BY: JESSICA BEUKER
From that very first wobbly step to the first word, uttered slowly but with confidence—these are the important milestones in a typical child’s life. But Bodhi Bennett is not your typical child. At only 5 days old, Bodhi had already taken his first camping trip. Since then he’s seen (and hiked) more of the world than most adults—483 kilometres, to be exact—and he’s done it all before his 2nd birthday.
When Bodhi’s mother Shannon, an experienced backpacker and hiker, became pregnant, she and her husband Blake decided that they would keep on traveling.
“It was important to my husband and I that our lives didn’t change because we were going to become parents,” Shannon told the Daily Mail. “We had heard so many times that children change your life completely and you can no longer do those fun things you did when you were younger. But Bodhi climbs everything and really enjoys mimicking what we do.”
Bodhi and his parents have been in 40 different U.S. states and have seen the majority of national parks in the country, including Yosemite National Park and Thousand Island Lake. They also often bring their dog Marley along for the adventure.
While some of their hikes might seem dangerous, Bodhi’s parents follow all necessary precautions to ensure their son’s safety. When he needs a break from walking, one of his parents will carry him on their back. Shannon told the Daily Mail: “I don’t know if I’ve ever been so proud of anything in my life as I am when I witness his ability and determination.”
During their travels, Shannon became pregnant with a second child, but that didn’t slow the family down. The Bennetts continued their journey to explore their country with a new tiny companion, a girl named Skye.
The Bennetts are used to facing the unknown: it’s a lifestyle and not a hobby for the family. Bodhi and Skye are growing up wild and discovering who they are in the beauty of the untamed natural world. On her Instagram, Shannon posts a picture of Bodhi and Marley playing by the water and underneath it she writes: “The moment I caught myself demanding, ‘Bodhi stay out of the water’, I realized that this is really what it’s all about and let him do his thing. No iPads, iPhones, or other forms of modern technology. Just nature, sticks, getting totally flipping dirty, soaking wet from head to toe, smiles extending ear to ear and having the time of your life with the people you love most.”
A photo posted by SHANNON BENNETT (@shannbenntt) on
Sources: wordpress.com, i.iplsc.com, instagram.com
