by guest contributor and childrens author, Andrea Rowe
Family bushwalks are a great way to explore the environment, share nature discoveries, and create special memories. While choosing walking destinations may come easy, families sometimes struggle with keeping young bushwalkers on track with energy and interest.
Our family has hiked across trails with our tribe from when they were babies and into young adulthood. Along the way, we’ve experimented with these 7 strategies to nurture our nature enthusiasts.
1. Gear check
Budgeting for hiking gear doesn’t have to be expensive, and the experience is part of the fun of preparation. Helping kids select the essentials of rain jackets, hats, hiking shoes and backpacks with drink bottles, compass and binoculars can give them a sense of pride, ownership and connection with their equipment. You’re also reinforcing that being bushwalk-ready means having the right gear to keep you
comfortable and safe in all kinds of weather and terrain.
2. Map the journey
We’ve put maps in our kids’ hands from an early age, encouraging them to draw a line along a route, circle meal break spots and identify areas of interest. Downloading Park notes, purchasing updated hiking maps and books and pausing to read trail signs has helped get us all excited, while experimenting with following the leader. We’ve watched our kids take charge, become more invested in the planning, learn navigating skills and offer useful map reading observations. These maps have sparked curiosity and conversation, and are now cool keepsakes of walks we’ve enjoyed.
3. Wildlife wonder with purpose
Planning a trip around wildlife watching and citizen science expeditions has had us all involved in an equal playing field. Documenting data and recording and uploading observations can build up an appreciation for the places our wildlife call home and actively connect kids with contributing to the environment while respecting their habitat. National Parks and environmental organisations provide useful details and
citizen science projects can be shared back at school with their peers too.
4. Feed your tribe
Kids and trail food make great travel companions. But you can add a few more idea into the mix. Put them in charge of the ration catering and task them with organising the day’s road trip snacks. They can create a shopping list, manage a budget and make up bags of scroggin and trail mix or help manage the BBQ. Bushwalking snacks aren’t just fuel for kids’ bodies; they’re treats to anticipate at key pit stops along the
way.
5. Make time for stillness
While trails are created to move you forward, there’s ample opportunities along the way to be still. Where it’s a boulder with a view, a seat by a stream or a hollowed-out crawlspace in a tree, pausing and being still does wonders for noticing and re-charging. While you’re resting your feet, you might be keeping your hands active with leaf whistle blowing, binocular horizon scanning, compass checking, pointing fingers along the map or even pulling out a book for a quiet bush read while snacks are shared.
6. Make a game of it
Create made-up games or call on some of the family favourites. I Spy is a classic, but you could also try I hear for name-that-sound identification challenges. Young kids might love a Best hiking stick challenge, a Match that leaf and rock with a shapes chart to match what you find in nature, or a Who lives here hollows and habitats list to track wildlife homes. Remember though to leave all you find behind and leave only footprints.
Older kids might like to invent a storytelling trail, inspired by the opening line of ‘Once there was a ….’ and continue with ‘But suddenly’ as they narrate their own made-up imaginative story. It could be high adventure, a little spooky, or an out--of-this-world fantasy story, and before you know it, you’ve reached your destination.
7. Read bushwalking books with kids
Our family loved finding stories that matched our experiences, and from a very early age we sought out books to keep our bushwalking conversations going. My new picture book On a Bushwalk introduces the early concepts of colours in the bush, and might just be a good fit for your family in finding their way along
bushwalking trails, while sharing observation about what they see.
Written for early readers, lines like Wide green leaves stretch up high, reaching for the bright blue sky invite young readers to peer up and observe. And Thick red fur, and bright red feathers, spring and swirl and float together urge readers to look for the quieter, more subtle movement of nature as well.
My words are matched by illustrator Hannah Sommerville’s stunning images which bring the Australian bush into full colour, inviting further discovery of animals that live in nature and reinforcing what calls us to explore the wilds as children and grown-ups too.
With a little planning, bushwalking with the kids can be just as enjoyable as the destination. You’re guaranteed to make memories that your family will talk about, long after they’ve grown up. And in between, there’s books to share that keep that joy of being on a bushwalk close as well.
About Andrea
Andrea Rowe is an award-winning, best-selling children’s author and Australia’s first library ambassador. She invites the youngest of bushwalkers to explore the glimmering colours and hidden wonders of the bush through her new children’s picture book On a Bushwalk, illustrated by Hannah Sommerville. This is the third in their Little World’s nature series.
It’s published by Hardie Grant and out on Sept 27 in Australian bookstores.
Andrea is also a former writer and editor for leading Australian environmental organisations and agencies, and the wife of a park ranger. Curiosity and an adventurous spirit keep her active in the outdoors with her family, and she’s hiked in some incredible national parks around the world. Visit Andrea's website
