If you’ve seen the tag #5DadsGoWild pop up in your social feed recently, then you may be wondering, who are the dads and where are they going?

I am joining four other British Columbia-based Dad Bloggers for a short adventure in the Skagit Provincial Park. This September, Stacey Robinsmith, Stephen Fung, Michael Kwan, Dale Allen Berg, and I are joining forces to bond, talk about Dad-life, and create content for some truly awesome brands.

All five of the BC-based Dads met while in the Canadian Dad Bloggers Facebook group and even though the chat is often lively, they realised that it’s no replacement for in-person interactions.

A longitudinal study from Harvard has revealed that the greatest predictor of overall health and happiness among men is friendship. “The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships have a powerful influence on our health,” said Robert Waldinger, director of the study, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. That, I think, is the revelation.” – ‘Good genes are nice, but joy is better’, by Liz Mineo April 2017.

The dad blogger community and the growing list of brands that support them is about fostering this sense of connectedness and belonging while talking about the issues, passions, and interests that drive them.

“I used to love camping and the outdoors as a kid,” says Stephen Fung, father of three, and a self-professed gadget geek and city slicker. “I hope this experience will connect me back to my youth, and maybe, help me find a way to share these types of experiences with my own kids.”

Michael asked us all to share what we’re scared about to include in his pre-event blog. Check out his video:

These companies are helping us as we head out to what will probably be a very wet weekend at the end of the Summer. We will brave the elements to take photos, make videos, write, and record podcasts as well as sample coffee-brewing techniques, learn about knife sharpening, taste a few wines, and talk dad-style.

The five of us recorded our first group podcast and share some excitement about the trip. Remember, we’ve never actually been in the same room together! We all met in a Dad Bloggers Facebook group and took it from there. Click the image below  to hear the show:

The five Dads have never been in the same room as each other and for a couple of them, this will be the first time camping The group will be heading out into the wildness Sept 14 – 16.

Join their conversation by following their hashtag #5DadsGoWild on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and follow @JamesRCS, @MichaelKwan, @adadintheburbs, @stephenfung, and @parenting101ca.

Keep an eye on the tag on Instagram and Twitter and follow along as we try to stay dry, this September 14-16. This is going to be fun, so wish us luck!