Family Hike
Personal devices and wifi everywhere offer tons of advantages that we simply cannot live without. As a parent though, there are times that I wish they would all go away! While there’s no getting rid of them, there are lots of creative ways we can get our families to take a break and be active outdoors. The Family Hike is one of those great ideas that my family loves. Read below for some tried and true tips to have a great hike with your family this week!
Big Ideas
How do I get my kids to take a break from devices and be active outdoors?
How can I do something meaningful with my kids on a budget?
Scripture
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 (NIV)
Plan Your Hike
If your kids are anything like mine, their first instinct is not to spend lots of time outside. It’s not that they dislike the outdoors, but rather the magnetic allure of wifi (and the comfort of AC) often keeps them occupied indoors. One activity my wife and I have been successful in getting our kids engaged in outdoors goes by many names...we like to call it the Family Hike.
The Family Hike activity is pretty simple - find a trail and start walking! If the trail is the woods (highly recommended) then this is an activity that can be done almost year round and in many different weather situations. Every season provides different things to explore and the woods provide shade on hot sunny days and cover in a light rain. Here are a few tips we’ve learned along the way to produce a great Family Hike! It is important to note that we have 4 kids ranging from an infant all the way to 14 years. Some tips may look different depending on your family size and ages of your children.
Pick out a great trail that has things to see along the way and a destination. There are many great trails in our region and probably even in your neighborhood. However, from personal experience I can recommend the Twin Knobs Trail at Cave Run Lake and almost any of the trails at Carter Caves State Park.
Pack water and snacks for the hike to keep the whining and complaining to a minimum it is important to give kids (especially if they are younger) little breaks along the way filled with things to look forward to. A water bottle filled with ice-cold water (or their favorite drink) and a snack seems to keep our kids focused along the way. The Twin Knobs Trail has benches ever so often along the way that make the perfect place for pit stops. Be sure to pick up your trash and leave things better than you found it.
Help them search for the perfect walking stick to accompany them on their hike. We always begin the hike with this activity and it seems to get them engaged right away as well as provide an aide when they begin to get tired. You can even bring some items with you from home (string, markers, etc.) to let them really make it their own.
Talk and encourage along the way. We are by no means experts when it comes to nature, but I always enjoy talking with our kids about the different things they notice in the woods—trees, leaves, nests, tracks, water. Whether you want to talk biology with them or not, this is always a great opportunity to point them to a God that loves them unconditionally and created everything they see! Romans 1:20 says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” The magnificent creation all around us points to our creator! Also, don’t forget to speak encouragement to them along the way.
Celebrate and document the destination. There are lots of cool ideas you can do when you reach the end of the trail, but make sure you take time to appreciate the view and document with a family pic. Brag on your kids for making it to the end and allow them some time to recoup.
There are many great ideas you can use to give your kids a break from their devices and get them outdoors. I would love to hear about some things that have worked for you and your family. Also, please share a pic of your Family Hike adventure on social media using the #NoOrdinaryFamily tag. I would love to see where your trail leads. The best is yet to come!