Guest Blogger Peter Kobel
TGSG Note: I am thrilled to have Peter Kobel featured as a guest blogger today. Peter is a writer and activist I admire very much, and a dedicated dad who is helping his daughter learn and thrive in meaningful ways. I hope you will put his tips into practice soon! See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru
Having lived for two decades in New York City, there are few things I enjoy more than a walk in the woods. Sometimes I tromp along and zone out to the sound of birds or water, and other times I concentrate more on the things around me — some spring flowers, say, like wild geraniums or trilliums. When I’m with a friend or my dog, it’s fine to space out and ramble. When I’m with my daughter and her friends, however, I know that I need to be much more present or things can quickly get … out of hand.
Don’t get me wrong. My daughter, Liv, who just turned 12, loves animals and nature. I started a chapter of Jane Goodall’s international youth organization, Roots & Shoots, at her school, and she was a founding member. Most of her friends are nature freaks too. It’s just that hiking with kids requires more planning than just grabbing a rucksack, filling the Sigg bottle and grabbing a bag of gorp.
My moment of enlightenment came a couple of summers ago when I was climbing Mount Hunger in northern Vermont with Liv, her friend, and her friend’s mom. It was one of those perfect Vermont summer days. But in just minutes, the whining began (I’m not saying who). It’s hot. I’m tired. I’m thirsty. Can we go back now? Kids who wouldn’t think twice about running endlessly up and down a soccer field are suddenly … exhausted. We made to the top (eventually) and made it back down. But I learned a few things along the way.
Anyway, I now have some rules for successful hikes. They don’t involve gear or clothing or sunscreen. I’m pretty sure you can suss that part out. They’re about strategy for a fun and healthy and maybe even educational outing.
1) Have a goal. In general, at least until a certain age, mountaintops aren’t that impressive. “You can see all the way to Canada” may well be met with a “Whatever.” A pond, perhaps luckily full of frogs, a waterfall, a swimming hole or the remains of an old bridge are much more motivating.
2) Get a trail guide book. There are lots of them. A book like “The Best Day Hikes in (fill in the blank)” will give you a destination and interesting stops along the way. They’re often full of factoids on history or nature. (You don’t even need to bring the book, just Xerox the section on the trail with map.)
3) Get some nature guides. Again, these are myriad and really add value. I still love the Golden Guides to Nature that I grew up with, and they’re very kid-friendly: flowers, birds, amphibians, etc. (I treasure my dog-eared copy of “Flowers,” copyright 1950.) There’s also the National Audubon Society Pocket Guides , which are small (like the Golden Books) but on a slightly higher reading level. (If I’m emphasizing books, it’s because I know children have a deep desire to learn about nature.)
4) Plan a game or activity. Who can identify the most trees, birds, flowers? Another great activity that even adults can enjoy is collecting specimens for a plant press. They are easy and inexpensive to make. If they are going to preserve plants, the kids should take notes on where the plant was found, what its habitat was like, etc. They can identify the plants later.
5) Make sure there’s a reward. You’ll want to have plenty of snacks and drinks on your hike. But plan a nice post-hike stop that the kids can look forward to. After summiting Mount Hunger, we stopped off (this is slightly embarrassing) at the Trapp Family Lodge. As the sun set, the kids had desserts, while the adults enjoyed a glass of Grüner Veltliner. Even adults need a reward sometimes.
Guest Blogger Bio: Peter Kobel is an outdoor enthusiast and environmentalist who blogs at http://TheEcoist.net. Follow Peter on Twitter.
Super tips! We live in gorgeous Central Oregon where there are many hiking opportunities. Our kids range from 6-11 and there have definitely been times we’ve met the “bored, tired, thirsty” routine. I’ll bring these along and plan better next time.
Great post. The more we can do to engage kids on hikes, the better. I know my kids are calmer, happier and more grounded after a day (or hour) on the trail.
A couple games we like to play are:
Color Search. Choose a color and have everyone try to find 10 things of that color. Whoever finds them first gets to pick the next color. You could also do this with other parameters such as “things that are moving” or “animal signs”.
Scavenger Hunt. Make a list before you head out on the trail (or in your head as you go along) of things for kids to find. Depending on your kids’ age and where you are, this might include: something green, something soft, a place where an animal has stopped, a food source, something unnatural…. the list can go on and on.
These tips are great for grownups too! Since I’ve been hiking with Audubon field guides, my hiking experience is much richer. Goals are a great motivator, and a reward afterward tops off a great trip!
RT @wude72: 5 Tips for Successful Day Hikes With Kids http://bit.ly/K4Rps. Find your closest natl park http://bit.ly/JHT74
RT @alapoet: RT @TwilightEarth NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
@TheEcoist Loved ur guest post at @balmeras‘s The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras NEW @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes With Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
Love these tips! We have a little bird book that we always consult when we go outside or when we see a bird peeking in our window. My little girls love to go through it and find out all about the birds we see! Thank you for the other book recommendations!
RT @TwilightEarth NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
4 the night shift: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @wude72: 5 Tips for Successful Day Hikes With Kids http://bit.ly/K4Rps. Find your closest natl park http://bit.ly/JHT74
RT @balmeras: 4 nite shift: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips 4 Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @alapoet: RT @TwilightEarth NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
RT @alapoet: RT @TwilightEarth NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
@TheEcoist Loved ur guest post at @balmeras‘s The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras NEW @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes With Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras 4 the night shift: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
4 the night shift: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras: 4 nite shift: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips 4 Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
These are really good tips for families. We used to hike around Oregon before kids, but introducing little ones to the trails is a totally different experience.
We found that doing our research about the trail and area made the biggest difference. Our son has a really hard time with certain types of trails so we need to be extra diligent in finding the right hikes for all of us. Your tip about getting a good guide book really hits home for us! Thanks
RT @balmeras: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk #playoutdoors
RT @alapoet: RT @TwilightEarth NEW post @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
RT @balmeras 4 the night shift: @ The Grass Stain Guru: 5 Tips for Successful Hikes w/ Kids by guest blogger @TheEcoist http://bit.ly/Y6Rjk
Being outside as a big part of our life makes my son want to be out there more- exploring, enjoying the outdoor experience
Take a hike! The "grass stain guru" can give your family top tips in planning a successful hike – http://bit.ly/HikingWithKids