Guided Winter Trek for Families with Children
Winter hiking and camping can be a magical experience for children, filled with adventure, exploration, and fun. To ensure a memorable winter adventure for kids, careful planning, preparation, and creativity are key. Here are some tips to create a fun, safe, and engaging winter hiking and camping experience for children.
Safety and Preparation
Clothing and Gear
Ensure children wear warm, waterproof clothing layers, including a hat, gloves, and appropriate footwear. Use child-friendly hiking gear like kid-sized backpacks and hydration packs.
Assess the Trail Conditions
Choose trails that are safe and accessible for children, avoiding high-risk areas like icy or steep sections. Be prepared for weather changes with emergency supplies like a first aid kit and warm blankets.
Plan Activities
Bring along games and activities like a nature scavenger hunt or a bug search (adapted for winter conditions).
Engaging Activities
Nature Exploration
Organize a winter nature scavenger hunt for items like snowflakes, animal tracks, or winter berries. Encourage observation and identification of winter flora and fauna.
Snow Play
Engage in snow-friendly activities like building snowmen, making snow angels, or having a friendly snowball fight. Use natural materials like sticks and rocks to create winter-themed crafts.
Storytelling and Campfire Fun
Share stories around a safe, supervised campfire, emphasizing winter adventures and survival skills. Sing winter-themed songs or tell tales of winter explorers.
Safety Reminders
Weather Awareness
Monitor weather forecasts and be prepared to adjust plans if conditions become hazardous. Educate children on recognizing signs of hypothermia and staying warm.
Stream Crossings
Teach children how to safely cross icy streams if necessary, using supports like sticks and staying close to adults.
Supervision
Always supervise children closely, especially in areas with potential hazards like cliffs or wildlife.
By combining these elements, you can create a winter hiking and camping experience that is both fun and safe for children. Parents should plan winter hikes at half the distance a child can cover on summer hikes to avoid overwhelming children and causing major meltdowns.
According to a 2008 study, only 6 percent of U.S. children ages 9 to 13 spend time outside in a typical week. Yemaya Maurer and Lucas St. Clair, authors of AMC Guide to Winter Hiking & Camping, believe that children are happier when they spend time outside, and it's beneficial for their health, especially in cold climates.
Maurer, who became an outdoor educator, teaching winter hiking and camping skills to children and teenagers, suggests sharing enthusiasm for outdoor winter activities to encourage children's enthusiasm. Bringing plenty of snacks, such as hot cocoa, can make winter activities more enjoyable for children.
Winter hikes can be transformed into magical game spaces, with activities like making snowmen, snow angels, and snow forts. Pretending to go on an "elk hunt" or a "moose safari" can make winter hikes more enjoyable for children. Dress children in layers, one layer more warmly than the parent, to ensure as little exposed skin as possible during winter hikes. With older children, teach them layering principles so that they can regulate their own temperature as they hike or ski.
Hiking along rivers and to frozen waterfalls are child-friendly winter adventures, as children are drawn to water and often intrigued by its solid state, ice. Watching for animal tracks in the snow can be a fun and educational activity during winter hikes.
Yemaya Maurer, coauthor of AMC Guide to Winter Hiking & Camping, discovered the joy of winter landscapes as a young adult. Maurer, who now has a 2-1/2-year-old daughter named Gabriella with husband and coauthor Lucas St. Clair, recalls her fascination with a frozen pond during a winter hike, peering through the ice, walking on its slippery surface, and noticing the patterns in the frozen water. Stop frequently to check that a child is warm and comfortable during winter hikes.
Maurer and St. Clair follow three guidelines for family winter activities: Keep it fun, keep it safe, and keep it going. By following these guidelines, you can create a winter hiking and camping experience that your children will cherish for a lifetime.
- Make sure children wear warm, waterproof clothing layers, including hats, gloves, and appropriate footwear, as well as using child-friendly hiking gear, for a safe and comfortable winter hiking and camping experience.
- Plan engaging activities like winter nature scavenger hunts, snow play, storytelling, and campfire fun to encourage children to explore and learn about winter conditions.
- For a memorable winter adventure, choose trails that are safe and accessible for children, and always supervise them closely, especially in areas with potential hazards.
- Parents should prepare for weather changes with emergency supplies like a first aid kit and warm blankets, and be aware of weather forecasts to ensure safety on winter hikes.
