon, Energy for Life, (303) 796-7004 or docjimsharon@yahoo.com; http://mensanthology.com/whole-man-expo/
A Father-Son Rite of Passage Opportunity »
Posted on February 21, 20115 Night Father-Son Adventures in Australia
“Not every successful man is a good father. But every good father is a successful man.” (R. Duvall)
Darren Lewis of Fathering Adventures facilitates 5 Night Father-Son Adventures in Australia, and provides ongoing coaching for Dads who desire to be deliberate, engaged, intentional, and strategic in their significant role as fathers to their children.
The 5 Night Father-Son Adventures have a 2-fold purpose…
- To strengthen the father-son relationship, and to educate, equip, and enable Dads so that their experience is not just limited to a 5 Night adventure.
- To provide a path, a way, a masculine journey, a rite-of-passage into authentic manhood, which has been lost since the onset of the Industrial Revolution.
The 5 Night Father-Son Adventures feature full-day, professionally-guided outdoor adventures, such as white-water rafting, dual sea kayaking, snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, and hiking. Each evening features a multimedia presentation which provides training and instruction in the way of authentic manhood… speaking into matters such as what is a real man, how does a real man act, and how does a real man treats and relates to a woman etc.
Here’s what one Dad from Arkansas had to say…
Men, if you are looking for a concentrated time with your son to build character and a vision of what a man is, and maybe craft your own vision for what it means yourself, consider Father Adventures. It may be the greatest investment you make in your sons life and your relationship.
If you have a son aged 13 and up… there’s no maximum age limit, and it’s never too late… then bring him along to a 5 Night Father-Son Adventure with us and other father-son pairs from around the world. Register your interest at http://www.fatheringadventures.com.au/5_night_father_son_adventures.php .
Tips for Single Parents »
Posted on November 27, 2010Over the past month, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Bill McLeod and reading his book: Kickin’ Butt as a Single Parent. He offers 99 tips for single parents and I found many of them to be very applicable to single AdventureDads. Personally, I spent 9 years as a single parent and will be writing a bit more on the topic now that we are in the holiday season. He also has a great website for single parents, www.singleparentstown.com.