C'mon Campers - Take Your Kids Hiking

Families across the US are making plans for the best-ever camping trips this season. Whether it’s a trip to a new “favorite” place or an old standby, let’s face it, this is what life’s memories are made of. And there’s something special about gathering the brood and taking a walk in nature. Exploring the big beautiful outdoors with your children can be an adventure and an education.

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.

There’s so much good to be had by simply taking a walk in the great outdoors. Share this joy – and the joy of camping – with your children…tomorrow’s outdoor enthusiasts! Find the perfect place to camp at our Find a Park page and create a tradition. It's time to Go Camping America!

Contributed by Evanne Schmarder