Let's Go Outside | Adventurous Moms, Hiking, Camping, Travelling with Kids, Parenting Outside

How to Poop Outside with Kids — because eventually, every outdoor family has to figure out what to do when someone says, “I have to poop!” and there’s no bathroom anywhere nearby. In this episode, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about taking kids to the bathroom in the woods, including some of the funniest (and most ridiculous) poop situations we experienced.
We’ll talk through how to dig and cover a cat hole, where to go, what to pack, what to do with toilet paper and wipes, when you need to pack human waste out, and how things change when you’re camping in one place for several nights. I also share practical tips for periods in the backcountry, potty training while camping, and what to do when you’re caught without the right supplies. Plus, we’ll talk about being proactive with kids before heading above treeline or into places where finding a bathroom—or even a good place to dig—isn't an option.
Most importantly, we’re getting into how to actually help kids poop outside without making it a huge, stressful ordeal. From different ways to hold a squatting toddler to helping embarrassed kids, finding a system that works for your family, and teaching older kids to eventually do it themselves, this episode is all about making one of the less glamorous parts of outdoor adventures feel a whole lot more manageable. If you’ve ever wondered how to poop outside with kids, this is the practical, honest conversation you need before your next camping, hiking, backpacking, or family adventure.
Resources mentioned: 
Backpacking with Babies and Small Children Book, Goldie Sliverman - https://amzn.to/4hu7I3j
Leave No Trace - Pooping Outside 
Leave No Trace - Dispose of waste 
Gear mentioned:
Ultralight backpacking trovel - https://amzn.to/4xnzkMt 
Lightweight plastic trovel - https://alnk.to/gKV5Kq0 
Midsized Shovel (for the vehicle) - https://amzn.to/4xvfBKS 
Mycelium Tabs to breakdown poop - ⁠https://amzn.to/4cKzWnP⁠ 

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Family Backpacking Gear Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pUSPRn2aFl_eFRcn90IMG5qf1vsW8atk/view?usp=sharing 
Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Snack Prep Pro Ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/

Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off
Travel gear guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

Have you wondered how to do diapers while travelling, camping, hiking, or backpacking with a baby? And when does it make more sense to use disposable or cloth diapers?
In this episode, I’m sharing everything we’ve learned from using cloth diapers with all three of our kids, from the newborn stage through potty training, as well as our experience using cloth diapers while travelling internationally, camping, and spending extended backpacking trips.
I’m sharing some real-life examples of cloth diapering while travelling and camping, including trips to Vancouver Island, Cuba and Belize, where we washed diapers by hand or used washing machines when available.
We’ll also get into diapering on a 24-day backpacking trip with our 6-month-old baby. Since we were hiking every day and couldn't reliably wash and dry cloth diapers, we chose eco-friendly disposable diapers instead. I’ll share what we looked for when choosing diapers, how many diapers our baby used each day, and what we did with used diapers in the backcountry. I also share best practices according to Leave No Trace and how we did the very best we could while still actually going! 
We’ll also talk about other options for outdoor diapering, including compostable diaper liners, elimination communication, and bringing a small potty for babies and toddlers.
If you're wondering how to manage diapers while travelling with a baby, cloth diapering while camping, using cloth diapers on a road trip, hiking with a baby, or backpacking with a baby, this episode is full of the practical things I wish I had known before doing it myself.
Nora's Nursery — cloth diapering basics, covers, inserts, and information for getting started https://norasnursery.com/
Green Mountain Diapers — excellent resource for learning about cloth diapers, natural fibers, washing, absorbency, and different diaper systems https://www.greenmountaindiapers.com/
Let's Go Outside – Episode 21: Elimination Communication with Joanna Romano — using elimination communication while getting outside with babies and kids https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nHkvgmkEQxR63K4P2poK1?si=mpdJbw1iS8W1Ah3KiIALEA
Leave No Trace Canada — responsible outdoor practices
https://leavenotrace.ca/services/3-dispose-of-waste-properly/ 
Our cloth diaper setup for travelling
2-3 Nora's Nursery covers

20-25 Bamboo/hemp/organic cotton inserts

Cloth wipes

Disposable wipes

Wet bags: 1 big, 1 small - https://amzn.to/4iE5nDY 

Laundry detergent sheets for travel - https://amzn.to/4gsxhBs 

Disposable diapers for overnight/travel days

Our 24-day backpacking trip setup
Naty diapers - https://amzn.to/4gBrwjK 

Compostable wipes -  https://amzn.to/4xyffE0 

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Snack Prep Pro ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/

Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off
Travel gear guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing

In this episode of Let’s Go Outside, we sit down with Samantha Foote to explore the challenges and benefits of taking neurodivergent children into nature.
Adventuring, camping, and exploring the outdoors offer massive developmental and regulatory benefits for kids with ADHD and Autism, but the transition can also introduce unfamiliar sensory triggers.
Samantha breaks down how to anticipate common pain points beforehand, offering practical advice on preparing your child for the new sights, sounds, and sleeping arrangements that come with spending a night outside. Beyond supporting the kids, Samantha shares wisdom for parents on managing their own expectations and staying calm when a highly anticipated family adventure doesn't go exactly as planned. This is a helpful episode if you want to go camping with your kids but want to figure out how to prepare them ahead of time for a new experience!

Connect with Samantha Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everybrainisdifferent/
Website: https://www.everybrainisdifferent.com/
Podcast: https://everybrainisdifferent.com/podcast

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other parents in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/

Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com
Codes & Discounts:
Download my FREE high-protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Snack Prep Pro ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/
Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off

What is it actually like to thru-hike the Great Divide Trail (GDT) with kids? In this episode, I’m sharing our experience hiking about Section B, 198 km of the GDT with our three kids, including our 6-month-old baby. I’m talking about GDT preparation, hiking with kids, backpacking gear, food and meal planning, keeping kids motivated on long hiking days, baby gear, clothing, sleep, diapers, and some stories from our time on the trails. This is a very honest look at what worked, what didn't, and what it was like to do a long-distance backpacking trip as a family.

In this episode:
What the Great Divide Trail is and where it goes

Why we decided to take on such a big family backpacking trip

How we prepared physically with only a few weeks to get ready

How we planned our 24-day GDT itinerary

What it was actually like hiking 8–12 km days with kids

How we planned backpacking meals for 24 days

Our breakfasts, hot lunches and dehydrated dinners

Freeze-drying vs. dehydrating food for backpacking

What was in our daily backpacking snack bags

Our sleeping setup with three kids and a baby

Backpacking with a 6-month-old baby

Diapers on a long-distance backpacking trip 

Clothing systems for the kids, baby, Daniel and me

What the kids actually needed for entertainment—and what they didn't

Resources mentioned: 
Favorite Backpacking Gear Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pUSPRn2aFl_eFRcn90IMG5qf1vsW8atk/view?usp=sharing
Our Complete Packing List: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AKb_DjegF9p406bjUQaHo8zN611jTapM/view?usp=sharing
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 

Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Join my FREE email list where I share healthy snack recipes I’m creating, and what’s happening for adventures in my life and other fun things. It’s a weekly email and I’d love to have you a part of the community. https://besidethemountain.com/subscribe/ 
Codes & Discounts:
Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Snack Prep Pro ebook: https://besidethemountain.com/snack-prep-pro/

Wildelore: https://wildelore.com/ Use code LETSGOOUTSIDE15 for 15% off

In this solo episode of the Let’s Go Outside Podcast, we are breaking down a massive family update—we are officially committing to thru-hiking a section of the Great Divide Trail (GDT) this summer with our three kids, including our 6-month-old baby! (so a three-week backpacking trip as a family!)  Stepping away from the daily grind means swapping endless housework and domestic chaos for the beautiful simplicity of mountain life, but it also comes with real fears. I share honestly about the logistics we are sorting through, from managing backcountry food drops to solving the ultimate "diaper dilemma" on a long-distance trail. 
In addition to our GDT planning and gear testing, the second half of this episode is packed with practical, field-tested tips to get your kids to actually enjoy hiking. You’ll hear me share about transforming the trail into an imaginative adventure and eliminating complaining and other tips I’ve learned from legendary outdoor parents so your kids look forward to hiking. Whether you are an experienced backpacker looking to transition into adventure parenting or a mom trying to navigate a weekend day hike with a toddler, this episode will give you the practical tools and inspiration you need to confidently head into the wild.
Resources mentioned: 
How to Tell Stories to Children: https://amzn.to/4vWXahO
Osprey Poco Premium Child Carrier  https://amzn.to/4uFNdUU
The Nugget Podcast Episode 171: https://thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/leo-houlding 
Join the FREE Facebook community: Connect with other women in your area to go exploring with, ask your gear and trip questions, search in FB groups Let’s Go Outside Podcast https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984734118616209/ 
Connect with Danika on IG: @besidethemountain 
Try Danika’s healthy snack recipes: https://besidethemountain.com/
Watch on podcasts YouTube: @besidethemountain
Email me: hello@danikavanderpyl.com 
Codes & Discounts:
Download my FREE high protein snacks ebook: besidethemountain.com/protein-ebook
Travel gear guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IEqVfpGk-5uJ29uoiScoZXLPnTY4r311/view?usp=sharing