Trails Mix: Volume 1 | Issue 1

RAILS MIX 

V O L U M E 1 | I S S U E N O . 1 

2 

Volume 1 | Issue 1

Hello! 

Welcome to Trails Mix, an extra helping of Family Trails 

goodness. Each quarter, our #FamilyTrails community will 

receive a digital edition of the Trails Mix bundle packed 

with ideas and inspiration designed to spark more family 

adventuring and learning together. We’ll also feature highlights 

from the best of Family Trails – the stories shared by families 

around the world. 

From recipes to activities to expert interviews, we hope 

you’ll find that Trails Mix encourages your family to get out 

and get going – wherever the trail may lead you. 

Have an idea for an upcoming edition of Trails Mix? 

Email us at community@familytrails.com. To connect 

with thousands of other families learning through adventure, 

join the #FamilyTrails conversation on Instagram by 

following us @FamilyTrails. 

We’d love to hear from you! 

TRAILS MIX 

1

Table of Contents 

Toyota Family Trails is an adventure brought to life 

thanks to a partnership between the National Center 

At Family Trails, we believe your family is the best teacher 

your child will ever have. Together, we hope to inspire 

Stories from the Trail 

pg. 5 

The Social Challenge 

pg. 20 

for Families Learning (NCFL) and Toyota. Since 1989, 

parents and kids to let their imaginations lead them on 

NCFL has helped more than two million families make 

educational progress. We believe that all parents can help 

their children succeed in school and in life. The family 

unit is the one constant across the educational spectrum, 

but family engagement in education doesn’t happen on 

a daily exploration and adventure through the world 

around them and the classroom of life. 

Family stories are the heart and soul 

of Family Trails. Check out these 

amazing stories contributed by the 

Family Trails community and get to 

know our Family Trails contributors. 

THE SAUL FAMILY 

6 

Each month we’re issuing an inspirational 

challenge to the Family Trails community. 

Dec. 

Jan. 

over the river and 

through the woods 

one new thing 

22 

26 

its own. NCFL pioneered Parent and Child Together 

THE CASSON FAMILY 

11 

Feb. 

STORYTELLING 

30 

(PACT) Time®, bridging the gap that often exists 

between school, home, and community. 

Guest Trail Guides 

pg. 39 

Trails Recipe 

pg. 35 

At Family Trails we believe all families can 

learn and grow together through exploration 

and adventure. In this spirit, in each edition 

of Trails Mix you’ll find feature pieces 

spotlighting a diverse range of families 

adventuring around the country in 

their own way. 

Homemade 

chicken 

NOODLE SOUP 

Adventure Log 

pg. 49 

Download our Adventure Log activity 

sheet. It’s loaded with 15 awesome family 

activities. From bird watching to s’more 

making, your family can t check them off 

one by one. Adventure On! 

DOWNLOAD SOME FAMILY FUN 

Community 

Poll 

Getting to know our Trails 

family is important to us. 

We’d be grateful if you’d 

share your thoughts on our 

community poll question. 

pg. 50 

There’s nothing like a bowl of comforting 

homemade chicken noodle soup to fill up 

little hungry bellies on a cold day—especially 

when the noodles are handmade by 

@mothering4myhome. 

TRAILS MIX 4 



KAITLIN SAUL 

“We are a tight-knit family, 

raising our children with a love 

of the great outdoors.” 

VINTON, VA 

FAMILY STORIES ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF FAMILY TRAILS. 

SAUL FAMILY 

FEATURED 

FAMILIES 

CASSON FAMILY 

CHECK OUT THESE TWO AMAZING STORIES CONTRIBUTED BY THE 

FAMILY TRAILS COMMUNITY — AND GET TO KNOW THE REST OF OUR 

CONTRIBUTORS BY CLICKING THEIR FAMILY PHOTO. INTERESTED IN 

SUBMITTING YOUR OWN FAMILY ADVENTURE STORY? CLICK HERE. 

BACKYARD 

Discovery 

AUGUST CASSON 

“The rest of the day was awesome, 

flying down bunny hills and 

taking the toe rope to the top.” 

WILLIAMSVILLE, IL 

TRAILS MIX 

5 

told by 

KAITLIN SAUL

Backyard Discovery 

We live down a dirt road surrounded by family, so we 

tend to let our children play outside without much 

of a watchful eye. They know the boundaries of our 

yard, and that they are supposed to ask to walk up to 

their Pawpaw’s. Of course, sometimes they go past 

these boundaries without permission – that’s just 

what curious children do. They get something in 

their minds, make up a wild adventure and just roll 

with it. 

The other day I was inside cleaning and thinking how 

peaceful and quiet it finally was. The kids were 

outside, while their daddy was in the garage. Around 

dusk, the kids came running inside, out of breath, 

telling me some story about a new path they made 

in the woods that took them to the pond. I stopped 

them there, reminded how dangerous that is, and 

explained that they cannot leave the yard without a 

grown-up. I guess they listened, even though my 

oldest only responded with, “So can we please show 

you our path tomorrow?” 

Tomorrow came and I kept my word to follow them 

down their new path. From the start, I could tell it 

was made by children; the path went under fallen 

trees that you had to army crawl through, and down 

steep ditches they slid down on their butts. I just kept 

following though, thinking how potentially dangerous 

this could have been for them. One wrong step and 

they could break a bone or tumble down the hillside. 

I kept those thoughts to myself, however. We kept on 

truckin’ through the woods until we made it to the 

frozen pond. It was amazing to listen to our oldest 

as she explained different landmarks she remembered 

to keep track of the path. 

TRAILS MIX 

7 

8 


Backyard Discovery 

“They will need to go through hurdles. 

They will get hung up and run into 

obstacles without anyone there to 

Watching them lead the way down the path, pride gleaming in 

their eyes, I couldn’t make them feel bad for disobeying me. 

It made me think of their lives and how I will eventually have to 

let them choose their own paths. They will need to go through 

hurdles. They will get hung up and run into obstacles without 

anyone there to tell them the “right” way. 

As their mother, it’s tough watching them grow and make their 

own decisions. It’s also a part of life letting them accept more 

responsibility, even if they sometimes disobey what I’ve said to 

gain it. The nitty-gritty of it all is that parents only want what is 

best for their children. Loosening the reins on their lives is a first 

start, and trusting them to make the right decision for themselves 

– not for us – is the second. 

LEARNING EXTENSION 

• Using objects from around your home, turn your backyard or 

local park into an obstacle course! Challenge friends or family 

to safely run the obstacle course in as little time as possible. 

• Which obstacle did you enjoy the most? Share a picture, story, 

or description of your favorite obstacle using #FamilyTrails. 

• Stop by the Wonder Coliseum at Camp Wonderopolis 

for more family-fun! Explore Wonders about games and 

adventures, as well as find ideas for more activities to have 

fun together outside. 

tell them the ‘right’ way.” 10 


Ski Snowstar 

Ski 

SNOWSTAR 

This past weekend, I took my four-year-old son skiing for the first 

time. Being an avid skier myself, I thought it would be fun to see 

if this new experience would be something he also enjoyed. The 

week before we went, I made a point to talk to him about skiing 

and what it is about. We discussed how to slow down and go fast 

(using the “pizza and french fry” technique). I also had him stand 

in the living room and demonstrate these two techniques using 

his shoes as skis. He thought this was fun and really grasped the 

idea of slowing down and going fast. 

We drove three hours north to Andalusia, Illinois where there is 

a small ski resort called Ski Snowstar. I thought this place would 

be a great starting point for Sebastian due to the fact that it is 

not as busy as the other ski resorts in the Midwest. It’s smaller 

and has a tubing area in case skiing went horribly wrong. Not to 

mention, it is a very family-oriented ski resort. We arrived and I 

could tell how excited Sebastian was. His voice was high and he 

was ready to try it out. 

I first took him to the bunny hills with a small magic carpet 

designated for kids. The first few times down the hill he was in 

between my legs and I steered him the right direction. He thought 

this was fun, but wanted to try for himself. The next couple of 

times down I let him go down on his own. He fell a few times due 

to lack of balance, but he quickly got the hang of it using the 

techniques we had previously discussed at home. Kristie and 

myself were so proud and he was extremely proud of himself. 

The rest of the day was awesome, flying down bunny hills and 

taking the toe rope to the top. In the end, we skied for around four 

hours and Sebastian was not ready to go home. On the way home 

we talked about the times we went fast and the times we crashed. 

The next few days, Sebastian was talking about skiing with other 

family members and cousins. He was very into it and wants to do 

it again. I guess some equipment is in our future to get him involved 

in something he enjoys. 

told by 

AUGUST CASSON 

12 


Ski Snowstar 

LEARNING EXTENSION 

• If you can’t get out to a nearby slope, are you out 

of luck? Nope! All you need is a hill and some 

homemade skis. Gather your family and have fun 

making your own homemade skis! 

• What do you want to remember about your home 

skiing adventure? Share photos and favorite 

memories using #FamilyTrails! 

• Gather your family and jump over to 

Wonderopolis® to learn more about Wonder 

#1695: How Much Snow Do You Need To Ski? 

TRAILS MIX 13


CLICK A PHOTO TO READ MORE EXCITING STORIES OF FAMILY ADVENTURES! 

PACKHAM FAMILY: MOUNT OGDEN 

EMSLIE FAMILY: MUELLER STATE PARK 

CASSON FAMILY: SKI SNOWSTAR 

HASKINS FAMILY: GRANDFATHER MTN. 

CALORY FAMILY: SILVER LAKE STATE PARK 

MENDOZA FAMILY: BIG BASIN HIKE 

DAVID FAMILY: A DAY IN CHIBERIA 

HEQUIBAL FAMILY: MEMORY BUILDING

Social Challenges 

EACH MONTH WE’RE ISSUING A NEW INSPIRATION CHALLENGE TO 

THE FAMILY TRAILS COMMUNITY. THE MONTHLY CHALLENGE MAY 

COME IN THE FORM OF A VISUAL PROMPT, QUESTION, OR ACTIVITY, 

AND WILL ALWAYS BE DESIGNED TO SPARK FAMILY EXPLORATION, 

ADVENTURE, AND LEARNING. 

WE’LL COLLECT THE BEST OF THE BEST TO SHARE VIA SOCIAL, THE 

FAMILY TRAILS WEBSITE, AND IN TRAILS MIX. TO PARTICIPATE, 

LOOK FOR THE MONTHLY CHALLENGE PROMPT #FAMILYTRAILSTALES 

ON INSTAGRAM. MAYBE YOU’LL SEE YOUR FAMILY ADVENTURES IN 

AN UPCOMING ISSUE OF TRAILS MIX! 

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR LAST FEW MONTHS! 

20 



DECEMBER: OVER THE RIVER 

AND THROUGH THE WOODS 

DECEMBER IS A MONTH OF HUSTLE & BUSTLE. IT’S TIME FOR 

RECHARGING, FOR CATCHING UP WITH FRIENDS OLD AND NEW, AND 

MOST OF ALL, SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY. WE LET THE 

MAGIC OF THE SEASON INSPIRE THIS MONTH’S PROMPT. WITHOUT 

FURTHER ADO...HERE ARE THE STORIES YOU TOLD AS YOU MADE 

YOUR WAY OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS. 

DECEMBER 

22 



JANUARY: ONE NEW THING 

LET’S EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL OF 2016 WITH RENEWED ENERGY 

AND EXCITEMENT. THIS YEAR, LET’S LOOK BEYOND LOFTY 

RESOLUTIONS AND START SMALL. THIS MONTH, A LOT MAY HAPPEN, 

AND EVEN MORE MAY NOT, BUT WE’RE GOING TO MAKE AN EFFORT 

TO TRY ONE NEW THING WE’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO TOGETHER 

AS A FAMILY. 

JANUARY 

26 



FEBRUARY: STORYTELLING 

SOME OF OUR FAVORITE #FAMILYTRAILS POSTS ARE STORIES ABOUT 

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. FROM BABY’S FIRST ZIP LINE ADVENTURE 

TO THE DAILY STRUGGLES OF GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH KIDS 

IN TOW, WE LOVE HEARING ABOUT THE REAL MOMENTS THAT HAPPEN 

IN YOUR LIFE. THE TANTRUMS, THE TRIUMPHS, THE CONVERSATIONS 

WITH YOUR KIDS THAT MAKE YOU LAUGH—AND SOMETIMES EVEN 

CRY. FAMILY TRAILS IS BUILT ON STORY, WHICH IS WHY STORYTELLING 

IS THE THEME OF OUR FEBRUARY CHALLENGE! 

FEBRUARY 

30 


Trails Recipe 

HOMEMADE CHICKEN 

NOODLE SOUP: 

Directions: Place the chicken and vegetables in a large 

stockpot over medium heat. Pour in only enough cold 

water to cover (about 3 quarts); too much will make the 

broth taste weak. Toss in the thyme, bay leaves, and 

peppercorns, and allow it to slowly come to a boil. Lower 

the heat to medium-low and gently simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 

hours, partially covered, until the chicken is done. As it 

cooks, skim any impurities that rise to the surface; add a 

little more water if necessary to keep the chicken covered 

while simmering. 

Carefully remove the chicken to a cutting board. When its 

cool enough to handle, discard the skin if you haven’t already 

and bones; hand-shred the meat into a storage container. 

Carefully strain the stock through a fine sieve into another 

pot to remove the vegetable solids. Use the stock immediately 

or if you plan on storing it, place the pot in a sink full of ice 

water and stir to cool down the stock. Cover and refrigerate 

for up to one week or freeze. 

[serves 4 – 6 people] 

recipe by @mothering4myhome 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

• 1 medium onion, chopped 

• 3 garlic cloves, minced 

• 2 medium carrots, cut into round thin slices 

• 2 celery ribs, halved lengthwise, 

and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 

• 4 fresh thyme sprigs 

• 1 bay leaf 

• 2 quarts chicken stock, recipe follows 

• 8 ounces dried egg noodles 

• 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken 

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

• 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped 

CHICKEN STOCK: 

• 1 whole free-range chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds), 

rinsed, giblets discarded (discard the skin: optional) 

• 3 carrots, cut in large chunks 

• 3 celery stalks or small celery root with stalks and leaves, 

cut in large chunks 

• 2 large unpeeled onions, quartered 

• 1 head of unpeeled garlic, halved 

• 1 turnip, halved 

• 1 parsnips, halved 

• 1/4 bunch fresh thyme 

• 2 cloves 

TRAILS MIX 

35

Guest Trail Guides 

THIS MONTH’S GUIDES: 

Brenda Bird • Hannah Carpenter • Vanessa Bell 

AT FAMILY TRAILS WE BELIEVE ALL FAMILIES CAN LEARN AND 

GROW TOGETHER THROUGH EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE. IN THIS 

Slow 

DOWN 

SPIRIT, IN EACH EDITION OF TRAILS MIX YOU’LL FIND FEATURE 

PIECES SPOTLIGHTING A DIVERSE RANGE OF FAMILIES ADVENTURING 

AROUND THE COUNTRY IN THEIR OWN WAY. 

TRAILS MIX 

39 

told by 

BRENDA BIRD

Slow Down 

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the entrance of 

the elementary school as we slowly drove away. This 

was it. That moment we hear about from other 

veteran moms – the moment your baby is no longer 

a baby. The moment where he is the brave one telling 

you it is okay to let go. I squeezed his hand and watched 

as he sat down at his desk waiting anxiously to be 

one of the big kids. Why do they have to grow up so 

quickly? I blinked and my little baby grew up into a 

young little man. 

It’s true you know – the years are short. And while I 

wish we could stop time and keep our littles little 

forever, we can’t. We live in a world where we just 

always need to be busy. Always on the go. I started 

out on Mondays with the best intentions to really sit 

down and play with my kids or really just watch them 

play. But then it would be Friday afternoon and I 

realized that week just flew and then the weeks 

turned to months and all those good intentions were 

really just that. I’d been dragging my kids to and from 

errands and just going going going. 

I was just getting tired. Tired of my good intentions 

and tired of literally going all day without any 

substance. I just wanted to slow life down. After taking 

this class I had really prioritized and eliminated any 

excess stuff in my life. Now that I am not caught up in 

extras, I was just getting caught up in the daily stuff. 

I realize this is totally normal, but I felt like I was 

missing out on some special moments with them. 

I can’t help but regret those times when I was 

ferociously cleaning instead of spending some more 

quality time with Ashton. I wish I could take those 

times back and really soak in those precious moments. 

I am not suggesting anything grand or complicated. I just want 

to slow down. Not rush from one thing to the next, next activity, 

next chore, etc. Just slow down time a bit and notice the details 

of my surroundings. As a perpetual multi-tasker this is so hard 

for me to do – but baby steps, right? For one, instead of spending 

some mornings cleaning alone, I can have Adelle clean along side 

me as we chat about her babies. Or instead of rushing to school, 

I can turn the radio off and talk to Ollie about why the Hulk is his 

favorite. Or instead of giving Ashton the phone to play with while 

Ollie is in soccer practice I can have more thumb wrestling wars 

with him. Like I said, nothing spectacular, but all these moments 

will be meaningful. So I have 3 goals for our family. The first is to 

explore where we live. Our second is to slow down. Our Saturdays 

are not filled to the brim – instead we have a slow morning where 

we have breakfast and do some chores as a family. After the kids’ 

naps, we do a fun activity. We actually stopped doing fun stuff on 

Saturdays for a while because we were trying to teach our kids 

something. Once they learned, we added back something small 

but fun like teaching the kids how to play kickball in the yard. I 

promise you that that moment was absolutely precious for me. 

And I can guarantee that small moments that you slow down for 

will also be meaningful to you and your family. We can’t stop time 

but we can slow it down just enough to appreciate it 

TRAILS MIX 

41 

42 


Nature Anatomy 

BOOK REVIEW: 

Nature Anatomy 

BY JULIA ROTHMAN 

I break my blogging hiatus for only the best of the best. And this, 

my friends, is just that. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a book so 

much. If I’m honest, I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a book. I’m 

not an avid reader. I like pictures. That’s why this book, Julia 

Rothman’s Nature Anatomy is great for me. It’s sneaky, because 

while I’m looking at all the pretty illustrations, I can’t help but 

devour the oodles of information about nature that is included 

alongside the beautiful eye candy. It’s one of those books that 

makes you want to read and know stuff. 

As is the plight of all crazy homeschoolers out there, I’m always 

looking to find great informational books that make you want to 

jump in and learn. Well, look no further, fellow crazies. I asked 

Enid to sit down with this book so I could snap some photos of her 

looking at it. She of course was all huffs and puffs over having to 

do something so demanding, but I loved watching her bad attitude 

melt away once she opened the cover and started getting lost in 

the pages of this wonderland of a book. I mean, look at these faces! 

Totally sincere. And in came her brothers... Not many books are 

so captivating as to draw in an 8 year old and 3 year old alike! My 

kids have asked me countless times about the sun and moon and 

Earth and why there are seasons, etc. Typically, I respond with, 

“We need to look that up,” because I can never remember this kind 

of information! And it honestly is just really hard for me to 

comprehend. I need someone to draw me a picture! That’s precisely 

what Julia Rothman has done for her readers in this book. And 

it’s simplified so even dummies like myself can understand it and 

relay it to my kids. It’s not super duper in-depth, but it’s basic. It’s 

the stuff you remember after studying in-depth about subjects 

like this. 

I highly recommend getting this book. Be it for your mom, your 

kids, or yourself, it’s a purchase you will not regret. And if you 

homeschool, it’s a no-brainer. Check out her other publication, 

Farm Anatomy while you’re at it. It’s on my book order short list! 

told by 

HANNAH CARPENTER 

44 


Travel Legacy 

Travel Legacy 

BEGINS WITH THE 

DECISION TO GO 

Before Daddy D and I became parents, we were individuals that 

loved to travel. It was easy back, then, even easier than when we 

were married. You bought one plane ticket, you bunked with friends 

and you just went! You ate street food, or exquisite meals, you took 

tours or just wandered the streets. You did whatever you wanted, 

whenever you wanted! I didn’t travel nearly as much as D did, but 

having the foundation of that travel legacy is important to our 

parenting values today. 

This Mother’s Day was probably was probably the best one I’ve 

had as a mom because it was a day that fed my heart for the 

adventures that I want my kids to grow up on – the legacy of 

movement, excitement, growth and learning. We packed up the 

kids for a quick road trip, drove 300 miles south west and spent 

the day at the San Diego Safari Park. 

Some of my fondest childhood memories are when I traveled with 

my family. We rarely went anywhere exotic, but it was the feeling 

of togetherness that I recall most. My parents divorced when I 

was young, but the travel memories I had with either set of parents 

(and even some when they were together) are moments of family 

legacy that I will never forget. And I want that for my kids. I want 

to experience other environments with them, to share memories 

with them. You just have to decide to go! 

We had the most wonderful time while at the San Diego Safari 

Park (I got the tickets half-off on Amazon Local). But my favorite 

part was exposing Alina to a practical element of what she learned 

within a school setting. I hope we can continue to do that as my 

children get older. And to think I almost thought the trip wouldn’t 

be worth it... 

We’re new to the concept of family travel; my babies are young, 

and while we have done so in the past, I hope that my family gets 

better and more efficient as the years go on. I would love to travel 

to Latin America, specifically, to immerse my babies in my family’s 

native language. I would love to take an actual African safari, I 

want that for myself, but I would only do it with my kids too. Family 

travel is so much more than a relaxing week by the beach for me 

these days (although that sounds wonderful, too!). It’s also about 

identity and connection to the global perspective. 

We’re building a legacy of travel because by experiencing parts of 

the world, you begin to understand the parts of your identity that 

would otherwise feel homeless. Travel can bring you back to your 

roots and give you license to claim another. That’s what I hope to 

achieve for my children, anyway. Major kuddos to parents who 

are building their travel legacy – and I have several friends who 

are doing so in major ways! I totally look up to you! 

So when I kept thinking of a plentitude of reasons why an overnight 

road trip to a less than exotic locale was crazy – when I hear the 

questions of whether its even necessary to travel with kids as 

young as mine, since they won’t remember it anyyay – it was really 

Alina who convinced me that we had to go. She began telling me 

about the things she learned at her Kidville Summer Camp 

during Safari Week – “Cheetahs have spots and so do giraffes. 

Giraffes eat leaves, too. Can I see a cheetah in San Diego, Mama?” 

With that, it was clear to me that we had to go. 

told by 

VANESSA BELL 

46 


Community Poll 

FAMILY TRAILS DIRECTORY 

GETTING TO KNOW THE FAMILY TRAILS COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT 

TO US. IN EACH EDITION OF TRAILS MIX, WE’LL ASK FOR YOUR INPUT 

ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC, QUESTION, OR ISSUE. THIS QUARTER, WE 

WANT TO KNOW: 

“WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE AND/OR BE INCLUDED IN A FAMILY 

TRAILS DIRECTORY?” 

SHARE YOUR RESPONSE AND INFORMATION BELOW. AS A TOKEN OF 

Take the 

Poll! 

OUR APPRECIATION, WE’LL SEND A FAMILY TRAILS GIFT YOUR WAY. 

IF YOU OPT NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DIRECTORY, YOUR CONTACT 

INFORMATION WILL BE USED ONLY FOR SHIPPING YOUR GIFT. 

50 


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