On this blog we talk about gear, activities and ways to motivate children and families in outdoor exploration.  However, I would be remiss if I didn't talk about a different kind of Outdoor Family-- those with no choice and no freedom to escape exposure to the elements.

For our children if the weather outside gets bad, or if there are mosquitoes in the evening we have abundant choices available to us-- to either go inside and totally be free (except for that one annoying bug that follows us inside) or to stay in a screened porch or tent, or to use abundant and cheap bug repellents and candles.

In Africa, there is a different story.  Every 30 seconds a child dies from malaria, a totally preventable disease.  We talk about ways to increase children's enjoyment of their time in the outdoors, but in your purchasing of crafts, backpacks, shoes, tents and many of the other pieces of equipment, I would love to encourage you to take a few minutes and visit UNICEF USA's site and look at their initiative to provide badly needed mosquito nets that children and their mothers can sleep under to repel mosquitoes and other pests.

These tents are inexpensive and can really make a difference for a child or multiple children.  According to UNICEF, in some countries, the usage of mosquito nets is as low as 5%.  Imagine the difference if every time a person bought a tent for their family to use in their outdoor adventures they bought a tent so that another family could be safe and sound.


To donate a mosquito tent to a child in need, visit UNICEF USA's site at http://www.unicefusa.org/ for the general page of by clicking on the direct link to the donation page to give a tent.