Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier and Healthier Family

by Josée Bergeron

Calling families to return to nature, Bergeron offers simple solutions for how to increase outdoor time and, as a result, overall mental health.

With the continuous integration of technology into every aspect of our lives, there has been a rise in anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders, especially in children. Reconnecting to nature is one solution that Josée Bergeron has found and is dedicated to helping others find as well. Following the four seasons, each section contains unique themes and topics to bring readers closer to the outdoors in order to improve their mental health and happiness. Bergeron encourages families to feel at home in nature and thrive whether they live in an urban or suburban area, and she offers practical ideas for helping kids to connect with nature through curiosity and relatability. Families can incorporate cultural traditions when interacting with nature and can honor the inherent attributes of the particular land they live on. Whether it’s welcoming spring by weaving a wildflower crown, celebrating summer by building a bug hotel, appreciating autumn by preserving leaves in beeswax, or creating a magical ice wreath in winter, families will learn how to embrace nature’s seasons and be more in tune with each other and their communities.
 

304 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Josée Bergeron is a French-Canadian Indigenous Métis mother of five who has been helping families feel at home in nature since 2009. Based in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, she draws on more than eighteen years of guiding her own children—and other families—through seasonal nature experiences and simple micro-adventures.

Known for her work supporting parent-child-nature connection, Josée has been quoted in parenting titles including Oh Crap, I Have a Toddler by Jamie Glowacki and The Call of the Wild and Free by Ainsley Arment. Her book, Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier and Healthier Family, was released on February 24, 2026.

Born and raised in BC’s central interior, Josée now lives in the Okanagan Valley with her husband and children. When she’s not exploring local trails or writing, she creates seasonal nature guides and develops nature-based learning resources that help families rediscover the wonder beyond their front door.

Reviews

[Katie Verrue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a gem! So many great ideas, stories, recipes, encouragement, even has great endnotes with references for further reading…I really recommend this book for anyone who either has or works with kids!

[Janay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no doubt this book will become as essential to outdoor families as Michaeleen Doucleff’s Hunt, Gather, Parent and Richard Louv’s The Last Child in the Woods. The author has beautifully woven her own outdoor motherhood experiences with poetic nature descriptions and insightful information and activities for families. I will be reaching for this at the beginning of each new season in preparation for the changes and can’t wait to try out the ideas, crafts and recipes with my own children. As much as I loved reading this book, it truly made me want to set it down and get outside!