The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Episode: 1KHO 667: You are a Living Testimony to Your Children Through the Work You Do
Host: Ginny Yurich
Guest: Angela Hanscom, Founder of TimberNook and author of Balanced and Barefoot
Date: January 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special New Year's episode, host Ginny Yurich welcomes back Angela Hanscom, the founder of TimberNook and the internationally celebrated author of Balanced and Barefoot. The conversation dives into the often-unspoken journey of moving from personal conviction to entrepreneurship, covering the interplay of fear, faith, calling, and courage, and how embracing what you’re called to do becomes a living testimony for your children. Angela shares her behind-the-scenes story—from reluctant occupational therapist to global advocate for outdoor play—offering hope, practical wisdom, and inspiration for parents and anyone considering a leap into the unknown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Angela’s Unexpected Journey into Entrepreneurship

• Background & Personality:
  Angela describes herself as a Type A personality in her youth—driven, controlling, and focused on predictable plans. Her ambition was to be an occupational therapist, stay home with her children, and never manage a business or seek attention (04:43).

• Divine Nudges and Early Revelations:
  Her entrepreneurial journey began not with ambition, but with noticing gaps in children’s sensory and motor experiences—children unable to tolerate wind, dirt, or roughhousing outdoors (04:43). Upon becoming a mother, these issues became deeply meaningful to her.

  “It was not my plan. It was something that I just really started paying attention to... I never wanted to be an owner or a business manager of any kind... It was kind of ironic that this has happened to me.” – Angela Hanscom (06:02)

• First Steps—Listening for a Higher Calling:
  Prompted by others' encouragement, Angela started TimberNook summer camps, reluctantly running three weeks of programming after a nudge from a friend with marketing experience. Success snowballed: full camps, unexpected waiting lists, interest from other professionals, and an international viral article (as detailed starting at 13:33).

Faith, Discernment, and Perseverance

• Faith-led Direction:
  Angela, candid about her faith, shares how prayer, listening, and seeking spiritual direction taught her to notice “confirmations” and peace as signs to move forward (16:30, 35:19):

  “I realized this had nothing to do with me... It was a gift that I needed to give.” (13:33)
  "God chose you to do this. You didn’t choose this." – Angela’s spiritual director (15:14)

• Discerning God’s Will:
  She outlines a practical approach: pay attention to peace, repeated confirmations, and the organic way things fall into place, versus confusion or stress as red flags (35:19):

  "When it's not from God, it often is confusing. There's no clarity. It's a stress... It doesn't bring peace at all." – Angela Hanscom (37:24)

The Ripple Effect of Saying Yes

• Living Testimony for Children:
  Angela emphasizes that her journey was not only about helping kids through TimberNook, but modeling resilience and faith for her own children:

  “You are a living testimony to your own children through the work that you do... The strength to keep going is actually really key in their development.” (22:43)

• Demonstrating Perseverance:
  Angela shares a moving personal story of loss, perseverance through professional setbacks, and her children supporting her with prayer, illustrating how walking the hard path teaches essential life skills (24:00).

• Courage to Step Out Despite Fear:
  She confesses to fears of ticks, flying, and public speaking, but illustrates that overcoming these led to unexpected blessings—including influential encounters and the global spread of her message (27:50):

  “Sometimes those fears actually, I think, prevent people from doing what they’re being called to do. I wonder how many people have missed out on opportunities God has for them because they were afraid.” (27:50)

Impact, Community, and Humility

• Supporting Other Entrepreneurs:
  TimberNook’s growth means Angela now helps other providers begin their own programs, asking them about past challenges to assess their readiness for the perseverance required (41:03):

  "The key is... it's easy to say yes to in the beginning, but the hardest part is to keep saying yes." (41:03)

• Embracing Humility Amid Success:
  Angela discusses remaining humble as TimberNook gained recognition despite her aversion to the spotlight. She credits the mission as being “God’s work,” and underscores that humility is kept by remembering the work is bigger than her (44:36):

  “It’s not about you; it’s about... It’s just a vessel, TimberNook is a vehicle for something greater." (44:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overcoming Fear and Saying Yes:

  “Am I going to let a little bug get in the way of getting my children outside?... If I had let that fear keep me from letting my children play outside... now I’m one of the biggest spokespersons for kids playing outdoors.” – Angela Hanscom (28:38)

• About Providence Moving Once You Commit:
  Host Ginny reads Steven Pressfield:

  “That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too. That God moves. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not otherwise have occurred... Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now.” (33:51)

• Faith and Parenting:

  “You are a living testimony to your children through the work you do… The kids are getting these incredible skills in the woods, but then they're also getting skills from the expansion of yourself.” – Ginny (26:01)

• On Humility in Leadership:

  “I've been put through situations that are very humbling... I've had some big trials that are humbling. And those experiences are designed to keep me humble.” – Angela Hanscom (44:36)

Important Segments (Timestamps)

• Angela’s Initial Reluctance & Early TimberNook Story: 04:43 – 13:29
• Faith, Spiritual Direction & Discerning Calling: 13:33 – 17:01; 35:19
• Living Testimony to Your Children: 22:43 – 26:00
• Overcoming Fear & Unexpected Opportunities: 27:50 – 32:38
• How to Discern Calling vs. Personal Desire: 35:19 – 38:19
• Ripple Effect—Inspiring Other Entrepreneurs: 41:03 – 43:06
• Humility & Fame: 44:36 – 47:19
• Practical Steps to Becoming a TimberNook Provider: 49:58 – 53:28
• Research-backed Impact of TimberNook: 53:28 – 54:11
• Thrilling Play Experiences for Kids & the Importance of Adventure: 56:11 – 58:44

Takeaways & Encouragement

• Angela’s story offers hope and models perseverance for anyone considering making a difference, especially those afraid or unsure about their gifts.
• “Saying yes” may begin reluctantly, but if it is your calling, steps will unfold and doors will open in surprising ways.
• Entrepreneurial ventures, particularly those motivated by faith or a sense of mission, require humility, resilience, and the willingness to develop new skills.
• Your journey becomes a living lesson for your children, modeling adaptability, courage, and spiritual discernment.
• Thrilling, adventurous play is essential for children’s development and resilience, both physically and emotionally.

Examples of Thrilling Play Experiences (56:11)

• Climbing trees
• Rolling down hills
• Building life-sized stories (e.g., Three Little Pigs houses in the woods)
• Multi-age, self-directed outdoor play

“Outdoor play is always an adventure. It can be scary... but it helps kids become resilient. They don’t give up so easily in the face of trials later on in life.” – Angela Hanscom (56:11)

Final Encouragement

Ginny and Angela close by reminding listeners that the daily journey of faith, motherhood, and mission is an adventure both for adults and their children. If you’re sensing a nudge to create, change, or serve in a new way, begin the first step and watch for providence to move.

For More Information

• TimberNook: timbernook.com
• Research on TimberNook’s Impact: Visit TimberNook’s website
• Contact to Become a Provider: info@timbernook.com
• Recommended Listen: Ginny’s podcast with Joelle Hanscom, and episode with Kenzie at Laconia Christian Academy

For Listeners

If you’re exploring a calling or looking for encouragement to start a new venture—whether for children, faith, or community—this episode provides practical wisdom, honest encouragement, and living proof that your steps matter and the ripple effect is real.