Take Your Kids Hiking! -10 Practical Tips for a Great Experience

I've been thinking of some great practical tips for hiking with kids. I touched on them in my post about our Blood Mountain adventure, but here I'll break my ideas down into a basic list. Hopefully you will find them to be helpful!

(photo by Billy)

1) Keep it simple. Especially at first, be sure to choose a hike that will be fun for everyone involved. There's no need to hike long distances or attempt anything too strenuous- just spending time outdoors is wonderful. As you and your children become more experienced, you will be able to select more challenging hikes, keeping in mind the skill and temperament of your kids. Remember though, that hiking with kids is ALL about the experience- not about impressive accomplishments.

(photo by Billy)

2) Make sure someone knows where you're going, and be sure to check in with them when you get back. This is common sense for any hiking or camping excursion.


3) Think like a boy scout- be prepared. You don't want to be stuck with a bunch of unnecessary weight to carry, but there are a few things you should always bring:

- plenty of water
- snacks
- map
- sunscreen
- wet wipes or tissues, & bandannas or handkerchiefs
- small first aid kit (especially disinfecting wipes, band aids, tweezers and a needle, instant cold pack, benadryl or similar, sting-eze or similar, something [hydrocortisone, Ivarest, calamine, etc] to relieve itching, and any specific medications you or your children may need.)
- whistle(s) (a child can use it to call for help if he or she is lost)
- bag for trash
- your ID
- camera (don't want to miss those great kodak moments!)

We also like to have lip balm, binoculars, a field guide (check out the great Pocket Naturalist guides from Waterford Press), flashlight (even if you expect to be back before dark), compass, pocket knife, natural bug repellent, rain jackets, hiking sticks, notebook and pencil, magnifying glass, dry socks, backpack carrier (for smaller children) and cell phone.

(photo by Billy)


4) Teach your kids what to do in case they get lost. The main thing is to STOP- a child can easily wander farther and farther from the trail when they think they're retracing their steps. Tell them to look around carefully and call for you- you might be closer than they realize. If you don't answer, they should blow on a whistle- the whistle will be louder and carry farther than their voice. The whistle should be reserved for emergencies only- of course that's a hard rule for kids to follow, but do try. Tell them to be sure and WAIT THERE for someone to find them. Chances are you're not far away.


5) Dress appropriately. In winter, always have a jacket and dress in layers- you might be surprised how warm you get while hiking along, but you will want warmer clothes when you're stopped or as evening falls. Don't forget hats and gloves or mittens for everyone! In summer, wear lightweight clothing but again, have layers. Always wear appropriate shoes. Be vigilant about using sunscreen and if necessary, bug repellent (preferably natural). Also, it's a good idea to bring a change of clothes for each child. Leave those in the car, so they'll be ready after the hike- you never know how wet or muddy the kids will get!

(photo by Billy)

6) Give yourself plenty of time, and remember to chill out. No outing with children goes exactly as planned, and hikes are no exception. Just follow their lead, and enjoy the ride! This is SO important when hiking with kids.


7) Stop frequently to sip water and offer snacks. A hungry child is a cranky child, and a cranky child isn't likely to enjoy the hike- not to mention being difficult to get along with! Kids need frequent fueling and rehydration, especially when they're active. Don't forget the adults, either- it's much easier to be patient, relaxed and clear-headed when your blood sugar is stable.

(photo by Billy)

8) Leave no trace. Be sure to put all your trash in proper receptacles- which usually means packing it out with you. On the way back, a great activity is to collect all the litter you can find in a garbage bag, so you can dispose of it properly. Be considerate of other hikers. Try not to damage the plants or terrain too much. Oh, and be sure everyone uses the bathroom before you set out. ;) Even so, you might need to help a child relieve her or himself outdoors. If they need to poop and there is no privy, then it's best to use a small trowel to dig a hole first, and bury the poop. Camping stores sell lightweight plastic shovels for this purpose. Kids can pick the darnedest times to suddenly need to use the potty- don't let the prospect discourage you though; it's really no big deal.


9) Be aware of your surroundings. This is the number one safety rule, but it also enhances any experience outdoors. Teach your kids how to be aware, too. Notice the interesting and beautiful details around you, and point them out to the kids. Stop and listen when they point things out to you. Oh, and watch out for poison ivy!


10) Have fun! Relax, and enjoy this time with your kids. Be silly, have wonder, sing songs, examine nature, count things, pretend, talk, hike and love each other. Do some fun activities, if you wish- one fun list by Environmental Dad inspired me to create this list! Here, we like to combine our hikes with letterboxing. But whatever you do, be sure to relax, be flexible and ENJOY yourself!


So, quick recap:
- Keep it simple.
- Check in.
- Be prepared.
- Teach your kids what to do in case they get lost.
- Dress appropriately.
- Give yourself plenty of time.
- Practice frequent fueling and rehydration.
- Leave no trace.
- Be aware.
- Have fun!
Got it? Great! Now go plan a hike today!

Campout 2009! Edisto Beach, SC- Days 5 & 6

Day 5 of the Edisto Island campout (see here, here and then here for days 1 - 4) was our last full day. Billy still wanted to ride the bikes some more, and my only desires were to scope out the state park's other campground loop, and to try a little letterboxing. Cousin Dashi's family was going to the Interpretive Center, which he'd already seen, so he opted to ride with us.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

It was a beautiful day again, windy as always. Riding the park trails was a little bittersweet, because we knew our trip was coming to an end. First we headed to an undisclosed location to hunt our first box. Drat! Found the location, but no box. The kids played for awhile, and then we headed for the beachside campground loop. I wanted to scope out the campsites just in case there were some amazing spots for a future campout- the beachside campsites are much sought-after, and fill up nearly a year in advance.

We cruised through the campground, and it was quite nice- but it couldn't hold a candle to the walk-in sites we already had! (If we had an RV, the beachside loop would be the place to be- but it was a bit exposed for tent camping, in my opinion.) After making the rounds, we journeyed to a second undisclosed location to hunt the second letterbox. Double drat! Again, found the location but the box was gone. Zero for 2 on the letterboxing front. :(

Next we stopped by a playground for snacks and play time.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

The boys had a blast climbing around and generally being little monkeys.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

Babyman was especially delighted to climb around, with a bit of help from Daddy on the suspension bridge.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

He is growing so quickly, ~sigh~. . . his climbing and walking skills are a sight to behold. He is eager to run and play with the big boys.

Next we rode back to camp, where all my little men dropped me off for a relaxing afternoon all by myself. They went off to ride the trails longer, while I sat quietly in the dappled sunshine, feeling the breeze play over my skin while I knit, then preparing to host our big group campfire later that night.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

I went to the bath house and took my time washing up, which was a relaxing delight. I greeted some campers just arriving, and tidied up around camp a bit- word had it that there could be heavy rain later that night, and I wanted to pack as much stuff away as possible ahead of time. Soon everyone started wandering back into camp and getting dinner together, and I gathered supplies for the group campfire at nightfall.

Soon we were all collected around my sister-in-law's campfire, my boys roasting hot dogs over the open fire for dinner. We all had snacks (grapes, crackers and goat cheese! YUM!) and drinks to share, with s'mores for dessert. I usually open these "official" group campfires with a few thoughts, and afterwards we go around the campfire, with each person in turn telling us their favorite part of the trip, or most memorable, or really whatever they want to share. This takes awhile, because there is much reminiscing, joking and commenting from everyone else too. It's always a highlight of the trip for me. I pass around a journal and a set of colored pencils so that everyone can sign in, and those who wish can draw or write anything about the trip. I hope this journal (and those that come after- we've almost filled this first one!) will become a treasured family keepsake for years to come. Already, it's fun to look back and see how much the children's drawing skills have progressed in just a year. :) (I started the journal tradition last year.)

Slowly slowly, with drooping eyes, we reluctantly left our cozy group that night and headed for bed. We battened down the hatches in case of rain, and fell asleep listening to the wind roar.

It did rain that night, and I have to tell you: as long as everything is snug and dry, there are few things better than the sound of rain on your tent. I love a good storm. When you're tent camping, the best rainstorms are those that serenade you at night and dry out quickly come sunrise- and this turned out to be the perfect rain. We breakfasted while our tarps and tents aired out, and then began the long process of packing up.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

Babyman tried to stay out of trouble

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

(sort of).

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

Most of the boys entertained themselves by climbing and playing on the rope swing, which kept them in our sight without getting underfoot.

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

Finally the van was all packed, we'd said goodbye to friends and family, and we were the last to check out. I was sad as I wandered our empty campsites looking for trash or lost items- far from being ready to go home, I could have happily slept in that tent several more nights. While bending over to pick up a piece of trash, I was startled by the sudden movement of a snake! It was interesting- I didn't recognize it at all. It seemed to be sort of olive-colored, speckled all over with tiny yellowish spots. Later I was to learn that it wasn't a snake at all- it was an Eastern Glass Lizard, a type of legless lizard! After getting over being startled, I enjoyed observing the little critter.

Once Billy had done his own sad walk-through, we were off. Our first stop was to hunt another letterbox, and finally! We found it right where it should be and enjoyed stamping in. 1 for 3 on the letterboxing front. After that we decided to explore Botany Bay on our way home. We loved the driving tour- the land is gorgeous! It was a great place to stop for a little picnic lunch.

We had just two more stops we wanted to make before heading home, to hunt a last couple letterboxes. Unfortunately as we were beginning to turn left off a 2-lane country highway, a speeding car tried to pass us on the left, striking the front driver side of our van! We were shaken and in disbelief, but despite it being a serious hit, everyone was fine. Then we noticed: the other driver was not stopping! Unfortunately, it turned out to be a hit-and-run. We were angry, but overwhelmingly grateful that we were all OK. The damage to our van seemed (miraculously) to be superficial. By the time we'd filed a police report, it was far too late for any more exploring. Time to head straight home!

It was a long, tired drive home, and we were still shaken from the accident. But even that frightening episode couldn't erase the fabulous week we'd just spent with our family and friends. Another year's campout, officially a success!

From Edisto Island Campout 2009

Breathing room!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Breathing room! Current mood: cheerful Whew! As usual, my accountant had to e-mail me to remind me that corporate taxes are due March 15 rather than April 15. Dammit! I seem to have a mental block going with that one. It's my true feelings about income taxes asserting themselves in my subconcious. Regardless, as usual I had to scramble to get all the required information together for him in time. Don't get me started on the waste of my precious life that is the income tax. What a ridiculously unwieldy system. . . but I did say don't get me started. So the good(ish) news is that the returns are prepared and postmarked, and I don't have to do that again until I forget about it next year. A bonus (of sorts) is that the personal return is done too, so I have some breathing room again. (Until next year). That's not the only reason I went AWOL- we've been super busy, mostly with fun stuff (just that very large exception of tax preparation). My Uncle got married, and we adore my new Aunt. (Plus we get some cool cousins in the bargain!) The wedding was really nice- for me, the highlight was after I pawned the boys off on their Daddy and other relatives, and I spent a few hours in a loungechair on a sandy beach at the lake, feeling pretty, digging my bare toes in the sand and reading Harry Potter. (again, but who's counting??) THAT was a rare delight. My Uncle works at DisneyWorld, so after the wedding we were able to take the boys down for a day of Disney frolic. We all had a great time, and Littleman is already planning his next trip there! LOL. To top off a great little trip, I snagged 5 letterboxes on the way home. Very nice. Between trips I've been struggling to keep getting the house back in (semi)order, and then along comes taxes. Now that those are done, it's time to prepare for the fast-approaching family campout in Jekyll Island! I'm assuredly not complaining, though- just explaining my blog disappearance. I do prefer to post much more regularly than I've managed lately. I'll try to get back to it! One nice little note: yesterday, the boys and I met up with Aaron and my high school Art teacher at the High museum. It was so wonderful to catch up with my former teacher- she has been a lasting and very special influence in my life. The boys had a blast just playing in the courtyard and in the playroom there, then at closing time we all went to Houlihan's for an early dinner. It was a lovely afternoon. It can be all too easy to lose touch with the meaningful people in our lives. Most of us keep up with our family in some way or another, but think of all the other wonderful people over the years that have had a lasting positive influence in our lives, but whom we just haven't managed to keep up with. Sometimes it's because we do not realize their importance until they've disappeared from our lives, and sometimes it's just that pesky life details keep getting in the way of reconnecting. Or perhaps we just procrastinate, or forget. . . I know I am guilty of all of the above. But when you do reconnect with someone extra special, you wonder "What took me so long??" I really intend to keep in regular contact with my dear Art angel. She's a true gem.

fall color, delegating and a busy schedule

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

fall color, delegating and a busy schedule Current mood: full Wow, the leaves in the mountains yesterday were GORGEOUS. If you get a chance this week to drive around in North GA and check out the fall color, I highly recommend it. They are prettier than I recall seeing for the past few years. We had a lovely hike (planted a new letterbox, too!) and I got some great pictures. Plus I got to share a caramel apple with my boy. How fun is that? ;) I think I need to learn how to delegate effectively. Which is something I've known, but not really understood until recently. It's a skill I'll have to practice. Whew, we have a busy week coming up. Starting Wednesday night, it's non-stop Halloween and birthday (Littleman's 3rd!) festivities for awhile. Billy's sister joked that Littleman needs his own mini daytimer! (Pictorial, of course). It's wild that even when I try to keep things low key and easygoing, we can end up with a non-stop schedule sometimes. Makes me wonder who I'm trying to please. . . but I know it will be fun, and we'll all be glad we did it. I thought about writing creatively tonight, but I am too tired. (And a little muddled with a glass of wine). Had a nice dinner with my sis, who doesn't see her nephews enough. (eh, G? ;) ) It was fun. Fading. . . fast. . . still must check laundry. . . 'night!

Just checking in

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Just checking in Current mood: busy So I've been slacking off on the blog a little bit- sorry! We've been super busy, plus I was hit with some nasty 24-hr bug that took me a couple days to recover from. No fun. The good news is it's over, and now we are looking forward to a brief but hopefully fun trip to Charleston. About time! :) I have some special plans for a letterbox I'd like to plant down there, but have not managed to find time to carve the stamp etc. I hope I get it done! Went to the Fair Tax rally on Wednesday, but was too late to get in. They had to close the doors over an hour before they were due to start, because the building was packed to capacity. Awesome! We hung out with a friend in the parking lot, and Littleman had a blast with Daddy. I was bummed we didn't get to get in, but very very glad it was such a phenomenal turnout. Have you contacted your representative yet? Tell them you support the Fair Tax! If you don't know what I am talking about, go to fairtax.org and check it out. Or look for The Fair Tax Book by Boortz and Linder- it's out in paperback now, so it's cheap. Read it! I was thinking today about my time, and where it all goes. It's a cliche that kids take a lot of time, but honestly until I actually had kids I had NO idea how much time and effort they really take. HOW do people find time to clean house? Not to mention cook meals, do the shopping and errands, keep the house and yard looking decent, keep up with friends and family and have a hobby or two. Seriously, I can't figure it out. Perhaps it's a matter of priorities- I do think I spend more hands-on, focused time with my boys than many parents get to spend with their children. And I have really been making an effort to keep up with some friends and family, at least. But my house is in a constant state of complete disarray, and I feel lucky if I keep the laundry and dishes under control. Sigh. I guess part of the problem stems from the fact that I have to make time to work a job at home, as well as do all the work of home- and I am doing that without a babysitter or daycare. It makes for some pretty inefficient time management, but at least the boys are getting a pretty sweet deal. And I may as well get used to it, for I will only be spending more time focused on them, as homeschooling continues to grow around here. I'm looking forward to those opportunities- hopefully I won't be buried in the process! ;) Well, nothing much really for this blog- I am beat, and want to go to bed- I have to get up early to make a covered dish for the international potluck at Littleman's Montessori Field Day tomorrow. Ah, suburban housewife obligations! ;) But I am looking forward to seeing a bunch of 2 and 3 year olds do sack races and tug of war!

random thoughts

Sunday, December 18, 2005

random thoughts Current mood: silly Hunted and found three letterboxes today! It was fun. Simon got to go "HIKING. SUNDAY." and I got to add some stamps to my collection. I have some ideas for more planted boxes, I just have to carve stamps and get the books and boxes ready. In all my free time. But it's a good hobby, and I really enjoy it, and it gets us outdoors in cool places getting some exercise. So I should find the time to do it more. (for curious noxers [non-boxers]: www.letterboxing.org ) "Ornaments stay ON the tree" is now such an oft-repeated phrase in my house, it's right up there with "Be careful", "Be nice to the kitty", "No", "Get Down", "We don't throw our food", "That's eww-y" and "Don't stick things into the holes in the computer!" We went walking in our neighborhood last night looking at Christmas lights. It was nice! There are only a few houses that have gone all out, but many with at least a little holiday lighting to brighten things up. It was so pleasant to stroll around as a family, all bundled up and admire the lights. Such moments are rare enough for us, which makes us appreciate them all the more I think. Simon especially liked a huge, lit inflatable snow-globe that was snowing inside, a house with little lit Christmas soldiers lined up, a house with santa in his sleigh landing on a runway on the roof, and the inflatable bear that would slowly pop out of a present, then slowly sink back into it. We watched "Kingdom of Heaven" the other night. It's a Ridley Scott film, starring Orlando Bloom, set in the time of the Crusades. The filming was beautiful, the acting was good and it was based on real-life people and events. Unfortunately the editing was disjointed and I think the writing was a bit poor. Those weak points were rather fatal, I'm afraid. Oh, well. OK, enough random thoughts- my eyes are drooping. Time to get ready for bed. (Early for me!)

Edge of the world

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Edge of the world Current mood: accomplished The rain waited for us to start. Light at first, it escalated rapidly into a gentle but very steady downpour. The trail gets slippery, and the treebark starts to shine. Big fat drops slide off the rhododendron leaves and hit our hats, hands and faces. Before long our backs and lower legs are soaked, though the hats and rainjackets help keep the rest of us dry at least. Did we remember to bring our gaiters? Of course not! The river roars by, rushing through leaf-strewn boulders and kicking up fine mist that melts into the foggy atmosphere. Stepping very carefully and grabbing the gnarled branches for support, we scramble back up the hill to the trail. Rain starts to ease a bit as we find our treasure spot, and littleman gets to walk the forest. He leads the way, marking "secrets" as we go. We must look a bit insane, wet and bedraggled in the woods with two young boys- but littleman is on top of the world. Baby is not, however, and lets it be known he would rather be in the snug dry car, so the 4 intrepid planters turn back toward people, asphalt and the rest of our day. Mission accomplished, at least. :)