Celebrating National Trails Day is a great excuse to get out into nature, and so here’s a quick overview to keep kids safe and learning as you do.
Stick to the trail
While there are always fun things to experience off the trail, trails are more than just paths to protect nature; they guide you through wild areas. They are often maintained by park rangers and are unlikely to have the danger of collapse or nasty surprises that off trail paths would. They also keep the area in a good condition for the things that live there, protecting the ecosystem in place.
Trails are great for teaching kids about the nature of paths; that they are easy to follow and that you need sound judgement on when to leave them. They also are good instructors of how we interact with nature, and what we can do to protect it.
In areas with tall grass the trails keep you away from ticks, those nasty little leg huggers that can cause Lyme Disease or other illnesses. Stay on the trail to avoid them, and wear long pants too. You can even ‘blouse’ your pants if you feel the risk is high. For more info, check the CDC’s tips here.
Always look around
With all the natural beauty and daydreaming about snacks it’s easy to lose focus, but it’s always a good idea to look around. Snakes, spiders, scorpions, and other animals are a lot easier to avoid if you see them first. Teach your children about them and explain that the danger is small if they are in the habit of looking around.
For parents in areas with mountain lions or bears, choose your trails well and keep a vigilant eye. Don’t let kids get far from you if you think a predator may be near by. In many cases there is safety in numbers, and while you may want that private time with your little one, more people on the trail means that larger animals are less likely.
Know what poison oak, ivy, and sumac look like
I don’t need to say much about this, right? Who wants to spend a few weeks itching and wishing you could take a bath in ice cream?
These scratchers can be on the trailside and have an oil on the plant that can easily transfer from fur to clothing to skin. Don’t pet animals you meet on the trails, no matter how adorable. The old adage is “leaves of three, leave them be,” unless you’re talking about Sumac, which has the adage “leaves of seven to thirteen arranged in pairs, better bewares.”
OK, I made that last one up, so it’s a good idea to check out some pics online before going. You can read more at the CDC here.
Bring water, food, and sunscreen
Little stomachs get hungry fast, and you might too if you are trekking up and down hills. Make sure you have food for the day and enough water for everyone. Call for water breaks every half hour on hot days, and watch skin tones and body movements of your group to see if a rest is needed.
Talk, talk, talk
Trails are perfect places for conversations, and great places to help kids get connected with nature. Any topic works and kids are especially curious about animals and water. From fluid dynamics to how we can walk right, the trails are incredible learning environments with as many talking points as you can imagine. We at Wonder Owls love taking our loved ones out to see some trails, and hope you do too.
For more on this fun celebration, check out the official site here (link)