Building real-world connection for kids and families
Today there are fewer and fewer places where kids can hang out together in the real world. Not online, but in one of those places we older generations roamed freely in, but are rapidly going extinct: cafes, libraries, and unfenced wild spaces in our neighborhoods. There are fewer places where kids can learn real skills, take real responsibility, and belong to a crew (like the Goonies!). Screens did not cause this loss, but they have made it harder for families because they’ve filled the space where shared evenings and shared adventure used to live.
The Lodge
At Trackers, we believe those places are critical for kids and family connection and can and should exist again. We are beginning the work of building one in Portland. We are exploring our master planning options for the Trackers Family Lodge, a home base for our community. Think of it as a “third place” where weekly skill nights turn into shared meals, where archery and climbing are part of the landscape, where kids play freely and parents stay longer than they planned because everyone is having fun. And yes, there could be mini-golf too. Because joy matters. This is not about going backward. It is about building what should exist now.
Trackers Teams
The Lodge is also where we are planning a new way for kids and families to come together. Small Trackers Teams of four to eight kids—friends, neighbors, classmates—meeting regularly to practice skills beyond camp. Each team is supported by Senior Trackers, teens from our Trackers A-Team, who step into real responsibility as mentors. Working alongside parents, they pass down skills, model leadership, and help build a culture of care, challenge, and growth. These Trackers Teams gatherings can grow into family camping trips at Camp Roslyn, where kids discover what they can do when trust and responsibility meet.
Top Secret Project
Beyond places and people, Trackers has a shared story. Another project that is quietly taking shape is a way to carry timeless Trackers skills, imagination, and fantastical fun farther than we could ever do before. For now, it’s Top Secret. Some worlds need to be built carefully before they are opened. Watch this space for more soon.
See you in the forest,
Molly Deis
Trackers Earth
Founder & Dad
P.S. We are looking for makers, builders, architects, and place designers who believe spaces can both connect, teach, and cultivate. If you feel the absence of a place like this and want to help imagine what it could become, we would love to hear from you at
hello@trackersearth.com.