Activity Details
Time needed: 20–30 minutes
Materials needed:
Setup: Outdoor adventures can make our hearts sing and our feet
want to dance. But you can’t just head out on the trail without some
planning. In this activity, you’ll use the video and steps below to
help you plan an exciting outdoor adventure.
Activity:
- Planning an outdoor adventure is half the fun! Watch this
video to learn ten essential things you should put into your
adventure pack. Then find a comfortable backpack and see which of
these items you can find around the house to get yourself ready:
- Water bottle
- Warm clothing that you can take
on and off if the temperature changes (sweatshirt, jacket,
long-sleeved t-shirt)
- Tools (like a walking
stick or whistle)
- Flashlight
- Trail map
- Compass
- Towel or
blanket
- Firestarter or matches
- Snacks
- Sun and bug protection
- Now, decide what kind of hike you’re interested in. Here are
some ideas:
- Night hike: Watch the stars, hear the
sounds of the night, explore night creatures.
- Owl hike: Go on an owl prowl using flashlights.
- Woods hike: Hike in a forest or woodsy area.
- Beach hike: Hike on a trail along the ocean or on the
sand.
- Heritage hike: Hike to a historic site in
your town and learn about its history.
- Urban
hike: Hike around the city or your community.
- Snow hike: Hike in snow.
- Rain hike: Hike
after it rains. How does it change the hike?
- Senses hike: Hike with a buddy with one person blindfolded
while the other leads. What do you see, hear, and smell?
- Penny hike: Flip a coin at each fork in the trail or
sidewalk. Heads up, you go right. Tails, you go left.
- Photo hike: Take photos along your hike to tell a
story.
- Color hike: Bring color chips (paint
chips)
- Now it’s time to make a plan.
With your hiking companions, answer these questions to make a
schedule and a plan:
- Where will you be hiking?
- What time of day is best for hiking in your area?
- Do you have a trail map? What trail will you be
following?
- Will your hike cost anything?
- What games will you play as you hike? What songs will
you sing?
- What's your hiking style? Will you
take breaks? Do you need to be somewhere by a particular time?
How fast will you hike?