They ditched the nine-to-five to travel, explore, and make a difference. Meet Jack Wolfskin ambassadors Jens and Jana Steingässer and their four (4!) traveling kids.
The kids are stinky and tired. But they are full of self-confidence, empathy, and a connection to all life on Earth.
They used to live a normal life in Germany. Now, the Steingässers are devoted to researching and documenting humanity’s impact on the natural environment.
And they make it a family affair. Jana and Jens Steingässer have four children: Paula, Mio, Hannah, and Frieda. But the couple — journalist and photographer — do not let that slow them down.
Their kids, now ages 6 to 17, have lived a nomadic, and adventure-filled life since hitting the road about four years ago.
Family Lives (And Works) On The Road
Jana and Jens devoted the last decade to environmental documentary work by seeking primary source information. Both use their skills to tell human stories about the environment — stories that resonate.
An example: This summer, the Steingässers will head on a horseback journey up one of Europe’s last wild rivers in Albania. The kids will come, too. While Jana and Jens explore hydroelectric power’s impact on river ecosystems and local communities, the kids have time to enjoy nature, meet local kids, and discover some of Europe’s wildest places. (See more about this trip below.)
They don’t cite abstract numbers or present doomsday graphs. The Steingässers examine people, animals, plants, ecosystems, and economies that tangibly cope with the influences of development and climate change.
So far they have produced documentaries in Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, the Alps, Morocco, South Africa, Australia, and Germany.
Their children join them on all these projects as a way to keep a tight family unit and raise the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Steingässer’s work has been featured in National Geographic and the Jack Wolfskin Magazine.