It’s Not the Destination

When you ask my youngest two kids what their least favorite outdoor activity is they will tell you “hiking”. Yet here we go hiking quite regularly and they like it, sometimes even love it. They would describe hiking as “walking for a long time”. Monotonous activities is not where kids thrive. As adults we have learned to keep our brain engaged, or we hike to disengage our brain.

So how to keep the kids engaged while we “walk for a long time”… Don’t make the hike about the destination, focus on the journey.

There are lots of ways to keep kids excited about hiking. Our first excursion was to Wildwood where there is something behind every corner. Recently with very limited options for other activities we’ve explored local green-spaces and foraged from the land. Sometimes hikes have amazing things around every corner. Our trip to Grinnell Glacier was like that and only the first 3 miles needed encouragement. Then fields of wild flowers, big horned sheep and waterfalls are just some of the things that created awe.

So what about those journeys that are more unpredictable or don’t have as much to explore? First of all, remember to cover the basics of comfort (food, water and layers of clothing) and then insert some excitement and creativity. Be a goofball and play Starwars or jump logs. Play slow-motion tag or start to notice all the flowers and mushrooms.