Contact/About

Our Mission

BSKO came out of personal experience. When we brought him on a hike as a 4 year old, we didn't
know what to expect. Would he be afraid? Would he get tired? To our surprise and delight he loved it!
Rocks were better than play structures, rivers and stones held his attention for ages, and every tree
had an interesting story. He couldn't wait for the next hike. He even loved preparing and packing as a
family. More amazing still was the similar reaction from his friends. Seems that the outdoors is
"Naturally Fun" for kids!

But kids aren't getting out. "Nature Deficit Disorder" is the phrase used by author Richard Louv's for
the problems associated with kids' disconnection from nature. His group Children and Nature Network)
cites disappearing wooded areas, extended TV time, hyper-stimulating screen games, and hectic
scheduling are among the causes. Many parents simply don't know where to begin.

BSKO believes that many parents want to get out into nature with their kids. By providing a few simple
tools, we aim to open the door to great family experiences and healthy, grounded kids. We want to
share the happiness we saw in our son.

Our hope is that once kids and parents get started, they'll move forward independently and spread the
word to other families.

BSKO Team

Brian McBride
An avid Hiker since his childhood in Berkshire County, Brian started leading hikes with the Bates
Outing Club in college. He's hiked the Himalayas, in Borneo and throughout New England. Inspired by
Liam's experience, he founded BSKO. He's a graduate of Appalachian Mountain Club's Mountain
Leadership School and has Wilderness Medical Associated Wilderness First Responder certification.
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Lucy Conroy
A graduate of Harvard's Graduate School of Education and a middle school teacher, Wotj an urban
childhood, Lucy is a recent convert to hiking. Her connection with kids and nature began with years
spent as a teacher at the Outward Bound inspired Harbor School of Expeditionary Learning.

Mary Rubenis
Mary helps identify and scouts hikes for BSKO. Her family loves hiking and the outdoors and Mary
always has great ideas for moving BSKO to the next level. Mary helps with the newsletter and behind
the scenes effort that make BSKO hikes run smoothly.