Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Speaking of educational resources, The Outdoor School consists of afterschool programs, weekly camps, school field trips, and more! We offer hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, kayaking, and camping. Basically, anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. Our last article discussed the types of snakes found in the Lowcountry and how to prevent being bit while hiking. Today, we’ll be discussing how you can make a hiking trip or other excursion kid-friendly. If you are interested in learning more, you’ve come to the right place! 

Hiking and other related activities outdoors can be a fun, informative family activity. Not only is it a great way to get kids active, but it also gets them connected with nature and can foster an appreciation for nature from a young age. From a parent’s perspective, planning a hike with children may seem like a challenge or feel a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. We’re here to help! Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

Start small

Even if you are an experienced hiker, your child likely isn’t. You will probably want to start on an easy trail that isn’t too long or too strenuous. A trail that is one mile or less might be good to start. Starting with a simple walk through a park with plenty of trees and plants could also be beneficial to give your child a feel for things and to gauge their interest. Kids want to have fun, so a trail with some stand-out features will prove to be beneficial. Some good features could be a waterfall, lake or stream, or an area where they can safely climb up on some rocks. This will give kids something to look forward to seeing, and encourage them to continue along the trail. Provided that your child is old enough, involve them in the planning process. Show them different areas or trails and let them pick which one they’d like to see first. Ask them what kinds of things they want to see: maybe it’s rivers, waterfalls, flowers, or rocks. Find a trail that will tailor to their interests, if possible. Researching kid-friendly hiking trails in your area can be a good way to get started. 

Pack kid-friendly supplies

This one may seem obvious, but you should keep in mind that your supplies for any trip will differ slightly when you have a child on board. You should also involve them in the packing process: Let them see what is being packed, and ask for their input on what items they would like to bring along. If your child is old enough to have their own backpack, get them one, even if it’s a small, child-sized bag. Having their own supplies with them means they are more likely to use it. Here are some kid-friendly supplies you’ll want to consider:

• Wet wipes, tissues, or hand sanitizer. You never know what kids might get into outdoors!
• Water and snacks. These are essential: Hydration is key, and you don’t want a growling tummy on the trail, so pack your child’s favorite snacks. Bonus tip: Avoid prepackaged snacks and pack food in reusable containers to minimize the trash you’ll have to take back with you.
• Magnifying glass or binoculars for up-close exploring of any critters you may spot on the trail. Even a cheap pair of toy binoculars can be exciting for children.
• Extra clothes in case your child needs to change after the hike. You can keep the clothes in your car for your return from the trail. Kids can be messy and you never know what may happen. 
• Sunscreen! It is especially important to protect your child’s skin (and your own!) from UV rays, even in the cooler, less sunny months.
• Safety whistles should be considered, especially on longer, more extensive trails. Explain the use of the whistle to your child and teach them how to use it. If they end up getting lost on the trail, they can utilize the whistle to get help.
• First aid kit. This is essential for adults as well, but kids are prone to getting injuries outside. Make sure you have a travel-friendly first aid kid with all of the essentials such as bandaids in various sizes, antiseptic wipes, gauze, and hot/cold packs. You may also want to bring medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, and itch or sting ointments like hydrocortisone. You will also want to bring any personal medications, as needed.
• Insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and other biting insects. Only apply to exposed skin and do not apply near the eyes or mouth. Reapply when necessary– usually every few hours.
• Lightweight toys. For most kids, toys are absolutely essential. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal or a doll that they love to bring everywhere, let them bring it along on the trail! You can even play into this along the way by asking if their toy is enjoying the hike or needs a snack– Engage your child. If their favorite toy is having a good time, chances are they will too!

Make it fun!

There are plenty of ways to make hiking fun for your kids. For example, you can try creating games to play on the trail, like a scavenger hunt. Make it a challenge to find certain items such as specific rocks, pinecones, or count how many squirrels you spot as you make your way through the trail. You can create a list of scavenger hunt items, or even find one online to print out, so your child can check the items off as they find them along the way. (In this case, you may want to add a pen or pencil to your list of supplies!) Make sure the items on your list pertain to the geographic area you are visiting. (For example, don’t include types of plants, flowers, or animals that are not found in your area.) If your child is a bit older, consider adding more difficult and specific items to the list, like a maple leaf instead of a simple leaf. Another classic game, similar to the scavenger hunt, is “I Spy”. You and your child can take turns choosing something and describing it for the other to guess. For example, “I spy with my little eye something green and yellow.” Your child should then observe their surroundings and guess what the object is. For younger children, a game incorporating the ABCs might be both fun and educational. Go through the alphabet, starting with the letter A, and have your child name things along the trail that start with each letter. 

Look for teaching moments

While hikes should be fun, they can be educational, too. You may consider finding a list of nature-based fun facts and printing it out to take along on the hike. You can then present the facts to your child whenever you come across something relevant. If your child takes a particular interest in a certain object, consider taking a moment to tell them about that item’s importance to the ecosystem wherever possible. If your chosen trail has a map, take the time to go over the map with your child and teach them how to read it. Unfortunately, you may come across some litter on the trail. When this happens, pick it up or encourage your child to pick it up. Explain to them the importance of keeping the earth clean and why we should never litter. 

As you can see, hiking is a great way to bond with your children, educate them, and have fun at the same time. From the planning process to packing and the time actually spent on the trail, you can involve your child and instill a love for nature within them. We hope that you found this article informative and helpful! As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you’re looking to explore the Lowcountry with your kids, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!