Oren and I love being outdoors just as much as we love being inside (maybe a little more) when we moved to California from the cold east (2 ½ years ago) one of the things we decided was to have nature walks as an integral part of our family experience.
The first challenge was to find where to go; we needed kid friendly hikes not too difficult with a bit of interest. The first place we went to was Solstice Canyon recommended by a friend. We turned back about 1/3 mile down the trail (we got to the big Oak tree past the bridge) the complaints became too great.
The grumblings didn’t stop. Many more hikes were cut short. Until one hike became our turning point. It was the Eaton Canyon trail nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains. We couldn’t get Zoe to go home. All we did different was to bring along a sketch book and some coloring pencils. I think that was one of the first times she drew from observation. She was drawing the cactus in front of her and many more things from her imagination. I thought I found the secret to our hikes.
Soon enough the complaints came back…amplified. We had to find another outlet.
Like their mother, Zoe and Ori think highly of food (especially Zoe). I strongly believe that any great experience must have some culinary aspect to it other wise it is not complete. So we added an herbal mint tea thermos and some Israeli wafers to the experience. They join us on every hike. The challenge now is to find the best picnic spot. After adding the thermos and wafers to our backpack, complains diminished to almost none.
New Years day picnic spot at Charmlee Wilderness Park in Santa Monica Mountains
Ori walking Pepsi our little yorki
Zoe drawing from the Tu-Bishvat activity book using water color travel compact set by Winsor & Newton
zoe, tali from the Tu-Bishvat activity book
For occasional unavoidable complaints I tell them stories (they love hearing stories from our childhood and from when they were babies) and sprinkle some games that we can play while we walk.
Here are some games we usually play:
1. 20 questions (most favorite):
One person is thinking of an animal. The others need to reveal that animal by asking ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions. Participants are allowed 20 questions (we don’t really keep track)
2. Sounds of silence (we usually play it when Ori doesn’t stop talking)
Keep quiet for few minutes, cup your hands behind your ears to make everything sound louder (similar to a Deer that have large ears that are very sensitive to sound). How many sounds can you hear? We compare our list of sounds when Ori starts to talk again. This is a great game to sharpen one hearing sense, and engage with the surrounding.
3. Walk like...
Experiment with different animal walks such as: an elephant, a bear, penguin, frog (Ori’s favorite) etc.
4. Eye and ear helper
Decorate and empty paper roll, keep both ends open. Punch a hole at one end, thread a string through the hole and make a necklace sized loop.
Wear the eye and ear helper around your neck as you walk.
Use it like a telescope to spot things along the way, turn it into a magnifying hearing device by placing it near your ear, listen to different sounds.
This is an idea I got from a book I highly recommend ”Trails, Tails & Tide pools in Pails” by the Docents of Nursery Nature Walks. You can find it and more in the family favorite book shop.
5. Tree exploration activity book
I have designed an activity book you can print and take with you on your hikes. This book was originally designed as a Tu-Bishvat activity book (the Jewish New Year for the trees) but it may be used by all tree lovers. Please check it out. Free download (pdf)
To sum it up:
This weekend we went back to the same hike we started 2 ½ years ago… at Solstice Canyon. This time we actually managed to finish the 1 mile long trail (each way). We heard birds chirping, water running in the stream, water gushing in the waterfall, kids giggle, frogs, footsteps, wind blowing through the leaves. We had a wonderful time. At the end we had a little surprise, but I won’t tell you what it was you have to go there your self.
Our family walks are now part of our family rituals together with the tea and wafers.
Links trail information:
national park service (US)
Solstice Canyon (santa monica mountains)
Childrens nature institute (Los Angeles)
Trails, Tails & Tide Pools in Pails by the Docents of Nursery Nature Walks
I love dirt
