Bare Soles Explorers

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Bare Soles Explorers

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Join the Bare Soles Explorers in raising awareness to the importance for kids to explore the great outdoors.

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10/08/2026

"Why try to explain miracle to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden." Robert Brault

Do you have a favorite quote about nature? We'd love to hear it.

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

10/06/2026

Visiting Hot Springs Mountain Tower was a highlight of our trip while in Arkansas. Standing 216 feet tall atop Hot Springs Mountain, the current superstructure opened in 1983, continuing a tradition of scenic observation on this peak that dates back to the first wooden tower built in 1877.

All three of us took the elevator up to the open-air deck and thoroughly enjoyed taking in the panoramic views of the Ouachita Mountains. Stepping into high, open vantage points exposes children to vast landscapes, which stimulates spatial awareness, deepens visual processing, and sparks natural curiosity about the environment. Getting kids outside to experience these sweeping, real-world perspectives gives their developing minds a powerful break from screens while encouraging them to actively observe and engage with the world around them.

Are there any scenic lookout towers or panoramic overlooks near your home town?

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

10/01/2026

While making our way back through Arkansas, we spent some time in downtown Hot Springs, walking the street and touring the Hot Springs National Park visitor center bathhouse. Seeing the thermal water bubble up in open pools and feeling its soothing heat made the natural history of the springs come alive. The steam rising from the water and the warmth radiating from the basin gave us a firsthand look at the powerful geothermal energy flowing right beneath the town.

Rich tactile and visual experiences like feeling naturally heated spring water build stronger cognitive connections, turning abstract science into an exciting, hands-on discovery. When kids engage all their senses outdoors, it grounds them in the present moment, stimulates their curiosity, and deepens their appreciation for the natural world.

Have you or your kids ever experienced natural thermal hot springs before?

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

09/29/2026

It was an extremely hot day outside during our trip, making the Oklahoma Aquarium the perfect indoor escape. This is easily one of the best aquariums we’ve ever visited. The building is wonderfully laid out, making it seamless for families to navigate. The interactive spots were fantastic—from getting to feel sea life and feed the turtles to walking through the massive underwater shark tunnel, our son was completely awestruck.

Aquariums offer children such a powerful way to learn about aquatic ecosystems, marine conservation, and animal behaviors up close. Stepping into this environment fosters a natural sense of wonder and empathy for creatures we don't normally see every day. The atmosphere throughout the exhibits is very relaxed and welcoming, and the floor was cool beneath my feet on a hot day. Building this kind of hands-on knowledge about diverse aquatic species helps spark a lifelong curiosity that truly rewilds a child's mind and deepens their connection to the natural world.

What is your family's favorite sea creature to see at the aquarium?

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

Oklahoma Aquarium

09/24/2026

When we preserve historic landmarks, we aren't just saving old structures—we’re protecting places that sparked joy, imagination, and community connection for generations. Passing these whimsical, historic treasures down to the next generation teaches our kids that joy and creativity are essential parts of the human story while inspiring them to dream big.

Of all our stops along Route 66, the Blue Whale of Catoosa was easily my personal favorite. Built in 1972 by a local family man named Hugh Davis as a surprise anniversary gift for his wife and a fun swim spot for local kids, this giant blue landmark has brought smiles to travelers for decades. Walking around the whale and taking in its cheerful history was a huge hit for our family. It is such a great example of how simple, creative acts can become beloved cultural treasures that stand the test of time.

How do you help your kids appreciate the history and culture of the places you visit together?

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

09/22/2026

Culture is built on human creativity, problem-solving, and the unique local stories that make every region special. Preserving historic landmarks along the way helps kids realize that culture isn't just found in museums—it lives in the bridges, small towns, and roads we travel every day. Exposing children to these preserved pieces of local heritage encourages curiosity and shows them how innovation shapes our everyday lives.

Further along our drive, we stopped to see the legendary 9-foot section of Route 66, built in the early 1920s as a surprisingly narrow strip of asphalt paved wide enough for just one car at a time. Nearby, we also visited the historic 1926 Pryor Creek Bridge in Chelsea, Oklahoma. Seeing both of these preserved landmarks helped us imagine what driving cross-country was really like a hundred years ago.

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

09/17/2026

Preserving historic landmarks gives our children a tangible bridge to the past, helping them understand where we came from and how communities grew. When kids see and touch real pieces of history along iconic roads like Route 66, abstract stories from textbooks transform into living adventures. Teaching them to value these physical connections fosters a deeper sense of empathy and appreciation for the people who traveled these paths before us.

We explored the famous Rainbow Bridge, built in 1923, which is the last remaining Marsh Rainbow Arch bridge on all of Route 66. Walking up to this engineering marvel gives kids a clear look at how highway design has evolved over the last century. It is a fantastic place to talk about early road trips and the ingenuity of early American engineers.

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

09/15/2026

Exploring Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas was such an enriching experience, made even better by the outstanding staff. Everyone we met was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and deeply knowledgeable about the fort's history—from its early days on the 1840s frontier through the turbulent times of Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War. It’s always inspiring to connect with staff who bring history to life with so much passion for shared learning.

As I walked through the grounds, I was struck by the sheer variety of textures. From aged brick walkways and wooden porches to soft grass, crunchy gravel, and old stone flagstones, every surface physically connects you to the story of the past. While going barefoot certainly isn't for everyone, simply paying attention to these varied surfaces—whether feeling them with your feet or touching the old wood and stone with your hands—is a wonderful way for kids and adults alike to slow down, build sensory awareness, and feel a tangible connection to history.

What’s your favorite way to help your kids engage all five senses when visiting historic sites?

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

09/10/2026

How did begin? It started with my love for barefoot hiking and over 15 years of working with youth, where I saw an urgent need for kids and teens to unplug and explore. When our son was born, I wanted to get him outdoors and share how naturally learning happens in that environment.

Recent polls show that nearly 72% of youth actually prefer screen-free outdoor play, and when given the freedom, kids and teens naturally love kicking off their shoes. With grounding and earthing now scientifically backed for reducing stress, sharpening focus, and boosting mental capacity, bringing these worlds together was a natural fit.

Bare Soles Explorers was born to empower young people of all ages to shed their shoes, reconnect with the earth, and let real-world learning take root.

Reconnecting kids and families with nature starts with getting outside. Bare Soles Explorers is on a mission to encourage active outdoor play by exploring the great outdoors. Visit baresolesexplorers.org to discover the movement!

09/08/2026

At Bare Soles Explorers, we are on a mission: Raising Awareness to the Importance for Kids to Explore the Great Outdoors!

Did you know children eight and older spend over 1,300 hours a year staring at screens? That’s more than 3.5 hours every single day on phones, TVs, and computers. We believe it’s time to help our kids put down the video games, step outside, and reconnect with nature. Whether it’s building a stick fort, hiking a local trail, visiting a museum, or camping under the stars, outdoor play boosts physical health, improves focus, and builds confidence.

Why Bare Soles Explorers?
Because kids naturally love running around barefoot! Plus, going barefoot has real health benefits for both kids and adults — like strengthening feet, improving balance, reducing stress, and boosting sensory development. You don't have to go barefoot to join us, but a love for adventure and making family memories is a must.

Ready to discover the movement?
Unplug from technology today and explore a destination nearby or plan a fun road trip. Kids might outgrow stuff, but they never outgrow adventures. Snap a photo of your journey, tag us , and use so we can feature your adventures on our page!

Will you join us?

Address

Moulton, AL
35650

Website

https://www.baresolesexplorers.org/

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