The Roots of Nature’s Playbook

How an idea planted in the chaos of motherhood grew into a worldwide outdoor community

Nature’s Playbook began as a dream I had 15 years ago—back when I was raising four daughters and juggling the chaos of family life.

I kept thinking, What parent has hours to research where to go and what to do outdoors? I imagined a platform that felt like a friend in every location—showing you real videos of beautiful places in nature, with helpful tips from locals and outdoor lovers who truly know the area.

I worked with developers to build a website, but back then, tech just wasn’t there yet. Uploading videos could take 10 to 30 minutes unless you had the budget of Facebook or YouTube. I knew it had to be quick and easy, so I put the idea on the shelf—heartbreaking, but necessary.

Fast forward more than a decade, and one day my daughter PJ called me from CU Boulder. She was about to graduate from Leeds Business School and said, “Mom, remember that idea you had about connecting people to nature through video and shared experiences? I think it’s time to bring it to life.”

We entered CU’s New Venture Challenge in 2021. We didn’t win—but we gained something even more valuable: belief. Mentors, encouragement, and validation kept us going.

In 2023, we officially launched the iOS version of Nature’s Playbook. We had no marketing budget, but we poured everything into building something meaningful—for users and for local businesses that support the outdoor world. In 2024, the Android version followed.

Today, our favorite feature is the Global Video Atlas™, showing authentic user content from over 60 countries—20 of which are contributed by citizens of those countries. We’re growing organically, proving that people are craving real experiences, not just highlight reels.

In a world that sometimes tells us you have to be fit, rich, or photo-ready to be “outdoorsy,” we’re here to say: Mother Nature is for everyone. It’s not about your athletic ability, your gear, or your looks—it’s about how nature makes you feel, and how it brings us closer to ourselves and each other.

Research backs it up: just 15 minutes outside, four times a week, can lower stress, improve mood, and support mental wellness. Through Nature’s Playbook, we’re paying it forward—sharing awe, wonder, and joy while protecting the places that give us so much in return.

It’s been a long road. But we’re just getting started.

About the Author

Gen is the co-founder of Nature’s Playbook, a mother of four, and a lifelong believer in the power of the outdoors to heal, connect, and inspire. She first dreamed of the platform over 15 years ago, when juggling motherhood and craving easier ways for families to find meaningful outdoor experiences. Today, she continues to grow that vision, connecting people across the globe to nature and to each other.