Hello Mommies and Daddies!

Language fluency is a funny thing. When the topic of camping comes up, Max
quite eagerly talks about packing, tents, flashlights, sleeping bags, and not
touching the fire or lantern (for he will get burned), as well as playing
outside with his friends, getting dirty. It took just a few well-spaced camping
trips when he was not speaking to instill a broad vocabulary about camping.
When we got him his first sleeping bag, he knew exactly how to lay it out, get
in, and zip it up, and did all of this promptly without any sort of instruction,
giggling all the while. Max thoroughly enjoys camping, evidenced by his broad
vocabulary on the subject and dexterity for a lot of the physical skills
involved.

We're off camping this weekend, so he's already planning what to bring and what
to do. It'll be a nice escape from technology, and we'll have a great time
reconnecting with nature and friends. The food prep is perfect for little
hands, and he'll enjoy showing off for others and receiving a lot of attention.

The third annual Stroller Hikes camping trip happens over Labor Day Weekend
(September 5th – 7th) in Soquel, which is about 30 minutes from San Jose, and
less than ten minutes from the beach. Liza has volunteered to host at her
family's large ranch, so this year's trip will be a fundraiser for Stroller
Hikes – we'll charge families about the same amount of money as you would pay
for a tent site at a state park, with proceeds going to support Stroller Hikes.
All contributions are tax deductable.

The Stroller Hikes camping trip should be lovely – the campsite is about 30 feet
from the shallow Soquel Creek, with sand and river rocks aplenty to play with.
Redwoods and eucalyptus shade the area, which is delightfully serene. We'll
fire up the grills for dinner and have a fire pit at night for marshmallows and
S'mores. The camping trip, as usual, is open to any Stroller Hikes families –
just let me know that you plan to come. The campground will open on Saturday
late morning, and close on Monday early afternoon, but you don't have to plan to
stay the whole time. Please e-mail me (you can reply to this message) to
indicate if you plan to join us, if you have any food aversions and allergies
(we'll share food for dinner), and how long you plan to stay. If you would like
to share or would like to borrow a large supply (like a cooler or tent), please
let me know. REI rents supplies and Play It Again Sports can be a great place
to buy used supplies, if you're in need of things, but we may be able to share
supplies "in house" as well.

Speaking of sharing, I promised a new friend, Fritz, that I would let all of you
know about a Yahoo Group just recently begun. Fritz and some friends began
Sunnyvale Trails, a group for discussing use of trails in Sunnyvale, including
promoting family-friendly trail use. I have included this group on the "Share
Ideas" page under Support Groups (click on the Share Ideas picture at the top of
the strollerhikes.com). Fritz is also a part of the NorCal Bike Forum, which is
providing weekly bicycle rides for families along Stevens Creek Trail on
Sundays, which you now see on the Stroller Hikes calendar. Cool stuff!

Stroller Hikes will continue to partner and promote free resources for families
to get outside with their kids, support healthy lifestyles, and engage in nature
and physical education. If you have a partnership to suggest, please let me
know! If you would like to personally partner with Stroller Hikes, we are
always looking for marketing, content, and event leader support. Additionally,
we are ever grateful for personal donations of baby-related supplies that we can
resell to raise funds, or monetary donations to help run our programs. Feel
free to reply to this e-mail for more information.

Here are this week's events:

Sunday, July 26th at 10 am NorCal Bike Forums and William Symons and his kids
lead a leisurely bicycle ride down the Stevens Creek Trail. Meet at Sleeper
Park, at the intersection of Sleeper Road and Franklin Road in Mountain View.
The ride should be over by noon. This ride is suitable for parents with infants
and toddlers, as well as very young independent riders (all ages!). William will
teach a brief safety class, discuss trail etiquette, and lead the ride to the
Central Expressway Bridge (where train sightings are common!). Riders can ride
to nearby cafes for refreshments or stop at the parks along the length of the
trail, on the way back. For more information about this NorCal Bike Forum event
and other events, seeNor Cal Bike Forum's Family Events. For more information
about the trail, see the Stevens Creek Trail Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/StevensCreekTrail/StevensCreekTrail.html).

Monday, July 27th at 10 am we'll meet at John W Christian Greenbelt. Amy L. and
little Adelina will lead a speed walk / jog along the lovely wide, paved
greenbelt in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Dogs allowed but be sure they can manage
on a faster-paced walk/run. We'll take a break around the halfway point for the
trip, to play at the large playground for toddlers, along the greenbelt. Meet at
the pedestrian bridge on Ahwanee Avenue and San Junipero Drive (the bridge is
just NW of San Junipero Dr.). Here is a Mapquest Map of the Starting Location:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/Ahwanee+Ave+and+San+Junipero+Dr+Sunnyvale+CA/. For
more information about the trail, see the John W Christian Greenbelt Webpage
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/GreenbeltSunnyvale/GreenbeltSunnyvale.html).
Call Amy at 650-207-6556 if you're running late.

Tuesday, July 28th at 8:30 am Loren and little Angelo will lead a mellow
stroller jog around Almaden Lake and down Los Alamitos Trail. Meet at the water
dragon by the big playground near the bathrooms and swimming beach in the main
parking lot near the intersection of Coleman Avenue and Almaden Expressway. No
dogs allowed! Jogging strollers are best, but this is an entirely paved trail,
so smaller-wheeled strollers are also OK. Walkers always welcome! For more
information about the area or directions, see The Los Alamitos Creek Trail
Webpage (http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/LosAlamitos/LosAlamitos.html). If
you're running late, call Loren at 831-227-6737.

No Tuesday afternoon hike this week.

Wednesday, July 29th at 9:45 am we'll hike at Rancho San Antonio in
Cupertino/Los Altos Hills. We'll do an almost entirely paved, flat path going to
the farm, and possibly go past it. The road is perfect for trikes or bikes, if
toddlers or young children want to ride. Any baby transport will work. Meet at
the main lower parking lot at the water fountain in front of the bathrooms(just
past the entrance, turn right, then follow the road until it ends). For more
information or directions, see the Rancho San Antonio Page
(http://www.strollerhikes.com/Hikes/RanchoSanAntonio/ranchoSanAntonio.html).
Sorry, dogs not allowed. This hike is at least half shaded. Lisa and little
Samuel will lead this hike. If you're running late, call Lisa at 650-892-8678.

Thursday, July 30th at 4 pm join Debbie and little Max for a Toddler Trek at
McClellan Ranch Farm/Park in Cupertino. McClellan Ranch is a small park with a
community garden and farm, a creekside trail, and a new length of the Stevens
Creek Trail running from it to Blackberry Farm and beyond. We may see some
reptiles, plants, and insects with the help of one of the naturalists of the
park; visit the gardens and livestock area of the park; and walk along the new
stretch of Stevens Creek Trail here. We will definitely check out the creek!
We'll identify drought-deciduous Buckeyes and other trees with notable traits in
the summer, as well. The park is easily accessible from Foothill Expressway,
Highway 85, or Highway 280, in Cupertino (less than five minutes from each).
Its address is 22221 McClellan Ranch Road, Cupertino. Meet at the picnic tables
just beyond the parking lot, next to the barn. Long pants and good shoes are
recommended, as the trail is often bordered by tall grass. Backpacks or
carriers are recommended for babies; we'll encourage toddlers to walk. If
you're running late, call Debbie at 650-776-1082.

Please reply to this message or the poll if you would like to come
camping!

-Debbie and little Max