Holiday Gift Guide: Gen Z

Holiday present ideas for your favorite Zillenial.

Chamberlain Coffee Cold Brew Starter Pack – $44

You may not know who Emma Chamberlain is but your Gen Z definitely does. Chamberlain Coffee’s beverages include Matcha, Hot Cocoa, Chai, and obviously coffee. They offer single serve cold brew, bundles, reusable straws, travel mugs, and every other drink accessory you can think of. If you’re not sure which roast to get, they have a fun Flavor Quiz. They’re offering 10% off your first order and shipping is included over $50.

Sentro Knitting Machine – $65.99

Knitting machines are all the rage on TikTok. Even if the recipient has never knit, a knitting machine is a great starter to the craft. A lot of the work is done for you so it’s easier to feel satisfied and quickly see a finished product. With one hand on the crank and the other holding down the machine, this is a good gift for those who want to spend less time on their phones.

Sunset Lamp Projector – $19.99

Sunset lamps have been going viral for the last few years. These cast an ethereal glow and are perfect gifts for those interested in photography, prop styling, or interior design. Keeping bright lights on late at night can lead to sleeping troubles. They’re also a great natural alternative to harsh overhead lighting or colored fairy lights.

Nintendo Switch Lite – $179.99

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a lightweight handheld gaming device. It’s a great alternative to an iPad because the Nintendo E-Store features video streaming apps like Hulu and Netflix but not social media. There’s no ability to stream to Twitch or other online gaming platforms so it’s one of the safest video game consoles on the market.

Glamptastic Outdoorsy Kids Halloween Costumes

Halloweekend 2022 is coming up and I’m out of costume ideas. Luckily, Pinterest is a photo gold-mine of spooky content. Mommy bloggers and holiday enthusiasts alike have shared some of their most creative children’s outfits online. There was a surprising amount of homemade inspiration including how-to sew DIY instructions. It’s giving Waldorf school and we’re loving it. Keeping in the theme of nature, outdoors, and wilderness, here are some of our favorite kids costumes.

SNAIL GIRL

MUSHROOM TOADSTOOL

FLOWER POWER

MERI MERI TREE CAPE(from Target)

GARDEN GNOME

FAIRY WINGS

TRICKSY HOBBIT

RAINY DAY

SCOUT FROM “UP”

STORM CLOUD

Exploring Outside.io: The First Outdoor & Active Lifestyle NFT Marketplace

In 2022, it seems like every company is taking a stab at creating a series of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Even celebs like Bella Hadid came out with an NFT project made in her image this past year. If you’re new to the world of blockchain and web3, these digital products can seem intimidating or even ominous. Technological advances have the potential to go too far and subtract from humanity. For example, algorithms show us content for our demographic. This means we could get stuck in an echo chamber of only hearing from people with the same opinions and background as us. Even Sci-fi movies show our job duties being replaced by AI’s. It can feel like we’re being taken advantage by social media and Big Tech.

Outside.io, The First Outdoor & Active Lifestyle NFT Marketplace, is part of Outerverse, a company making the initiative to create an NFT experience that actually benefits its patrons. They’re working on building a curated marketplace and creator platform on an energy efficient blockchain. They plan on releasing between 10-20 nature-themed series (with around 1,000 NFTs for purchase in each series) per year created in collaboration with recognizable outdoor brands and creators. Simply put, there will be between 10 and 20 images published and 1,000 times each image can be purchased. You’ll need to buy the Outerverse Passport to access their content. They plan on launching an Outside coin. Until then, you can buy the Passport with Solana (SOL), a cryptocurrency that got popular during the pandemic.

"Welcome to Outside.io, an outdoor community on a mission to promote wellness, diversity, and sustainability in the outdoors. Join us as we build the world’s first NFT marketplace dedicated to the outdoors. We’re minting with world-renowned athletes, brands, and non-profits. And everything’s designed for less screen time and more outside time. Join now for first access to all the drops in our marketplace, as well as the upcoming Outside coin."

Partnering with nonprofit organizations, Outside.io will dedicate a percentage of their profits to both Sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives. Cryptocurrency is notoriously bad for the environment, so Outside.io has committed to being carbon-neutral. Their mission is to “Get Everyone Outside.” Check out their site to learn more about getting free gear, experiencing once-in-a-lifetime real world experience with athletes, joining community events, and more IRL.

Our 5 Favorite TedTalks about the Great Outdoors

1. Nature is everywhere — we just need to learn to see it by Emma Marris

“How do you define “nature?” If we define it as that which is untouched by humans, then we won’t have any left, says environmental writer Emma Marris. She urges us to consider a new definition of nature — one that includes not only pristine wilderness but also the untended patches of plants growing in urban spaces — and encourages us to bring our children out to touch and tinker with it, so that one day they might love and protect it.”

2. What are Animals Thinking and Feeling? by Carl Safina

“What’s going on inside the brains of animals? Can we know what, or if, they’re thinking and feeling? Carl Safina thinks we can. Using discoveries and anecdotes that span ecology, biology and behavioral science, he weaves together stories of whales, wolves, elephants and albatrosses to argue that just as we think, feel, use tools and express emotions, so too do the other creatures – and minds – that share the Earth with us.”

3. The Secret of the Bat Genome by Emma Teeling

“In Western society, bats are often characterized as creepy, even evil. Zoologist Emma Teeling encourages us to rethink common attitudes toward bats, whose unique and fascinating biology gives us insight into our own genetic makeup.”

4. What Ants Teach Us About the Brain, Cancer, and the Internet by Deborah Gordon

“Ecologist Deborah Gordon studies ants wherever she can find them — in the desert, in the tropics, in her kitchen … In this fascinating talk, she explains her obsession with insects most of us would happily swat away without a second thought. She argues that ant life provides a useful model for learning about many other topics, including disease, technology and the human brain.”

5. How to Grow a Forest in You Backyard by Shubhendu Sharma

“Forests don’t have to be far-flung nature reserves, isolated from human life. Instead, we can grow them right where we are — even in cities. Eco-entrepreneur and TED Fellow Shubhendu Sharma grows ultra-dense, biodiverse mini-forests of native species in urban areas by engineering soil, microbes and biomass to kickstart natural growth processes. Follow along as he describes how to grow a 100-year-old forest in just 10 years, and learn how you can get in on this tiny jungle party.”

Our Summer Mixtapes on Spotify (June, July, & August)

Our Summer Mixtapes on Spotify (June, July, & August)

Check out our June, July, and August Summer Mixtapes on Spotify. They feature some of the musicians we’ve had the pleasure of working with like The Quiet Celebrations and Juan Wauters. If you or someone you know has songs available on Spotify, please reach out! If you are in the Cambridge, Ohio area, or passing by on tour, we would love to collaborate for our Bonfire Concert Series!