Hiking Education

This workshop is aimed to engage students and scouts with hiking and introduce them to safe habits when outside and ways to be prepared. These activities and tasks are best suited to a group setting, with an excursion or field trip.

Students/scouts will be asked to consider ways to prepare for hiking and mindfulness of the trails. In this workshop, try to give students/scouts as much independence in planning their excursion: when they make their own choices and execute their own plans, it gives them the confidence to lead and share ideas.

This workshop curriculum also meets the requirements for the "Hiker" Brownie badge, for Girl Scout troops if all tasks are completed.

Lead your group in planning a hike/trail walk. Brainstorm with the kids to determine what they need to be prepared, and where they want to go.

Navigate the Tewksbury Trails website for resources about the local trails. Allow the kids to decide/vote on where they want to go. Make sure they consider the differences between the trails.

Guiding Questions:

  • Is this trail longer? Or short?

  • This trail is near water; would we want to go see that?

  • Do they like photos from a specific trail? Maybe that's the one they'll pick

Facilitate a discussion on preparedness, and help students/scouts decide what gear is important to bring and what isn't.

For Brownie Scouts: try asking an older scout about what they would bring on a hike. This fulfills a requirement of the "Hiker" badge.

Guiding Questions

  • Will the weather be very warm and sunny? Or colder and windy? Could it rain? Ask students/scouts to check local weather predictions to make decisions on what to bring.

  • What shoes and clothes are best for being outside? Sneakers and boots are most helpful with walking on rough paths, and long pants instead of shorts can keep ticks off.

Try making a checklist for each kid to use when preparing for a hike/trail. Make sure to include water, insect repellent, and appropriate clothing and footwear.

For Brownie Scouts: talk about what type of snack would be the best to bring on a trail. Try collaborating with your troop to make a trail mix of every scout's favorite. Doing so will fulfill a task from the "Hiker" badge.

Lead an activity to practice observation and awareness by navigating the kids' neighborhood, yard, or park. Ask them to make observation books of what they see outside at home, (insects, animals, birds, plants, anything of interest).

This can be an at-home activity, for students/scouts to return to the group to share their findings.

Discussion Questions:

  • What is important to notice on a trail? How can we keep an eye out for hazards, animals, or inclement weather?

  • Did anybody have similar findings? Who saw the same type of plant or animal?

  • Do any of the kids have something unique on their lists? Ask each student/scout to share their favorite or most interesting find.

When leading your group on a hike/trail, ask them to do one last check to make sure they're prepared: try using the checklist made in your earlier planning.

Continue for the students/scouts to practice their observation skills: try playing a game of iSpy or doing a scavenger hunt.