If you’ve followed me for a while, whether through Des Moines Parent, my personal brand, or in the community, you know one thing is certain: I believe in the power of parks.

Not just because they give our kids space to run and play. Not just because they provide a beautiful (and free!) way for families to connect. But time in nature is one of the most powerful tools we have for mental clarity, creativity, leadership, and even networking.

Trek the Parks: More Than a Family Challenge

Eight years ago, I launched the Trek the Parks Challenge with one simple mission: to encourage families to explore local parks together. I wanted parents to discover hidden gems, kids to feel the joy of unplugged adventure, and everyone to create lasting memories.

What didn’t I expect? Just how much getting outside would fuel my own personal and professional growth.

Each year, as my family works through our Trek the Parks list, I find that those moments walking wooded trails or watching my kids wade through a creek do more than recharge my energy; they spark new ideas, creative breakthroughs, and clarity I simply don’t find behind a screen.

Nature as a Leadership Tool

As entrepreneurs, community builders, and leaders, we often glorify the hustle: packed calendars, endless emails, and constant connection.

But the truth is: the best leaders I know are the ones who know how to pause. The ones who understand that mental space is not a luxury. It's a necessity.

Spending time outdoors helps us:

Reduce stress and anxiety, leading to better decision-making
Boost creativity (there’s a reason many great ideas come on a walk!)
Model balance to our families, teams, and communities
Reconnect with our values and purpose

Parks + Networking: Yes, It Works!

One of my favorite ways to network these days? Invite a connection for a walk-and-talk at a local park. It’s less formal, more personal, and naturally fosters deeper conversation.

And in my work with FemCity Des Moines and other leadership groups, I’ve seen time and again how shared outdoor experiences build stronger connections than coffee shop small talk ever could.

When we step out of the usual business setting and into nature, we show up as our full selves: parent, leader, friend, dreamer. And that authenticity is where real relationships thrive.

Aligning With My Brand and Message

As I’ve evolved my brand balancing motherhood, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community building, the message has stayed the same:

Alignment and connection begin with taking care of YOU first.
Leadership is about showing up with clarity and presence.
Motherhood and entrepreneurship don’t have to compete. They can complement each other when we create space for both.

Parks and the outdoors are one simple, joyful way I practice this. And it’s a gift I love sharing with my community.

Your Invitation

Whether you’re a mom, a business owner, a leader, or all three, you deserve the mental space and soul-filling energy that comes from being outdoors.

So here’s your friendly nudge:

Join us for this year’s Trek the Parks Challenge and rediscover local green spaces.
Schedule your next coffee meeting as a park walk.
Take 15 minutes today to step outside without an agenda.

Because when we fuel our souls, we fuel everything else too. Our creativity, our leadership, and the communities we’re building.