Homeschool › Outdoor Skills › HikingWalking is the oldest way to explore, and it's free. Lina and Adelia Beard described a girls' Walking Club in 1898, and the 1911 Handbook for Boys gave this advice on hikes: “First, avoid long distances.” So start short and build up step by step.
Things to try In any order, at your own pace. Tick what you've tried if you like keeping track; ticks stay on this device.
Walk a mile Walk one mile around your neighborhood with a grown-up and time it. A good goal: you know about how long a mile takes you.Dress for the weather Learn to dress in layers: a base layer, a warm layer, and a rain or wind layer, plus sturdy shoes and a hat. Choose an outfit for a hot day, a cool day, and a rainy day. A good goal: a grown-up approves all three.Pack a day pack Pack water, a snack, a rain jacket, a map, a whistle, a flashlight, and sun protection. Carry it on a practice walk. A good goal: you can pack it without a list.Plan a route Choose a park trail on a map, figure out its length, and estimate how long it will take. Leave your plan, with when you'll be back, with someone at home. A good goal: you've followed your plan on a real walk.Follow the trail signs On a marked trail, find the paint blazes, posts, or signs and figure out what they mean. Learn trail manners too: stay on the path, step aside for others, and greet people you pass. A good goal: you've led part of a hike by the markers.Leave no trace On a hike, practice the leave-no-trace ideas on the Caring for Nature page. Pack out every wrapper and leave flowers, rocks, and sticks where they are. A good goal: you come home with all your trash and nothing taken from the trail.Build up your distance Over a few weeks, take hikes of 2, 3, and then 5 miles (younger hikers can stop at 3). Keep a hike log with the date, distance, time, and one thing you saw. A good goal: your log shows your longest hike.Lead a family hike Plan, pack for, and lead a family hike, choosing the route and setting the pace. A good goal: everyone gets back happy and on time.Read about it in the old books ← All outdoor skills Teddy Rook Book is not affiliated with or connected to any scouting or youth organization. These pages are free ideas to use however you like.