That’s an exact quote from my 10 year old about our day on Saturday: “Our little moment away from the world.” It was brought to us by Earthroots Field School.  We joined Jodi, Jeannie, Ren and Evan for an afternoon learning to make fire and fire tools.  We were waaaayyyyy back in Silverado Canyon with no cell phone service.  The only evidence of electronics was the occasional snapping of cameras. Mostly, it was a group of families who enjoyed meeting new people and kids who came with all their wonder and curiosity for the world.

Our day with Earthroots Field School was billed as: “Making Fire and Exploring Nature.”  We began by gathering different size kindling for the fire to ease us into our day. When we started we had this:

As someone commented, “lots of hands made small work” and soon we had this:

We watched Evan — who on a scale of 1 to 5 — held up 6 fingers for knowing a bit about fire making with a bow.  Together we all breathed on the smoking embers to make the straw burst into flame.

We enjoyed a leisurely picnic lunch and spent time exploring nature from the meadow:

To the orchard:

To a nature walk under the oaks:

Ethan helped us identify the winter version of poison oak and the plant we used to create our own family fire making kit (mule fat) .  There were kids from infants to 2 year olds to my 10 year old and they all had a grand time in the breezy canyon. Ren got to cooking whole apples in the coals of our fire.

And we ended our day munching on warm apples and listening to an original story by Jeannie inspired by our adventures. My six year old was so enchanted she even answered one of the questions from “Grandfather” as if she were one of the children in the story.

I didn’t want to leave. It was so peaceful.  It truly renewed my weary spirit.  In all, we were there for FIVE hours.  But to my son, it was just a “moment.”

Visit EarthrootsFieldSchool.org to find out more about their Forest Kindergarten, Homeschool Programs, Botany Walks, Family Programs and Camp Outs.

Earthroots waived our registration fee so we could experience their program. They did not ask any particular opinion be shared.

Here we are in sunny Southern California — hope you’re enjoying it!  There are so many things to do outdoors – even in February!

Remember many of these are low-cost or free, but may require registration.

Friday, February 3rd

• Wild Tales (Upper Newport Bay)
• Earthroots Weekend Camp Out begins (see what I wrote about it for OC Family)

Saturday, February 4th

• Birding Basics with Ranger Portia (Upper Newport Bay)
• Rocks and Fossils of Orange County (Nix Nature Center)
• Limestone Canyon Wilderness Access Day (Irvine Ranch Conservancy)
• Nature Walk in O’Neill Regional Park (Trabuco Canyon)
• 3rd Annual Western Monarch Butterfly Day (Mile Square Park)
• Wilderness Discovery Series — Beginning Birding (Riley Wilderness Park)
• Monthly Nature Walk (Sea and Sage Audubon)
• Back Bay Drive Nature Walk (Newport Bay Conservancy)
• Saturday Family Hike at Round Canyon (Irvine Ranch Conservancy)

Sunday, February 5th

• Nature Walk through Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• Family Frisbee Golf FREE (Orange County Great Park)
• The Groves Antique Market (Orange County Great Park)
• Farmers Market (Orange County Great Park)

Looking Ahead:

• February 11th — Irvine Park Railroad California History Education Public Day
• February 11th — Farm to Fork at The Ecology Center
• February 17th-20th Great Backyard Bird Count
• February 25th — Get Outdoors OC! with Inside the Outdoors (O’Neill Regional Park)
• March 3rd — Tyke Hike at Shipley Nature Center with Inside the Outdoors
• March 17th — 3rd Annual Family Fun and Wellness Fair at Pretend City

Now send this to a friend and plan to do something together outdoors!

That’s just the first weekend in February!  Check out my How to Plan a Monthly Play Calendar to figure out what you’re going to do the rest of the month.

I turned 40 in December and I feel like I have a whole new perspective. I feel stronger. I have more conviction when I speak. I’m more confident in myself. I’m spending less time doing what I don’t like and more time focused on what I love.  Weird. Because I don’t really put a lot of weight into birthdays, even milestones. Sure, I love to celebrate them with my family — but this time I feel like I’m celebrating myself and a life worth living to its fullest.

So here’s my life and play on Instagram for the beginning of this year:

I’m walking more — and noticing details when I’m on the move.

Spending time with friends in fun places is a big part of my year, so far. (Empress Pavilion in LA Chinatown is the place to go!)

More camping — even when it’s freezing out.

Continuing our Nature Play Club is a monthly highlight. I love it. The dads love it. The kids can’t wait for the next one.

I’m volunteering in the school garden and getting pretty good at turning compost with a pitchfork!  I love watching the seasons change and this poor apple tree that doesn’t realize its winter:

As the days get ever so incrementally longer, we are playing outside until dark:

We go to the beach a lot in the winter — especially THIS winter with THIS weather.  The waves, the blue sky — everything just makes sense there.  On this particular day, I caught this photo before we went back under the tunnel. The blue sky, the highway seemed to beckon and ask: Where should we go next?

I don’t know, but I’ll tell you when I find out!  Wishing you many happy adventures in life and play this weekend!

A nice Aliso Viejo walk takes you along the Aliso Creek bike/hiking trail paralleling Alicia Parkway from Foxborough Park to Hillview Park.  These two parks weren’t on my radar because there are no playgrounds at either (and no bathrooms!).  However, they are perfect for a brisk walk outdoors with kids in a jogging stroller.

Location: Foxborough Park is off Deerhurst near Pacific Park. Hillview Park is reachable by walking behind Aliso Niguel High School.  MAP OVERVIEW OF FOXBOROUGH TO HILLVIEW WALK

Highlights:

• Tons of bird watching to do along the creek (check my OCFamily post with tips for wildlife spotting)
• Beautiful views from Hillview Park
• Great to exercise outdoors

Tips:

• Strollers will be fine on the bike trail; the hill up to Hillview is bumpy dirt (which could be muddy after a rain); then there’s sidewalk and a loop at the top.
• There is no exit from Hillview other than the way you came!
• If you are walking, it can take anywhere from an hour to two hours to do the round-trip back to Foxborough Park — depending on if you let the kids walk.
• You could ride your bikes along the Aliso Creek Trail and lock them up near the high school to walk up the hill for the views
• Warnings for rattlesnakes on the dirt hill
• NO restrooms on the entire walk – so plan ahead (or use the route for a “mommy walk” or “daddy walk” or “date walk” instead of bringing the kids)

Foxborough to Hillview at EveryTrail

See a video of the walk — complete with a mockingbird serenade.

We like to walk and take slow nature hikes, but I’m not an expert. Check out these five SoCal walkers/hikers/explorers for even better hiking tips with more details:

• Walk Simply
• Greene Adventures
• Brian and Ashley’s Hiking Blog
• California Through My Lens
• Naturalist-For-You (guided nature walks)

In the January Play Trips newsletter, I asked readers to email me about things to do outdoors with kids during California winters.  This again proves that FunOrangeCountyParks readers are the BEST!  I got some really thoughtful answers that should keep you all busy during the next few months of “winter.” And I put that in quotes to remind you how good we have it without minus temperatures and blizzards!  We must get out and play for those who cannot in other parts of the country.  Here are the best picks from readers on what to do in Orange County (I added links so you can research these play trips on your own):

• “Fun place to go in the winter… The Beach!! Strands Beach is great because it is an adventure just to get down to the beach. You can take the Funicular or walk the steps (great exercise). The beach is long and clean, there is a good amount of sea shells at low tide and the tide pools are also really great at low tide. It’s fun to play on the beach and pretend it is all yours as it is all locals and surfers especially during the months of January (with the exception of MLK day) and February.  Another favorite is walking Dana Point Harbor, checking out the boats, walking from one end of the harbor to the other and checking out the Ocean Institute (only open to the public on weekends). Grabbing a coffee, lunch or an ice-cream cone at Coffee Importers and just hanging out.” (From S.M.)
• “My family and I love to go to the ENC in Newport Beach for winter playtime! You can also walk across the street to Dover Park and playground.” (From S.R.)
• “I love taking my son to the beach in front of the Montage in Laguna Beach in the winter because there’s hardly anyone on the beach, there are really cool rock formations and an arch, and when the tide is low enough there are lots of fun little tide pools to explore.  Winter the southern California way.   It’s also great to walk along the sidewalk that runs in front of the Montage and enjoy pretty views, grass areas to roll around in, chase bunnies, smell pretty flowers, watch for dolphins, etc.” (From C.S.)

• “Our kids really enjoy doing picnics at the Laguna Niguel Regional Park throughout the year including cold days.  They play, ride bikes…it’s really a great place for discoveries!” (From G.V.)
• “During California winters, two of the places we like to visit are the Cal-State Fullerton Arboretum and the Santa Ana Zoo. ” (From C.M.)
• “During winter we love to go tidepooling at the beach, visit our local parks, splash in puddles (in much needed rain).” (From J.K.)

Subscribe to my monthly Play Trips newsletters. So far, I’ve been able to include a giveaway in every one. It’s my way of providing exclusive content to my most dedicated readers.  And, just ask any reader, I don’t make you jump through hoops to enter a giveaway! Entry is usually one simple email or comment that takes less than 30 seconds.

Congrats to Christine who won the ice skating giveaway and thanks to all who entered.