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Intro: Hiking is one of the most accessible outdoor sports for many of our campers. By framing these days with excitement and enthusiasm, campers may develop a life-long love of hiking. With lots of prepared games, riddles, and lessons instructors can encourage campers to embrace exploration through hiking.
Special Considerations: Hiking days are full of opportunities to teach about Leave No Trace, do team building activities, teach about navigation and engage with a natural environment. Behavior management is especially important on Hiking days. Remember to set the tone early, clarify expectations, and have one on one discussions as needed in order to keep campers focused and engaged with the activities.
Environmental Briefing Considerations:
Environmental Hazards: Cold, rain, heat, wind, lightening, animals, exposure, terrain
Human Hazards: not paying attention, getting lost, dehydration
Clothing and Footwear:
Each hiker should have protective clothing depending on circumstances (rain, snow, wind, cold, sun, insects), proper fitting close toed shoes and socks, and a comfortable pack.
Overview: Hiking day is all about encouraging campers to have fun and enjoy the journey that a hike provides. Hiking day is an opportunity for campers to engage with their environment, practice their skills of observation, and become closer with their group. Stay attuned to your group’s energy, have lots of games in your back pocket, and encourage campers to think about how they can adapt this day of camp to their family’s lives.
Leave No Trace Principles:
Plan ahead & prepare
Hike on durable surfaces
Trash your trash
Leave what you find
Be careful with fire
Respect wildlife
Respect other visitors
Packing List: There are numerous resources that should be available for hiking days, examples include:
Blindfolds for team-building initiatives
Binoculars
Magnifying glasses
Compass
Plant & Animal guide pamphlets
Ropes/Tarps for initiatives
Paper and markers/crayons for camps and drawing
Ask your Camp Director for additional resources if needed
Hiking role necklaces for campers
Skills for the Day:
Learn Leave No Trace Principles
Basic map-making and observation skills
Teamwork
Extend observation skills, learn basic flora and fauna
Potential activities (age dependent): silent walks, geology introduction, plant identification, first-aid simulations, map and compass, tracking
Rules for the Day:
Follow all safety procedures
Stay within boundaries on trail and together
Minimum of two staff per hike. If the group divides, one staff must be with each group and must be in visual, verbal, or electronic contact with the other group.
Group instructors select hiking trails at designated recreation locations based on campers’ physical conditions, the weather, the season, evacuation concerns, and communication issues.
A Day in the Life of Hiking Day:
9:00am One instructor should be checking in with parents and signing in campers. One instructor should be leading a group game with all of the campers.
9:15am Intro to the day
Build up hiking day as an ‘exploration,’ which can be more exciting to campers than a ‘hike’
Supplies needed: blank pieces of paper, colored pencils, nature books, compasses, hiking necklaces, and any group-gear that you want (bandanas, a ball, etc.)
Assign campers their roles for the day with the hiking necklaces. Hand out additional hiking supplies to campers.
9:25am Bathroom break and load van
9:30am Drive to the hiking rec area
9:45am Start hiking: Environmental briefing before you start! (hazards, risks, how the group can manage them)
10:00am Water Break & Snack: wash hands with soap & water.
10:10am Activity Introduction
What does exploration mean?
Who are some great explorers in history?
JEDI moment (adjust to be age appropriate): Were these explorers truly ‘discovering’ land and places? Why or why not?
Oftentimes, the Explorers that we learn about are people of European descent that learned about lands already occupied by people native to the land. Can you think of an example?
Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies and ‘America,’ but there were Native Americans and Native Islanders already inhabiting the lands.
In the same way, when we ‘discover’ new things on our adventures, we’re often ‘re-finding’ things that others know about and have lived with for a long time. Our discoveries are wonderful because they’re new to us, but that doesn’t always mean that they’re brand new to everyone. It’s important to respect what people already know about a place and integrate that into our understanding of the world.
What characteristics did you think these explorers shared? What are some examples of things these explorers left behind that we still use or experience?
When do we use maps?
Awareness initiative (choose 1):
Magic Counting Sticks: four small sticks, arrange them anyway you want in the middle of a circle and say there are 3 sticks while holding three fingers out by the sticks, it does not matter how the sticks are arranged, it matters how many fingers you are holding down next to the sticks, do it until some kids get it
**debrief awareness of what is going on around you not just the sticks.
Water jug game: hold a water bottle in your hand, tell the group that they must try and say exactly what you say. Clear your throat (this is the important part) then say, while pointing at the parts of the bottle (or any object) “This is a water bottle. This is the top of the water bottle, the side of the water bottle, the bottom of the water bottle.” it does not matter what order you say it in or what you are pointing to. Next, give campers a chance to try. If they figure it out (and also clear their throat before speaking), let them know they’ve successfully explained the water bottle but don’t reveal the key until the rest of the group (or most of them) have figured it out as well. The point is that they must clear their throat, before speaking again.
**Debrief the game by discussing the importance of being aware of more than just the obvious.
Map Making: Introduce the challenge for the day; begin to create a detailed map of their hike that they could then pass onto the next group so that the next group could follow in their footsteps exactly!
What are the components of a good map? Key, directions (N, E, S, W), large features (roads, rivers, buildings etc), starting and ending points, mountains etc.
How can we tell which direction is N, E, S or W without a compass (sun, stars, moss in rocks and trees etc.); identify the directions by using the sun (sets in the west, rises in the east )
Other resources: Introduce the plant & animal pamphlets and encourage campers to look up the names of trees, plants, animals, etc.
Give campers a chance to start their map, get the directions and start to record important features.
10:35am Continue exploring (hiking): Be really vocal about pointing out the different flowers, plants, ant hills, bird nests, etc. and reminding them to be thinking about what they are going to add to their map. Take frequent breaks (you can cover a lot of ground in 5 minute chunks) in order to do map work. Remember that hiking day is about the journey and not the destination!
10:55am Introduce Leave No Trace
Plan ahead and be prepared
Hike on durable surfaces “Hike only on trails”
Trash your trash
Leave what you find
Be safe with fire
Respect wildlife
Be respectful of other visitors
Activity Introduction: the 4 Ds of LNT
Teach Dead, Down, Detached, and Diameter. Act it out, have it written out, have examples, be creative.
Dead: materials collected must be dead. We do not kill plants for the purpose of these activities or any collection you might do in the future.
Down: materials must have fallen on the ground.
Detached: materials must not be connected to a living plant and detached from larger downed materials.
Diameter: materials should be no larger than about 2-3 inches in diameter (about the size of an adult wrist)
Activity (choose 1):
Boat Races: each camper can make a boat out of things found in nature, race them down a creek, then disassemble the boats with a conversation about LNT
Fairy and Gnome (or tiny animal) houses: Create tiny living structures out of things found in nature and then disassemble after a ‘home and garden tour’ with a conversation about LNT
Nature art: Create small works of art (individually or in a group) with elements found in nature. Do a gallery tour of each art installment, then disassemble with a conversation about LNT
11:15am Continue exploring (hiking): Be really vocal about pointing out the different flowers, plants, ant hills, bird nests, etc. and reminding them to be thinking about what they will add to their map. Take frequent breaks (you can cover a lot of ground in 5 minute chunks) in order to do map work. Remember that hiking day is about the journey and not the destination!
As you explore, give time to look at insects, animals, flowers, plans, moss, etc.
Encourage campers to create a hand signal for the group to get quiet when wildlife is spotted
Play trail games. Some options:
Flying squirrel!: As you hike along, tell a story about flying squirrels discovered in the area. They’re sneaky and fast and not everyone can spot them. You have been trained as a squirrel spotter and will warn the group when you see one by yelling ‘flying squirrel!’ When you call out, then all need to crouch down immediately in order to avoid getting hit.
Rump bump: (great for speeding a group’s progress): As you introduce the game, you can make a big deal about making an exception to a no-running rule. The challenge for the group is to stay an arm’s distance from the person ahead of them (no farther) but also to avoid running into the person ahead of them. The leader of the group begins to jog down the trail and campers must keep up! Suddenly, the leader stops and everyone tries to halt without running into the person in front of then. If anyone bumps, they get sent to the back of the line. Repeat, rotate leaders, and have fun!
Blindfold hike: Pair campers together and have one partner wear a blindfold. The seeing camper guides their partner along the trail taking care to guide them over rocks, roots, and divots. Additional challenge: the seeing camper cannot touch their partner and can only guide with their voice.
12:15pm Lunch: wash hands, create 6’ circle, incorporate LNT into lunch, divide trash
Ask campers about how they can incorporate LNT at home, about their most epic hiking adventures, their favorite places to be outside, etc.
Discuss types of food that are best suited to outdoor activities.
Discuss Avid4 Adventure’s zero waste initiative
Divide trash into compost, recycle, TerraCycle, landfill
Our goal is to eventually eliminate our landfill bucket. For now, we’re reducing as much as possible by re-using compost and recycling.
How does each one differ?
How can you do the same with your family?
Ask campers to share riddles
OPTIONAL LUNCH DISCUSSION PROMPT (age dependent) - We learned about LNT today, which helps us explore new places without making too big of an impact. What do you all know about native americans of this area? How did they live with the land and avoid causing long term problems in the environment? Many campers will have learned about native americans in school and can share what they learned here. Build on what they know with any knowledge you have. Avoid speaking about what you do not know, specifically about particular native peoples, do encourage conversation and reflection.
12:45pm Continue Exploring
1:15pm Play an awareness or teambuilding game: Camouflage or Minefield
1:45pm Continue exploring, working on maps, telling riddles, etc. as you make your way back toward the van
2:15pm End of day rituals and map-sharing
2:30pm Return to base
2:45pm End of day debrief at base camp. Optional de-brief for Hiking Day:
Roses and Buds: Rose = something that you loved about the day and/or something that developed for you today. Bud = something you’re hoping to work on tomorrow/something you hope to learn tomorrow
3:00pm Camper sign out and parent conversations
Other Hiking Activities
Compass Walk Activity
How long it’ll take: 20-30 min
What the goal is: The campers will learn to identify the 4 cardinal directions with a compass. Campers ideally will also be able to find a bearing using a compass.
What you’ll need:
Bandanas
Compasses: 3-4 (one for each small group)
4 small objects per group to serve as markers (cones, water bottles, sweatshirts)
Small Whiteboard and marker, or pen/paper
Introduction
Begin by passing a few compasses around the group so each camper has the chance to look at it. Give a quick explanation of how a compass works: there is a needle inside the compass that ‘floats’ around inside the compass so that it always points north, which is the top of the earth’s magnetic field. The earth is also a giant magnet, and the compass also has a magnet within it that is drawn to align with the earth’s magnetic field.
How to find North: hold the compass flat, and the red end of the needle will point north. Turn your body (holding the compass) until the needle is also pointing to North on the compass. Now you are facing North!
What you’ll do:
Divide campers into 3-4 groups. Create a scorecard with a slot for each group.
Level 1 (all ages):
Have each group take time to orient in one spot. Help campers look at compasses and find N, S, E, W and place a marker at each point, forming a small square around each group. This will serve as their playing field for Level 1. Each group must stay centered in their square.
Explain to the groups that you will be calling out the 4 cardinal directions, and their challenge is to turn to face that direction 5 second after you call it out. E.g. Instructor calls “SOUTH!” and counts “5…4…3…2..1..turn!” and all campers must face the same corner and the same time.
If any camper faces the wrong direction, they will complete a ‘fun-sequence’ of any of the following (instructor or camper choice): a dance, make a silly animal sound, or any other activity you would like before joining back in.
Continue calling directions until you are confident each camper knows the cardinal directions
LEVEL UP: call out a series, like Simon Says, and see if the teams can string together a coordinated progression of orientations. N, E, N, W, S, N, S!
Level 2 (suggested for 5th-7th graders): At Level 2, campers will ‘race’ with bearings instead of cardinal directions, according to prescribed bearings that you call out. Final challenge will be to determine what shape they’ve made with their markers. You’ll need a fairly large, open area for this activity.
Announce to the campers that they have ‘graduated’ and are ready to embark on their next mission.
Each small group starts 50 - 100 ft. apart
Camper goal: At each mark: where the bearing/paces leads you, place a marker and leave it there when you advance to the next place. Your goal is to complete the route in advance of other campers! AND identify the shape that you’ve made!
Call out the following bearings and have them written out on the white board
Triangle:
Start in place facing 100*. Place a marker. Walk 15 paces with the 100* bearing.
Place a marker. Set bearing to 245*. Walk 15 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing to 0*. Walk 15 paces.
WHAT SHAPE DID YOU MAKE????
Square:
Start in place facing 30* east. Place a marker. Walk 20 paces with the 30* bearing.
Place marker. Set bearing for 120*. Walk 20 paces
Place marker. Set bearing for 210*. Walk 20 paces
Place marker. Set bearing for 300*. Walk 20 paces
WHAT SHAPE DID YOU MAKE???
Star:
Start in place facing 15*. Place a marker. Walk 5 paces with the 15* bearing.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 330*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 120*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 40*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 210*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 120*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 250*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 180*. Walk 5 paces.
Place a marker. Set bearing for 330*. Walk 5 paces.
WHAT SHAPE DID YOU MAKE?????
Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt
How long it will take: 15-20 minutes
What you’ll need: nothing
What you’ll do: Circle up your campers and ask them what the five senses of the body are (hear, touch, see, taste, smell.) Explain that they will be using some of their senses to go on a scavenger hunt and identify different objects. Divide campers into 3-4 small groups (break into different groups than before!)
For the scavenger hunt, each group will have 30-60 seconds (adjust as needed) per round to find an item that fits your description.
Share with the campers that it’s totally okay if the items they find do not exactly fit the description you gave. Encourage them to be creative and do their best!
Remind campers to only grab items that are in easy reach and easy to carry (review the 4 Ds of LNT from last week: dead, down, detached and diameter. Also remind them to practice LNT! They can point to the object they found without disturbing it if need be.
Set boundaries for the activity by walking around an area or pointing out landmarks that indicate the barrier. Begin the Scavenger Hunt!
After each round, have campers share the item that they found and why they chose it. Play for 15 min or longer depending on camper interest. Adjust the energy and difficulty of the scavenger hunt each round as needed. You can use this as a restful activity or amp it up and make it a fast paced running activity!
Example items:
Something that starts with the letter C
Something red
Something fuzzy
Three different kinds of leaves
Three different colored leaves
Something hard
Something soft
Something that makes a noise
Something that smells
Something that can fit in your hand
Something bigger than your hand
Something circular, Something you could use to build an outdoor shelter
Something you can eat (but don't eat it!), etc.
You can even have the campers come up with additional categories on their own for one another!
Trail Games
I Spy: As you hike along, stop at different points to play ‘I Spy.’ Introduce the game as an exercise in observation. Each round starts with you or a camper selecting one thing they see on the trail and saying ‘I spy with my little eye, something that is ______.’ Fill in the blank with a color, a texture, a size, etc. Campers ask yes/no questions until they get the object. Rotate through campers as you play.
Flash Flood: As you hike, tell a story about the area being prone to flash floods. You can hear them coming, but it’s a skill that’s taken time to develop, you doubt the campers will hear one coming. Since it’s part of your job to keep campers safe, you’ll yell out ‘flash flood’ if you hear one approaching and all campers must jump as high as they can to avoid the flood.
If it’s safe and the area allows for it, you can direct campers to jump onto higher ground, logs, rocks, etc.
Hot Seat (Hiking Edition): Pair campers up and give a question that both campers will have to answer to one another while walking along the trail. Ex: What is your favorite snack while you’re in the outdoors? When all campers have had a chance to give their answer to their partner, have campers change partners and give them a new question to answer. Continue providing questions and changing partners as you hike along to your next destination. This is a great activity to help campers get to know each other better! Try to partner campers up with other kids they don’t know well or haven’t been interacting with very much in order to encourage further community building in the group!
Optional questions
What other camps have you been to? What did you do there and what did you like?
What’s your favorite way to spend time outside? How long have you been doing that activity?
What’s your family like?
If you had to eat one food (and only one food) for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What’s the coolest animal you’ve ever seen? Where did you see it?
If you had one condiment come out of your belly button for the rest of your life, what would you like it to be?
etc.
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