Syd's Nature Kids

02/01/2026

Local friends — is anyone interested in starting a weekly meetup? 🌳

My thought is 3:30-4:30ish over at Meeks Mountain on Tuesdays. We could do a hike or just let the kids run around. It would be a good motivator to get outside in these colder months and also good to have some time with other parents to build community. If you are interested please let me know and I’ll get something setup! 💚

02/01/2026

My January Reads 👇🏼

📖 Boyhood Resurrected

This book felt deeply meaningful and honestly pretty eye-opening. It takes a thoughtful look at how boys are wired to thrive — through adventure, risk, purpose, and meaningful responsibility — and how modern culture often works against those needs instead of supporting them. It provided practical insights on how parents can create environments where boys are challenged, needed, and encouraged to grow into strong, capable, and compassionate men. It left me thinking a lot about the kinds of experiences we’re prioritizing.

📖 Steal Like an Artist

This was a fun and inspiring read. It was a good reminder to stop overthinking and just make the thing. It reframed creativity as something built from inspiration, influence, and action rather than feeling pressured to always create something brand new. It referenced Ecclesiastes 1:9 — “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” which reminded me that we are all just adding our own creative spin to what already exists.

📖 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World

Oooof — this one felt like a loving but firm wake-up call. Technology is not what it was when we were growing up, and the risks facing kids today are deeper, earlier, and more complex than many of us realize. This book walks through the research in a really practical way and challenged me to think hard about screens, smartphones, social media, and the age we introduce them. It made a strong case that as a culture, we need clearer boundaries and more courage to say “not yet” for the sake of our kids’ mental, emotional, and social well-being. Definitely some tough love in here — but I think it’s pertinent for every parent raising kids right now to read. Especially those with tweens and teens!

01/26/2026

Anyone else feeling a little guilty that “all your child has done is play” *inside* the past couple of days?

I’m right there with you. And here’s the reminder I keep giving myself:

💚 Play is the work of childhood
💚 Boredom is a gift

In our house lately, we’ve had some very serious construction happening — pillow trains, clubhouses, roads, and block castles! This is the stuff of childhood! ✨

It’s so easy to feel like we should be entertaining our kids 24/7 or giving them something “more meaningful” to do — especially when our normal routines are disrupted.

But here’s the truth: play IS the meaningful work.

Play is problem-solving.
Play is creativity.
Play is emotional processing.
Play is independence.

You’re not slacking.
They’re not missing out.

They’re doing exactly what they’re designed to do.

01/18/2026

Just a gentle mid January reminder that cold air doesn’t make our kiddos sick.

Perhaps instead winter is coined sick season because it’s easy to spend all our time indoors where germs thrive and spread. 🦠

Fresh air is good for us! So I hope you’ll consider bundling up and getting outside even just for a short amount of time today ☺️🫶🏽

12/31/2025

Surprise! A new little nature kid is joining our family in 2026! 🌿 Because of this blessing, I’ve been unsure what the future of Syd’s Nature Kids will look like for the upcoming year.

My heart for this community hasn’t changed. 💚 The mission remains the same:
➡️ Encouraging parents to step away from screens, get outside, and trust that nature is enough for our children’s development.
➡️ Creating space to connect with other families choosing a slower, more intentional, outdoor childhood.

Last summer & fall filled my cup in so many ways. I would love to continue that… I’m just not sure yet what’s realistic while pregnant in the spring and freshly postpartum in the summer.

🌱 So what does 2026 look like?
I do hope to offer something—maybe small gatherings, pop-up play days, nature walks, or even a book club? I just need time to figure out what that will be and what makes sense for our season.

Thank you for being here, for supporting this mission, and for choosing nature-filled childhoods with me. I’ll keep praying over this community and dreaming up what’s next. 🫶🌲

12/31/2025

It took our family 1.5 years to complete our first 1000 hours outside. This year we are shooting to get the full 1000 in one year! I love this breakdown. As Ginny Yurich always says.. even if you don’t get 1000 hours in a year, this will be the best challenge you ever fail at! A worthwhile goal for the whole family in 2026 🍃☀️

12/29/2025

12/24/2025

Thank you to every family who was part of this journey this year. If you were here for it, you are part of my testimony.

The truth is, this group was born out of a simple desire to sign my son up for something like this. It didn’t exist in our area, and one day God gently said to me, “Why not you?” Honestly, I didn’t want to be the one to start a nature camp 😂 I already work full time—I wanted my summers to myself. But the Lord placed it on my heart, and I’m so glad I followed through. I prayed over every family, every week, and every idea along the way.

We’ve been taking my son to Meeks Mountain since he was born. He’s grown up on those trails, but now his biggest association with it is nature camp. When we go there, he asks, “Where are the kids?” and says, “We gotta go to the shelter,” our summer meeting spot. My heart swells knowing he had that experience—and that so many other little ones got to be part of it too.

This year, the Lord gave me courage and pushed me far outside my comfort zone, and I got to see the fruit of that obedience. Thank you, Jesus!

I’m not sure what 2026 holds for Syd’s Nature Kids, but if you’re along for the ride, I just want to sincerely thank you for being here 🤍

12/20/2025

We’re deep into the holiday season, and life is just busy. With all the shopping, gift wrapping, programs, cooking, baking, and errands, we inevitably spend less time outdoors.

I don’t know about you, but I notice it big time when we’re inside more. My little guy gets restless—and honestly, we all do. Toddlers’ nervous systems are still developing, and they take in everything. When there’s lots of noise, rushing, and stimulation, their bodies can stay in a constant “on” mode, which often shows up as extra energy, big emotions, or meltdowns.

So this morning, we left the kitchen a mess, bundled up, and headed to the woods. We stomped our boots on crunchy, iced-over mud, found mushrooms hiding under leaves, and noticed frozen leaves along the trail. It helped our whole family reset.

Trust me, my least favorite advice this season is to “slow down.” Easier said than done. But maybe this is your reminder, like it was mine, to step outside and get some fresh air. A little nature goes a long way—for toddlers and grown-ups alike. 🫶🏻

11/23/2025

As we enter Thanksgiving week, I’ve been feeling especially grateful and wanted to share a few reflections with you all. This year has been full of reminders to me and my family of how beautifully the Lord moves—often quietly, gently, and right on time. It’s almost like sometimes we look up and it seems like everything has suddenly changed, but when we look back, we can see God was working all along.

Through this space, I’ve met some amazing mamas and the sweetest little ones. I’ve had the privilege of soaking in God’s incredible creation with all of you. There is so much to be learned from His natural design—how the seasons teach us patience and renewal, how the tiniest details reflect His intentionality, how creation itself invites us to slow down, breathe, and remember what truly matters.

I’m so grateful for this community, for every person who shares this journey, and for God’s perfect timing in bringing it all together. Thank you for being here, for the encouragement, and for the chance to witness His goodness in nature and in one another.

Wishing you a week filled with gratitude, wonder, and His gentle presence. 🍂✨

10/29/2025

That’s a wrap on Syd’s Nature Kids — Fall Edition! 🍁

Our final session was all about pumpkins! 🎃 The kiddos explored pumpkin textures, scooped out the gooey insides, learned how pumpkins grow from tiny seeds, and even went on a pumpkin hunt!

Through play and exploration, they strengthened fine motor skills, sensory awareness, language development, and curiosity about nature’s life cycles.

I’m so thankful for every family that joined us this season! Thank you from the bottom of my heart 🧡

10/23/2025

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