Our Story

I'm Ayaka, a mom of two little explorers and an outdoor educator from California. I've seen how kids light up when learning moves outside. A simple walk changed once I added a story or a game. Curiosity lasted, and the day felt new again.

I started Little Trail Friends because I wanted to hike a little longer without the constant “Are we there yet?” or requests for another snack break. Stories gave our hikes rhythm and purpose, and the journey itself became the adventure.

I used to be all in on child-led walks. And I still am when the time is right. But some days we'd spend ten minutes watching a single bug and not make it very far. I love letting them explore at their own pace, but giving them a simple purpose to keep moving has changed our hikes.

There were also the moments where one of them (or both) would suddenly need to be carried halfway through, or so I thought, only to look back and still see our car in the distance! We'd start out excited, but somewhere along the way we'd lose that momentum.

But when it works, they start noticing things they would've walked right past before.

That's what grew into this, a place for anyone who wants to get outside with kids but isn't sure where to start.