I do have one more trip left, though, and it’s one that I’ve been looking forward to for months. This week, I’m taking my two daughters to Sweden’s Arctic north, to go hiking in Abisko National Park. It’s been six years since all three of us went on a multi-day, hut-to-hut hiking adventure like this together and I’m so thankful that they agreed to come (at ages 15 and 18, I can no longer take that for granted).

If you’ve read my book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, you know that Abisko holds a special place in my heart. It was here that my paternal grandmother introduced me to the Swedish highlands for the first time, and by going there with my own daughters, I’m both upholding a generational bond and carrying on a tradition. It’s also an opportunity for my daughters and I to reconnect in an environment where we may hike for hours without cell phone reception (shhhh…I may or may not have told them about that part).

While I’m gone, here are some tips and inspiration for August.

One thing to consider:

“When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

— Aldo Leopold

Two things to do outside:

1. Have a fika outdoors. Fika is a Swedish word for sitting down with a beverage - typically tea or coffee for adults and some sort of juice for kids - and a pastry or cookie of your choice. It’s not a snack on the go; it’s an intentional pause in the day when you get to enjoy a little downtime and a sweet treat together with others. (And no, inhaling a coffee in the car while shuttling the kids to the next activity doesn’t count.) Some great fika spots are: under a tree, at a picnic table at a park, in your backyard, on a balcony, on a rock, on the beach…well, I think you get the idea.

2. Go on a barefoot walk. Did you know that shedding your shoes on a regular basis can improve your balance, strengthen your feet and encourage a more natural gait? Plus, by being in direct contact with the earth, you’re bound for a sensory bonanza - the soles of your feet contain thousands of nerve endings that are constantly sending information to your brain. Most importantly, being barefoot helps us connect with the land. Start by walking on soft surfaces like sand, grass or moss and then gradually work yourself up to more varied environments.

Three things to read:

1. Can a combination of sauna, cold plunges, hygge and friluftsliv hold the key to a healthier, longer and happier life? More and more Americans seem to be inspired by the Nordic lifestyle, where nature connectedness and togetherness are central ingredients. You can read more about that in this story from The Washington Times.

2. Nordic walking is hot again - and touted as a great whole-body workout for people who hate running. Outside Magazine has more on this popular Nordic pastime in this story.

3. I can’t remember if I’ve recommended Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton before, but even if I have, it’s worth mentioning again. In this memoir, Dalton tells the story about her unexpected rescue of a newborn hare - a leveret - and how it turns her world upside down in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only does the book shine a spotlight on the perilous life of hares, but more than anything, it is also a beautiful tale of the relationship between a wild animal and a human. I’m rarely moved to tears by books, but this one tugged on my heartstrings from the first page. (Affiliate link: If you buy the book, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

   

   See you outside!
   Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

I want to have a feral woman summer

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

I told her to give me two weeks to put together an itinerary. (I do have a history of making side hustles out of my hobbies – rabbit hotel as a teenager, wedding photography in my twenties.) Organizing a hiking trip would help ground me in nature – something that felt more urgent than ever – and let others come along for the ride.

My daughters were skeptical. “You’re just going to invite random people from the internet to hike with you? That’s so weird.” But I had a good feeling about it.

Four women took a leap of faith and signed up for my first guided hiking trip through the highlands of northern Sweden. One of them was in a space of burnout and looking for a way to restore balance while connecting with other amazing women. Another wanted to go on a solo adventure, without her family, and accomplish something she could be proud of. A third wanted to get away from her responsibilities back home for a while and fill her eyes and ears with something completely different than she would otherwise see and hear, in a part of the world she would never get to without a guide. And a fourth just wanted to immerse herself in the beautiful Swedish landscape.

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Even though our motivations for embarking on this trip varied, I believe deep down we all shared the same need: to fully immerse ourselves in the natural world.

After nearly a week on the trail together, I’m glad I followed my gut feeling. Because I believe friluftsliv (open-air life) has a way of bringing out the best in people. In nature, we face physical and mental challenges – fighting off bugs, navigating through muddy trails, crossing busy creeks, overcoming fatigue to reach the summit – that help us grow. Even finding a spot to pee on an open moor with nowhere to hide can send your anxiety spiking if you’ve never done it before. Add to that cultural norms that can throw any foreigners off balance (no shoes inside, co-ed dorms and bathrooms, and the possibility of naked people in the sauna).

For five days, we hiked. We saw reindeer. We ate good food. We summited a mountain. We plunged in cold creeks and drank some beer, all while the weather was on its best behavior. In the end, I think we were all left feeling a little more like ourselves.

Maybe my friend Josée, who was on the trip, said it best: “I thought I needed an escape, but coming here I felt like coming home.”

Curious to learn more about my upcoming trips?

Next summer, I’m planning to offer a hiking experience together with Monica Ticknor of Charter Book Club Adventures called The Friluftsliv Voyage. Please join us on Zoom Sunday, July 19^th, at 1pm EDT for more information! Register for the Zoom here.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

I want to have a feral woman summer

The Swedish moose that captivate the world

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

I’m in the Swedish highlands myself, preparing for the first group of women to join me for an adventure where we’ll hike miles into roadless land and summit Sweden’s highest peak south of the Arctic Circle, the Helags mountain. More on that later. But for now, here are my Nature Nuggets for July.

One thing to consider:

“Planting a tree today is an act of belief in the future.”

– Alastair Humphreys, from Unwilded: Finding Our Way Back to Nature

Two things to check out:

1. In the past year, we’ve seen relentless attacks on public lands in the U.S., with the goal to weaken protections and open vast areas to drilling, mining and exploitation. Now, More Than Just Parks, a public lands conservation publication run by two brothers, has published a map detailing the voting records of the entire 119th Congress. Check to see where your Congress representatives stand on public lands and find out how to contact them with a sample call script, urging them to protect what belongs to all of us.

2. Recently, I sat down with Whitney Baker to talk about friluftsliv, the Scandinavian philosophy of open-air living, and why we need it now more than ever. We covered why being outside doesn’t have to mean big hikes or perfect weather, how nature can help with stress, creativity, and feeling more grounded and the pressure of modern life, motherhood, and always being “on.” Tune in if you’re feeling overstimulated, disconnected or tired and would like to find out how a simple mindset shift can help.

Three things to read:

1. First, the heatwave came to Europe. Now, it’s smothering large swaths of the U.S. The climate crisis will likely fuel more of these extreme weather events in the future, so if we want to keep enjoying the outdoors in the summertime, we need to adapt. Healthy kids can still play outside in hot weather, but you need to take some precautions. This guide by the Playwork Foundation has some excellent advice on how to stay cool and safe on hot days - and the tips are relevant for kids and adults alike.

2. Friluftsliv and gardening go hand in hand, both offering a boost to well-being and other health benefits. And with a few tweaks, you can design a Scandi-inspired outdoor space that will help you spend more time outside, year-round. This piece in Better Homes and Gardens shows you how.

3. Summer means I’m in reading beast mode and the latest book in my pile was Unwilded: Finding Our Way Back to Nature by British adventurer and writer Alastair Humphreys. Having followed Humphreys and his writing for quite some time, my expectations were high for Unwilded, and I wasn’t disappointed. In this book, he continues to explore our growing disconnection from nature, a theme that is familiar from his last book, Local. As the solutions-oriented guy that he is, he also offers a path forward - simple, doable ways to restore our relationship with nature that don’t require pristine wilderness, tons of money or eons of time. Does it sound familiar? It could be because these ideas are also cornerstones of friluftsliv. In Unwilded, they’re packaged in a new context, supported by anecdotes ranging from the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree to the extinction of the passenger pigeon and delivered with Humphreys’ signature wry, self-deprecating sense of humor. The book comes out in the U.S. in October but you can pre-order your copy now. (And as a fellow writer, I can attest to the fact that those early orders mean the world to us.)

   

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

I want to have a feral woman summer

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

The trend cropped up at a pertinent time. The world was just coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic and there was a pent-up need to rebel against perfectionist ideals that compelled young women to start the day by drinking spinach detox smoothies, writing gratitude journals and conducting 103-step skincare and makeup routines.

At first glance, it seemed like a feral girl summer was something I could get behind. After all, I hardly ever wear makeup. I remain somewhat skeptical about the purported magic of positive manifestation. And, I’d never consider putting vegetables in my smoothie. Cue my disappointment when I realized that being a feral girl meant going clubbing every night, spending all your money on clothes and alcohol, getting spontaneously tattooed and living on ramen noodles. It seemed like it was just another fad aesthetic telling young women which role to play in order to become one of the cool girls.

Yikes.

Still, the word ”feral” stuck with me. According to Dictionary.com, feral means 1) existing in a natural state, as animals or plants; not domesticated or cultivated; wild or 2) having reverted to the wild state, as from domestication.

This was more what I was going for.

With this definition, a feral woman (because I may be a bit too old to pass for a girl) could simply be somebody who is stepping out of the mold, looking to rewild her life – literally – by aligning her body and mind with the natural world. A woman who was never interested in dressing in power suits (or is secretly longing to step out of them), commuting for hours on five-lane highways or participating in a doomed, Botox-filled quest for everlasting youth and beauty.

In my world, a feral woman (or man, for that matter – after all, this is an equal opportunity state of mind) is somebody who decides to peel off the thin veneer of civilization and actively search for a primeval connection that has been lost, somewhere between the time when our forebears left their hunter-gatherer lifestyle on the savannah and the invention of AI companion robots.

I’ve been feeling that pull more intensely in the past few years especially. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older and caring less about society’s expectations. Maybe it’s because I’ve always been more comfortable in a tent than a conference room. But mostly, I think it’s because the link between nature disconnection and the devastating state of the planet has never been as obvious to me as it is now.

Going feral is not a way to go back in time, but to reimagine the future. To rewild ourselves and our lives – and begin to reconnect to what really matters. Earth, air, water, fire. The moon, the stars and the sun. Stories from the past. Blackbirds and butterflies.

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When I say that I intend to have a “feral woman summer,” it may sound like I’m trying to be down with the kids and spark some new viral trend. In reality, it will be a lot like any other summer. I’ll just be more intentional about it. It will be a summer where I say yes to skinny dipping in cold creeks and taking afternoon naps in the forest. Where I go barefoot whenever possible and let the dirt collect between my toes, feeling more like myself than I ever did in heels.

A feral woman summer means planting some seeds as an act of resistance and taking joy in watching them sprout. Letting the dandelions bloom and the lawn grow wild. It means walking outside at night just to look at the moon, foraging for berries on a forgotten trail, drinking water straight from a clean stream. It means sleeping under the stars, going days without showering, and sitting around a campfire with a beer and a gaggle of other feral women.

I’m ready for it. I’m ready to unapologetically be “that” woman who dances in the forest like nobody’s watching. Who says no to things she doesn’t want to do and yes to the things that actually matter. This summer, I’ll celebrate my crow’s feet, love with abandon and eat the extra chocolate without apology. And, I will not be domesticated or made presentable on someone else’s terms.

Can you feel the pull too? Then join me for a feral woman summer. I promise, you won’t regret it.

See you outside!
Linda

Trips for fellow feral women

Did you know that I organize guided, all-women hiking trips to northern Sweden through my company Tales & Trails? I haven’t opened up next year’s bookings yet, but check out my website if you’d like to know more and send me a message if you want to get on the mailing list (no spam, I promise!).

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

The Swedish moose that captivate the world

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

Actually, if you’ve subscribed for a while, you probably recognize the format (borrowed from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits). I’ve included these field notes in many of my previous newsletters, but they’ve always been tucked in at the end, and since I know time and attention is often in short supply, I’ve decided to let them shine on their own.

As usual, if you have any news from the outdoor world that you’d like me to share, please hit reply and let me know!

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One thing to consider:

“Here is good but fragile news. Counterintuitively, even as we mourn the destruction of so many species, lands, and waters, the natural world offers us an antidote to our growing despair. We can find relief right there in our peripheral vision, in a deep and wavering current followed by native trout, in a line of swifts living most of their lives in flight, in the tracks of a mountain lion along a worn path. A path of wonderment.”

– Richard Louv, from Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World

Two things to listen to:

1. Friluftsliv at work? Why not? With walk-and-talk meetings, team building retreats in the forest and jogging during office hours, being outdoors at work is having a moment. If you’re wondering what friluftsliv can do to improve health, well-being, participation and productivity at your workplace, listen in to this episode of The Introverted Leader.

2. Why are so many children disconnected from the outdoors and how can small, intentional shifts bring nature back into your daily rhythm? In this episode of the Outdoor Classrooms podcast, Josée Bergeron, author of Beyond the Front Door, explores how simple, everyday moments in nature can transform the way children live, learn, and connect. A great listen if you’d like to know more about child development, the power of unstructured play, and how outdoor experiences support focus, creativity, and emotional well-being.

Three things to read:

1. I’m usually not a fan of articles claiming to know the “right” or “wrong” way to experience nature, but if you can get past the clickbait-y title I think this piece in Outside describes Swedes’ relationship with nature quite well.

2. The term “alpine divorce” - the act of abandoning a partner in the backcountry - has gone viral lately. Do you know what it is? Have you or somebody you know ever experienced it? This article gives you the rundown.

3. Richard Louv - icon of the children and nature movement and one of the most significant nature writers of our times - has a new book coming out on June 23. It’s called Noticing: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World and is his most personal book to date - calling on us to step outside, reawaken our senses and really observe the living world around us. Richard’s work has been a great inspiration to me over the years and I was honored to receive an advance copy of this book.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

It’s still possible to remove screens from nurseries and preschools. We can delay the introduction of smartphones and social media in children’s lives. And while ed-tech is now a mainstay of nearly every classroom, one-to-one laptop programs are not inevitable.

Sweden’s course reversal shows what’s possible – and it brings us hope.

What happened in Sweden?

In short, Sweden’s story is one of a country that has long taken pride in being at the cutting edge of technology and failed to see the risks of a screen-based childhood. It began in the 1990s, when “digital competence” became the buzzword du jour and was written into the national school curriculum. Soon, screens seeped into children’s lives from every direction – at school, at home, even in nurseries. Lawmakers were so convinced of the purported benefits of tech in childhood that they never stopped to consider the evidence, or rather, the lack of it. Nor were there any screentime guidelines from public health authorities for parents to lean on.

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For years, Sweden was in digital free fall. In 2018 – the year I moved back after living in the U.S. for 15 years – I was shocked to find that smartphones went everywhere, even into the classroom. With them came distraction, doomscrolling and infinite dopamine hits. According to a 2018 government survey, two-thirds of 9-year-olds had cellphones, 97 percent of 12- to 15-year-olds were on Snapchat, and a quarter of Swedish babies under 12 months (!) were already using the internet.

Questioning the digital strategy, meanwhile, was akin to sacrilege. The few who spoke up were mostly teachers tired of policing students’ phones during class and psychologists worried about the effects of screens on learning and mental health.

But then, in 2022, Sweden’s digital strategy began to unravel. Despite pouring money into ed tech, the country found itself in the middle of a learning crisis. Worse, mental health among children and adolescents was deteriorating, something researchers linked to increased digital media use.

Finally, the Swedish government decided to act.

From early adopter to course corrector

I tell the full story of the Swedish turnaround in my new online presentation, “From Early Adopter to Course Corrector: Lessons from Sweden’s Experiment with Technology in Childhood.”

I recently gave this talk to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London, and the response convinced me the message is too important to leave there. So, I’ve decided to open it up to others.

This presentation is for:

• School administrators and boards

• Parents, PTOs and PTAs

• Teachers and educators

• Policy makers

• Anyone else working to shape a healthier childhood

Want to bring this talk to your community?

If you’re part of a Parent Teacher Organization and you believe your child’s school needs to hear this, I’d love to speak to you. If you’re a teacher who wonders if one-to-one laptop programs are really effective, this is the kind of evidence-based talk that can help shift the conversation in your building. And if you’re organizing a conference, a community event, or a district-wide professional development day, the same goes for you.

The presentation is done online and runs for about 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes for discussion and questions. It starts at $590 for PTOs and other parent groups, with custom pricing for schools, districts, and conferences. Tell me a little about your audience – size, setting, what you’re hoping they walk away with – and I’ll send back details and availability. You can also read more about my speaking services and keynotes on my website.

With more and more research emerging on the harmful effects of heavy digital media use and several countries now mulling age limits on social media, I feel like Sweden’s story is worth telling. Because if a country that was once the poster child for tech in childhood can change course, so can others.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

The Swedish moose that captivate the world

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

Careful not to ruin his moment, I slowed my stride. As I got closer, I could feel a tingle in my stomach. Could it be…? I scanned the clearing, searching for clues amid the gangly, budding trees. Yes. Yes, it was. From behind a spruce, I saw the familiar contours of a moose, her dark eyes following my every step as I ventured closer. Judging by her modest size, she was probably a yearling. It’s that time of the year, when the mother moose are getting ready to have new calves and must cast their older brood aside. Dazed and confused, the yearlings now have to stake their own path.

For several minutes, the man on the bike and I stood there on the road in silence. The moose too was still, as if in waiting for our next move. Right there and then, I could feel our thin veneer of civilization peel away and we were just three strangers in confluence, the animal slightly apprehensive and the human animals in complete and utter awe.

Migrating moose become slow-TV sensation

There are around 300,000 moose in Sweden, but even though I walk in the forest almost daily, these types of encounters are a rare treat. That’s probably part of the reason behind the incredible success of The Great Moose Migration, a slow-TV show on Sweden’s public service network SVT.

The program idea is simple but ingenious. For three weeks every spring, 30 strategically placed cameras capture the movements of dozens of moose in northern Sweden as they make their way from the coast to their summer pastures further inland. The cameras stream live, for a total of over 500 hours every season. Viewers tune in from across the world and together they rack up around 12 million streaming hours per season. Sometimes, foxes, reindeer, swans, beavers, cranes and other animals appear on the screen, but most of the time, there’s nothing going on – just some firs blowing in the wind to a soundtrack of distant birdsong. And that’s exactly the point.

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Waiting for hours for some moose that may or may not show up on screen is a stark contrast to the fast-paced, trend-driven, AI-generated, TikTok-ified media landscape of today. The slow pace is a rarity – and part of its appeal, according to the researchers who study the phenomenon. Instead of constant stimulation, the nature sounds and the unedited rhythm of the live stream are an invitation to slow down – to patience, attention, calm and restoration.

A symptom of nature disconnect

For many people, the moose migration has become an annual ritual and an important marker of spring. Some are deeply engaged in the show by commenting in the live chat and joining Facebook groups dedicated to the migrating moose. Together, they patiently wait for the show’s climax: to watch the moose cross the Ångerman River.

I’m not surprised by the immense popularity of the show, rather, I think it’s another symptom of how disconnected we’ve become from the natural world - and how much we yearn for it. The moose offer a way to reconnect to our shared past. The show gives people a feeling of meeting nature on its own terms, even if it’s through a TV screen while they’re folding laundry, preparing dinner or talking to a friend over the phone. I also think the popularity of the show tells us a lot about the times we live in. The moose have migrated along these same trails for over 6,000 years and they offer stability, continuity and comfort at a time when it seems like the rest of the world is falling apart.

So, how did my own, real-life moose encounter end? After a while, the biker took off, leaving just me and the moose in a wordless standoff. Then, the moose started swiveling her large, pointy ears around, as if they were antennae searching for a lost signal. She turned around and took off, her gray chopstick legs disappearing through the brush. I stood there a while longer, thankful I’d just been handed my own private episode of the moose migration.

See you outside!
Linda

One thing to consider:

“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Two things to listen to:

1. I recently joined Julianne of the My Outdoorsy Mom podcast to chat about the differences in Swedish and American parenting culture, what friluftsliv really means (and how to pronounce it), how to get kids outside in less-than-perfect weather, why nearby nature matters more than epic adventures and much more.

2. If you - like me - are concerned about the challenges the planet is facing right now - and our ability to turn things around - I highly recommend the writings and podcast of Joanna Macy. She teaches that hope is a practice, not a passive emotion, of engaging with the world’s crises by actively participating in bringing about a positive future.

Three things to read:

1. Remember the Swedish prescription that I told you about in my last newsletter? Condé Nast just published a story about the health benefits of traveling to Sweden and embracing the nature, sense of community and slower pace of life.

2. In the UK, 1,600 streets regularly close to traffic to allow children to gather and play safely outdoors. The organization Playing Out have worked hard to persuade local councils to allow the closures - a great movement to be inspired by!

3. When we think about learning, we typically conjure up images of desks, classrooms and textbooks. But a considerable amount of learning happens when children are “just” playing outdoors. If you wonder what and how, you should read this.

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

But one of the would-be participants for my hiking trip to the Helags Glacier recently found out she’s expecting a baby in August and unfortunately had to cancel. That means I have a spot open for July 10-16 – and I wanted to give you a chance to sign up before I share it more widely.

In short, this is a seven day, women-only hiking adventure in the Swedish highlands. Because of the remote location of the glacier, this is an opportunity to experience a unique destination far away from the crowds, noise and tour buses, and really settle into a slower rhythm in nature. The group is small by design – just four guests and I – to create flexibility and space for genuine connection.

During this trip, we’ll sleep in rustic mountain huts, enjoy local foods, hike through sweeping landscapes and explore Indigenous Sámi culture. If you’ve been feeling the pull of the wild lately, a dose of the Swedish highlands may be just what you need.

If you want to know more about the trip, I wrote about it here. I’ve also got a brand spanking new website up and running for all my guided hikes in Sweden, so feel free to check it out as well. You’ll find the information about the Helags trip here.

Questions? Hit reply to this email and I’ll walk you through it!

I’ll announce the open spot on social media later this week, so If you’re interested, I’d recommend reaching out sooner rather than later.

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Doctor’s orders: Go to Sweden

On a different note, did you know that Sweden is the first country in the world that can be prescribed by doctors? Nature is inherently restorative and Sweden’s abundance of clean lakes, deep forests and gentle mountains makes it the perfect place to soothe the soul. Watch the video here, then ask your doctor if Sweden is right for you. But beware – according to Visit Sweden, side effects may include “a heightened desire for cinnamon buns and friluftsliv.”😉

News from the community

Victoria Hackett of Outdoor-Classrooms.com would like to share that her Outdoor Classrooms Certification Program is in full swing, with online courses running each month. In April, she’s offering Exploring Nature in Spring, part of her Seasonal Masterclass Bundle.

I’ve known Victoria for a while, and she really is a wealth of information when it comes to creating and teaching in outdoor learning spaces. If you’re an educator who wants to bring the benefits of outdoor learning to your students, I highly recommend checking out her courses, workshops and memberships. If you don’t know where to start, you’re always welcome to schedule a 1:1 call with her.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

“You are our new cod.”

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

Most of us live in the first two levels, partly because they’re accessible and vibe best with everyday adulting. But the pull toward the third runs deep in the friluftsliv culture. In fact, daring Norwegian polar explorers like Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen inspired people across the world to seek out the remote and untamed at the end of the 19^th and early 20^th century, when the culture of friluftsliv was still in its infancy.

The “world’s most beautiful islands”

So when HX Expeditions invited me to give a talk about friluftsliv onboard MS Spitsbergen, sailing through Norway’s Lofoten Islands, they didn’t need to ask me twice. I’ve hiked in the Swedish Arctic several times, but I’d never experienced the region across the border, and definitely not from a ship. To paraphrase John Muir, the mountains were calling and I had to go. I went for the beauty, of course. But I was also curious what happens when a place becomes everyone’s dream.

Like many other pristine Norwegian destinations, the popularity of Lofoten has virtually exploded since the launch of Instagram. Dubbed “the world’s most beautiful islands,” Lofoten only has 25,000 permanent residents, while welcoming around one million visitors per year, outnumbering the locals by 40 to 1. In news media, it’s not unusual to see Lofoten in headlines along with terms like “mass tourism,” “overtourism” and “travel chaos.”

But everything is relative. For visitors comparing Lofoten with other European hotspots, like Venice, Lake Como and the French Riviera, it doesn’t seem that crowded. For the locals comparing with the way things were 20 or 30 years ago, however, it’s a different story.

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When the cod disappears, tourism fills the gap

Instagram isn’t the only reason why tourism and friluftsliv have become an economic lifeline for Lofoten in recent years. The cod, which traditionally has made up the economic backbone and shaped the culture of this region, is suffering due to climate change and human activity. A warmer ocean means that the habitat for the Arctic cod is diminished, pushing it further north. New fish species have moved in, competing with the cod. With the ecosystem in distress and the fishing industry upended, tourism has filled in the gap. Today, one in five jobs in Lofoten is tourism-related and the communities depend on the income.

Once I arrived in Lofoten, I chatted with locals to get their take on the tourism situation. Again, I found that it isn’t black or white. Yes, roads, housing and trails are strained. A cab driver complained about tourists renting cars in the winter and ending up in accidents, because they’ve never driven on snow before. A retired teacher turned city guide told me that roads are clogged in the summer and parking sometimes impossible to find. Worse, some tourists have terrible bathroom manners - going number two next to trails, in cemeteries, even in people’s backyards (!)

“We have invited the world here,” the guide said. “We have mixed feelings about it, and we need to do more to make sure the infrastructure keeps up with the pressure. But we can’t get around the fact that we depend on tourism to live. You guys are our new cod.”

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We all need to be awed by nature

The stunning landscapes and easy access to nature will likely continue to attract visitors to Lofoten and other destinations in Scandinavia for the foreseeable future. Because just like Nansen and Amundsen craved to explore wild places in their time, people today yearn to be awed by natural landscapes. Away from five-lane highways, strip malls and AI server halls. During my week on the ship, I saw that shared longing happen in real time.

When a couple of gray-haired French women came back up from a polar plunge grinning from ear to ear.

When a person sat alone on a cliff in the rain, mesmerized by the waves rolling back and forth on the white, sandy beach below.

When a deck full of international travelers fell completely silent at the sight of the Northern lights dancing across the night sky.

Those are the moments that keep coming back to me, now that I’m back at the base of the friluftsliv pyramid, walking around the coniferous forests near my home in western Sweden. Yesterday, I heard the first cranes of the year, making their way north after wintering in Africa. A different moment, a different place. But the same feeling of wonder and appreciation for the living world.

What would you like to know about Lofoten? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

One thing to read this week: Beyond the Front Door

I’m so excited to share that my good friend Josée Bergeron has published a book called Beyond the Front Door! This is a great resource for every caregiver who wishes to get outside more with their kids but doesn’t quite know how.

This is what I wrote in my review: “Beyond the Front Door is your cue to ditch the guilt, grab the kids, and head outside – no fancy gear or flawless plans required. Blending heartfelt storytelling, research, and Indigenous wisdom, Josée Bergeron offers creative ways to reconnect with nature and each other in every season, rain or shine. Refreshingly honest and judgment-free, it’s the parenting guide you’ve been waiting for.”

You can also follow Josée on Instagram, where she shares honestly and passionately about getting outdoors with her five children.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

This is good news, since the school has more space than the bookstore = more people will be able to attend. I’m also excited to be having a conversation with Lida Lawrence, who is a forest kindergarten teacher at the school. The Waldorf pedagogy is closely aligned with my message about outdoor play and connecting children with nature, and I think it’s going to be a great evening. The event is free and open to the public.

Hope to see you there!

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

She’d been out on the streets of Minneapolis for hours, and her eyelashes were heavy with ice crystals, like clumpy white mascara. It was -20°F (-29°C), even colder with the wind chill. But she, and thousands of others, were marching with a mission. Some came in wheelchairs, some were chanting, kids were perched on their parents’ shoulders, watching the crowd from above. All were bundled up, with hats, scarves, mittens, buffs, warm thermal boots and insulated jackets and pants. From the sidewalk, helpers were handing out hand warmers and hot tea.

These people clearly weren’t about to back down because of a cold snap.

The news clip flashed by in my social media feed in a matter of seconds, but it stuck with me. To someone who has spent a decade building a movement around the Scandinavian saying, There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes, the moment felt like a revelation. Not only were people out in droves, despite it being one of the coldest days so far this winter, but I also found it interesting to see how the brutal conditions could be turned into tactical advantage.

The ICE agents had guns. But the residents of Minneapolis had a lifetime of dealing with snow, ice and subzero temperatures.

“We are built for the cold”

It’s probably not a coincidence that roughly a third of the people living in Minnesota claim Scandinavian heritage – the highest share of any U.S. state. Winter resilience is part of the cultural storyline there and people clearly take pride in their grit. I’ve seen it on social media for weeks, in comments like, “We are built for the cold,” “We just know how to navigate the conditions,” and “ICE shouldn’t have made the decision to attack a city full of descendants of Vikings in the middle of winter.”

But resilience isn’t something you inherit and then keep forever. It’s more like physical fitness – if you don’t use it, you lose it.

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Modern society is designed to smooth out discomfort. We no longer have to walk for miles to find food, fetch water out of a river, or huddle around a fire to stay warm. Many of us can go all winter without spending meaningful time outside, unless we actively choose to. We’re used to things simply working. Warm homes, water from the faucet, pizza delivered to our door and on-demand entertainment at our fingertips.

While these conveniences have made our lives easier, there can be too much of a good thing. As Michael Easter points out in his book The Comfort Crisis, our bodies and minds were not made for this kind of sedentary, sheltered, temperature-controlled life. We actually need some resistance to flourish as humans. And that’s where friluftsliv, or open-air life, comes into the picture.

How to do hard things

Friluftsliv is a way to reintroduce some basic preparedness into our daily life. By spending time outdoors, you learn to manage discomfort without going into fight, flight or freeze mode. You don’t necessarily have to summit the highest peaks or suffer through a three-day survival course in the wilderness to gain resilience. Just consciously seek out the kind of challenges that make you think, This is hard, but I’m going to do it anyway. For plenty of people, getting out the door on a cold, windy day is the challenge, and it absolutely counts. Every day you brave the elements and go outside, you come back a little more resilient than you were the day before.

In a volatile world, that resilience matters even more. It grounds us when we feel lost. It helps us navigate when the world seems chaotic. And it gives us hope.

When I researched my second book, The Open-Air Life, I met Torbjörn Selin, a former officer in the Swedish Army and survival specialist who now teaches courses in friluftsliv. We talked for a long time about resilience and preparedness and what they mean in a survival situation in the outdoors. He mentioned the value of having a plan and managing risks and talked at length about being prepared for different emergency scenarios. But all else equal, survival often comes down to cold hard determination and how well you can manage discomfort.

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“The person who gives up is toast,” Torbjörn told me. “The one who soldiers on lives. You must have the mental strength to act when something happens.”

If you can get past the crass military jargon, he’s got a point. Resilience can make the difference between holding the line and fading into silence, whether you’re in the woods or out on city streets.

‘Minnesota eyelashes’ are proof that people can be cold, uncomfortable, and exhausted – and still keep showing up. So if you spot someone with frosted lashes this winter, take it as a small reminder of what grit looks like.

See you outside!
Linda

UP NEXT: Author visit to Baltimore

Do you happen to be in the Baltimore area? If so, I’d love for you to join me at Charm City Books for an author visit on February 25! It will be a laid-back conversation about my book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, parenting, friluftsliv, how to make friends with winter and much more.

What I love about Charm City Books is that it’s an independent, family-owned bookstore and community gathering space where everyone is welcome. The event is free and open to everyone – you’ll find some more information about it here.

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Before the snow is gone

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

Now, there’s a solid foot and a half of white fluff outside my door, brightening the dark season, absorbing the sharp edges of sound and softening the chaos of the outside world, albeit temporarily.

A culture shaped by snow

In cold regions – especially the Nordic countries – snow is more than a weather phenomenon. It is part of the weave of our cultural fabric. Our societies quite literally grew out of our ability to live with it, move through it and survive it. Snow shaped our history, our technologies and our relationship with the land. It’s been romanticized in art and literature, weaponized politically to project as proof of Nordic toughness and resilience and embedded in everyday life through skiing, sledding and the whole friluftsliv ethos of being outdoors no matter the conditions.

But snow also stands as a powerful symbol of what we’re about to lose. Because where I live, we’re getting a lot less of it these days. It’s not a dramatic shift, but enough to notice.

When I was little, almost every town had at least one small ski hill where kids learned to make their first wobbly slalom turns. Mine sat behind one of the local supermarkets. Today the hill has been reclaimed by nature, overgrown with gangly birch trees and prickly bushes. Only the bigger ski operators, those that can afford snow cannons, are still hanging on.

The feeling that winters used to be colder and snowier isn’t simply a sign of nostalgia or poor memory – the data backs it up. Between 1961 and 1990, the region where I live had a 45 percent chance of having a white Christmas. Between 1991 and 2020, that dropped to 30 percent. The maximum snow depth declined too, from 11.4 inches to 8.4 inches, according to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.

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Is this the new normal?

This isn’t just a Swedish story. A friend of mine who lives in Kelowna, B.C., recently told me how sad her teenagers are that they don’t have any snow right now. “They know this isn’t normal. We always have snow in January,” she lamented, and her words stuck with me. Even kids can feel the shift.

Given what we know about climate change, greener, milder winters could very well be the new normal in places like Sweden and B.C. alike. Children may no longer learn to ski on local hills or topple over on too-long cross-country skis in their neighborhood woods. They may come of age not even realizing what they’re missing. Such is the nature of shifting baseline syndrome.

Ski resorts in Sweden are already adapting by expanding their summer season offerings, trying to attract visitors with hiking, mountain biking and climbing. I don’t know where all this will lead, or how it will reshape friluftsliv culture, but reshape it will.

A “utopian element”

Yes, I know. Shoveling a driveway full of wet snow is backbreaking work and school closures on snow days can be an inconvenience for working parents, not to mention getting stuck in traffic due to a whiteout. But I can’t help but love that even today, in the era of quantum computing, self-driving cars and humanoid robots, a basic natural phenomenon like snow literally can shut down society overnight. In fact, I consider it a privilege to live in a place where I can experience it. As Sverker Sörlin, a Swedish historian and author points out in his book Snö: A History, most people on Earth have never been near snow, let alone stood on a pair of skis.

To me, snow is childhood, home and unbridled joy baked into one white, cold package. Or in Sörlin’s words: “We live in troubled times and there is a widespread sense of things going wrong, and losses everywhere. Snow represents all this which is frail and threatened and so people look at snow as a slightly utopian element. It is soft and warm and comforting, precisely the opposite of what the world is right now. So, it holds out a promise of hope, however faint and feeble.”

This weekend, I’m heading to my local cross-country ski tracks with a friend. We’re going to ski a few laps, drink hot chocolate and maybe make some snow angels, just because we can. I’m going to treat it as the gift it is.

See you outside!
Linda

One thing to consider:

“If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life, but still the same amount of snow.”

- Margaret Loxton

Two things to read:

1. Running in the cold – 5 happiness lessons from Scandinavia. In the Nordic countries, we don’t stop running outside just because the weather turns for the worse. Instead, we layer our clothes, let the friluftsliv ethos guide us and finish with a treat at the end.

2. How to have the perfect snow day. According to Psychology Today, a snow day can literally enhance positive emotions and benefit your mental health – especially if you get outside.

Three things to do outside:

1. Create a new outdoor habit. I know, some people say January is a terrible month for new ventures, but I don’t think getting outdoors more can ever be a bad idea. Why not commit to reserving a few hours every Sunday for a søndagstur, Norwegian for a weekly hike or ski trip, typically with the whole family.

2. If you have snow, make the most of it! Go on a listening walk and experience the insulating power of snow first-hand. It works best with new snow, before the snowflakes have become compacted. Look for wildlife tracks, build a snow fort or do some target practice with snowballs.

3. Take advantage of the dark while it lasts. Put on a headlamp and high-vis vests and go for a walk after work, or play a round of flashlight tag.

The Childhood Potential Montessori Conference

From January 26-30, 2026, parents, educators, and caregivers from all over the world will once again come together for a completely free online conference focused on one essential question:

How do we support children to grow into confident, resilient, emotionally grounded human beings in a fast-changing world?

This conference was created for those moments when:

• you want to understand children more deeply, not control them,

• you care about emotional well-being as much as learning,

• you want tools that work in real life, not just in theory.

It’s for parents of young children.
It’s for educators and guides.
And it’s for anyone who believes that childhood deserves time, respect, and trust.

✨ And yes, it is 100% free!

I will be speaking about the importance of outdoor play and getting kids outside through friluftsliv, rain or shine. Register for free HERE.

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

The image showed three smooth-faced, bundled-up babies sitting in disproportionately small strollers. One had visibly fake breath hanging in the cold air and despite the snow on the strollers, one child sat with bare hands completely exposed. The image was obviously AI-generated, but that’s not what made me pause. It was the text.

The caption claimed that Finnish and Swedish children who nap outdoors “cry less, sleep longer, and get sick 50% less often” and that “cold builds stronger bodies and sharper brains.”

The following slides doubled down on the claims.

Outdoor napping, the post stated, is “training [babies’] immune systems to react faster and stronger,” activates brown fat through temperature shock, and gives Nordic babies “better metabolism, stronger energy regulation and lifelong cold resistance.” It didn’t stop there. Outdoor napping was sold as a simple fix for anxiety, stress, fragility and concentration difficulties, all under the guise of scientific research.

There’s just one problem. Most of the claims are bogus – or, at best, deeply misleading.

The studies that didn’t exist

If you’ve read my book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, you know that outdoor napping is a common cultural practice in the Nordic countries and that I’m a big fan. But as I learned quickly while researching my book, there are very few studies backing up any health claims. The most frequently cited one is Marjo Tourula’s study from Oulo, Finland, which shows that babies tend to take longer, deeper naps outside, with parents reporting that they also seem more alert and have better appetites afterward. But the Instagram post went far and beyond the claims in this study.

So, I decided to dig deeper.

The claim that babies who nap outdoors have 50 percent fewer respiratory infections compared to indoor nappers is attributed to a study by “Renko, M. et al.” from the University of Eastern Finland. The researcher is real. The university is real. But the study? It doesn’t exist. It appears to have been invented to fit the poster’s narrative.

Another reference pointed to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, which allegedly published a report linking outdoor napping to “better sleep quality, stronger immunity, and lower irritability in infants.” Once again, the institute exists. But the report doesn’t. The only claim that be tied to existing research is the one about sleep quality, and even that comes from Tourula’s study, not some national health report.

A third reference cited the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), which is linked to a report supposedly named, “Research on friluftsliv culture shows regular cold exposure improves emotional regulation, stress tolerance, and resilience in young children.” But the report doesn’t exist. Whoever is behind this Instagram account is conflating a cultural practice with clinical evidence. While there is research in general on cold exposure and physiological/psychological responses in humans, this typically comes from fields like exercise physiology or clinical studies on adult subjects – not from NTNU, not focused on young children and not in the context of friluftsliv or outdoor napping.

The post contained about half a dozen references in total and I could go on dissecting them, but I think you get the point.

A textbook case of clickbait

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big proponent of outdoor napping and have advocated for it for many years. My own daughters napped in their strollers outside from when they were about two weeks old - and they were both born in February. I believe that babies deserve to hear birdsong, feel the breeze on their cheeks and smell the rain. I love that outdoor napping provides crucial nature exposure at a time when the brain is forming neural pathways at a rapid pace, laying the groundwork for learning later in life.

It’s also reasonable to believe that children who nap outdoors have fewer infections, simply because viruses and bacteria thrive indoors. There are studies showing that older children at forest schools, who spend most of the day outside, have fewer infections than their counterparts at traditional preschools. But there’s no evidence that outdoor naps reduce respiratory infections in babies by 50 percent.

To sum it up, the poster fabricated studies that don’t exist, conflated culture with clinical evidence, exaggerated and misconstrued scientific findings, presented hypotheses as facts, and projected adult physical responses onto babies.

This is the textbook definition of clickbait.

And sure enough, the final slide included a call to action: comment to get 50 percent off a parenting “playbook” packed with global “scientific” insights. Somebody is making money off this misinformation.

I’ll never know for sure whether the person behind the account just used AI (poorly) to create the post or if they knowingly invented “alternative facts.” Either way, it matters. The last time I checked, the post had more than 20,000 likes and hundreds of comments. The account has over 600,000 followers and more than 300 similar posts, probably all riddled with the same inaccuracies and exaggerations. Unfortunately, false claims are a proven recipe for virality.

Facts and authenticity matter

This might seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, but facts and authenticity matter. When arguments are built on fabricated references, there are real consequences.

It strips parenting practices of their cultural context and can lead to unsafe situations. For example, I’ve seen other viral posts about outdoor napping featuring babies with thick knitted scarves wrapped tightly around their necks – a potential safety risk. As AI-generated images and videos proliferate, this problem will only grow.

It also preys on parents’ insecurities and their desire to do right by their children. These accounts exaggerate the benefits of childcare practices from other cultures, without evidence or nuance, for one reason only: profit.

And it damages the credibility of a deeply important argument – that children need more time outdoors. There are literally hundreds of real studies supporting the benefits of outdoor play and nature exposure for children and adults alike. Making things up only undermines that body of research and weakens the broader movement to get kids back outside.

In an online world increasingly flooded with AI-generated content, where those making the most noise get the most attention, we all need to stay vigilant. After I engaged with the post in question, the algorithm started to feed me countless more posts from similar accounts, stretching the truth and mixing it with dubious claims. So slow down, scrutinize sources, look for original research, and think before you share. Be wary of accounts that sell outrage, fear or hacks disguised as science. Better yet, follow creators who show their work and choose authenticity over virality. That’s what I’m committed to here - sharing Nordic outdoor culture as it is. Because neither friluftsliv nor outdoor napping need made-up numbers or fabricated studies to be meaningful. They are rewarding enough as it is.

See you outside!
Linda

Give the gift of reading this holiday season!

If you’re still looking for something special for the parent / nature lover / grandparent / friluftsliv fanatic / teacher / Scandi fan / bookworm in your life – or you just want an excuse to curl up and dream about more time outdoors – I have an idea. 👉

My books There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life have now gathered over 1,500 reviews on Amazon, with average ratings of 4.7 and 4.5 stars respectively. Readers have called them “game changers,” “eye-opening,” and even “life changing” – which is exactly the kind of support that keeps me writing and advocating for getting kids (and adults) outside.

If you’ve already read, shared, recommended, gifted, or library-requested my books - THANK YOU! You have no idea how much it means to me.

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

Why the holiday season needs more friluftsliv

This isn’t about adding more items to your to-do-list or achieving some Instagram-worthy Scandinavian design aesthetic. The last thing most of us need at this time of year is another performance metric. Friluftsliv is a mindset - an invitation to slow down and weave nature into your daily rhythm, not tack it on as an afterthought. It’s the simple realization that time outdoors is never wasted, no matter how busy the season.

In its traditional form, friluftsliv is rooted in being grounded, present and feeling joy in nature. And while modern outdoor culture is often defined by hardcore adventurers with garages full of high-tech gear, true friluftsliv is about appreciating the small pleasures in life. Few people have embodied this ethos more boldly than Arne Naess, the Norwegian philosopher and environmentalist who championed anticonsumerism and encouraged us to “eliminate or lessen neophilia – the love of what is new merely because it is new”.

What if, instead of shopping until we drop and saying yes to every obligation disguised as an invitation, we try to embrace the friluftsliv ethos this holiday season? Let’s take a cue from our non-human neighbors – plants and wildlife – who use this dark, cold season to rest, recalibrate and move at a gentler pace.

Nature-based rituals for the season

Rituals bring people together and offer comfort during chaotic times. You probably have some rituals and traditions during the holiday season already, but maybe it’s time to change some of them up?

After moving to the U.S. in my twenties, one of my first friluftsliv-inspired moves was to go for a walk around the neighborhood after Thanksgiving dinner. While some family members treated their turkey-induced food coma by snoozing in a Lazy Boy, I simply bundled up the kids and slipped outside. Over time, more people joined me and eventually it became a tradition. Now, we live in Sweden, which comes with its own sets of customs, but one thing never changes: every holiday celebration still includes a mandatory family walk.

Being outdoors is good for us any day of the year, but daylight is especially important now, when so many people struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Also, exposure to the natural world lowers cortisol levels and makes you better equipped to deal with the holiday frenzy.

Subscribe now

There are plenty of playful ways to get outdoors around the holidays. One of my favorites when the kids were little was to play hide and seek in the dark, walking around and looking at holiday decorations together or searching for animal tracks. If you’re the crafty type, try making some Christmas ornaments out of pinecones or other natural materials. If wildlife is more your thing, try decorating a tree with food for birds and squirrels. Or, just take your friends outside for some winter fika - think hot drinks, sweet treats and brisk air. Even slipping outside for a few minutes to look at the night sky can help you connect with something greater than yourself.

Friluftsliv-inspired food and gifts

In the friluftsliv tradition, food is uncomplicated, hearty and often prepared together around the fire. Think one-pot stews, foil pack dinners and s’mores. Food is a way to gather, not to impress. If you want to try some Scandinavian Christmas flavors, try making your own glögg (infused wine), pine needle tea, or St. Lucia buns. You could even bring a thermos of warm soup or mulled apple cider on a winter walk, visit a favorite tree, rock or hill – and just sit in quiet reflection for a while.

When it comes to presents, the friluftsliv ideal of consuming less would nudge us toward thrifted, handmade or edible presents, as well as gifts that support outdoor hobbies or local businesses. Think classes or workshops, second-hand outdoor clothes and equipment, homemade cookies and jam, or books from a local bookstore. I’ll readily admit that I don’t follow this to a T, but I will say that we’ve transformed the gift-giving culture of our family considerably in the past decade. (Bye bye, Amazon Prime. Hello to the Four Gift Rule for the kids.)

Some final thoughts

In the end, a friluftsliv-inspired holiday isn’t about doing more, but to be more mindful of what you do. When we strip away the excess, what’s left is often the very thing we’ve been seeking all along: connection, calm, and a sense of belonging to the world around us. As you move through this season, consider what might happen if you let nature set the pace. What small shift could make your holidays feel a little more grounded, a little more connected, a little closer to nature?

See you outside!
Linda

One thing to consider:

“You should sit in nature for twenty minutes each day, unless you are busy, then you should sit for an hour.”

- Old Zen saying

Two things to do outside:

1. Get outside and observe the last supermoon of the year on December 4 - colloquially called the Cold Moon.

2. Have an outdoor picnic and be sure to bring a thermos with a hot drink - I love this plant-based Mexican hot chocolate!

Three things to read:
1. Frugal living is on the rise - get some great tips for consuming less in my latest piece for Green Child Magazine.

2. Sweden went all in on screens in childhood, but now it’s pulling the plug. My guest post in Jonathan Haidt’s After Babel newsletter was shared widely by readers, who were particularly surprised by Sweden’s formerly lax stance on smartphones in schools.

3. Huffpost has written about friluftsliv and makes a case for embracing the Nordic way of enjoying the outdoors all year, even the dark and cold season.

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Jane Goodall is gone. Her teachings aren’t

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

A pioneer in science and a tireless advocate for nature

Goodall had that rare ability to speak truth to power with persuasiveness, optimism and charm. Some called her a “gentle disrupter” and I think that sums it up pretty well. I could go on about her remarkable career as a female in a deeply male-dominated field of science. I could rave about her scientific breakthroughs about chimpanzees and how her discoveries forced us to reevaluate our relationship with the great apes. But at the end of the day, it’s her tireless work for a livable planet and her passion for inspiring young people to build a better world that made the strongest impression on me.

In honor of Goodall, I’ve summed up the essence of some of her most significant teachings below, along with some calls to action. I hope they will move you the way they’ve moved me.

Every individual matters and every action counts

Goodall said it a million times, and it never gets old: what you do makes a difference, and you get to decide what kind of difference you make. Whether it’s the food you buy, the way you treat animals, or the compassion you show in daily life, your choices ripple outward. This is the antidote to climate despair: rather than being paralyzed by the scale of the problems, start with what’s in your control.

What you can do: Reflect on one choice you can make today – whether it has to do with your diet, shopping habits, activism or volunteering – that aligns with the world you want to see.

We cannot separate ourselves from nature

When she observed chimps use tools and hug each other, Goodall shattered the line we’ve drawn between “us” and “them.” Through her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, she showed that we share emotional lives, intelligence, and even culture with other beings. We’re all part of an interconnected web of life, and when we harm nature, we harm ourselves.

What you can do: Get outside and actively pay attention to other species. Listen to a bird. Feel the bark of a tree. Stop and watch an ant race across the trail. Cultivate a sense of kinship, not domination.

Hope is a moral choice

Despite witnessing deforestation, species loss, and environmental destruction, Goodall refused to surrender to cynicism. She called hope a “survival trait” – something we must nurture in ourselves and others. Without hope, we give up and perish; with hope, we persevere. At the same, she didn’t believe in fluffy optimism. To be effective, hope must be coupled with action. When things are bad, she urged us to ask, “What are we going to do about it?”

What you can do: Become a carrier of hope in your community. Share stories of positive change, support youth movements, or mentor the next generation of changemakers.

Nurture the bond between children and nature

Goodall always insisted that the future depends on how we raise the next generation. Through her organization Roots & Shoots, she empowered young people to take action for animals, people, and the environment in their own communities. She believed children have an innate sense of wonder and compassion for the natural world – but that it needs to be protected, encouraged, and given space to grow.

What you can do: Take a child outside, whether your own, your grandchildren, your neighbors or your students. Let them climb trees, get dirty and run wild. Every hour outside is an investment in children’s relationship with the earth and a seed of hope for generations to come.

Listen with empathy and lead with compassion

Goodall often said that lasting change doesn’t come from confrontation alone, but from dialogue, empathy, and compassion – even with those we disagree with. Her ability to sit down with loggers, politicians, and communities, and appeal to shared values, helped her push conservation forward where pure protest might have failed. She taught us that how we engage matters as much as what we fight for and that people change when they feel heard, not shamed.

What you can do: If you want to change the world, start by listening. Argue less, connect more. Build bridges and find common ground, so that change can spread wider and last longer.

Carrying the torch

Goodall showed us that small actions add up, that we’re inseparable from nature, that hope is a discipline, that children are the future and that compassion is a tool for change. She may be gone, but we can carry the torch by living her teachings every day.

One thing to consider:

“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”

- Jane Goodall

Two things to do outside:

1. Go on a sensory walk and take in the colors, sounds and smells of fall. What does fall feel like? Which birds can you still hear, and which ones have migrated? How is your nearby nature preparing for the cold season?

2. Make transient art outdoors. Fall is a wonderful time for making mandalas of fallen leaves, nuts and other natural objects. Do it alone in quiet contemplation or bring the kids.

Three things to listen to:
1. Jane Goodall and Robin Wall Kimmerer – two women who have inspired millions with their compassion and knowledge of the natural world. I could listen to either one of them talk for hours, so I was so excited when I found them in conversation together in this podcast episode.

2. I just joined Cynthia of the Screen Less Play More Podcast talking about outdoor play, nature connection and why we should go the extra mile to do what’s actually good for kids instead of doing what’s easy or practical.

3. Serving detention on a hiking trail instead of in the classroom? That’s the option given to students at a high school in Maine. And the results may surprise you. Listen to the NPR episode here.

Women-only hiking trip to Sweden – only one spot left!

In my last newsletter, I told you about my women-only hiking trip to the Swedish highlands next summer and the second date sold out immediately. However, I’ve had an unexpected cancelation for the July 10-16 trip date. If you’re longing to step away from the noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in the stillness of wild landscapes, consider this your sign to join me for a trip of a lifetime! For seven days and six nights, we’ll explore the rugged beauty of Härjedalen and summit Helagsfjället, the highest peak in Sweden south of the Arctic Circle. Expect good food, beautiful scenery, reindeer, sauna, cold plunges and community.

👉 Learn more and sign up here.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Stay Human Festival - Milan, Italy - October 18 @ 4:30pm CET

This is a bit of a long shot, BUT if you happen to be in Milan in the near future, I will be speaking at the Stay Human Festival on October 18. I will talk about nature connection and how being outdoors can be a source of resilience, creativity and hope.

👉 Read more here.

Childhood Potential Club - Free Live Talk - October 23 @ 2pm EST

I’m joining Lucie Brixí Tamášová and the Childhood Potential Club for a live conversation about the Nordic concept of friluftsliv (open-air life), what’s really getting in the way of outdoor play and how we can make nature part of daily life…rain or shine.

👉 Register here to catch the live or sign up for the replay.

Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation - Virtual Chat - November 18 @ 11am MST

In this inspiring and free webinar with the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, I will talk about how to truly embrace the great outdoors, regardless of the season or forecast, using the Nordic philosophy of friluftsliv and share my secrets for raising healthy, resilient, and confident kids by simply connecting them with nature.

👉 Register here.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Why cities need more trees and less concrete

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

When I’m truly in need of solitude and peace, I go to Härjedalen in the Swedish highlands. The fresh air, the serenity, the reindeer, the gently rolling mountains…up here, it’s impossible not to be filled with gratitude and joy. And you know what? This past summer, as I spent over a month here, I decided that this place is too good not to share with others. The idea for an all-women’s hiking trip was born - and you’re invited!

Nature + community = connection

For seven days and six nights, we’re going to experience beautiful, rugged landscapes, Indigenous Sámi culture, local foods and traditional Swedish customs like sauna and cold plunges. With decades of experience exploring these landscapes, I’ll guide you to Helags, Sweden’s highest peak south of the Arctic Circle and home to the country’s southernmost glacier. Together, we’ll unplug, connect, and let ourselves be filled with awe and wonder in one of Europe’s most remote areas.

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Why go on this trip?

Here are just a few reasons why I think you should join me:

• Peace and quiet – This is a rare chance to disconnect from the constant buzz of modern life and experience a place where slow living was the norm long before it became an Instagram hashtag.

• Adventure guaranteed – Multi-day hiking through dramatic, remote Nordic landscapes and sleeping in rustic mountain huts.

• Experienced guide – Led by me, with decades of experience hiking and camping in the Scandinavian mountain region.

• Small group – Just four participants (plus me) per trip, creating space for genuine connection.

• Unique destination – Thanks to its remote location, Härjedalen in northern Sweden is a hidden gem, with few international tourists and a true sense of wilderness.

Maybe you’re a mom who hasn’t gone on a trip by yourself for years. Maybe you love the outdoors but don’t have a partner or friends who share your passion. Maybe you’ve just been waiting for a reason to go to Scandinavia. Either way, this is your sign to come on a journey of a lifetime.

If you’ve been longing for adventure, for stillness, or simply for time outdoors in the company of kindred spirits, this is your chance.

👉 Learn more and join the waitlist here.

Join me for a live talk on October 23 at 2 PM EST

We all know nature is good for kids, but getting them outside isn’t always easy. Between busy schedules, a heavy homework load and the pull of screens, outdoor play often gets pushed aside. That’s why I’m joining Lucie Brixí Tamášová and the Childhood Potential Club for a live conversation about what’s really getting in the way - and how we can shift it.

Drawing on my Nordic roots and the concept of friluftsliv (open-air life), I’ll share some hands-on tips for making nature a part of daily life…rain or shine.

What we’ll explore:

• Why outdoor play is disappearing—and how to bring it back

• The mindset shift that makes getting outside easier

• Simple ways to weave nature into real life

If you’ve been wanting to spend more time outdoors with your kids but aren’t sure where to start (or how to keep it going), this talk is for you.

Sign up to join us live on October 23 at 2 PM EST - or catch the replay if that fits your rhythm better.

👉 Register here.

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Why cities need more trees and less concrete

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

So, when I moved from Sweden to Montana many years ago, I hadn’t expected to experience true wilderness. But that’s what I found. For the first time in my life, I saw wolves in their natural habitat. I learned to hike with a bear spray canister strapped to my belt and camped in areas that required putting all your food in a specially sealed canister to avoid unwelcome encounters. The forests were deeper, the mountains taller. One wrong turn, and you might end up in Wyoming – or not come home at all. I had never felt so small in my life.

A third of national forests protected

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. The North American Rockies are considered the most intact, least developed mountain system in the world and thanks to a law called the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, or just the “Roadless Rule,” those wild landscapes are still largely protected.

First enacted in 2001, the Roadless Rule placed 58.5 million acres of national forest land off-limits to most road-building and commercial logging. That’s nearly a third of all U.S. national forests – stretching from the ancient hemlock groves of North Carolina to the rugged peaks of Alaska. The idea was simple: if you keep roads out, you keep the land wilder.

And the benefits have been huge. Roadless areas safeguard drinking water for millions of Americans, provide habitat for endangered species, store vast amounts of carbon, and offer places where people can still find solitude. They are some of the last best refuges for big predators like grizzlies and wolves, but also for songbirds, salamanders, and old-growth trees that have stood for centuries. These places don’t just belong to Montana, or to the West – they’re part of the public lands that belongs to everyone.

The Roadless Rule is threatened

I moved back to Sweden in 2018, but I’m incredibly saddened to see that the national forests in Montana where I made memories for life – the Gallatin, the Beartooths, the Bridgers – are now threatened, as the USDA moves forward with its plans to rescind the Roadless Rule.

The push to undo these protections is being sold to the public under the familiar banner of “local control” and “forest health,” even though this isn’t supported by research. Opening roadless areas to logging and roadbuilding will not help with wildfire management – quite the opposite. As many as 84 percent of all wildfires are caused by humans and by cutting roads into pristine areas at a time when climate change is making forests even more vulnerable to fire, we’re only making the problem worse. What’s really at stake here is access for extractive industries – timber, oil, gas, and mining – that have long viewed roadless areas as untapped resources.

Why we must take the fight for wildness

Access to nature is one of the few issues that transcend party lines and national borders. In the U.S., when lawmakers tried to sneak public land sales into the Big Beautiful Bill this summer, public outcry forced them to back down. That moment showed the power of ordinary people to defend the places that matter most. But this isn’t just about Montana, or even the US. From the Amazon to Lapland, wild places are shrinking under the weight of human ambition – logged, mined, dammed, and developed in the name of progress. Only about 3 percent of the Earth’s land area is now considered to be ecologically intact. Each loss is a reminder that wilderness areas are no longer a given; they exist because someone, somewhere, fought to protect them.

The attempt to dismantle the Roadless Rule is part of a larger story of environmental destruction – and resistance. These forests are not just an American treasure, but part of a global inheritance we all stand to lose. I’ll share more details below about how you can act. But for now, let’s sit with the truth that the fight for wildness is a fight we all share, no matter where we live.

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One thing to contemplate

“The remedy against sadness caused by the world’s misery is to do something about it.”

-Arne Naess

Two actions to take

1. The US government is trying to gut the Roadless Rule and they’ve only given the public less than three weeks to comment. The window to speak up for America’s wildest places is closing fast - the deadline for public comment is September 19. Leave your comment here, then please help share the link with your community, no matter how small.

2. Did you know that meat consumption is one of the main drivers behind wilderness areas being converted to agriculture? In the Brazilian Amazon alone, about 65 percent of the deforestation can be tied to the expansion of cattle ranching. Even if you can’t see yourself going all-out vegetarian or vegan, reducing your intake of meat and dairy is a good start to help the planet.

Three things to do outside

1. The Fall Equinox is on September 22 - why not gather some friends for an outdoor potluck to celebrate? Getting together is so much easier when everybody helps out and you’re all outdoors. Just bring a picnic blanket, a shareable dish and good spirits.

2. Take the kids on a fall hike and observe what’s happening in nature during this time of transition. Some conversation starters:

• Why do the leaves turn color in the fall?

• Where do the animals go when the season shifts?

• What edibles are available in nature right now?

3. Fall is the season of campfires! Here’s one of my favorite treats to make around the fire (or in the oven, in case your area has a campfire ban):

Banana Boat (serves 1)

Ingredients:

• 1 banana

• 1 ounce chocolate

• Mini marshmallows, for sprinkling

Directions: Make a deep cut along the inside curve of the banana, from the stem to the tip. Break up the chocolate in small pieces and stuff it, together with the mini marshmallows, the banana. Wrap the banana in tinfoil and coals. When the banana is mushy and the chocolate marshmallows have melted, it’s done.

This recipe is from my book The Open-Air Life; buy it here.

Subscribe now

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

Why gym class almost ruined exercise for me

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Why cities need more trees and less concrete

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

As somebody who used to hate PE as a kid, I’ve been watching the news about President Trump reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test with mixed feelings. I understand the intent – to measure and encourage kids’ fitness – and I know some people have fond memories of it. But for countless others, it was just another public reminder of what they couldn’t do.

Aversion toward exercise

The competitiveness of PE class made me develop an aversion toward anything that felt like sports or exercise. It’s not that I was a sedentary child. I was into horseback riding, which kept me active every day – riding my bike to the stable, mucking out the stalls, grooming and riding the horse, then biking back home. But I wasn’t “athletic” in the way society expected, and as it was measured at school. And I came to think I never would be.

When I was 15, I lost interest in horses and didn’t pick up another sport or activity. My late teen years until my mid-20s were probably the unhealthiest of my life. I started struggling with my weight, spent far too much time sitting at smoky cafés and going to parties. Again, I had learned not to see myself as athletic, so I might as well play the part.

But I did have something else, which eventually became the turning point.

A childhood immersed in nature

Having grown up in Sweden, I was steeped in the culture of friluftsliv, or open-air life. As a child, I camped and skied with my parents, while my grandparents often took me hiking in local nature preserves and parks. We went outside every day, even if it was just for a walk around the neighborhood. And throughout my childhood, the mantra “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” played like a broken record from all the adults in my life.

In the friluftsliv tradition, the focus is to experience joy in nature – alone or with people you love. It’s non-competitive and inclusive by design. There is no pressure to achieve, and often the high point of the outing is having fika – a moment to enjoy a sweet treat and a hot drink.

Thanks to my friluftsliv upbringing, I developed a deep love and appreciation for being outdoors. While I drifted away from it as a teenager and young adult, it came back in full force when I moved to the U.S. in my mid-20s. In Montana, I started hiking, camping, and skiing again. Then, when I moved to Indiana and had children, being active outdoors became even more important because I wanted my kids to have the same upbringing I did.

Improving the odds of aging well

Today, at 47, I still love being outdoors and challenging myself in nature. Running in the woods near my house, going on long hikes, backpacking, and backcountry skiing – these are the things that keep me moving. I’ll never be the strongest or the fastest at any one activity, but I know that staying active will improve my odds of aging well.

I’m sharing my journey not to knock PE – as imperfect as it may be, it’s still one of the few times each week when kids move during the school day and many kids love it. But if the purpose of the Presidential Fitness Test is to address the complex issue of childhood obesity, it’s misguided. Providing free, healthy school lunches, eliminating food deserts and educating children about nutrition in meaningful ways would be far more effective than testing them on their ability to do pull-ups and push-ups once a year.

And if we want kids to grow into physically active adults, we must nurture their intrinsic motivation to move. Focus on joy, connection and self-discovery, rather than external rewards like passing a test or winning a medal. Plus, we need to give kids opportunities to move in ways that they actually look forward to, like recess – and friluftsliv.

The best part? With friluftsliv, there’s no stopwatch, scoreboard, or finish line – just a lifelong habit of moving in ways that make you feel alive.

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One thing to contemplate

We owe it to our children to make sure nature is not just an abstraction in a textbook, but a place they call home.

Two things to check out

1. As a result of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that passed on July 4, the Forest Service is rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, which protects 58 million acres of National Forests. This includes some of the most iconic locales for outdoor recreation in the U.S. You can share your concern with your elected officials using this form created by the Outdoor Alliance.

2. A new British study shows nature connection has decreased by 60 percent since the year 1800, with one of the main reasons being that parents no longer pass on nature experiences to their children. More forest schools and a radical greening of cities are a couple of the study’s suggestions to break the trend.

Three things to do outside

1. The end of summer is a good time to get into a new habit or set a goal to get outdoors more, for example by going on microadventures. Professional adventurer Alastair Humphreys offers great inspiration on ways to explore nearby nature in this TEDx talk.

2. Get a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower, which peaks on August 12-13. In the Northern Hemisphere, you have the best chance to see the meteors before dawn, in dark sky destinations with minimal light pollution.

3. Bake some mud pies! As I write in my latest piece for the Children and Nature Network, the soil under our feet has some surprising benefits, so don’t be afraid to let your kids get their hands and toes dirty. If you’re in need of inspiration, this is what my girls’ muddy creations looked like when we did a mud pie bakeoff.

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See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Do not disturb, do not destroy

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Why cities need more trees and less concrete

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

Cue my surprise when, instead of bracing against cold and rain, I was hit with a heatwave, with temperatures nearing 30°C (86°F) some days. If that doesn’t sound like much, consider that this is a mountain region roughly on the same latitude as southern Greenland. It didn’t take long before I ditched the fleece and hiking pants for shorts and a bikini.

Naturally, weather fluctuates from year to year and shouldn’t be confused with climate. But even here, in northern Sweden, heatwaves like this are becoming more frequent and the long-term trend is a steady rise in the average temperatures. The shift is even more dramatic in the wintertime, as the number of snow days in this popular ski area is expected to drop by 45-75 days by the end of this century.

This isn’t the weather we grew up with

Climate change is no longer a distant threat – it’s already here, and it’s likely to reshape how we spend time outdoors.

Today, heatwaves are already more than five times as likely as they were 150 years ago. The World Health Organization warns that even though they’re among the most dangerous natural disasters, heatwaves rarely get the attention they deserve – because the deaths aren’t always immediate or visible. The WHO estimates that nearly 500,000 people die of heat-related causes every year, with children and the elderly most at risk.

If we fail to cut carbon emissions drastically, over 1.6 billion people across nearly 1,000 cities around the world could face average summer highs above 35°C (95°F) by 2050, according to C40 Cities. That’s a future where it’s not only harder to enjoy the outdoors, but also unbearable to stay indoors without AC.

When weather becomes deadly

I often say, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” to encourage people to get outside every day, no matter what. But the deadly heatwaves of recent years (as well as other extreme weather events like wildfire, hurricanes and flash floods) are a stark reminder that this motto should be taken with a grain of salt. It was never meant to downplay the very real risks of extreme weather fueled by a warming planet. When nature lashes out in the form of a flash flood, wildfire or extreme heatwave, it’s not about grit or gear. It’s about survival.

People have rightly pointed out to me that this saying works better in the cold than the heat. After all, you can always put on more layers to fend off freezing temperatures, but there’s only so much you can take off in a heatwave. Having said that, there are still ways to stay comfortable outside, even on the hottest days.

What we can do now

In a warming world, we need to get better at recognizing signs of heat exhaustion and learning how to respond. If you feel dizzy, faint or nauseous, or experience blood pressure drops or muscle cramps while outside in the heat, stop what you’re doing. Rest and hydrate.

We also need to get humble about our relationship with Mother Nature. We are not invincible. Hot days are for playing in the water and reading books in the shade, not for punishing runs or peak-bagging hikes. Every year, we hear tragic stories of people who have died on the trail. Just recently in Arizona, an experienced hiker was killed – despite carrying plenty of water – as temperatures soared to 39°C (102°F). These deaths are preventable.

How hot is too hot?

There’s no single threshold for a “safe” outdoor temperature – it varies by age, health and other factors. But just as with freezing winter temps, common sense goes a long way.

Here are some tips that can help you get by during a heatwave:

• Raise your indoor temperature a few degrees to help your body acclimatize

• Shift outdoor time to early mornings or evenings, avoiding the hottest time of the day

• Stick to the shade and bring plenty of water

• Choose activities near the water, or dip your hands and feet in a bucket of cold water

• Soak a t-shirt in cold water before putting it on, or drape a wet towel around your neck

Open-air life meets climate responsibility

In the long run, it’s not enough to adapt to a changing climate – we also have to reduce emissions to prevent it from getting worse. Climate responsibility is an integral part of friluftsliv, and if we truly love the outdoors, we have to protect it.

Start with the things that are in your control. Rethink travel and transportation. Eat more plant-based meals. Live simpler. Consume less.

If you have the bandwidth, try to advocate for change in your community. Many climate solutions already exist, they just need to be implemented. For example, planting more trees in cities cools the air and ground, reduces energy use, improves air quality, and helps manage stormwater. As a bonus, spending time among trees lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, and improves mental health. Proof that our health and the planet’s health are deeply interconnected.

Today, I’m heading out for another hike. It’s going to be hot, but I’m prepared – with water, a sun hat and a pace that suits the weather. I’ll probably stop more than once to dip into a cold mountain stream, and it will feel like heaven.

I believe open-air life is still possible in a warming world – and more necessary than ever.

But it needs to evolve.

Just like we must.

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One thing to contemplate

The remedy (or psychotherapy) against sadness caused by the world’s misery is to do something about it.

Arne Naess

Two things to check out

1. I was on the 1000 Hours Outside podcast for the fourth (!) time recently. Listen to it here, or wherever you usually listen to podcasts!

2. Do you want to take a guess what my daughters’ favorite part of our trip to one of Sweden’s most scenic glaciers was? Hint: it wasn’t the views. In my latest piece for the Children and Nature Network I argue that you don’t have to take your kids on big adventures to foster a lifelong connection with nature.

Three things to do outside

1. Have a picnic and bring an ice cold smoothie in a thermos. Here’s my latest fave, enjoy:

Dark Chocolate Smoothie

1 banana
4-5 dates
1 cup coconut milk
1 TBS cocoa powder
6-8 ice cubes

2. Have preschoolers at home? This ice excavation activity is perfect for a hot day.

3. Walk barefoot in cold water. Hydrotherapy has been used since the beginning of time to treat anything from pain to poor circulation and feels amazing in warm weather. Creeks with pebbles lend themselves particularly well, since the uneven surface invites to mindfulness and stimulates the soles of your feet. If you don’t have a creek handy, substitute with a bucket of ice water.

Subscribe now

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

The perks of being a lazy gardener

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Do not disturb, do not destroy

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Why cities need more trees and less concrete

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!

The scenery, tranquility and historic significance alone would’ve made the trip worthwhile. But more than anything, the experience reminded me of the immense privilege of allemansrätten – the unique Swedish principle protected by law that gives everyone the right to roam on pretty much any public or private land. That means we can hike not just on official trails but find our own path through woods and countryside, as long as we respect crops, livestock and private dwellings. We can pitch a tent not just in designated campgrounds, but wherever we find a spot that speaks to us, as long as people can’t see us from their house. We can swim, paddle, ski, ride bikes and horses, and forage for wild edibles without asking permission from the landowner. And as long as there isn’t an outright ban due to drought, we can even make up a small campfire.

Just like the trail itself, the roots of this law stretch back to medieval times, designed to facilitate cross-country travel that back then would often take days or weeks. The belief that everyone should have access to Sweden’s countryside, regardless of whose name is on the property deed, has survived through generations. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.

In contrast, the U.S. – like most of the world – has taken a different path when it comes to land rights. While it’s a myth that Indigenous Americans had no concept of property before the arrival of the European settlers, many tribes saw the land as sacred and practiced collective stewardship. Early European settlers, too, enjoyed a kind of informal right to roam, especially on unenclosed land. But by the late 1800s, states began enacting trespassing laws, and over time, court decisions solidified landowners’ rights to exclude others.

Private property vs. public lands

Today, private property rights are king in the U.S and the Fifth Amendment guarantees landowners compensation if their land is opened to public use. That, combined with legal liability concerns, makes anything like allemansrätten unlikely.

But Americans do have something else: public lands. Over one third of the country – around 840 million acres – is managed by federal and state governments. Bureau of Land Management tracts. National forests. Wilderness areas. National wildlife refuges. National parks.

Not all of this land is pristine or protected – much of it is managed for multiple uses, like logging, livestock grazing, drilling, mining, hunting and recreation. Still, it includes some of the most popular trails and pristine scenery in the country. Here, you can hike freely, without encountering “No trespassing” signs (or, for that matter, an armed landowner, should you take a wrong turn). This land belongs to all of us. It’s perhaps the greatest expression of collective ownership the U.S. has – and arguably, its most cherished legacy.

That legacy is now threatened.

“A betrayal of future generations”

Recently, the House of Representatives proposed the sale of 500,000 acres of public land in the Republican budget bill. After immense public backlash, that provision was ultimately removed. But the Senate added it back – and made it worse. The current version of the bill would require 2 to 3 million acres in 11 states to be sold within five years, with up to 250 million acres eligible for sale.

In other words: Our forests, mountains, lakes, historic and sacred areas handed over to the highest bidder. Lost to drilling, mining, and development. Reserved for the wealthy few, while wildlife, ecosystems, and public access are pushed aside.

Outdoor advocates are calling this “the most extreme land sale plan we’ve ever seen, and it stands a real chance of happening with no oversight.” The Wilderness Society calls it “a betrayal of future generations.”

The good news? Public lands are one of the few things that unite Americans. Whether you're a climber, hunter, hiker, angler, or camper—you have a stake in this fight. Even if you never set foot on these lands, your children or grandchildren should have the chance to. And the landscapes, wildlife, and communities that depend on them deserve our protection.

As I head out for another weekend of camping, I’m reminded once again of how lucky I am to live in a country where the right to roam is written into law and rooted in respect for the land, shared responsibility, and centuries of cultural tradition. Without a version of allemansrätten, public lands are the closest thing Americans have to nature that belongs to everyone—not just the privileged few.

But that access isn’t guaranteed. It has to be protected, defended, and cherished. Because once the trail disappears behind a “No Trespassing” sign, we may never get it back.

P.S. Scroll down for information on how you can protest the public land sales.

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One thing to contemplate

“I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.”

-Theodore Roosevelt

Two things to listen to

1. Tell Congress to say NO to public land sales using this form from the Outdoor Alliance. Then share the link with others. This is one small thing we can do that can have a big impact if we all do it together. And do it now – the Senate votes on the reconciliation bill in two weeks.

2. Get away from screens and the 24/7 news cycle and celebrate the Summer Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, the astronomical start of summer will occur on June 20-21, depending on your time zone. This is the day of the year with the most hours of daylight, so make sure to get outside and enjoy it!

Three things to check out

1. I was recently interviewed for the Adventure Nannies Summit Session and podcast, where I chatted about everything from the benefits of outdoor play in all types of weather to the Nordic philosophy of friluftsliv (open-air life).

2. Are you wondering at what age children can start playing outdoors unsupervised? This British article suggests gradually giving children more freedom to explore alone. What are your thoughts?

3. This TED Talk by Damon Gameau will change your whole perspective about the reasons for the challenges currently facing the planet. Watch it!

Subscribe now

Buy The Open-Air Life and get access to closed webinar

My second book, The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day, is about to hit an important milestone! To get there, I’m offering a special treat if you order a copy by June 15 - a link to my closed webinar Woods Over Worksheets on setting children up for success through outdoor learning. Just order the book from one of the links below, or a bookshop of your choice, then email me a copy of the receipt, and I’ll send you a private link to the webinar.

Bookshop
Amazon US
Amazon CA
Barnes & Noble

See you outside!
Linda

Some housekeeping…

If you can’t find my newsletter, check your spam folder. And please mark this address as ‘not spam.’ If the newsletter isn’t in your spam folder either, you should look in the Promotions tab.

You can always read my posts on my Substack home page.

You might also like…

The perks of being a lazy gardener

We weren’t made for a spring like this one

These are OUR lands - and they need us

Do not disturb, do not destroy

Finding freedom in nearby nature

Why cities need more trees and less concrete

Before you go...

• I have a curated selection of some of my favorite children's outerwear at Outdoor School Shop. When you shop through the link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check out the Rain or Shine Mamma shop at ODSS here.

• I've published two books: There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather and The Open-Air Life. If you enjoyed them, you can help others find them by leaving an Amazon review here and here respectively.

• I often get interviewed about outdoor play and nature connection at various podcasts. You can find all the episodes I've participated in here.

• Do you have a book club or head up a nature play community? I love doing virtual author visits! Just hit reply to this message to connect.

• I do virtual speaking events for corporations, non-profits and online summits. You can read more about that here.

• Do YOU have something going on in the nature connection space that you think this community should hear about? If so, hit 'reply' and let me know what you're up to - I'd be happy to share!