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1. Whis­tle– train the kids that the whis­tle is for emer­gency use only, but plan a 5-second “whis­tle blow­ing con­test” at the begin­ning of each hike while you go over basic safety procedures.
2. Day pack — a small book bag or fanny pack will do for start. Don’t let them over­load it, but do allow each child to carry some­thing so they feel part of the program.
3. Carry plenty of extra water. Chil­dren dehy­drate faster than adults and a thirsty kid is a cranky kid.
4. High-energy snacks– gra­nola bars, fruit, fruit juice, trail mix, etc.
5. Dress for the weather and carry rain gear. Inex­pen­sive travel rain pon­chos are light weight and good for the unex­pected shower as well as for grow­ing children.
6. Dress young chil­dren in bright col­ors — makes it much eas­ier to keep track of them in the woods.
7. Add child-dosage items to your stan­dard hik­ing first aid kit. Same for insect repel­lent and sun screen.
8. Choose your hikes with a visual goal in mind. A oak ham­mock, gur­gling creek or his­toric site makes for a great pic­nic spot where you can relax and the kids can explore a bit on their own.
9. Empha­size that the quiter the chil­dren are in the woods, the more wildlife they are likely to see.
10. Teach Leave No Trace early. Give each child an empty plas­tic bag and have a lit­ter pick-up con­test. When you come across an impacted site or an area the kids con­sider “ugly”, talk with them about what hap­pened and how they can pre­vent or improve it.

By: Deb Blick