Outdoor Kids in an Inside World

Getting Your Family Out of the House and Radically Engaged with Nature

By: Steven Rinella

Narrated by: Steven Rinella

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An imperative call to action” (Nick Offerman) to get children off their screens and into nature, with tips for bonding activities that teach the importance of outside time and build tough, curious, competent kids—from the host of the Netflix series and podcast MeatEater

“A revelation for families struggling to get kids to GO OUTSIDE, or to just stop using the darn smartphone.”—Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Hunt, Gather, Parent

In the era of screens and devices, the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, and children are no exception. Not only does this phenomenon have consequences for kids’ physical and mental health, it jeopardizes their ability to understand and engage with anything beyond the built environment.

Thankfully, with the right mind-set, families can find beauty, meaning, and connection in a life lived outdoors. Here, outdoors expert Steven Rinella shares the parenting wisdom he has garnered as a father whose family has lived amid the biggest cities and wildest corners of America. Throughout, he offers practical advice for getting kids radically engaged with nature in a muddy, thrilling, hands-on way, with the ultimate goal of helping them see their own place within the natural ecosystem. No matter their location—rural, suburban, or urban—caregivers and kids will bond over activities such as:
• Camping to conquer fears, build tolerance for dirt and discomfort, and savor the timeless pleasure of swapping stories around a campfire.
• Growing a vegetable garden to develop a capacity to nurture and an appreciation for hard work.
• Fishing local lakes and rivers to learn the value of patience while grappling with the possibility of failure.
• Hunting for sustainably managed wild game to face the realities of life, death, and what it really takes to obtain our food.

Living an outdoor lifestyle fosters in kids an insatiable curiosity about the world around them, confidence and self-sufficiency, and, most important, a lifelong sense of stewardship of the natural world. This book helps families connect with nature—and one another—as a joyful part of everyday life.

©2022 Steven Rinella (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Hunting and fishing stories are Rinella’s way of sending out a kind of plea. ‘I want my work to inspire people to think about the things that they love, to learn about the things that they love and to find it in them to advocate on behalf of the things that they love,’ he told me. For Rinella, that thing is the outdoors; he describes himself as ‘an environmentalist with a gun.’”—The New York Times

“I am so sincerely grateful to Mr. Rinella. For many years, I have been laboring to answer the question of how to get all of our kids off the couch and back outside into nature. Now I can just hand their parents this book—an imperative call to action that contains the secrets to living better through getting outside, and having fun while doing it.”—Nick Offerman, New York Times bestselling author of Paddle Your Own Canoe

“A revelation for families struggling to get kids to GO OUTSIDE, or to just stop using the darn smartphone. Steve Rinella uncovers the root cause of the screen-time battle and provides the perfect solution for it. Packed with funny anecdotes, nuggets of wisdom, and actionable advice, Outdoor Kids will have everyone excited to leave the house faster than a roly-poly hides under a rock.”—Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Hunt, Gather, Parent

Best book a parent could read

Rinella has a way with words that makes the bullet points drop like philosophical bombs on your conscience. I cannot recommend this title enough.

Rinella Does it Again!

Just phenomenal. Not only insightful and exciting to read as a new parent, but this guy can turn a phrase in such a way that it rivals Hemingway and Updike. Loved it start to finish and was disappointed that it ended.

Great Perspective

It doesn’t have to be a giant production. Simple and advanced advice to engage young and old to our surroundings.

Absolutely loved it!

I loved this book. I found it both entertaining and informative. This book has already prompted new conversations with my 7 and 9 year old about nature. While I expected ideas on how to encourage my children to get outside, I wasn't expecting the book to touch on how many ways we can instill certain values and important life lessons by interacting with nature. I will listen to it again and highly recommend it to any parent eager to get their kids outdoors.

Another Great Meat eater Book.

Steve Rinella just had a way with words. this book is great for parents to teach them real world scenarios on how to get their children involved with nature and the world around them.

Inspiring

Inspiring and interesting. Well told stories and ideas and encouragement for all walks of life

Pivotal and Necessary

I’ve loved everything I’ve read from him, but this is likely the best. Moving and instructional.

Great Book

Fantastic book! Lots of great info! Rinella always has a great way of breaking things down and always has a solid story to go along with any examples he sites

Inspiring and empowering

I love how this book has made me feel inspired to get my little one more radically engaged with nature- not just outside more, but deeply engaged with and a part of nature. There are many realistic, actionable routes laid out in the chapters that have given me an actual starting point. The book is especially fun to listen to as a Seattle native bc many of Rinella’s personal stories take place in Washington state.

You need to read this if you’re a parent

We learn through stories, and boy does that ring true with this book! Thank you, Steven, for saying what needs to be said.