This is the third post in our summer series "Lessons Learned in the Woods." Find the intro here. Putting ourselves at risk is not something we usually do on purpose. Risk comes hand in hand with uncertainty, neither of which are friends with modern culture. With smartphones and google ever at our fingertips, we're becoming increasingly uncomfortable with both. Yet we crave adventure! What makes an adventure an adventure? For me, it’s the thrill of new experiences, the curiosity of discovering the unknown, the challenge of problem solving with minimal resources. That means risk. And uncertainty. We learn most when...

This blog is part of our #redbudroadtrip series this summer, Life Lessons Learned in the Woods. One of my favorite parts of backpacking and canoeing trips is that you literally carry everything you need to survive. While I’m in love with this idea, it does present some challenges when packing. What do you carry, and what can you leave behind? Bring the essentials, leave the unnecessary stuff behind, right? Simple as that. Not always. For example: Food, water, shelter, those are given. But what about extra chocolate? A little wine? And should I take the thick fleece, the lightweight longsleeve...

Showering in the woods can be done many ways, but in my experience there are a few things that will make the experience better, both for you and nature. #1  A lesson in Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics Found a gorgeous waterfall? Awesome. The perfect place for your wilderness shower? Well, maybe... as long as you're not using soap. Just like you wouldn’t want to find someone’s macaroni floating around the lake the day after they left camp (ew), no one wants to stumble across (or drink) your leftover bathwater. Maybe one shower won't make too big a difference, but with billions...