Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in portland, OR

Car camping with the kids in comfort!

June 22, 2009

As more and more people stick closer to home this summer, car camping is becoming an attractive getaway. We’ve done plenty of camping at sites within an hour or two drive from home, and with a little preparation, you can be as comfortable in the woods as you can be at a hotel.

-Ziploc bags are your friends! Utilize plastic bags (or cloth grocery totes) to store everything for your trip (and then reuse after your trip!) Package like supplies together for easy organization when you set-up or break down your campsite.

-Green your camping trip by packing either compostable paper plates or washable melamine dishes. (If you need to wash dishes, make sure you bring dishpan, sponge, and scrubby with dish soap reserve). Bring along a clothesline and you can hang your damp clothes or dishtowels to dry in the sun while you’re out having fun.

-Follow the cardinal rules of camping: Leave the campsite/campground as you found it. Enjoy nature while you’re there, but leave everything you come across for others to enjoy. Make sure your campsite is clean and ready for the next onslaught of campers. When it’s dark, you are quiet. Nothing ruins a camping trip like being stuck next to a campsite of screaming frat boys (or children). Same rules apply for the am hours; keep it down until at least 7:00am. Your neighbors will thank you for it.

-Bring a broom and dustpan to sweep out your tent every morning/evening to cut down on the junk that winds up in your sleeping area. Keep a mat outside and institute a strict no shoes policy.

-Try to keep bedtime routines as close to home-style as possible. Bring a battery powered or wind up lantern for story time. (After a good session of charades and s’mores by the campfire, of course.) Bring your child’s favorite stuffed animal and books so they feel secure about sleeping in a strange place. (Sleeping on a camping trip, what’s that?)

-Take advantage of the in-park talks or evening programs. We had so much fun around the campfire with fellow campers and the ranger who gave a talk on wildfires and really involved the kids in the safety discussion.) Research your campground before you make reservations, you may want to plan your trip around a site that has a playground or special wildlife talks. Or, you may want to find a different campground if you discover that road construction may disturb your stay (This happened to us!)

-Your children will be easily entertained by the nature and wildlife around them so you probably won’t have to pack much to entertain them. (Especially when you camp with multiple families). I suggest bringing a bug box to capture specimens (release at the end of your stay) and a magnifying glass from the dollar store. (Finding eggs on the underside of a leaf can be captivating to even the littlest of children). If you’ll be staying at a campground with paved areas, consider bringing trikes or bicycles. Bring plastic binoculars for "bird watching" too.

-Food can be as easy or as complicated as you make it. Pancake mix that you combine with water and shake, along with scrambled eggs makes an easy breakfast. You can pack standard fair like trail mix and sandwiches, or get fancy with baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and grilled meat.

Don’t forget to pack the first aid kit, lots of hand sanitizer or wipes, and plenty of energy. Then you’ll need a good day or two to recover from your days in the “wild” with your family. (And if you’re like me, you will do hardcore research on the bathroom facilities that the campground offers, to make sure there are FLUSHING toilets). I’m no primitive camper, and I will be the first to admit it!

Two walks to take this Spring with children

April 20, 2009

Instead of returning to the traditional haunts of the mall or indoor play areas, venture out with your little ones to some of the amazing natural areas that are ripe for exploration this time of year. My family is making a point to pick new outside destinations each weekend to spend time among plants, sky, and nature and just quietly observe what surrounds us. It has been a special way to connect and learn together! (Next week, I will be writing about two more urban walks.)

Reed Canyon is an undiscovered treasure right in the middle of Southeast Portland that is teeming with plants, bugs, birds, and the occasional fish. The school grounds and main bridge through campus are easily stroller accessible. The trails that travel under the bridge and around the canyon are best traveled by foot as there are steep stairs. Low wooden walkways offer opportunities for close-up observation of native plants. On our recent walk, we set our daughter free with a camera and let her capture ducks, skunk cabbage, and different flowers she found blooming. There are lots of nice quiet spots for a quick snack or rest, and even a fish ladder! This serene oasis is easily accessible by the #19 Woodstock bus and the Reed Canyon website offers a listing of plants and animals to look for, a useful map, and even videos to preview what you'll find there. Heart of Reed Campus (32nd and SE Woodstock)

Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge is tucked below Milwaukie Avenue in Southeast Portland and is perfect for bike riding, dog walking, and bird watching. The main path is suitable for strollers and you can walk off along smaller paths by foot. For kids with a bit of stamina, you can hook up with the East Bank Esplanade and keep on riding. Check out some bird identification books from the library and see how many you can spot on your walk. Look for woodpeckers and heron! We've seen an amazing osprey's nest along the paved bike path, and baby ducks, tadpoles, and some spectacular spiders during our Oaks Bottom strolls. Look up the hill to see a huge mural of wildlife on the west side of the Portland Memorial Mausoleum and make sure to keep an eye out for bikers in a hurry.  (SE 7th Ave & Sellwood Blvd)  Read more...

Things You Must Do in Portland Before Your Child Grows Up

by Sarah Gilbert

November 04, 2008

I've lived in Portland most of my life, and though I've traveled and lived in many vibrant, wonderful cities I can't imagine raising my children anywhere else. I can't let my kids grow up until I:
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