Devise a successful hike with children by following a few simple rules. Choose a trail that’s interesting, easy enough for all participants and is not too long. The length of the hike will most likely depend upon the difficulty of the hike and the energy level of your kid companions. Look for a safe hike – no steep cliffs, abrupt drop-offs or extreme weather. Keeping energy up is vital, bring plenty to snack on – certainly pack a lunch but make sure you bring other healthy “munchies” to enjoy along the way. Remember, the hike is a journey. Take time to stop and explore, explain and teach. As your child gets older consider inviting a friend along to share the adventure.
Plan some fun along the trail with these ideas:
- Prepare a hiking kit for each child including a magnifying glass, notebook and fun writing utensils, a bug, flora and/or fauna identifier or anything else that may help pique their interest.
- Wrap wide masking tape, sticky side out, around everyone’s wrist as a bracelet for collecting flowers, leaves, etc. along the trail.
- Devise a scavenger hunt or visit GoCampingAmerica.com’s Kids Corner and print one we’ve already devised for you. Provide each child with the list of several items that are likely to be found on a nature hike, for example, a small brown rock, a leaf at least one inch long, a pine cone, a yellow flower, etc. At the end of the hike add up the pioints and give a small treat or prize to all participants.
Contributed by Evanne Schmarder
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