5 Questions for the Outdoor Family – Kate Richards @AdventureMumma

Oct 12

I’m starting this Question and Answer Blog series off with me (after all it is my Blog ;)

**One of our recent family adventures – Green Island with Great Adventures**

I want to highlight families that are active and outdoorsy and opt to invest their time and $$$ into giving their children a wealth of experiences rather than the ‘latest’ item that has landed on the shop shelves.

So without further ado, here is some more info about 'moi' @AdventureMumma……..

Quick BIO: Mum of 2 kids, Josh (boy) 10 & Charlie 8 (girl). Partner of Rob. Live in Far North Queensland, Cairns. Main job is Photographer and Videographer at Troppo Images (my own business). Click HERE to read more about our family.

UPDATE: Mum of 2 Teens now - Josh 18 & Charlie 16.....AND STILL with partner Rob (35+ years & counting) & YES 😅 - A Medal would be nice 🏅

1. What have been some of your ‘Coolest’ Adventures (Before Kids).

Living and working in a number of countries before ‘officially’ settling in Cairns – America’s North-East, Japan, UK and New Zealand’s South Island.

**Filming underwater was my ‘office’ job**

Working in the underwater realm for over 15 Years as a marine bio, dive instructor, photographer and videographer and sharing that love about anything Aquatic with others.

Volunteering and tagging crocodiles up in Lakefield National Park with the Environment Department (EPI/Parks and Wildlife). Travelling to Antarctica onboard a research vessel and participating in diving and filming around the Antarctic continent. Visiting the "Coldest Place on the Earth" and ‘hanging out’ with penguins and seals at Mawson’s Hut in Commonwealth Bay.

**A ‘Before Kids’ Adventure – Diving in Antarctica**

2. What have been some of your standout ‘Special’ Moments you’ve shared with your children.

Our camping experiences - Seeing them enjoy being outdoors 24/7 and never seemingly get tired or bored of being in nature (although a little worn out by the end of the day).

Taking them to places that are special to us and seeing them experience the same thrill and enjoyment as we do (sometimes more!).

**My kids love snorkelling and ADORE the underwater critters**

Showing them the Great Barrier Reef and sharing some of the things that I used to experience on a daily basis – sharks, rays, turtles, giant clams (although they seem to get more excited about the simple things like starfish and sea cucumbers 😃 ).

Sharing some of my favourite storybooks or movies that I remember from my childhood.

3. What TIPS can you offer families who want to do MORE with their children.

Have a bag ready to GO. We did this when our kids were babies (nappies, spare clothes etc etc) and now we still have a bag packed – although now its full of swim gear, towels, snorkels and sunscreen (we live in the tropics) so we can just grab the bag and head out the door, particularly when things are getting a bit ‘testy’ at home.

**A ‘Before Kids’ Adventure – Crocodile Tagging**

AND Don’t take no for an answer. Often my children aren’t overly enthusiastic about leaving home and their digital comforts BUT we go regardless. So far I have resisted against letting them take their digital technology along for the ride. It gives my children no alternative but to make the most of our destination. It can be painful at times but once we’ve pushed through the ‘barriers’ they always manage to enjoy themselves.

4. What things (a Bucket List) would you still LIKE to experience with your children?

Before Cairns I used to live in the Outback and I would really like to take them back to the Red Centre and show them around my ‘home town’. I would also like to do a one-on-one trip with each of my kids when they become a ‘teen’ somewhere in the outback – for example a camel trek or a cattle muster perhaps.

UPDATE: We DID do the Outback and I did get to show my kids where I lived and hung out. We actually drove from Cairns to Perth in 2017 via the Outback Way, Australia’s Longest Short Cut. Check out my Photo Blog Part 1 & Part 2…..there’s lots to see out there.

Also, going around Australia on a BIG road trip is another big desire for me – although I’m still in the process of convincing my partner that we can accomplish this ;) .

UPDATE: And we did go exploring Australia in a caravan (the PINK MINNIE) for 3 months down the East Coast in 2016 as Brand Ambassadors for Dometic Australia. We also helped raise over $100,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. How COOL is that!!!

**A ‘Before Kids’ Adventure – Hiking Hinchinbrook**

And I hope that one day we will do a few ‘family treks’ somewhere – perhaps some of those epic walks in NZ or even the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island (Rob and I have done many of these together during our pre-kids life)

5. Where can we find you?

Well here obviously on my Blog - AdventureMumma – you can also find me sharing stuff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter under the @AdventureMumma account – I’m trying to inspire others to get outside and be more active with their kids. I started my blogging life at Fitdog101 (promoting health and happiness to dog lovers) but now most of my efforts are concentrated on my ‘family’ blog.

Is your family the Outdoorsy type? Tell me some of the things you really enjoy doing as a family. Would you like to be featured (or know somebody who should be featured) on this blog?