PARENTING
By Jen Aist
Participation rates for outdoor recreation in kids aged 6 to 12 dropped from 78% in 2006 to 62% in 2009
Kids should spend 1 hour per day outdoors playing
Kids under 6 spend 2 average hours per days watching TV
13,752 school-day hours in 12 years
29,952 weekend hours in 12 years
How do kids get interested in the outdoors? According to an Outdoor Industry Association study, key influencers of outdoor participation for kids ages 6 and 12 include: Parents (75%), siblings (36%), friends (33%), community programs (13%), school programs (12%), and TV or media (5%).
Your Challenge: Increase your outside family time by 10 percent.
Timeframe: 3 months
Who’s Done it:
Harmony Roll | 32, Anchorage, AK | “We do more outside with our little one than we did pre-baby. We keep a bag with essentials ready to go by the door and one in the car with duplicates in case we forget to restock the hand warmers or socks.”
Heather Smith | 26, Los Altos, CA | “Sometimes it seems like so much work to go anywhere with a baby. But I made a commitment to get out and hike once a week and it is totally worth it. I always feel so good afterward and my little girl loves it too.”
MOTIVATING MOMS
Reluctant campers? Get your crew fired up with these five tips that’ll motivate your kids to get moving:
- Involve them in planning. Look at maps together, write out goals for the year and for each trip, and ask for their help picking destinations.
- Make it fun. Roast s’mores, bring friends, and tote outdoor friendly toys-slacklines, kites, or inflatable floats-along.
- Set kid-friendly limits. That 10-mile day is a thing of the past. Most kids fare better with shorter distances aimed toward playful destinations like beaches, water-falls, or bouldering problems.
- Develop their hobby. If your kid identifies as an angler, a climber, a budding astronomer, or arborist, they’ll be less likely to scoff at the “getting there” trip details.
- Focus on comfort. No one likes to be cold, wet, or hungry. Bring lots of layers and snacks to help keep spirits high.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Spring means stashing down coats and big boots for lighter gear, but tough conditions can still come into play-and ruin outdoor playtime. Layer your little ones properly and the whole family will thank you.
- Start with a thin baselayer of wool, silk, or polypro, such as REI’s Midweight MTS Crew Shirt and Long Underwear Bottoms for Kids ($20 each; rei.com).
- Avoid cotton: it doesn’t insulate when wet.
- Add an insulating layer like The North Face’s Toddler Boy’s Glacier Full Zip Hoodie ($35; thenorthface.com). Even if it’s warm when you set out, this versatile layer is worth toting on every adventure.
- Top off layers with a waterproof shell. Keep older kids dry in Sierra Design’s Hurricane Accelerator Jacket ($69; sierradesigns.com). Pre potty training opt for a one piece such as Outdoor Adventure Kids Company’s One Piece Rain/Boating Suit ($50; oakiwear.com). Tip: A brimmed cap under a jacket’s hood keeps the hood-and drips-out of kids’ faces.
Expect wet feet-rain boots block puddles, but don’t breathe. Combat chills with insulating, wool-blend socks such as Bridgedale’s Junior Trekker ($11; bridgedale.com). On cold mornings, layer them with Little Injinji’s Eco Performance .
MUST HAVES
Mountain Mama’s line of technical pregnancy apparel is expanding as fast as their clientele’s bellies. New for spring is the Crossfront Orcas Tee, the lightly waffled nylon-knit fits through month nine, but maintains trail-worthy fit and function for post-pregnancy wear, too. Plus: the full-coverage Crossfront pulls down for easy nursing. ($44; mountain-mama.com)
A stable seat that keeps kids too busy to crawl through the mud (or sand)? Yes. Pop-a-Tot’s Portable Activity Center folds easily into a compact package the size of a camp chair. ($50; popatot.com)
BOB has updated its whole line of baby joggers for the first time in several years. New for 2011 are fresh new colors, more robust suspension, easier fold-lock mechanism, integrated accessory adapter and improved seat and safety harness. The Sport Utility Stroller is perfect for the trail. ($329; www.bobgear.com )
DESTINATIONS
Beat the crowds (and heat) of summer at these kid-friendly adventure hot spots that start warming up early in spring.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, has a fun Jr. Ranger Program, hiking trails and cool cliff dwellings that require some play-ground-like climbing to access; they also have baby-jogger friendly trails.
Big Bend National Park, Texas, hosts nature trails, hot springs, river rides, sand dunes, and did we mention the fossils? Along with the largest number of reptile species (57) in all of the National Parks, this one’s a sure-fire favorite for budding paleontologists.
Yosemite National Park, California, is a safe bet for families. The village has every amenity-from groceries to laundry to gear rental-while nature programs and iconic hikes are abundant. Perfect for first-time campers craving adventure-and first-time parents nervous to stray too far from comfort. n
JUST JOKING
One sure-fire way to make the outdoors fun for kids? Punchlines they’ll love sharing on the trail.
What is a tree’s favorite drink? Rootbeer
How do trees get on the internet? They “log” in.
What kind of brush do you use to comb a bee’s hair? A honey comb
What is a caterpillar afraid of? A dogerpillar.
What do wolves say when they are introduced? Howl do you do?
“If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” -Rachel Carson, conservationist and environmentalist
SKILL: Tarp Art
On your own, it’s a luxury. With kids, it’s a near necessity. Hanging a tarp is an easy way to maximize comfort during condition extremes. Downpour? Scorching sunshine? Whipping wind? No problem. These tarp set-up hints can (almost) guarantee a group of happy campers.
Choose wisely. A good tarp will be lightweight, loaded with reinforced attachment points, and be a cinch to pack. Your group size and camping style will determine an ideal size, but for backcountry trips with two kids in tow, try Brooks-Range Mountaineering’s 10-foot by 10-foot Ultralight Guide+ Tarp which weighs less than one pound. ($179; brooks-range.com)
Consider location. Look for good tie-off points: a group of trees, a rock outcropping, a piece of driftwood, or a loaded kayak. Protection from prevailing winds or built-in sitting areas add value, but solid anchors and height (enough to sit under) are key.
Angle up. Draining water and catching wind can sour otherwise sweet tarp set-ups. Position your tarp’s high side so that it drains downhill and away from the shelter. Position the low side to deflect wind. Tie guy lines tight and expect to adjust and re-adjust as conditions change.
Know your knots. Pack 10-20 feet of parachute cord or 3 mm perlon (available at outdoor stores) per guy line along with 50 feet of extra to control flapping or to add strength in heavy winds. Use the tautline hitch-which can be loosened or tightened under pressure-for adjusting on the fly. Learn how to tie it here.
How do kids get interested in the outdoors? According to an Outdoor Industry Association study, key influencers of outdoor participation for kids ages 6 and 12 include: Parents (75%), siblings (36%), friends (33%), community programs (13%), school programs (12%), and TV or media (5%).
LIGHTEN UP
Swapping old gear with new can shave 10 pounds or more off your pack, making it easy to carry your kid (and their teddy bear) to the trail. See how swapping traditional for ultralight gear lightens your load:
All weights in ounces
Tent: Traditional Weight: 128 | Ultralight: 71 | Weight Saved: 57
Full Size Pack: Traditional Weight: 60 | Ultralight: 27 | Weight Saved: 33
Sleeping Bag: Traditional Weight: 53 | Ultralight: 31 | Weight Saved: 22
Sleeping Pad: Traditional Weight: 32 | Ultralight: 13 | Weight Saved: 19
Cook Set: Traditional Weight: 31 | Ultralight: 18 | Weight Saved: 13
Water Filter: Traditional Weight: 19 | Ultralight: 9 | Weight Saved: 10
Trekking Poles: Traditional Weight: 20 | Ultralight: 14 | Weight Saved: 6
Totals: Traditional Weight: 343 | Ultralight: 183 | Weight Saved: 160
WATER WARS
Don’t take chances, fight back with one of these techniques to make backcountry water safe.
That crystal clear stream may look safe, but bacteria and viruses such as Giardia and E.Coli lurking underwater can cause serious sicknesses. Young children are even more susceptible, and dehydration is a serious side effect when symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting set in.
Filter
Ideal for families, Katadyn’s Basecamp Filter holds up to 2.5 gallons of water and uses gravity to remove bacteria and protozoa at a rate of about one liter per minute. Like most filters, this one doesn’t remove viruses, so if you’re extra-cautious consider a backup treatment plan too. ($70; katadyn.com)
Purify
For quick, liter-at-a-time purification-like prepping a bottle of formula-UV light is easy and effective. SteriPEN’s new Sidewinder requires 90 seconds of hand-cranking, but it’ll purify 8,000 liters of water and doesn’t require batteries. ($100; steripen.com)
Treat
Chemical treatments such as Aquamira are the lowest-weight option-less than an ounce to carry for several days-worth-and most effective against all of the major water concerns: viruses, bacteria, and cryptosporidium. They’re easy to use, but can take up to four hours to completely kill cryptos. Chemical treatments aren’t recommended for pregnant women, so if you’re carrying, consider filtering and/or purifying instead. ($8; aquamira.com)
FIRST AID
Cuts and bruises? Scrapes and stings? Minor injuries are part of an active out door excursion -especially for first-time explorers. By teaching kids how to deal with their own mis-adventures you’ll give them some confidence when it comes to venturing out on their own. Teach kids that big injuries-broken bones, big hits, or lots of blood-require your help, but that there are first-aid items they can handle on their own. Take a tour of your first-aid kit with your kids and role-play these scenarios.
Scenario 1: A skinned knee
• Wash hands with soap and water and run cool water over the wound.
• Clean dirt out of cut (start in the center and work out) with a cotton ball.
• Air-dry the wound and apply antibiotic ointment.
• Dress the cut with gauze or a large bandage.
Get help if:
• Bone or deep tissue is visible
• Blood continues flowing for more than 5 minutes
Scenario 2: An insect bite or sting
• Remove the stinger by its base with tweezers-avoid squeezing the sac at its top.
• Apply cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.
• If the bite is bleeding, apply a bandage and direct pressure until it stops.
Get help if:
• Someone’s been stung in or near the throat, nose, mouth, or eyes
• The person is allergic or swelling is fast
Read All About It
Jordan Romero has a message for kids: Find your own Everest. Last year, after becoming the youngest person to summit the 29,035-foot peak-and the youngest person to have climbed the highest peak on each continent-Jordan teamed up with writer Katherine Blanc to tell his story and inspire other kids. Their scrap-book-style write-up, The Boy Who Conquered Everest: The Jordan Romero Story, is a kid-friendly trip report that sets up Jordan’s success story and offers practical tips for achieving adventure goals on any scale. (Balboa Press, $10)
