A love of adventure has defined Joanne and Cailin Mani’s relationship. And it’s something they’re instilling in their two young children, whether through travels abroad or nature hikes closer to home in Madison.
Cailin grew up in Madison, but the travel agency her family has owned for generations taught her the value in venturing afar. Joanne, meanwhile, spent much of her childhood in Alaska, where her family hiked, camped and went on road trips.
Now with two kids in tow — Leland is almost four and Vera is seven months — adventures tend to be a little less extreme, yet more meaningful than ever.
“When you have kids, it kind of unlocks something,” Joanne says. “It makes me want to create these adventures for them.”
This summer, the couple took the kids to Ireland for ten days with Cailin’s family. The trip was fantastic, but Joanne says most of their exploration takes place in Wisconsin, and much of it with a focus on nature.
“We’re in toddler-hike mode,” she says.
Two of her favorite family-friendly spots are the UW Arboretum and Owen Conservation Park on the west side of Madison. “And like everyone in Madison, we visit the sunflowers at Pope Farm,” she says.
The Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton is also a go-to, partly because of its handy playground. “Twenty minutes on the playground helps set the stage for, ‘Now, let’s go for a little walk,’” she says.
Knowing other families would enjoy some outdoor adventures, Joanne formed a small group that goes on nature walks. She bought a book that highlights twenty easy hikes around Madison, and the group is planning outings this fall to Governor Nelson State Park and a trail along Lake Kegonsa. Next up is researching spots for winter.
Since Joanne works in development for the Nature Conservancy, she’s witnessed how a passion for the environment sparked at a young age can carry through the rest of one’s life. She wants her kids to grow up with that kind of connection to the natural world.
“I don’t think you can be from Wisconsin without having a love of nature,” she says.