These families took the Vitamin N Challenge — here’s what they learned

During a hike with her family, mother Katy-Robin Garton asked her children if they would like to take on the Vitamin N Challenge and share their experiences with others online.

“Can we ‘expire’ [read: inspire] families to go to nature like us? Like, they can actually go on a hike with their mama, or search for birds?” asked Katy-Robin’s five-year-old daughter Emi. “Let’s do that!”

Hosted by the Children & Nature Network and Nature’s Way, the Vitamin N Challenge helps connect families to ideas and inspiration for spending quality time outdoors together. It invites anyone and everyone to set and commit to a goal of getting more Vitamin N (for “nature”), leaving the challenge open-ended to individual interpretation. Some families commit to spending a few minutes outside every day, while others opt for weekly trips to the park or go big with monthly outdoor adventures.

“I loved that my kids not only enjoyed the challenge, but that it was special to them to inspire others to join,” reflected Katy-Robin regarding Emi’s enthusiasm for “expiring” others. This year, Katy-Robin and her family were among a handful of those who we invited to take the Vitamin N Challenge — and each family designed a challenge as unique as they are:

• Jenny Anderson (@girlof10000lakes) explored different ways of getting daily doses of Vitamin N with her children
• Kristy Cook (@accessible.adventures) pledged to have one adventure per week with her family, including son Robbie, whose disability inspires them to find creative and exciting ways to get outside 
• Katy-Robin Garton (@katyrobinbird), aka “Adventure Mom Outdoors,” committed to going outside every day — no matter the weather
• Zenovia Stephens (@blackadventurecrew) refocused her family after a hectic school year by embarking on two family outdoor adventures per month

Now that the challenge has wrapped for the year, we followed up with the families to hear what they learned from their experience.

What was your favorite moment from the Vitamin N Challenge? 

Jenny Anderson is an outdoor and travel content creator, author and blogger with a special interest in fishing, hunting and exploring Minnesota’s waters. Photo courtesy of Jenny Anderson.

Zenovia: 

“My favorite moment from the Vitamin N Challenge was coming up with an additional way to make sure our family is getting outside. 

We committed to two outdoor adventures per month throughout the school year and then added what I’ve named ‘Afterschool Nature Bites,’ where my boys choose a number that coordinates with a predetermined 1-hour outdoor activity and snack. We go on two per week and it’s been fun being even more intentional with our time.”

Jenny:

“I thoroughly enjoyed spending time fishing with the whole family. Sometimes it’s hard to get everyone on the water for an extensive period of time but we had a really nice, calm day one weekend and we ended up spending the whole day fishing and boating.”

Did you learn anything new from participating in the Vitamin N Challenge? 

Katy-Robin: 

“When we started The Vitamin N Challenge, I dove into Richard Louv’s ‘Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life.’ Initially, I saw it as a resource I could share with my online audience. But something unexpected happened — I was reminded of the simple power of nature in all its forms. 

It’s easy to think that outdoor time needs to be a grand adventure, like summiting a mountain, which is how I often envision the perfect day outdoors with my kids. The Vitamin N Challenge brought me back to what I knew as a child and often forget as an adult: that a neighborhood walk to find a leaf to trace, or a game of soccer in the field across from our house, holds the same value. These moments in nature are just as important and create meaningful connections for me and my family.” 

Kristy: 

“Being a medical family and pushing for time outside… there were days it just didn’t work out. I learned that we needed to stay flexible with our goals and if we missed a day, we tried to move that time somewhere else in the week.” 

Jenny: 

“I found that taking part in the Vitamin N Challenge made me more aware of how I spend my day. By doing the challenge, our family made more of an effort to do things outside — whether it was taking part in outdoor recreation, dining al fresco, gardening or just going to the playground. Personally, I felt happier and more productive with my day when I spent time outside.” 

Will you be taking anything out of the challenge and into your daily life? 

Katy-Robin: 

“I’ll be carrying with me something my family and I already practice, but the challenge deepened — prioritizing moments of pause outdoors, even amidst the busyness of life. Even if it’s just a brief moment, I want to take it… every day.” 

Jenny: 

“My goal is to continue to spend at least 30 minutes a day outside in all four seasons — and drag my family along. With winter taking a big chunk of our seasons in Minnesota, it’s really important for us to make the effort to get some Vitamin N during the colder months and enjoy the snow, the ice, winter activities like ice fishing and skiing, and go on winter hikes!” 

Why is getting outdoors important to you and your family? 

Kristy: 

“We have seen firsthand the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. The level of stress we experience is higher as a special needs family, which means we need time outside more than ever. A weekend adventure in nature recharges us so we can get through the week of therapies and doctors appointments.” 

Katy-Robin: 

“Nature is transformative. It inspires creativity, lowers our stress and most importantly, creates a space to deepen our connection — with each other, ourselves and the world around us. I’ve often said that the best adventures are the ones spent together, and nature is the perfect backdrop for that. Moments outdoors with our families offer a pause from the chaos of life and let us focus on what truly matters: being present with one another. For my family, being outdoors isn’t just an activity — it’s how we grow, reflect and learn.”

Zenovia: 

“Time outdoors has played a vital role in our parenting journey. As a mom, I’ve used it to manage my emotions postpartum and beyond — and I have taught my kids to seek healing and peace in nature as well. Outside of that, making sure our boys experience outdoor adventures and nature activities has been important because as Black children, it’s vital for them to know that these spaces belong to them just as much as they do to anyone else.” 

Jenny: 

“Getting outdoors is so important to us because it reconnects us with nature, grounds us, and allows us to spend quality time together, away from screens and distractions. Whether it’s a hike, fishing trip, or just time spent by the lake, it’s a way for us to reset, recharge, and create some memories. The outdoors offers endless opportunities for adventure and learning, which is something we value as a family.” 

Do you have any advice to share with other families interested in the Vitamin N Challenge or increasing their time outdoors? 

Kristy: 

“Make small goals! You can always exceed them if you have the time and energy that week.” 

Jenny enjoyed time on the water with her kids during the Vitamin N Challenge. Photo courtesy of Jenny Anderson.

Jenny: 

“My biggest piece of advice is to start small and make outdoor time part of your routine, even if it’s just a few minutes each day. You don’t need to plan an elaborate trip — nature is all around us. Go for a walk, have a picnic in your backyard, or take your kids on a mini adventure to explore a local park. 

Also, let your kids lead sometimes! Their curiosity and imagination can turn any outing into something special. Most importantly, make it fun — pack some snacks (there’s never too many snacks), invite a friend or two, and enjoy the moments together!”

Katy-Robin: 

“Oh yes, I very much do! It’s what my content creation is all about, so please join us for all things #adventure @katyrobinbird on social platforms. I also wrote an article titled ‘Adventuring Outdoors with Kids: It’s not about the gear, It’s about connection.’” 

Zenovia: 

“For others interested in the Vitamin N Challenge but don’t know where to start, I encourage you to seek community where you live. We run Black Kids Adventures, Inc,  a nonprofit in Huntsville, Alabama, dedicated to getting Black and Brown families outside together. Many others are doing similar work across the country. Also, utilize social media for inspiration! Following a family account focused on the outdoors and adventures may be all the push you need to get more Vitamin N for yours!” 

Check out more inspiration from these families below, and join us next year by signing on to the challenge!

• Katy-Robin went on a musical “nature hunt” and snuggled — in nature! — with her daughter Emi
• Jenny and her kids got creative with coloring pages to track their daily Vitamin N intake, which included dining al fresco and lounging in hammocks
• Medical mother Kristy explored creeks, playgrounds and trails with her son Robbie using adaptive equipment like an all-terrain wheelchair and an oversized child carrier, and offered tips for adapting a lake day to include a child with disabilities 
• Zenovia and her Black Adventure Crew got grounded and refocused on what matters. She shared some tips to keep kids excited, inspired and engaged to go outside — they even went snorkeling, at the request of her sons!
• Explore hashtag #VitaminNChallenge for more ideas and others’ experiences

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