A toddler sat in a puddle.

Soon, others joined in the fun – jumping and splashing with not a care in the world.

Never mind Monday morning was about 40 degrees; approximately 20 bundled-up children were ready to start the “Candy Cane Hike,” one of many organized hikes through the local Hike it Baby Federal Way branch.

With mommies, a grandma and one dad close behind, the young hikers set off to collect the 36 candy canes at Alderwood Park.

Another Hike it Baby success.

An organization that’s reached a global scale, Hike it Baby connects families with infants to school-age children in their mutual love of hiking and being outdoors. In its 3 1/2 years, more than 300 branches have been created with close to 600 branch ambassadors.

“I would go on walks occasionally before Hike it Baby, but I was never like, ‘Oh, I have to go outside today,’ ” said Adrienne Brand, a Hike it Baby Federal Way branch ambassador. “I was perfectly happy being a couch warrior.”

Now, Brand and her 15-month-old son Hunter make it a point to spend time outside at least twice a week.

Hike it Baby hikes come in many different forms – toddler-paced or adult-paced hikes on trails or “urban strolls,” as Brand likes to call them.

Federal Way resident Emily Troxell, also a branch ambassador, launched the Federal Way group this past April after being invited to join the Tacoma branch’s Facebook group in March.

“I welcomed myself to the group, introduced myself, my toddler and said that I battled depression and social anxiety and that I know I needed to get out,” Troxell said, recalling that she also asked for tips on what to dress her son Rogan in for Washington’s weather.

Group members virtually wrapped their arms around her. Before she knew it, the co-owner of Oakiwear offered to help her get a rain suit for her then-2-year-old son Rogan.

“I was shocked that I was welcomed to this amazing community,” she said. “And then I just started hiking. Every day, I go outside whether it’s raining or not, I feel much better. My depression goes away.”

Troxell said not many people talk about mental illness, which can affect new moms with postpartum depression. Having suffered her own postpartum depression when her son was born, mixed with a new move and a husband who had shoulder surgery and sleep apnea the same month, Troxell felt like it all hit at once.

But she got involved with Hike it Baby and ended up contacting founder and board president Shanti Hodges to get the Federal Way branch started. Soon, there was enough branch ambassadors to start the team and the Hike it Baby Federal Way branch Facebook page was launched in May.

Brand, one of the Tacoma members who joined the Federal Way branch, learned about Hike it Baby in November of 2015 after she joined a breast feeding support group.

“I started going just to get out of the house, not so much because I needed support breast feeding,” Brand said. “But when you have an infant at home and you’re a stay-at-home mom, it’s really isolating – especially when all your friends are working.”

Brand, too, started to get postpartum depression and needed a way to connect with others. A member of the breast feeding support group told her about it and she joined the Facebook group.

“I lurked on the page like a creeper for several months, but I wouldn’t actually go out,” Brand laughed. “I don’t think I went on my first hike until mid-March.”

Because she lives in northeast Tacoma, joining the Federal Way branch made sense.

The group attracted moms, families and little hikers through their spring Hike it Baby 30 Challenge, the organization’s main fundraiser, which challenges members to hike 30 miles in 30 days or get outside for 30 minutes, three times a week. The next 30 Challenge will begin Jan. 1 and registration is currently open.

Now, there are close to 400 members apart of the Hike it Baby Federal Way Facebook group.

Brand and Troxell’s goals for the group include encouraging moms who may not be branch ambassadors to take the initiative to host their own hikes, but also to find Hike it Baby as fulfilling as they have.

“I just want other members to find this as an outlet, whether it’s from depression, anxiety, cabin fever – needing to get out and not be with their toddlers by themselves all day – just another way to be out and connect with other people,” Brand said, adding that she’s gained strength from hikes as well.

The Federal Way branch typically hikes around the South King County area and is welcome to all. Hikes are as local as Dash Point State Park to as regional as Flaming Geyser State Park.

Members need not be fit or experienced in hiking to join. In fact, Hike it Baby has a no family left behind rule, which means diaper changes, breast feeding and breaks are common and welcomed.

To join, request an invitation to their private Facebook group by searching “Hike it Baby Federal Way” and by creating an account at hikeitbaby.com to view a calendar and list of hikes, events and activities.

Hike it Baby Federal Way branch ambassadors Emily Troxell with son Rogan and Adrienne Brand with son Hunter at the Candy Cane Hike on Monday. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Emily Troxell’s son Rogan holds up a candy cane he found during the Hike it Baby Federal Way’s Candy Cane Hike on Monday, Dec. 12. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror

Nearly 20 children and their parents attended the Candy Cane Hike. RAECHEL DAWSON, the Mirror