Hiking & Backpacking with Kids

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Listen to this post as a Podcast: Hiking and Backpacking with Small Kids, Fun and Survival

This is something that we have started doing this year. Before now, the twins have just been too small and too unable to keep up and I never really wanted to pack around a toddler so we just didn't hike. Now that all of our girls are big enough, we are enjoying outdoor pursuits that we had previously not been able to like hiking and longer camping trips. It's been a lot of fun, but in doing so I think I have come up with a few tips to help you along the way.

First, I think it's important to get the kids out and about for a couple reasons. Getting out and moving is an important part of any kids life, or it should be at least, and by doing things as a family you wear the little kids out and get some exercise too! The amount of things your kids will find to explore and look at while you are out is amazing. If you are a homeschooler, and even if you aren't, these are good ways to keep learning outside of your normal school environment.

Having your kids out in nature also gives you a great way to talk through and even act out some safety and survival situations. We have taught our girls what to do should the become lost, separated, hurt or what to do if they encounter a wild animal. If you act these things out each time you are hiking or camping, the better chance your child has to react to a scary situation calmly and do what they need to do.

Some things you can teach even the youngest of kids to do is to stay put and wait for help to come to them. We have also taught our girls how to use a signal mirror and safety whistle. No one in our family, child or adult, goes into the woods here without having a whistle and mirror. We've talked through how to deal with situations with bears and cougars, because in Oregon those are the dangerous animals we may possibly encounter while in the woods. We just like to foster a sense of comfort in our kids while they are in the woods and that comes from the kids knowing how they should react and knowing that they know what to do.

Now, something that a lot of people may not want to think about, but I think is smart to at least consider is the possibility of having to bug out of your home on foot. If your kids are already comfortable walking, and possibly even with carrying a pack with some or all of their own gear, this could save a lot of stress for your family. If you take an active family interest in hiking and backpacking, you are helping your kids be able to endure a bug out situation and they don't even know it! As they get stronger and older, their stamina will increase so you can take longer or more vigorous hikes. This is just a smart idea- I know I should be more active and I'm not. This is going to be a detriment to my family should a SHTF situation occur with us.

Now, back to happier thoughts on hiking and backpacking. This can be a really great time to not only foster a love and appreciation of the outdoors in your kids, but also a good time to let them expand their interests. Photography lends itself to hiking very well. A kid and a camera can produce some of the most beautiful and sometimes hilarious, photos. Collecting leaves for a pressed leaf collection or tree identification book would be a fun project for the family. How about identifying woodland creatures by their tracks or droppings? There are just a whole lot of fun and exciting things that you can do out there while you are hiking- and I haven't even touched on the beauty of the trails and spots you can hike to and through! Oregon has miles upon miles of hiking trails and wilderness to explore and my family is really enjoying being able to go out as a family together. The added bonus of wilderness training and emergency preparedness is just that- a great bonus! Never, ever underestimate the learning opportunities that an outdoor excursion can provide. And the best part is that your experiences can be different each season, month and year. It's a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.

An item we LOVE are these JetScream Whistles.


They are really loud, bright and pretty inexpensive. We all have one and I think you should have one too. You can clip it to a backpack, key chain, lanyard or survival pack easily. They are simply amazing. They are made in the US and they are pea-less, so they will never freeze up or rust.

We also like these mirrors from Camping Tools:
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 They are easy to carry, the kids have no problem using them and on that same note, they aren't very expensive so if a kid losses one it's not too much of an issue.
An appropriately fitting backpack for your child is another must have if they decide to pack their own gear. An ill fitting backpack can cause undue back pain, make your feet hurt, chafe and even cause raw, hurt skin.

I think these WolfPack backpacks are pretty cool, although I'm sure if you look there are less expensive options out there:

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High energy, easy to carry snacks help to make your trip a success. Not only will you ensure that you have some easy to prepare and eat foods in your possession should an emergency occur, a nice snack at the destination of your hike is fun. Sitting around enjoying a snack and a drink of water while you soak up the surroundings and take a breather is the reward of all of that hard work!

Of course, my list wouldn't be complete without mentioning water. Each person should have a water bottle and I think even the littlest kids should be responsible for toting their bottle around.

Lastly, a good sturdy pair of shoes or boots will save your feet from stress, strain and injury. Make sure each member of the family is outfitted with good fitting shoes.

Most of all, just remember to get out and have fun! Hike with your family for exercise and training all at once and come home happy, tired and full of new knowledge!