Just in time for summer break: The wonderful folks at Backcountry Press have released a new book — Hiking Humboldt Kids — that’ll give you some great options?

Here are authors Jennifer Gonzales and Humboldt hiking legend Rees Hughes to tell us all about their new book, which is in English and Spanish side-by-side. Not only do you get hiking suggestions, you get a ton of kids activities tailored to each specific hike. Good stuff!

Check it out! Video above, rough transcript below.

O’CONNOR:

Well, welcome to another Humboldt Conversation. I’m really thrilled to say we’re here today with Rees Hughes and Jennifer Gonzales, who have just brought out this fantastic new book, Hiking Humboldt Kids. Now, you may have already spotted it on our bookshelves on Humboldt today. We’ve been having it behind me as we’ve been doing the news for the last few weeks. So tell us about this book, Rees, what’s it all about?

HUGHES:

Well, I think it’s a recognition of the importance of getting outdoors and getting families with young children outdoors. Yeah. Both of us have gone through the process of being parents of young kids and what a great opportunity to get out and explore this wonderful place we live in.

O’CONNOR:

Yeah, there’s a lot going on around here and Jennifer, there’s a Spanish version as well I believe.

GONZALES:

The book is fully bilingual. Oh, bilingual. I apologize. There’s English and Spanish side by side.

O’CONNOR:

So what’s the highlights of the book? If people are looking for this for kids, what can they expect to get out and explore?

HUGHES:

There are 25 hikes that we’ve highlighted and in here are not only the hikes with very simple maps and Directions and things that they they might expect to see that we have what we call well There are two things one is either exercises they can do with their kids or what we call Here I’ll give you an example. I don’t know if it’ll show up here, but we have a series of things, like this, we call them scavenger hunts. They’re not really a traditional scavenger hunt. But it’s the notion of things that you might see when you’re out on this walk, so it may be historical it may be an animal or a plant, it may be a bit of information that you might expect to see. What would you add to that?

GONZALES:

And activities to do with young kiddos. Yeah. Drawing, journaling for kiddos that write. Even kids that aren’t writing words can journal with their own drawings. And yeah, just different activities to engage families and get them out there sharing experiences.

O’CONNOR:

Well it’s perfect timing because the nicer weather has finally arrived. Who thought it was ever going to come this year? We finally got it so as to get out there. Now this is actually a partnership though isn’t it with a couple of different organizations? 

HUGHES:

It is — the principal one being First 5 Humboldt. And I think you can talk a little bit more about that. The other part of it is Backcountry Press. And they were a key partner in this as well. You can talk about First Five.

GONZALES:

Yeah, so the project was born in the height of COVID. And First 5 Humboldt was trying to think of ways to get families outdoors and enjoying nature and finding ways to reduce stress from, you know, COVID was hard. It’s been hard. And so yeah, so I reached out to Rees and we started chatting and then we roped in Michael with Backcountry Press and his wife, Alison, and yeah, we worked together for about a year and a half?

HUGHES:

Longer than we ever would have thought. But it’s a complicated project with the intent of being as inclusive as possible. And I think that is a special challenge. And I think that’s also especially important.

O’CONNOR:

Now, it is for children of all ages, isn’t it? But it’s also very much for adults as well, because anybody can follow the trails.

GONZALES:

Absolutely, absolutely. We did design it specifically thinking of folks with kiddos, you know, five and under. That’s our, that’s our…

HUGHES:

Target group.

GONZALES:

Target group. That’s our target, with First  Five Humboldt.

HUGHES:

I have to say that I’ve had some older friends who’ve said, you know, this actually is about my length of hike. Perfect for me. So I think … and obviously it’s complex. We didn’t try to talk down to the reader. So in that respect, I think it’s really intended to be for the parents. And they will then be guides for their kids. 

O’CONNOR:

And future generations, their grandkids. And we are checking in now.

HUGHES:

Grandkids, right, or themselves.

O’CONNOR:

It’s a lovely book, it’s available now, tell us how much it is.

HUGHES:

You know what? $24.95. $24.95. And in part the reason I had to look because not only is it for sale but through your program…

GONZALES:

Yeah, First 5 Humboldt has purchased copies to distribute free for Humboldt County families with children ages 5 years and under. For the entire month of June, myself and my colleagues at First 5 Humboldt will be traveling around the county through playgroups and library branches to distribute them free for families to get them outdoors.

O’CONNOR:

Fantastic. Well, it’s a lovely book. I’m really glad I had the chance to meet you both today. Thank you. It’s been a real pleasure, Rees. Thank you, Jennifer. Thank you. Thank you for joining us for a Handbook Conversation and join us for another one very soon.