Are We There Yet?

AMC Outdoors, April 2007

Keep family adventures fun with realistic goals—and a few tricks up your sleeve.

Maybe you look back fondly on family camping trips from your childhood. Perhaps your plugged-in progeny are showing signs of nature deficit disorder. Whatever your inspiration, outdoor pursuits with young ones in tow can be daunting. The rewards, however, are plentiful. Studies show that children who spend time outdoors are more connected with nature, more self-confident, and more independent. (They’re also less afraid of getting wet and dirty.) We asked a few expert youth instructors to share some of their best tips for making your child’s first hiking, paddling, and backpacking outings educational, safe, and fun.

Strength in Numbers: Group Hikes
A newly divorced dad, Dave Passios stumbled upon the New Hampshire Chapter Family Group in 1998 while looking for inexpensive and fun things to do with his two young children. The Lunenberg, Mass., resident not only found hordes of hiking companions for his kids, but also plenty of adults to lighten the parental load. His whole family discovered a passion for the outdoors that’s sustained them for countless weekends since.

The group offers easy- to moderately-paced dayhikes and cross-country ski, backpacking, and hut-to-hut trips. One recent Sunday, 45 members set out for Welton Falls in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region—moms with infants all the way up to strapping 19-year-olds. Even with a crowd this big, it somehow works, says Passios, now an AMC trip leader. “The slower kids speed up to stay with the faster kids, while the faster kids tend to hold the reins in.”

But back to those parental benefits: Other moms and dads have already made the common mistakes and take new members under their wings. It’s easy to see what doesn’t work and immediately rectify it. The kids learn hands-on trail safety, responsibility, and etiquette from each other. And the trails are time-tested and suit all the participants. “One family may love to go out on the trail with their own kids, but it really doesn’t work for everyone,” Passios says.

		Tip Sheet: 1. The earlier you can get the kids out and make it enjoyable, the better. Start small: “Don’t plan a big blowout where you’ll be dragging kids behind you.” If you set out on a longer daytrip and it really bombs, step back and try something small again. 2. When kids’ energy begins to wane, promote them to interim trip leader. Put them in front of the group, says Passios, “and they’ll quickly go from dragging to being the taskmaster.” 3. While you might hesitate to pump sugar into your child, the swift energy burst of a snack like an apple or granola bar will revive even the most resistant little hiker. This is especially handy when they wilt five minutes from the summit and need a little coaxing. Biggest Challenges: Slightly older kids that hike “three times faster than dad”; the moody teenage years; impressing the importance of “staying found” on children. Where To Go: Passios recommends Gunstock Mountain in Gilford, N.H., a short but satisfying dayhike with impressive views of Lake Winnipesaukee and other tempting diversions. Resources: Find information about the New Hampshire Chapter Family Group at www.amc-nh.org.

Creature Comforts: Backpacking
Just the thought of backpacking with a child may be enough to exhaust you. But the lessons they’ll learn in self-sufficiency and low-impact camping can last a lifetime. A single backpacking trip costs far less than a night in a motel and may stay with your child for years to come, says Tim Bray, AMC’s director of adventure programs. Parents who want to take young kids on wilderness overnights are generally experienced backpackers, but don’t treat the children like your peers, says Bray. The lower and more flexible your expectations, the greater the odds your trip will be successful.

As you plan, try to think like a kid. The goal of a distant vista is not nearly as compelling as a dead cricket there on the trail. “And if children want their Game Boy or teddy bear, let them bring it,” he says. “The trick is to amaze them enough to keep them interested so they don’t need it.” Having a repertoire of knots, songs, and fire-making tricks up your sleeve will go a long way toward this. Another plus is that kids are guaranteed to be tuckered out by bedtime and generally content to snuggle safely between their parents in a warm tent. Bray says all the repetitive rituals—finding water, making dinner, and identifying stars—can also be very grounding for a child.

Just remember to be realistic and conservative when setting goals: you may be carrying your children or hiking very slowly if they’re walking. Plan much shorter outings than you’re used to and prepare a Plan B (or C) if bad weather, foul moods, or tired little legs prevail. But take heart: at the age of five, kids can start carrying a small pack with snacks and a rain jacket or fleece. By about seven or eight, they may be ready for a small frame pack and more items.

		Tip Sheet: 1. Timing is everything. Children are at the right age for backpacking when they’re either young enough to ride in the child carrier, or old enough to be potty-trained, don’t need a nap, and able to walk for a couple of hours. 2. For the antsy or the miffed, Bray suggests games like scavenger hunts for the summit or for breaks during the day. 3. Keep it short. One to two nights works best if kids haven’t spent an overnight outdoors; longer if it’s a hut-to-hut trip. And give kids projects for when you get to the campsite. Assigning jobs like clearing rocks for the tent or serving as the Leave No Trace police frees you up to focus on your tasks. Biggest Challenges: Kids clamming up and not sharing how they’re doing; kids who ask “are we there yet?” after 100 yards; general fear of the unknown about sleeping outside. Where To Go: Lonesome Lake Hut offers a great beginner experience for kids. It’s an easy hike there with a cool lake to splash around at the end. Resources: AMC’s Family Adventure Camps. Weeklong camps for families with children ages fi ve to 12 with planned activities, great meals, and skills building in the White Mountains, Maine, and Delaware Water Gap. See www.outdoors.org/summerguide for more information.

Are We There Yet, cont'd >>