Hiking… With Kids

Welcome to a special edition of the Children’s Missions page! The Family Missions Corner will help your whole family find ways to connect with PMU missionaries. This month, connect with the Douma family of Sola—Appalachian Christian Retreat in Unionville, NY. Be on the look out for more family missions corners in the future!

by Rev. Doug Douma
Sola–Appalachian Christian Retreat in Unionville, NY
the Missions Banner, March 2022: Online edition

“With kids” may be a complicating factor in any plan, and that includes hiking. Yet, with getting kids out on the trail, it is “the earlier the better” and “the more the merrier.” Being out in nature is good for health and hiking is a beneficial exercise, or at least that’s what I tell myself when sweating on the uphill climbs!

Hiking has been a frequent and enjoyable activity for our family. Even baby Birch has been carried on the trail a few times for as far as four miles. Maple, age 3, has gained confidence walking over the rocks and isn’t afraid of any of the “yucky” things we find in nature. We’ve even followed the “1000 hours outdoor” plan and have the kid’s t-shirts to prove it.

In reality, hiking really is no more difficult than any other activity. One of the reasons I’ve long promoted hiking is that it has such a low barrier to entry. If you can walk, you can hike. It doesn’t require any special skill and the pace is of your own choosing. We see all sorts of hikers at Sola, from those walking 1 mph up to those who are able to jog the trail at a speedy 4 mph. And, whatever the speed, given enough time, you’ll reach your destination.

Some of our guests at Sola have been families with children hiking with them. It is always impressive to see kids that have learned such patience and focus to do long-distance hiking. Here are some tips we’ve learned to keep kids enjoying hikes:

Start a leaf collection. Look for various species and various colors.
Take pictures of bird species along the way. Extra points for rarer finds like pileated woodpeckers and great horned owls.
Carry lots of snacks!
Have a good destination like a vista or a waterfall and stop there for a good while before the return trip.

Finally, I asked Maple what she likes about hiking and she said: “I like that we see new nature. I like that we go every day. I’ve seen squirrels and chipmunks. Not owls. I’ve never seen anything like a giraffe.” So let us know if you go hiking with your kids. And certainly let us know if you see a giraffe.
Many blessings,

—Doug (Banzai), Priscilla (Hot Drinks), Maple (Maplecakes), and Birch (Stormy)

Here is a field journal for your children to use during your hikes! Choose your favorite from these critter covers, or fill them all up! To use the field journal, simply click the download button below for the journal cover your child likes. Have your child write their name on the blank line on the cover. The box on each page is for your child to draw a picture of what they saw on your hike. Send us your child’s favorite drawing from their field guide! We would love to celebrate God’s creation with you and we’ll feature some of the art we receive in a future issue of the family missions corner!

Download the Field Journal with the Sloth cover here: