According to the American
Hiking Society, which created this holiday,
National Trail Day exists to “bring the next generation outside
and into the wonder of the natural world.” It’s a great day
to celebrate your family and the
beauty of God’s creation.
The key to a successful family nature walk is to make it child-friendly.
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Hiking with small children, however, can be challenging. Many parents find
the thought daunting. The key to a successful family nature walk is to
make it child-friendly, say Mark and Amy Reif, avid hikers and parents
of three young children. They’ve been taking to the trails across
the country since their oldest was still in a backpack. As early as age
2, their children have enjoyed hikes of a mile or more. “We try
to make it exciting for them,” the Reifs said, “like letting
them play in a stream, or climb a tree. Sometimes even just looking for
the color trail markers keeps the kids going.”
Frequent breaks are
encouraged. “We stay flexible about time,” they add. “Our
kids are free to stop and touch things. We let them investigate. Sometimes
we just stand and listen to sounds — or hear the lack of
sounds.”
Combining the Reifs’ wisdom with advice from the American
Hiking Society, here are tips on making your family hiking experience
a great one:
Be prepared — take with you plenty of water and snacks for
when kids tire. If you’re hiking while on vacation, look at some
books in advance about the area in which you’ll walk. That will
help your children know what to look for. Or try bringing along a small
field guide on birds or wildflowers.
Be reasonable — don’t tackle too much too soon. That doesn’t
necessarily mean flat trails; a short climb over rocks or a stroll around
a pond might be just the right length.
Be flexible — be off the clock as much as possible. Allow for
distractions. Let your kids control the pace and, at times, the direction.
The goal is exploration, not getting there and back in the expected time.
Be safe — keep your children in sight at all times. Trails
with beautiful vistas can have dangerous drops. Also, a child can get lost
very quickly if he wanders off the trail. Teach them that if they do get
lost, they need to stay put until you come to them.
Ready to hit the woods? To add a creative edge, turn your time outdoors
into a Scavenger Hike or Town
Treasure Hunt.
Happy trails!
— Bruce Van Patter
