Hi, I figured it is time that I update this page about me.  My name is Mark Danenhauer and  I have been a stay at home Dad for about nine years now.  My two kids, wife, and I lived in Salt Lake City for 10 years.  During that time I created this blog and wrote a book, Jake’s Nature Guide: Rocky Mountains.

However, we now live on the North Island of New Zealand in a small community on the middle of the west coast called Oakura.  It is very different than the Rocky Mountains I love so much, but it is still fantastic and has some amazing natural landscapes.

I love nature and have been exploring the natural world and working in the environmental field for years.  Over the past nine years I have been a stay at home dad, focused on my children and sharing my love of the outdoors with them.  During that time I have learned a lot about the trials and tribulations of getting my kids outdoors and am now finally beginning to see big benefits from it.

How Often And What Do I Post About On This Blog?

In this blog I post every two days and write a mixture of nature facts, tips for parents, and stories of hiking trips with my kids.  I will post fun nature facts, both general facts and some focused on the Rocky Mountains.  From time to time I will give tips for parents to help you get your kids outdoors or list some activities for exploring the Rocky Mountains.

Now I am also going to post about once or twice a month the fun day and multi-day hikes that I’ve done with my kids.

Deep down my goal of this blog is purely selfish – I want to convince others that the natural world is truly a special place.

 

Get a FREE eBook RIGHT NOW!

Please click on the ‘subscribe’ link in the column to the right to subscribe and get my new posts sent to you.  If you subscribe now you will get my new eBook on Birding (tips on bird identification and bird watching) for FREE.  Look to the left…that is the cover of the FREE eBook!

Or you can follow me on Facebook at Jake’s Nature Guide, where I post updates and other fun stuff.

Here Are Some Of My Most Popular Posts:

Is that a birch tree or aspen tree?

Why do flowers bloom at different times of the year?

Why are there conifer trees in the mountains?

What makes a fungus a fungus?

Great book about Rocky Mountains.

What animals can breathe through their skin?

What makes a fish a fish?

Seed dispersal – how do plants spread their seeds?

8 tips to make backpacking with kids fun.

You can also use the search function in the column on the right side of the page to search through all of my old posts if you are looking for something specific.

Mark Danenhauer’s Background

I am a writer, blogger, and father who loves to spend as much time outside as possible.  I used to explore the Rocky Mountains with my family as often as I could.  But, now we spend our time exploring New Zealand.

Before being a stay at home Dad I worked in the environmental field.  That feels like a lifetime ago, but it was really only about 10 years ago.  In Salt Lake City, I worked with the Utah Rivers Council, advocating for the protection of Utah’s rivers.  I worked mainly on water conservation issues and wild and scenic rivers.

Before Salt Lake City we lived in Springfield, Illinois where I went to graduate school and worked at the Illinois EPA.  I earned an M.A. in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at UIS.

Prior to graduate school, I was lucky enough to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar as an environmental volunteer.  I lived on the big red island for three great, challenging, and formative years.  Two of those years were spent working at Andringitra National Park doing environmental education activities and trail work.  The final year I lived in Fort Dauphin on the southern coast of the country and was a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader.

I have written one book, Jake’s Nature Guide: Rocky Mountains.  It is a pocket size book that introduces readers to the natural world of the Rockies.  I have also written an eBook on Hiking With Kids: Advice On Gear, Tips, and Tricks For Parents.

In my free time I enjoy hiking, camping, fly fishing, biking, and pretty much anything that is outdoors.

Why Jake’s Nature Blog and Not Mark’s Nature Blog?

I named this blog after my dog, Jake.  He was born in the flatlands of the Midwest where he became adept at chasing squirrels. Jake loved to try and catch squirrels, and would even try climbing up trees after them. After a few years we moved to Salt Lake City.