Where I grew up as a child, the forest was very close. For us, neighborhood kids the outdoors was our playground. Every day after school we were outside and disappeared into the woods. We built huts, small lean-tos, tree houses, dugouts, made fires, picked berries, and mushrooms. In winter we build snow houses. Great childhood, lots of fun. We knew the animals, we knew the plants and the trees that grew in the woods, we all felt like little rangers. This time was formative and today I feel very connected to nature, probably because of this childhood.
I was only 7 years old when my parents took me to the mountains for the first day hikes. Every year my brother and I had to go on vacation with my parents, and we always went to the mountains where we hiked and stayed in mountain huts. I didn’t like it at first because I didn’t find anything special in it as a child. We did drive a long time, just to be in nature? At home, I had the same.
Later when I was in my early teens we went on multi-day backpacking tours through the wilderness. That’s when I caught the bug.
In the last couple of years, I haven’t had as much time to get out as I want. But whenever there is the chance I take it. I appreciate nature and the outdoors, being away from the hustle & bustle of the daily routine and just stay connected to what we are.
With my wife and kids