{"id":4464,"date":"2016-02-16T18:21:20","date_gmt":"2016-02-17T00:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com\/blog\/?p=4464"},"modified":"2021-02-09T21:57:32","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T05:57:32","slug":"hiking-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahblog.activityhero.com\/hiking-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Secrets to Happy Hiking with Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Get the family outside for some fun and fresh air with these hiking tips from an ActivityHero expert.<\/h2>\n

By Laura Quaglio<\/h3>\n

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Getting out for a hike is a great way to spend a weekend or evening with your family. According to the National Wildlife Federation, the average American kid spends as little as half an hour in outdoor \u201cfree play\u201d each day … and more than seven hours staring at a computer screen. That\u2019s a shame, since playing outside has been linked to a wide array of health and wellness perks for kids, including some surprises such as better in distance vision, improved test performance at school, and healthier social interactions.<\/p>\n

See a List of Outdoor Camps Near You >><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

ActivityHero provider Kurt Gantert, Founder and Director of Wanderers*, is thrilled that science has proven some of the things that \u201coutdoorsy people\u201d have long known. \u201cMy parents took me hiking at an early age, so I grew up just kind of loving it,\u201d says Kurt, who has fond memories of exploring the Adirondacks with his folks, siblings, and friends. Drawing on those early outdoor experiences, Kurt has built a career in the field of outdoor education\/adventure travel, working as a wilderness guide and educator for more than 20 years. Today, he likes nothing better than leading kids in Northern California (including his own two children) on outdoor explorations throughout the year. \u201cWhat I notice is that kids have a sense of freedom outdoors that they don\u2019t often have in our very scheduled world,\u201d adds Kurt. \u201cNature has a very calming effect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Of course, nature also offers plenty of challenges that indoor and at-home activities do not. That\u2019s why Kurt favors being well-prepared before setting out with your brood. (Plus, if kids wind up hungry, hurt, or over-tired, they won\u2019t want to hit the trail ever again.) To help ensure a positive adventure, Kurt offers these tips to consider before hitting the trail.<\/p>\n

1. Let Kids Bring a Buddy<\/strong>
\n\u201cAlways try to invite another family along on your hike,\u201d suggests Kurt. Taking some of your kids\u2019 friends on your excursion can prevent them from complaining throughout the trip. When children are around their peers, explains Kurt, they\u2019re distracted and less likely to be bored — and they won\u2019t want to \u201clook bad\u201d in front of their friends, so they\u2019re more likely to grin and bear it when the going gets a little tough.<\/p>\n

2. Check the Conditions<\/strong>
\nLook up what the weather will be in the area you\u2019re planning to hike. It may be very different from the weather at your house, even if you\u2019ll be fairly close by. You can check the websites for The Weather Channel or NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to find out what\u2019s brewing.<\/p>\n

Kurt also suggests researching the terrain. Are there any big hills? Is it likely to be muddy? Kids will enjoy themselves more if there aren\u2019t too many obstacles to overcome. If you\u2019re not sure where to go, check American Trails <\/a>to search more than 1,100 recreation trails in the U.S., or use the Web to search for family-friendly trails in your area. You may also prefer to stick to trails that offer bathroom facilities, guides, and other amenities, especially if you\u2019re not an avid outdoors person or you have little ones in tow. \u201cSometimes national parks have guide posts and offer special ranger talks,\u201d says Kurt. \u201cThese are often volunteers who are trained in certain subjects. For instance, guides at Point Reyes National Seashore just north of San Francisco share interesting information about Tule elk during the rut season. Listening to ranger talks can make the experience more fun for the group,\u201d says Kurt.<\/p>\n

See National Park Activities Near You >><\/a><\/span><\/h4>\n

3. Don\u2019t Pack Light<\/strong>
\nWhen Kurt hikes in national or state parks throughout the country, he often notices how under-prepared people are for hiking. \u201cYou should bring a backpack filled with a lot of stuff,\u201d says Kurt. \u201cDon\u2019t feel it\u2019s a burden, as some of the items you bring could be crucial to a more enjoyable hike.\u201d Some of his suggestions include healthy snacks, sunscreen, bug spray, binoculars, a camera, and a simple first-aid kit. \u201cKids fall down and skin their elbows all the time,\u201d says Kurt. If your children have allergies, also bring their EpiPen and some Benadryl. And, of course, carry plenty of water. \u201cPack more water than you think you\u2019ll need,\u201d he says. \u201cAt least two pretty-good-sized bottles per person for a full-day hike.\u201d For little kids — or if you\u2019ll be near a lake, stream, or pond — bring towels and a change of clothes, too, including fresh socks.<\/p>\n

4. Get a Few Guidebooks<\/strong>
\nKurt loves to tote a few such books along on his hikes so kids can look up birds, animals, and plants they see along the way. If you\u2019re taking tweens or teens on the hike, consider downloading an app that allows kids to take a photo of a plant or animal and automatically IDs what they see. Kids in these age groups can also serve as the family videographer\/photographer<\/a>, documenting special moments on the trail.<\/p>\n

One caveat: Turn off the tech<\/em> if it starts detracting from the experience instead of enhancing it. Kurt\u2019s camps don\u2019t allow any use of technology by kids because they often will go from taking a photo to checking Instagram. For that reason, Kurt sticks to paper guidebooks for use in Wanderers programs. Two of his favorites: The Sibley Guide to Birds<\/em> and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to California<\/em>.<\/p>\n

5. Plan Some Play Time<\/strong>
\nChoose a destination that the kids will really enjoy — such as a beach or a stream where they can splash around. In fact, if your kids are young, Kurt suggests keeping the actual hiking portion of the adventure fairly short, ending up at a kid-friendly spot and spending as long as they like in \u201cfree-play\u201d mode. As kids get older (and their legs and attention spans lengthen), you can increase the distance of your family hikes.<\/p>\n

Kids seem to instinctively love playing in nature, but if yours aren\u2019t sure what to do, get into the act with them and build with rocks or sticks, skip stones across a pond, search for animal habitats, do rubbings of tree bark with a crayon and paper, and even sketch what you see in a notebook. \u201cFree play is very important for kids, and there\u2019s less and less of it in this day and age,\u201d says Kurt.<\/p>\n

6. Dress for Success<\/strong>
\nEven in the warmer months in California, Kurt doesn\u2019t generally hike in shorts because of ticks and poison oak. He prefers comfortable hiking pants, some \u201csturdy hiking socks\u201d (not low athletic-style socks), and several layers on top so he can make adjustments when the temperature changes. Regardless of the forecast, Kurt recommends including options that will be appropriate for all types of weather. \u201cIn the mountainous regions of the West Coast, you can get snow even in the summertime,\u201d he says. \u201cAlways bring an extra warm layer.\u201d He also advises heading out early so you won\u2019t be at a higher elevation later in the day. \u201cIn mountain ranges, such as the Sierra Nevada in California, thunderstorms can roll in during the afternoon,\u201d he says. You don\u2019t want to get caught out in one of those.<\/p>\n

As for footwear, don\u2019t wear brand-new hiking shoes or boots on a long hike. \u201cThat\u2019s a good recipe for a blister,\u201d says Kurt. Break in new hiking boots gradually over time before taking them on a long trek. Usually, he notes, sneakers are fine for a day hike on a well-maintained and not-too-rocky trail.<\/p>\n

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\n7. Plan an After-Hike Activity<\/strong>
\nWhen you hike with your family, you\u2019re creating lasting memories. To ensure that kids really lock in the things they\u2019ve seen and learned, take some time after the hike to swap stories and reminisce about the experience. For instance, you might want to find a nearby family-friendly restaurant where you can take your hungry hikers for a follow-up chat at the adventure\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Kurt holds such a session at the end of each week of camp at Wanderers. \u201cWe get the kids to talk about what was special to them and what they learned,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s interesting. What they say is not always what you\u2019d think of.\u201d The trick here? Don\u2019t just ask, \u201cWhat was your favorite thing?\u201d Most of the time, after one kid speaks up, everyone agrees that they loved that part of the day, too. Instead, mentally walk your whole family through the journey again. Mention each stop you made or each plant or animal you identified. Ask what each person saw and what surprised them. Share what surprised you, too. You might even want to video what your kids say — and make some notes about whatever you learned from the trip. What items did you wish you\u2019d brought? Which ones should have been left at home? What would you never do again? What would you like to do more of? Keep this list with your hiking gear, so you can reference it before your next family excursion.<\/p>\n

Consider Enrolling Kids in an Outdoor Adventure Camp<\/strong>
\nWhile hiking as a family offers certain perks, exploring the outdoors with trained professionals provides kids with another level of experience that can be valuable for any child, says Kurt. For one thing, Kurt\u2019s programs focus on \u201cexperiential education.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re not just sitting in a classroom learning about where our tap water comes from,\u201d says Kurt. \u201cWe hike to the reservoirs and\/or watersheds that provide our water, and we have discussions about what they are and the natural and human history behind each one.\u201d Each day begins with an instructor giving a short talk to prep kids for the day, and then they head out and put those concepts and vocab words to use. Each trek is mapped out carefully, with rest stops along the trail where instructors stop to point out special features while giving kids a water break and rest.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to find a great outdoor adventure camp in your area, Kurt suggests you ask a few questions about the staff and their safety practices. Find out:<\/p>\n