1. A good hiking backpack. When my girls were preschoolers they carried a backpack with only a fleece jacket inside to get a feel for carrying something while on a hike. After a few adventures I added a small water bottle to their packs. Within a half dozen hikes they were carrying their own small lunch box as well. Teaching kids early to be responsible for their gear in a manageable way - taking age and fitness level into consideration - makes hiking adventures much easier for everyone, especially as the kids get older.
However it is important to take the size of a backpack in to consideration before buying one. I chose small packs just large enough for a lunch box and fleece when the girls were young. This usually ensured the collection of toys didn’t start out in one backpack and wind up in mom’s before the hike was done. I also chose packs with padded shoulder straps to ensure comfort. The string packs popular with kids now are not a good idea for hiking. The strings can dig into shoulders in a way that promotes whining when you’re on a climb to the top of a mountain or even after a mile or two on a more level trail.
Whine Factor Reduction: Very Good
2. A field guide. Most kids are curious about the world around them and a way to keep them interested on a hiking trail is to invest in a pocket-sized field guide related to their interests. Both the National Audubon Society and Peterson have a variety of guides for birds, insects, trees, wildflowers and rocks and minerals.
If your kids are interested in birds, my girls would suggest picking up the “Birds of Maine Field Guide” by Stan Tekiela. This particular guide has large color pictures, color-coded tabs for quick reference and simple explanations (i.e., not too many words for younger readers). I prefer my “Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America” because it has more detailed information but it’s a bit wordy. For kids who want to use a guide independently, choose one you think they can understand (mostly) on their own.
My family also likes the “Forest Tress of Maine” from the Maine Forest Service. It is a simple and easy to use guide since it is specific to Maine so you can identify a tree leaf without to having to sift through all the world’s tree possibilities. And for those who are new to outdoor adventuring, or who haven’t done it in a while, the “You Alone in the Maine Woods” from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) booklet is a great resource to remind hikers how to stay safe in the woods.
Another favorite is the “Pocket Guide to Maine Animal Tracks” from the IFW. We picked up this small laminated card at the Maine Wildlife Park many moons ago and often refer to it when we’re out on the trails in the winter since it’s easier (for us) to spot animal tracks in the snow.
The rule of thumb I’ve used in choosing a guide book for my family is a region-specific one. It helps narrow down the possibilities, which is especially helpful if you’re a newbie on the topic. It takes less time to sift through while you’re on the trail with the kids. Any parent knows that when information is wanted by a little person, they don’t tend to be overly patient while you’re looking for the answer.
Whine Factor Reduction: Very Good
Educational Value: Great
3. A compass. Even if your kids don’t know how to use a compass and you’re feeling a bit rusty, get one anyway. They are inexpensive and I bet your kids will surprise you with their understanding of it. When they change direction, so does the compass needle. And if you suggest the kids make note of your direction at the start of the hike, prompt them later on the trail to move their body in a circle until the compass needle is pointing back in the direction of the trail head. It’s also an easy to carry item and sometimes a little gadget distraction is a good thing on a longer-than-planned hike. Yes, sometimes moms and dads take a wrong turn on the trail.
Whine Factor Reduction: Good
Educational Value: Great
4. Binoculars. This is not a must-have in my kids’ packs simply because it can be a heavy item. But a small, lightweight pair of binoculars can be a fun thing to pull out of mom or dad’s backpack during a hike.
Whine Factor Reduction: Good
Educational Value: Good
5. A camera. My oldest daughter’s interest in photography started with our hiking adventures. We bought her a small, inexpensive camera for her exclusive use on our hikes and it was interesting to realize that she captured photos from different aspects of the trail I often missed. It’s a great way to keep kids engaged while hiking. And it’s a great excuse to use when someone needs a break. A suggestion for the more physically fit child to take a photo can help another child struggling to keep up take a much-needed breather. I can assure you it also cuts down on the whining factor (with the child unwilling to stop and the child that is having trouble keeping up) and I used the picture break suggestion quite a bit when the kids were younger.
Whine Factor Reduction: Very Good
Educational Value: Good
6. Hiking Shoes. Maine kids have a lot of shoes. There are winter boots, rain/mud boots, ski boots, sandals, water shoes, sneakers, dress shoes, athletic shoes for specific sports... the list can go on and on for some households. It’s simple craziness in most home closets. But adding a pair of sturdy hiking boots to the mix is worth it. They ensure a good tread for climbing on rocky terrain and solid arch support for managing uneven ground.
Whine Factor Reduction: Very Good
7. Mobile Apps. This is something my family just started exploring and the girls suggested that I include this in my round up. We already have a few outdoor-oriented favorites. Yes I know, being in the outdoors should not include cell phones but for those parents who have not done much hiking with their tween/teen (or even if you have), this might be just the ticket to get them (more) excited about an outdoor adventure with the family.
Geocache Navigator. My kids’ favorite app to date is Trimble’s Geocache Navigator. For those unfamiliar, Geocaching is a game that uses GPS coordinates to find a hidden box filled with inexpensive trinkets and a log book. Players, called geocachers, download the coordinates on to their GPS units - in this case to their mobile phone - and then navigate their way to the hidden box. The downside to using this app is that the cell tower connection isn’t so great in dense tree cover so it’s best used on more urban/suburban hiking trails.
Available on iPhone, Blackberry, Droid, Sony, Samsung, Pantech and several others with a data plan. Cost: $9.99 (most phones)
Star Walk from Vito Technology. This app is another family favorite that allows you to identify stars, planets and constellations in the night sky. (Yes, hiking is mostly a daytime activity but full moon walks, especially in the winter, are a lot of fun, too.) This is a real-time application that utilizes a digital compass that is activated when the phone is tilted skyward. The compass tracks movement so that when you change direction, it reorientates the stars so you see on the phone’s screen exactly what you are looking at in the sky. This app has a serious awe factor for both kids and adults. And the bonus is that everyone will learn something while using it.
Currently available only on iPhone. Cost: $2.99
iMapMyHike. This one plots your hike on a map. It also tracks total distance, speed and elevation gain, which is similar to what a hand-held GPS unit does but with an easier interface. The app relies on an active cell tower connection so, again, not so great for heavy tree-covered trails. It’s great for kids who want to know exactly what sort of terrain they’ve covered or show off to their friends about the “huge” mountain they just hiked because they have their path on a terrain map with the elevation marks to prove it.
Currently available for iPhone, Blackberry and Droid. Cost: Free
Twitter & Facebook. No app roundup for the tween/teen set would be complete without at least a mention of these guys. You can take advantage of your child’s interest in these sites by suggesting they make status updates and take pictures during your hike and upload them to their accounts along the way. These sorts of updates can be fun to read after the fact to help everyone remember the silly, weird and awe inspiring moments. A teen’s notion of what is noteworthy can also offer some insight in planning your next trip together as well.
Available on most cell phones. Cost: Free
Whine Factor Reduction: Very Good
Educational Value: Good - Great
Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine's November 2010 edition
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