Adventure Monkey – Getting Young Children Outside!

I first met Adventure Monkey in August 2013. And I’ve been his biggest fan ever since. We hike and backpack together five or six times a year. He doesn’t carry food or water. He doesn’t carry a pack or sleeping bag. And there are times he won’t speak the entire trip. But I value his companionship over many people I know.

Adventure Monkey’s Story

I met Adventure Monkey on a bushcraft forum (yes, they exist). A forum member explained how his children were too young to accompany him on his occasional weekend trips. He wanted to explain to them what daddy was doing while he was away hiking and camping. He also wanted his children to become curious about the outdoors. Sowing the seeds when they were young, he hoped to reap future trips his children would remember their entire lives.

How did he do this? His solution was ingenious: Adventure Monkey! Adventure Monkey loves the outdoors. He isn’t afraid of bugs or other animals. Adventure Monkey is willing to try new things. He’s curious and asks lots of questions. Adventure Monkey isn’t afraid of the dark. He sleeps in a tent and goes to the bathroom outside.

Who Is Adventure Monkey?

Adventure Monkey is a Lambs & Ivy Papagayo Plush Monkey, Brown. It costs about $14 dollars on Amazon. Not only is the monkey cute, he has Velcro on his paws. So he can grab onto packs, trees, and railings. He is a machine washable 14” hiking partner. Whenever the forum member went on hiking trips, he photographed adventure monkey in a natural setting and told stories to his children.

Are Americans Afraid of Nature?

In an earlier post, I discussed Nature Phobia. I described how a worried seven year old asked me to make certain a brush rabbit had fled before he would join me on the grass to play wiffle ball.

I realized that most young children know more about iPhone apps than they do about nature. And fear of the unknown is one of our most potent demons.

Do your children perceive forests and mountains as places for adventure? Or do they shun them as murky and dangerous – places to be conquered by mud-covered daredevils?

Monkey and Me

I work with all ages of children in the outdoors. And I have young nephews. I want to expand their worlds’ view to include nature and the outdoors. Not only have studies shown that exposure to nature is good for you, but people who know and love nature are our best chance for preserving our natural environment.

But I find I need to address young childrens’ fears about nature. And for the last three years Adventure Monkey has been doing his part to help out.