Owens family book argues adventure strengthens connection

Fort Worth authors Don and Danae Owens have released How to Build an Adventurous Family, a guide that says shared adventure is the key to lasting family connection. The book arrives amid concern over divorce, isolation and screen use, and it targets families looking for practical ways to build closeness without a big budget.

Why it matters: - Don and Danae Owens are arguing that family connection comes less from structured schedules and more from shared experiences. - The book is aimed at families facing distraction, social isolation and competing calendars. - The Owens model is designed to work without expensive travel or major lifestyle changes.

What happened: - Fort Worth authors Don and Danae Owens released How to Build an Adventurous Family on June 30, 2026. - The book presents shared adventure as the primary driver of lasting family connection. - The Owenses draw on more than 30 years of marriage, parenting and grandparenting experience. - The book is available on Amazon.

The details: - The book argues that adventure can happen at any budget and in any geography. - The Owenses say intention matters more than itinerary. - Their family homeschooled children Sarah and Don IV in part to preserve flexibility for travel and outdoor experience. - The book includes both low-cost local outings and backcountry expeditions. - Structured chapters tell family stories, including a 12-year-old learning to rappel and a teenager organizing a pre-dawn hike with friends. - The book also describes a marriage the Owenses say was intentionally protected from becoming a logistics partnership centered on the children’s schedules. - Each chapter ends with action steps meant for families at different stages and income levels. - Don Owens said, "Adventures, big or small, can make the difference in building connections and setting a foundation of discovery for children." - Don Owens also said, "Each experience, trip, conversation, photo, and video will set up a trail a family can retrace and celebrate as they look back on their life together." - The book is Don Owens’s third title. - His earlier books are A Trip to the Beach Won’t Cure Your Worries and Ancient Friendship for Modern Men. - Ancient Friendship for Modern Men has been adopted by men’s groups and community organizations as a guide to building intentional relationships. - Don and Danae Owens co-lead The Port Royal Society, a nonprofit focused on introducing readers to ancient texts as a path to Christian faith. - Both Owens lead adventure-oriented groups for adults. - The couple splits time between Fort Worth and Leadville, Colo.

Between the lines: - The book appears to tap into broader anxiety about family fragmentation and digital distraction. - Its framing suggests that ordinary routines can be as valuable as big trips if families treat them as shared experiences. - The message also positions adventure as both a relationship tool and a spiritual or values-based practice.

What's next: - The Owenses will likely continue promoting the book alongside their other family- and faith-focused work. - Families reading the book can expect practical steps rather than a purely inspirational approach. - The couple's nonprofit and adult adventure groups may help extend the book's audience beyond parents alone.

The bottom line: - How to Build an Adventurous Family argues that the strongest family bonds are built through intentional shared experiences, not perfect planning or expensive trips.