Safe And Sound Adventures Main

Safe and Sound Adventures Mark W. Altman, M.I.S.

Welcome Letter I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of you to the world of family adventure! My family and I have a lot of fun, learn a lot about ourselves and most importantly come together as a family on our adventures in a way not possible anywhere else. Through tonight’s presentation you will learn a little about us, and hopefully you will learn how we make it happen. I am so happy for you and the fun that awaits you right outside your door!

Introduction We are the Altman family, consisting of Dawn, Mark II, Bailey, Matthew, Meagan, and me. We are a blended family ranging in age from 15 to 44. In almost every way we are just like you.

Table of Contents Welcome Letter Introduction Why Outdoor Adventures Getting Started Better Discipline Better Grades Things for the Little Guys

Why outdoor adventures? Tailored activities The activity does not get in the way of family bonding. The adventure is scalable. Some families will mountain climb, scuba-dive or do full-on expeditions while other families will do nature hikes in a local park.

Why outdoor adventures? You can spend a day or a month, sleep under the stars or in a cabin, cook over a campfire or eat your evening meal at a restaurant. (Most family adventures will get more advanced as the kids grow and the families’ skills increase.)

A Note on Age Appropriateness As a parent your goal should be to challenge your kids without overloading them (both in difficulty and duration) If you take a toddler to a trip at the park, then maybe the challenge is to point out a few flora and fauna and a stumbling walk through the tall grass For a kindergartner, car camping may provide plenty of learning while fishing and sleeping in a tent

A Note on Age Appropriateness School children can begin to backpack, carrying their personal gear (bag, clothes, item or two of food and toys) Jr. High and High Schoolers can begin to plan and lead family trips They need more challenge- mentally and physically Basic skills allow more advanced activities (ex. Competence in swimming, paddling and knot tying skills allow white water rafting)

How to Get Started First determine your goals Determine your family interests Determine your resource levels Buy gear (rent first) Take lessons Plan Get to it!!

Determine Your Goals Are your family activities intended to facilitate basic child development, entice better discipline and better grades, or to bring the family closer together? What level of outdoor expertise do you have and what level do you want? Now write these goals down!! We will need this later.

Determine Your Family Interests Does your family like camping, fishing, hunting, canoeing, bicycling, sailing, etc.? Does your family enjoy music and the arts, museums, and science?

Determine Your Family Interests As a family do you participate in sports and athletics? Do you and your family look for activities to bring you closer together and a vehicle to teach life lessons? If you like any or all of these things your family can incorporate them into an outdoor adventure!!

Ideas for Little Guys Taking a child, even an infant through a state park like McKinney Falls- they can see the colors and be outside while you get some exercise Dinosaur Valley SP- the baddest kid destination in the state! Going to a local park to fly a kite or foam airplane, or catch bugs and watch squirrels Go “fishing”- adult definition is not the same as kid definition

Ideas for Little Guys Cool scavenger hunt- look for leaves, rocks, discarded snake skins, mouse houses, etc. Go throw rocks Adventure lunch by a creek or pond Do the scavenger hunt at night in the same park you were in during the day Sky watch at night

Take lessons There are many places to find instructors: Gear shops, local colleges, friends, Scout troops, and the Internet. They can help you in other ways too if you will pick their brains: Gear purchase advice. Where to go info (known as “beta”) . New ways to use your skills and activities

Take lessons If you are shaky on ANY of the skills you need to do the activities your family wants to enjoy, then take a lesson or two. They are inexpensive for what you save in false starts, accidents, and adventures gone awry. They make you look smart in front of your family.

Teach a love of the outdoors “ Normalize” adventure Teach desired behaviors Show how instant obedience increases both safety and fun for the family Training Aspect of a Plan

Plenty of water and snacks If kids sugar crash or get dehydrated, bad things happen Take rests often When you or the kids get overtired, the trip gets not fun in a hurry The destination is of NO consequence Have more activity planned than you will get to During the Activity

Make sure someone knows where you are headed and when you will be back Carry the “Ten Essentials”- everytime Safety Plan

Rules for buying inexpensive gear. Buy the best gear you can afford- It seems counterintuitive, but buying good gear is cheaper in the long run AND the gear works better, looks better and lasts longer. Use the Internet- Websites such as REI and REI-Outlet have great deals and will send you an email alert when gear you need goes on sale!

Rules for buying inexpensive gear. Buy out of season- For kids this can be a sizing challenge, but if you buy out of season you can get great deals! Some bigger boys can wear women’s hiking boots better than men’s and they are usually LOTS cheaper when on sale. Make a running list of the gear every family member needs and check as often as possible for sales- remember the Internet!

Ten essentials- Navigation: map, compass, GPS* Sun Protection: sunscreen, sun glasses, hat Insulation: synthetic jacket or vest Illumination: flashlight, extra batteries First –Aid kit: very good kits here at REI Fire: matches, fire starter, H2O proof Tools: multi tool, duct tape strips Food: energy bars/gel, trail mix Hydration- bladders and H2O filter Shelter: reflective blanket or bivy sack Safety Gear

After every adventure Stop to eat dinner, get ice cream or hot cocoa Relive the adventure and tell stories from the day Ask everyone what they liked and want to do different Begin to plan the next adventure

Useful Web Links http://rei.com/ (click on Learn and Share ) http://rei-outlet.com/ www.adventurecycling.org (Biking) http://www.acanet.org/ (Canoeing) http://www.backpacking.net/ http://www.thebackpacker.com/ http://gorp.away.com (A little of everything) http://www.gearjunkie.com

Get to it!! The first 10 adventures are the hardest, after that it is second nature. Remember at nine years old they are half gone- either to college or work- so get to it TODAY!!

Local, Family-Day Adventures Mark W. Altman, M.I.S.

Table of Contents Welcome Introduction Local Activities Getting Started Things for the Little Guys Things for the Bigger Guys Where to go

Things for the little guys: Start with a walk around a local park/pond Explore- think like a little guy Identify flora and fauna Shovel exercise Do it again at night Ride local bike trails Day hike local state parks (McKinney Falls) Canoeing/ Kayaking- you paddle

Things for the big kids: Everything on the “little guy” list- just amped up Simple Land Navigation Learn to use backpacking stove First Aid Thought experiments (what to do if/ when) Canoeing/ Kayaking- they paddle

Continue to work on behavior Continue to “normalize” adventure Talk about morals/ethics The outdoors provide a place with no distractions to get in the way of important topics Explain the importance of conservation of resources Training Aspect of a Plan

Take advantage of secondary training Teach First Aid or Emergency Preparedness Allow the kids to cook as many meals as possible Roll in academics Science – ecology, geology, wildlife studies History of the local area Training Aspect of a Plan

Thoughts on gear: The rules from the previous slide show apply: Buy the best gear you can afford- Rent first, especially big purchases- Use the Internet- Buy out of season- Keep a running gear list- Use gear as academic and discipline rewards-

Gotta haves- Canoe/ Kayak- rent several before you buy PFD- 1 for EVERYBODY Paddle- 1 for each paddler Throwline Dry bags Quick dry paddle shorts The Ten Essentials Canoeing/ Kayaking Gear

Gotta haves- Bikes- rent several before you buy Helmet- a good one. Wear it, they call them “brain buckets” for a reason. Patch kit- inlcuding spare tubes Pump Tire levers Cycling mutli-tool Bike Lock If gone more than a couple of hours then you need the Ten Essentials. Bicycling Gear

Very local McKinney Falls State Park Hill Country Wildflower Trail Hamilton Pool Park Pedernales Falls State Park McKinney Roughs Nature Park Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve Longhorn Cavern State Park Parrie Haynes Ranch Bastrop State Park Cedar Park Caves Preserve Where to go (Day or Weekend)

Further away, but WAAAYY Cool Inks Lake State Park Dinosaur Valley State Park Enchanted Rock State Park Sea Center Texas World Birding Center Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Hueco Tanks Blanco State Park Honey Creek State Natural Area Where to go (Weekend)

Let’s Take a Trip Together Mark W. Altman, M.I.S.

Table of Contents Welcome Letter Introduction Getting Started Longer trip payoffs Gear needs Where to go Things to Remember

Longer trip payoffs You have longer together! You can travel further You have time to get “into the swing of things” You can do more training and reinforce lessons More fun!!

Things to KNOW Everyone needs to be able to set up the tents In the dark/ rain/ cold/ heat Use the water treatment (filter, tablets, etc) Use the stove Where the first aid kit will be How to navigate What to do if…

Plan Start small- There is plenty of time to go big. Starting small will allow you time to get the gear and skills necessary to do more advanced adventures. Earlier you determined your goals and now you will turn those goals into a plan: Your planning needs to be done on two levels; the family aspect you want to improve, and the activity you will use as a vehicle

Leadership- Teach your kids to set goals- They can help plan where to go and what training will be done After the destination and training are decided, the kids learn to research and generate food and gear packing lists- include any special event gear lists (ex. Compass and maps for land navigation training) Do a trip budget with the entire family Family Aspect of a Plan

Continue to work on behavior Continue to “normalize” adventure – week long adventures solidify this process Talk about morals/ethics The outdoors provide a place with no distractions to get in the way of important topics Explain the importance of conservation of resources Training Aspect of a Plan

Car Camping Backpacking Bike trip Canoeing Kayaking (River or Lake/sea) Climbing (Full on climbing or bouldering) Snorkeling/ Scuba Diving Activities (Broad Strokes)

Art activities (photography, drawing) Nature watching Rock collecting Scavenger Hunts/ GEO caching Service Projects Story telling (smores and campfire optional) Activities (Fine Strokes)

USE ONE!! EVERYTIME!! REALLY!! There are good ones at REI.com Start out carrying more than you need. Go over the list shortly after the trip to determine what you can leave off next time. Safety Gear ALWAYS goes! Packing Lists

Gear needs Shelter H2O- water is life! Keep plenty Sleeping gear Toiletries Varied and good diet Training items

Further away, but WAAAYY Cool Dinosaur Valley State Park Enchanted Rock State Park Hueco Tanks, El Paso Big Bend Ranch State Park Guadalupe Mountains State Park Devil’s Den State Park, AR Crater of Diamonds State Park, AR Alabaster Caverns State Park, OK Foss State Park, OK Ten Killer State Park, OK (Scuba Diving) Where to go (Week)

Make a plan for Mommy and Daddy time This will be important for a number of reasons: To stay connected To de-stress Sets a pattern for longer trips If your kids sleep in their own room, they can sleep in their own tent If you are going to take a walk together or leave the kids, do it safely Adult Concerns

Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will return Someone to collect mail, watch pets, water plants, etc. Leave some time to de-compress and re-compress Do a complete gear layout before the trip Eat out on the way home Do an AAR (After Action Review) Things to remember

Epic Expeditions Exceeding ALL Boundries Mark W. Altman, M.I.S.

Introduction We are the Altman family, consisting of Dawn, Mark II, Bailey, Matthew, Meagan, and me. We are a blended family ranging in age from 15 to 44. In almost every way we are just like you. If you have gotten this far, either you are dreaming of a trip like this or maybe this trip is dreaming of you.

Table of Contents Introduction Why Epic Adventures? “ Why the heck are you doing this?” Make a Plan Job Concerns What do we do with the House? Trip concerns Media requests Resources Questions?

Why an Epic Adventure? An epic adventure is a precious gift The challenge and scope provide a greater test for the family and the individual Allows for a much more intimate view of the countryside and people. Greater variety of academic and cultural lessons There is no substitute for time- time to impart and absorb lessons – time together

“ Why the heck are you doing this?” This is THE most common question you will be asked! If you ride for a “cause” (AIDS, cancer, diabetes, etc.) people will think you are LESS crazy and place more value on the trip WE rode for adventure, education, togetherness, and love of family

Decide who, where, how far, how long and when Decide mode of travel: bike, canoe, walk- some combination Research, research, research Alter plan as needed Use the backward planning process to solve the challenges of time and money. Remember, you are not in the Tour or some other competition- if things get unsafe, stop or use motorized transport to a safer place! Make a Plan

Job Concerns REALLY decide how important your career is – then OWN that decision Pick a timeframe (1 to 5 yrs.) Groom someone to stand in for you Make a plan to check in every few days Computers and internet connections Ask for leave of absence Coincide your trip with a job change (layoff, firing, promotion, relocation) You may have to quit and find a new job

Housing Concerns We found a family to house sit- they even kept our dog! Advertise on Craigslist Hire a property management company I have known a couple of people who sold their home and purchased new when they came home

Trip Concerns Safety- traffic, crime Shelter- weather, heat/cold/storms Water- quality/plenty of it/ storage Diet- balanced/ high energy Hygiene- baby wipes/ hotels- hostels Intimacy- desire/ privacy/ hygiene

Media Requests You will almost certainly be approached by the media- you have to decide if you will grant interviews If you do grant interviews, who will do them? Parents only? Kids too? Before the trip train each other on interviewing skills Be polite Have fun!

Document the Trip You will want to document the trip Get the kids to keep a journal Blogging Newspaper serial reporting Video journal

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