Gear Review: LuminAID Solar Inflatable Light

Since this is our first official product review, let us state for the record that we do not receive any endorsement or compensation for our reviews.  These are just our honest opinions of gear we have first-hand experience with.  Now with that out of the way...

There are many things to love about the luminAID Inflatable Solar Light.  This reusable solar-powered lantern was developed by two female graduate students who were asked to design a product to assist post-earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.  In it's deflated state, it's smaller than an iPhone and much lighter.  When exposed to the sun, it charges the battery for an LED lamp. Hikers can strap it to the top of their backpacks during a hike, or just leave it on the picnic table at your campsite during the day.

Once the battery is charged, you inflate the plastic and turn on the lamp.  The device provides a diffuse light (great for a tent night-light or reading light) and it is fully waterproof.

For all its functionality, I think the luminAID should be a part of everyone's camping stash, not to mention your home emergency kit. 

Overnight Adventures: Sleeping Gear

A key to enjoying your camping experience is making sure that everyone can get a good night's sleep.  Kids don't experience the back pains and body aches that make Mrs. H wish for a Temperpedic mattress in her tent, but they still deserve to be comfortable and WARM.  Here's our current setup, which kept Lil' H warm all night on a recent January camping trip.  Even the dog was jealous!

Step 1:  Sleeping Surface

You could use any kind of padding to help your little one be more comfortable.  The floor or our trailer is metal, so we chose a Regalo My Cot.  Conveniently, it fits just right between Mr. H's and Mrs. H's beds in the trailer!  You could also use an inflatable sleeping pad like the Thermarest Trail Scout.  The Small size is just right for a child (up to 48") and it doesn't need a pump or electricity to inflate - just your own personal supply of hot air.  When Lil' H was an infant, she shared an inflatable mattress with us.  We like the Eddie Bauer Insta-Bed because the built-in pump doesn't rely on electricity.

Step 2: Mylar Emergency Blanket

Adding a Mylar Emergency Blanket between the cot and a sheet can help reflect body heat back to the child, instead of dissipating into the air between the tent/trainer floor and the cot.  They are inexpensive and fold to a very small size.  I highly recommend adding one to any First Aid kit.

Step 3: Fitted Crib Sheet

The crib sheet serves several purposes.  It holds the mylar blanket in place on the cot and quiets the rustling from the blanket.  It also provides an easy-washable layer of friction between the cot/pad/blanket and a sleeping bag.  It may be thin, but it probably adds a marginal amount of warmth as well.  How convenient that a fitted crib sheet fits JUST right on the cot - we use this setup for overnight trips at hotels and friend's houses too in addition to camping trips.

Step 4: Warmth

We knew we could be camping a lot with Lil' H so we invested in a good quality sleeping bag right from the start.  The REI Kindercone bag is rated down to 30 degrees F, and you can cinch down the foot area for shorter kids.

Step 5: Pajamas

Make sure your kids are dressed warmly before you tuck them in for the night.  Footy pajamas are great when they are infants and toddlers.  For older kids, add long underwear and socks under the thickest pajamas you have.  I even put Lil' H to bed with a wool hat on, just to make sure.  

One important thing to remember is that the higher you are in altitude, the cooler the night time temperatures will be.   Also, desert areas have the coldest night temps because there is no humidity to hold heat in.  Plan accordingly!

How To Encourage Interaction With Nature

Any parent in Silicon Valley knows that there's no better source for park information than Silicon Valley Toddler, so we followed Toddler X's recommendation and headed to Edenvale Garden Park in South San Jose.   While this park does have a great playground, today we focused on the winding trails and wide open spaces.

Kids are inherently curious and it's our job as their caregivers to foster that curiosity.  I had such a fun time watching Lil' H interact with nature.  Usually, I have a hard time letting go of my agenda.  But today I made a special effort to let Lil' H pick which trails to follow, which flowers to pick, and which rocks to climb.

This butterfly net from the dollar section at Target is one of Lil' H's favorite toys.  We didn't see any butterflies to chase today, although we did find a very informative bulletin board with the types of butterflies normally seen at the park posted at the Edenvale entrance.  Instead, we used the net for collecting the different flowers, leaves, and seeds that we found around the park.

Anytime Lil' H picked up a new specimen, I would tell her what it was, then I asked her questions about it to help her understand what she had found.   Maybe two year olds are a little young for the Socratic method, but I'm determined to raise a tree-hugging genius!

Try these questions to encourage interaction between your child and nature:

• What color is it?
• Is it hard or soft?
• Is it smooth or pokey?
• Is it big or small?

In the end, you'll have a smarter kid and beautiful collection of leaves to take home!

Campground Review - Catavee Campground

Lake Huntington at dawn

In July 2013, we took Lil' H for her very first camping trip.  She was 9 months old at at the time, and just a few days shy of walking.  We camped at Catavee Campground, on the shores of Huntington Lake just north of Fresno, California.  The area holds special significance for Mr. and Mrs. H (this is where we got married!) so it was a perfect choice for Lil' H's first camping trip.

Camping with an infant presents a few unique challenges, which we'll cover in a separate post.  For now, let's focus on the campground itself.

Grandma H and Mr. H inspect our setup - note the infant necessities like a walker and Pack n' Play

Catavee is a rustic campground.  The sites are packed dirt with picnic tables, suitable for tents or tent trailers.  There are no RV hookups.  The restrooms have flush toilets, but no showers.  The main draw in the area is Huntington Lake, home of the High Sierra Regatta.  The nearby town of Lakeshore has restaurants and a convenience store in case you forget any essentials.  Even better, the tourist town of Shaver Lake is only a 30-minute drive away.

Pros: Beautiful views, easy to get reservations, nearby amenities

Cons: Rustic campground, cold night temperatures.

Have specific questions about Catavee or the Lakeshore/Shaver area?  Let us know!

Introduction

Welcome to Kids By Nature!

Have you ever wished that you could expose your kids to nature more often, but aren't sure where to start?  We are starting this site to provide tips on kid-friendly trails, campgrounds, and gear.  We love the outdoors and we want to share our passion with other families!

Who are the Kids By Nature experts?

Mrs. H is an aquatics expert by profession and city-girl turned outdoor enthusiast.  She enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and off-road triathlons.

Mr. H is a professor by profession, and a life-long adventurer.  Raised by hippies, he's been backpacking since he was 3.  His primary outdoor interests include mountaineering, ice climbing, and off-road triathlons.

Lil' H is a 2-year old force of nature who loves camping in her "twailer," tormenting our dog, and riding her Strider bike.  She's our resident beta-tester for kid friendly gear.

Keep following Kids By Nature for gear reviews, trail suggestions, and camping tips.  If you have specific questions, please contact us by email or post on our Facebook page.