National Network Promotes Wellness for Baby & Parents to Enjoy Nature & Community

Sometimes, opportunities for outdoor adventures with young children can seem limited – small humans aren’t always game to battle the elements for very long, and adventuring with a baby can certainly seem like a daunting task. Local outdoors enthusiasts have nothing to fear, however, thanks to the Hike It Baby Pioneer Valley. Part of a national network of Hike It Baby groups, Hike It Baby Pioneer Valley offers parents with babies and young children opportunities to explore the outdoors while surrounded by other families with babies and young children.

While many community hikes explore terrain that is not well suited for baby-carrying hikers or toddlers, expeditions organized through Hike it Baby Pioneer Valley highlight the beautiful and baby-friendly natural treasures that Western MA has to offer. Upcoming hikes listed for Hike it Baby Pioneer Valley include explorations of the pond at Mt. Tom, hikes to Chapel Brook, Chesterfield Gorge, toddler time at the Hitchcock Center, and visits to trail-filled parks, among other exciting opportunities! A local search includes not only Pioneer Valley events, but ones taking place in central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire as well – all of which make fantastic day trip adventures. Families attending a hike organized through the local Hike it Baby group are sure to not only find a trail that’s appropriate for hiking with a baby, but a community of like-minded baby-wearing outdoors enthusiasts, too!

In addition to the community-building opportunities provided by Hike it Baby events, families participating in hikes will provide their children with the much needed remedy for Nature Deficit Disorder, and will be laying the foundation for what will hopefully be a lifetime of outdoor exploration for their children. Western Massachusetts has some incredible natural spaces that can be explored via networks of trails – find an event and get hiking!

Traveling this summer? Look for a Hike it Baby branch in the area you’re visiting for connecting with both the natural resources of your destination, but also other families with young children.