Trail games, such as roving hide-and-seek, make use of nooks and crannies along the trail and keep kids motivated while hiking.
The following “Hip Pocket Activities,” developed by Delia Clark and Pat Straughan for Shelburne Farms, can be done any time, any place, and in any order. Choose a few favorites and keep the simple low-cost supplies ready in your pack for an opportune moment. Most of the activities will take about 5 to 10minutes, but a few require extra time, as noted.
These activities are a wonderful way to begin a hike, to keep a group together, to spice up a destination, or to occupy part of the group while the other part catches up or engages in a different activity. Adults will enjoy them as much as children!
Make hiking fun and engaging for youth with some teachable moments, easy games, and brain teasers.
Hiking is a very enjoyable and rewarding pastime through both the mental and physical benefits, as well as the fantastic scenery and nature. Sometimes though, hiking is about grinding out the next few kilometers on a unremarkable track with nothing particularly spectacular to look at. This is where trail games come in to play.
Heather Stephenson blogs about children and nature at AMC’s Great Kids, Great Outdoors. She also writes a natural history column for the Appalachian Mountain Club magazine, AMC Outdoors, and has been a contributor to every edition of the women’s health book Our Bodies, Ourselves since 2005. From 2007 to 2012, she led the AMC team that creates books, maps, videos, a print and online magazine, and blogs to encourage people to enjoy—and protect—our natural world.
A hike can be a great adventure and a lot of fun for your little ones when they are challenged to think about their surroundings. Use some of these activities next time you go on a family hike…
If you are out with a goal oriented group and you want them to take some time to explore, consider adding one or more additional hiking activities.
Young kids typically love the freedom of exploring and trekking through the outdoors, but sometimes they need a few fun games to keep them moving down that trail.
Hiking and Camping Activities for Kids. Free Downloads - Scavenger Hunts, Nature Bingo, Card Games, Memory Games, I Spy, and More. On trail and in camp games for kids with free camping with kids resources.
Ultimate Camp Resource is a free Resource for Camp Games, Camp Songs, Camp Skits and more. Ultimate Camp Resource is a website by camp people, for camp people. This webpage features Nature Games
Planning a hike with the kids can be tough. We make it easy! Check out these fun hiking games for the kids and take the stress out of your adventure!
These hiking activities, fun hiking games and trail activities will encourage your hikers to become sleuths in the woods.
