Some of my favorite memories growing up in Washington are of weekends spent outside camping with other families, hiking trails that seemed endless, and waking up to the smell of pine and campfire smoke. Those moments shaped how I see the world. They taught me that the outdoors isn’t just a place to visit, it’s something we belong to and are tasked with stewarding.

Now, as a parent, I want my son to grow up with that same connection to the wild. To know the joy of muddy boots, stargazing before bed, and discovering something new on every trail. But I also know that if you didn’t grow up that way, it can feel intimidating to start especially with young kids and busy lives.