1: Make It a Group EventWhenever possible, we invite another family, relatives, or school friends along on our hikes. Over the years, we've discovered that we all get along better, with less bickering, when others are around.
2: Don't Rush the Hike
We strive to savor the moment and focus on what's around us rather than simply pass through on our way to a goal. My wife and I set an example by pointing out birds or flowers and stopping at interesting rock formations to encourage a leisurely style of hiking. Most importantly, we let the kids explore, even if it means not reaching the goal we had in mind.
3: Look for "Problems"
On one of our family hikes, when the kids were dragging and "When will we be there?" had become a mantra, we stumbled on an idea that made the hike more fun. We came to a little dry waterfall that we had to climb around, and I said, "Uh-oh, guys, looks like we have a problem!" Immediately the kids took on the challenge, tackled the obstacle in no time, and dashed off to find the next "problem." Pretty soon there were problems everywhere. The kids were finding logs to balance across and going out of their way to find the most difficult route to overcome. All the tiredness and boredom they had been feeling evaporated.
4: Start a Family Trip Journal
We keep journals devoted entirely to our outdoor adventures. After each outing, we make an entry by writing a description of our trip and pasting photos, maps, and drawings to the pages. Periodically, the kids pull out the journals and page through them to reflect upon their accomplishments.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated June 2005.
