Contact Me

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Linda@lindamcgurk.com

Linda-455-low-res

rainorshinemamma

Swedish American author, speaker and nature play advocate🌿 Living an open-air life⛺️ Start here👇🏼

This is what privilege looks like. When I need m

This is what privilege looks like.

When I need my daily dose of pine trees, winding trails and solitude, I can just walk out the door and find it in a matter of minutes, no matter which direction I go in. I can walk, forage, camp, ugly dance and even light a small fire on public land, whether it’s an official park or not. But even more notably, I can do it on privately owned land as well, and I don’t even need to ask for permission 🌲⛺️🔥

If you’ve read my books, you know that Sweden has a law called allemansrätten, or the Right to Roam, which gives the people extensive rights to enjoy nature, regardless of whose name is on the property deed. Naturally, it also comes with responsibility to treat the land with respect and not cause any destruction.

Norway, Sweden and Finland have the oldest and most extensive Right to Roam laws but they also exist in Iceland and Scotland. Which brings me back to the privilege part. I realize this isn’t the norm in the world, even though I wish it were.

Right now, the fight for the right to roam is heating up in Dartmoor, one of the few places in England where it was previously allowed to wild camp. A right that was overturned after a wealthy landowner took the case to court. I’m cheering on from the sidelines and hoping that @right.2roam will be successful in its fight for democratizing access to the countryside not only in Dartmoor, but in all of England🙌🏻⛺️👊🏻

#allemansrätten #allemansretten #therighttoroam #therighttoexplore #righttoroam #friluftsliv #theopenairlife #openairlife

Some truths don't change🌿 Carl Linnaeus, the Sw

Some truths don't change🌿 Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist who created the system for classifying and naming plants and animals, lived 300 years ago but I try to live by this saying every day.

To children, the ability to feel a sense of wonder comes naturally but it's also a little bit like high school French - if you don't use it, you lose it. And as adults, we're often too busy or jaded to feel wonder over ordinary things.

One of my favorite, simple ways of honing my sense of wonder is to sleep under the open skies every now and then. Looking up at the infinity that is the starry night sky, I'm reminded that the seemingly ordinary things are often the most extraordinary of them all.

What makes you feel in awe and a sense of wonder?
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#friluftsliv #openairlife #theopenairlifebook #theresnosuchthingasbadweather #outdoorlife #outdoorseveryday #awe #wonder

One of the most common questions I get is what kin

One of the most common questions I get is what kind of activities I recommend for kids outside, especially in the winter. Now you know🙃
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#rainorshinemamma #theopenairlife #theopenairlifebook #friluftsliv #outdoorplay #outdoorfamilies #outdooractivities #simplelife #simpleliving #lifeisbetterintheopenair

This❤️ While this is just how my parents raise

This❤️ While this is just how my parents raised me, I don't think I fully appreciated the meaning of it until I became a mother myself. Since I was a very motivated high-achiever, I've sometimes struggled not to project my academic expectations of myself onto my children. I thrived from pressure - I saw test scores and grades as my reward for hard work - but motherhood has humbled me and I've realized that there are many ways to succeed besides excelling at school. In fact, some of the savviest people I know were far academic prodigies and some were just late bloomers.

Today, whenever my children tell me a test score or a grade and ask me if I'm happy with it, I turn the question on its head and ask them, "Are YOU happy with it?" and "Do YOU feel like you did the best you could?" If the answer is "Yes," it's all good. If they're not contented with their effort, I give them all the support I can to help them improve next time. In the end, academic ability is just one of many skills needed and worth encouraging. Kindness, compassion, generosity, creativity, honesty, problem-solving, resilience, humility and critical thinking are others that I try to instill in my children on a daily basis, but aren't always easily measured.

I also think we need to rethink the way we define 'success'. Should it be a measurement of how much material wealth, power and status we're able to amass in a lifetime? Or should we use the term to gauge our level of happiness, sense of purpose and connection with the people and planet that we live on? I know what I choose.

Thank you, @northwoodsfolk, for the wise words.
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#theopenairlife #theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #slowliving #friluftsliv

Big thanks to everyone who braved the frigid tempe

Big thanks to everyone who braved the frigid temperatures and the complementary mix of snow, sleet and hail, to come out and listen to me talk about friluftsliv and outdoor play in any weather in Carmel today. At least the weather made for a fitting backdrop to the topic😁

Moments like these make me hopeful of the future. The movement to get kids back outside is gaining momentum. It’s not happening overnight but it’s taken great leaps since I became a mom nearly 15 years ago. Attitudes are changing, outdoor play groups are booming and forest schools are popping up all over the country.

Special thanks to @inkidsandnature @carla.gull and @lhehman1 for making this event happen☺️
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #theopenairlife #friluftsliv #outdoorplay #carmel #outdoorplaygroup

I’m making an appearance at @treehuggerdotcom to

I’m making an appearance at @treehuggerdotcom today and they made this great graphic explaining the basics of friluftsliv🙌🏻😁 Are you planning to embrace an open-air life in 2023?
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#openairlife #theopenairlife #friluftsliv #treehugger #lifeisbetteroutside #outdoorslife #outdoorseveryday

“To me, friluftsliv begins when the motor is tur

“To me, friluftsliv begins when the motor is turned off.”

Quote by @lindastaaf in The Open-Air Life🌲

I can only agree. Although we sometimes need vehicles to transport ourselves to certain places outdoors, it isn’t until the sounds of human activity have diminished that we can fully appreciate the natural world.

Fantastic powder day courtesy of @beartoothpowderguides and @cookecitysinclair.
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#friluftsliv #theopenairlife #theopenairlifebook #backcountryskiing #skiing #montana #cookecity #powder #powderday #powderskiing #beartoothmountains #beartoothpowderguides

When I heard that @lhehman1 had started an outdoor

When I heard that @lhehman1 had started an outdoor playgroup in Indiana after being inspired by my book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, I was so excited. Creating more opportunities for kids to get outdoors is exactly the reason why I wrote the book and it’s been fun to see the ripple effects that it’s having.

On January 5th I get to visit Lyndsey and the other families for an event cohosted by @inkidsandnature and I would love it if you’d join us. We’ll be at Cool Creek Park in Carmel, IN, from 3-5pm. I’ll do a talk and a Q&A and will have some books on hand. Bring your kids and join us! I’ll post a link to the event in my bio.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #theopenairlife #outdoorplay #playoutside #outdoorplaygroup

Merry Christmas from Yellowstone National Park and

Merry Christmas from Yellowstone National Park and Cooke City🤶🎄I lost all my luggage in Indiana and slept on an airport floor in Minneapolis after my connecting flight was canceled. Still, I’m immensely grateful that I’ll be able to spend the holidays in a peaceful place, with people who are near and dear to my heart (and that I’ll get to go skiing)❤️

As usual, I will take a break from social media for a while, to focus on being present with the people I came here to see, and to fall in love with the amazing Rocky Mountains all over again🏔️ I hope you too will find some time to be awed by nature this holiday season🙏🏻🌲
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#friluftsliv #openairlife #openairliving #mountainculture #montana

The lack of daylight at this time of the year has

The lack of daylight at this time of the year has a way of sucking the energy out of you. It’s as if Mother Nature herself is trying to tell us all to go hibernate until spring.

We all have different ways of dealing with the dark at these latitudes. Personally, I try to lean into it and embrace it. See it as an invitation to slow down and focus my attention inwards🧘‍♂️

But with the winter solstice drawing near, I’m increasingly focused on bringing the light back, literally and figuratively. The light is my way of honoring the season. So invite some friends, have a campfire and sing some songs that everyone knows. I take comfort in the knowledge that soon enough, the days will once again get longer and my energy will return🔥
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#friluftsliv #theopenairlife #theresnosuchthingasbadweather #fire #campfire #hygge #outdoors #outdoorlife

There aren't a lot of poems that I come back to fo

There aren't a lot of poems that I come back to for comfort over and over again, but this is one of them. If you're struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder or other mental health issues, or just feeling down over the current state of the world, go outside and find peace in the natural world. These are just a few ways nature can increase our mental health:

☀️ Sun exposure can trigger the production of the body's "happy hormone" serotonin, which in turn can boost your mood and make you feel calm and focused.
🕊 Noticing nature, for example by listening to birdsong or hugging a tree, can make us happier, more content and less prone to depression.
🌳 Green spaces and blue spaces make us less stressed and more relaxed.
🗻 The natural world tickles our sense of wonder and make us feel part of something greater than ourselves, which can be comforting.
🌿 Being truly connected to nature can increase our well-being and feelings of purpose in life, even when we're inside.

Mental disorders are complex and nature is no panacea, but in many cases, nature connection can be just as effective or even more effective than pharmaceuticals. And while it can't fix all the human-caused atrocities that are going on in the world, it can help us cope and find strength in hard times.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #theopenairlife #openairlife #friluftsliv #mentalhealth #gooutside #outsideeveryday

What have Scandinavians figured out about connecti

What have Scandinavians figured out about connecting with nature in everyday life and how can people everywhere benefit from a friluftsliv lifestyle?🌿That’s what my new book The Open-Air Life is about and what I will be talking to Lindsay of @the.madsen.littles about this week. Tune in to the Zoom live bright and early this Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 8 am EST. Sign up in my bio⬆️
Hope to see you there!🤗
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#friluftsliv #theopenairlife #openairlife #outdoorlife #outdoorseveryday #theairisfree #nordic

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to th

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to the winners:
1st prize: @littlebugsnaturepreschool
2nd-3rd prize: @whitneyroberts1 @simplified.khaos
Please message me with your name and address to claim your prize!☺️

🔥GIVEAWAY🔥
To celebrate that it’s been one month since I published my book THE OPEN-AIR LIFE, I’ve partnered with a few of my favorite brands for an amazing giveaway. Together, we’re giving away nearly $1,000 worth of prizes ideal for friluftsliv - the biggest giveaway I’ve ever done! I guarantee you that these prizes will help you spend less time inside four walls and more time in the great outdoors🌲

1st prize: Hiking pants and pile jacket from Fristads (value $300)
Gift card to MK Nordika (value $200)
Beanie and wrist gaiters from Woolpower (value $90)
12L kids backpack and double hammock from 1000 Hours Outside (value $75)
3 copies of THE OPEN-AIR LIFE from Tarcher Perigee (value $60)

2nd-3rd prize
Beanie and wrist gaiters from Woolpower (value $90)
1 copy of THE OPEN-AIR LIFE from Tarcher Perigee (value $20)

How to enter:
1. Like and save this post
2. Follow all the accounts in the giveaway:  @fristadsofficial  @mknordika_kids  @woolpowerus @1000hoursoutside  @tarcherperigee @rainorshinemamma
3. Tag two friends in the comments

May the forest be with you and good luck!🌳

The giveaway closes on Dec. 4 and the winners will be announced shortly after. Must be 18 and reside in the US to enter. The giveaway is not endorsed by or affiliated with Meta.

#TheOpenAirLife #TheOpenAirLifeBook #TarcherPerigee #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv

Children are intuitively attuned to nature, but wh

Children are intuitively attuned to nature, but when they’re little, they’re dependent on the adults in their lives to provide them with time and space for outdoor play🌿

I know parents are under a lot of pressure to do All. The. Things. for their kids today and the idea is not to add yet another chore to the to-do-list, but to live a life where nature has a constant and given presence🌳

A life where nature is not an abstraction, but a place to call home.
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#theopenairlife #theopenairlifebook #friluftsliv #outdoorfamilies #outdoorkids #letthemexplore

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Winners of the book g

This giveaway is now CLOSED. Winners of the book giveaway were @limitless1216 and @kassiswallow. Winner of a year in the Kids Moon Club was @batlixie. Congratulations!

🌿INVITING NATURE INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON🌿

Join us – Wildschooling founder Nicolette Sowder and author Linda McGurk – in a rare Instagram Live this Sunday at 11am EST, as we explore the meaning of the winter solstice and different ways of connecting with our families, ancestors, and Mother Nature during this special time of the year.

Our discussion will span everything from traditional folklore and the magic of storytelling to hands-on ideas for celebrating the season outdoors. We will also be giving away two copies of Linda’s new book, The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Connect with Nature Every Day, and a year in the Kids Moon Club 2023 Journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to align with the season with us!🔥

How to enter the giveaway:

1. Follow @awilderchild and @rainorshinemamma
2. Comment on this post by finishing this sentence: To me, the holiday season is about…
3. Join our IG Live Sunday, Nov. 13 at 11am EST

The winners will be drawn at the end of the Live.
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#holidays #instagramlive #wilderchild #rainorshinemamma #giveaway #outdoortraditions

Four years ago, I sat in my friend's basement in B

Four years ago, I sat in my friend's basement in Bozeman, Montana, and wrote the introduction for what would become my new book, The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature in Everyday Life. Life happened and it would take me two more years to finish the proposal, a year to write the book and yet another year for the publisher to edit my manuscript and bring it to market. That may seem like a long time, but I don’t think the timing could’ve been better.

Study after study is now showing what most of us can already feel intuitively: that being active outside isn’t just good for our physical and mental health - it’s absolutely crucial. Still, many of us keep treating the outdoors like an optional, rather than a necessity. Something we’ll do if we can fit it into our busy schedules. Ironically, those with the most hectic lifestyles are also those who stand to gain the most from slowing down in nature🌿

Friluftsliv, or “open-air life” is about spending time outside in the natural and cultural landscapes for personal wellness and to experience nature, without pressure to achieve or compete.

How you practice friluftsliv is up to you. It can be as simple as going for walks in your local neighborhood or as advanced as learning how to survive in the wilderness. But in reality, friluftsliv is much more than a set of activities – it’s a culturally learned rhythm that revolves around finding joy in nature. In the process, it connects us with the land, our communities and our ancestors🙏🏼

While friluftsliv is a Nordic concept, it holds the potential to benefit all of us, regardless of your culture, religion, ethnicity or socioeconomic background.

Embracing nature can be life changing. I also believe that the culture of friluftsliv is one of the reasons why people in the Nordic countries consistently rank among the happiest in the world. Would you like to know how? Grab a copy of The Open-Air Life now. Then do as the Nordic people do: just go outside! (Buy link in bio)
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@tarcherperigee @meg_thompson
#TheOpenAirLife #friluftsliv #outdoorlife #outsideeveryday #outdoorfamilies

Let them run wild🔥 That is all.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #theopenairlife #rainorshinemamma #theairisfree #outdoorlife #lifeisbetteroutside #outdoorfamilies #1000hoursoutside #runwildmychild #letthemplay #letkidsplay #letkidsbekids #wildandfree

These images and video are from last weekend, when

These images and video are from last weekend, when Nora and I went camping near Gothenburg in western Sweden. If you look closely at the first photo, you’ll see that there’s an airplane in the sky, just coming in for landing✈️ That’s because we’re literally a 10-minute drive from one of the biggest airports in Sweden😅

I chose this location purely because it was convenient; we had to pick somebody up from a flight the next morning. Getting to a more remote location wasn’t feasible with our timeline and instead of getting hung up on the noise from the airplanes (we counted about 10 over the course of the night), I felt grateful that there are places of such beauty so close to the city. We literally spent the night where the wild and the human made intersect⛺️

Was this the most epic location I’ve ever camped in? Certainly not. But sometimes, a good enough location is a lot better than not going camping at all😁

Have you ever gone camping in an urban area?
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#friluftsliv #theopenairlife #theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #camping #urbancamping #campingwithkids #liveoutdoors #lifeisbetteroutside

🚀ONE WEEK UNTIL LAUNCH!🚀 In just a week's t

🚀ONE WEEK UNTIL LAUNCH!🚀

In just a week's time, my book The Open-Air Life will hit book shelves and it's exciting and nerve-wracking all at once. It will be the first English language book to take a deep dive into the friluftsliv tradition and attempt to explain it to the world. and I feel like that comes with great responsibility to do it justice.

One of the take-home messages of the book is that friluftsliv is a way to connect our own lives with the lives of our ancestors, and I've noticed that the older I get the more important this becomes to me. While modernization has brought us many conveniences, it has also alienated us from the natural world where we evolved and caused us to lose knowledge of basic survival skills. By living simply and learning friluftsliv skills, we can heal that broken link, empower ourselves and connect our children with the land and our history in an authentic way.

Curious to learn more? Pre-order your copy of The Open-Air Life now and get a bonus bundle featuring 5 tasty outdoor recipes! You'll find the links to both in my bio👌🏼
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@tarcherperigee #TheOpenAirLife #friluftsliv #outdoorlife #lifeisbetteroutside #bookstagram #naturelover

With a teen in the house, I’m having to accept t

With a teen in the house, I’m having to accept that going on weekend adventures as a family is far from a given. My oldest now has her own sphere of friends, interests and ideas, a different world that often has a stronger appeal to her than mine. I’m having to accept that she’s becoming an independent young adult and that my influence over her is waning. I’m having to accept that any time we go camping together from now on might be the last time, and I won’t even realize it until much later😭😭

This realization has made camping with my youngest daughter, who is 11, seem even more precious. This past weekend we went to a nearby nature area to do some hiking, camping and experimenting with new dessert recipes over the fire🔥 It was a treat for the mama soul.

You know that old saying about parenting, “The days are long but the years are short”? I always felt like it was just a sentimental cliché and now here I am, feeling all the feelings and wishing I’d just have a few more years to do all the things with both kids😭

Anybody else feeling it today? Consider it your invitation to commiserate with me😅
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #theopenairlife #friluftsliv #momlife #outdoorfamilies #theairisfree #freeairlife #camping #campingwithkids

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