Kids first time out!

[Outrider]

I am planning on taking my 7(8 in June) year old daughter out on her first overnighter in May. She has been car camping for 4 years and we have been doing some day hikes as well. I am currious to hear from some parents out there that have started their kids out at that age.

I have her a pack and sleeping bag and plan on keeping her wieght below 8lbs. To start out we are going to do one night and its only about 2 1/2 miles into the camp site.

I am looking for any tips, suggestions or little tricks from people that have gone throught this with their own kids.

Thanks for any info!

[JAK]

Margaret and I have done longer trips in rugged terrain with myself carrying everything. She was much more mobile that way, and was much happier carrying just a small satchel. She is mostly interested in carrying stuff like map, compass, whistle, small water bottle, bow and arrow, and whatever suitable hiking stick she happens to stumple across. I've thought about having her carry 10 essentials and all that, but as yet I don't let he out of sight. Oh, she likes to gather rocks also, but lets me carry those.

Trip reports:
http://hikinghq.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2325
http://hikinghq.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2494

[Ashman]

I've got my first trip coming up with my daughter (8 as well) this June be sure to post a report of how your trip went. I will interested to hear responses.

[tlbj6142]

My 3 kids (now 4, 7, 10) all had their first backpacking trip around when they were 4-5 yo.

First make sure you have some way to carry everything (lash their pack to yours, etc.). It doesn't take more than back-to-back banged up knees to destroy their moral. It happened to me once, and it was ugly. But I knew I could carry everything if needed. I only had to do it for 1-2 miles, but it helped them quite a bit. Then I slowly added stuff back on their backs (nearly empty pack, then later add a water bottle, later their bag, etc.).

Plan stops often. "This looks like a nice log to take a break. Let's have some gorp!". If you stop often, later you can use it a leverage, "Hike to the top of the next hill and we'll take a break!". Plus then you control when the breaks happen rather than them. If they control it, whining can, and does, start to happen.

Bring stuff to do in camp if it rains. I always bring a few dice (now sure what I'd do with them??!!) and a deck of H2O Uno cards (plastic uno cards). My kids like to journal, so a 5x8 notebook pencil and an 8 pack of crayons are nice to have.

Allow them to do stuff they can't do at home. Play in the creek. Catch bugs. Get dirty. Just make sure you warn them ahead of time, that if they get soaked/muddy you will have to clean them up.

Get a lanyard and put a whistle and a small LED light on it. Tell them to never take it off. If they get lost they should sit down and blow the whistle. count to 100, repeat. Cover themselves with leaves if it gets cold. You might even want to practice once you get to camp. It gives them quite a bit of confidence. Plus it allows you to allow them to wonder a bit while you setup camp, cook, etc. All 3 of my kids have become "lost" (I could see them, but they thought they were lost), they have all used their whistles correctly.

Take some special food/snack and surprise them after dinner or during a mid-day break. They will remember that forever. Make it something they don't usually get a home. I always take Ginger snaps in an empty short peanut butter can. They are hard cookies and we only have them on backpacking trips.

Take some flavored mix for water. I have to make my kids drink most of the time. Once a day, I mix up a quart of Gatorade. This way I know they get some fluids. Plus once they know I have the mix, I can use it to get them to drink their water. "Finish this (8oz) water and I'll mix up some Gatorade."

For my daughters, going to the bathroom was a bit of an issue. I found that having them sit over a moss covered blowdown worked quite well. Or, finding a couple of well spaced rocks they can sit on. After a few trips, this isn't as necessary, but it helps on those first 1-3 trips. Make sure they see you clean-up the cat-hole. That way the learn how important it is to dispose of waste properly.

Have fun!

Here's some photos from our last 2 trips. Trip 1, Trip 2.

[Summit]

I started my son at 4/5, so 7/8 is certainly not child-abuse!

Let her carry her clothes and some "entertainment" items. Years ago, for my son, that was Ninja Turtles and a gameboy. I don't know what little girls are into these days, but let her take a reasonable amount of whatever that is.

Good idea by Jak to get her involved by carrying the map and maybe her own water bottle - just a little bit of self-sufficiency, but don't overdo it. Have fun!

[toddhiker]

Congrats to both of you! It will be the start of wonderful memories. (I have three daughters)

It's great to have her carry something (sleeping bag, her extra clothes, bottle of water, snack bars). But as to how much weight, that's very subjective----depends on her build, height,etc. However, since she has some hiking experience already she'll do better than "average" for her age. Just like kids' backpacks at school, too much weight can lead to back injury or pain for her, so err on the lighter side.

Ditto for mileage.

My best advice centers around doing what works for her. Hiking, as you know, can be tough. Therefore you should let her mess up the "schedule" if you have one. As JAK said, rock collecting is a favorite, along w/exploring off trail, watching wildlife, etc. By letting her do those things she will enjoy the experience much more. Also along those lines make smores in camp and have hot chocolate and a campfire if possible.

Again, congrats and have fun!

[JAK]

For clothing a good set of long sleeve polyester tops and bottoms are a good investment. She wore those almost continuously with light nylon short, plus alternating between a somewhat oversized fleece vest which overlapped her shorts, or a hoody of some kind which she could pull her knees up inside in camp. Smart wool hiking socks. Underwear is not a serious issue at that age, so I left that in her department. For that matter, she was telling me what to wear most of the time and not the other way around. A fleece vest is a good option for kids because you can get them extra long without dealing with extra long arms. I suppose you could always shorten arms. It's hard to find good wool for kids, but be on the look out. Hat and gloves are always good to bring even in summer. One set of clothes is enough for kids. They don't stink like we do and if they get their clothes wet you can spin them dry if they are good fleece and polyester. Best to remove clothes before spinning.

[Outrider]

Some great info everyone!

The bathroom breaks are a concern for me right now. Not that she cant do it or wont, but doing it and staying as "clean" as she can. Not too worried about drinking water. She loves water and drinks it all the time. I buy the crystal lite packets and she loves them.

Great tip on being able to pack their stuff as well. I had not thought about that.

[tlbj6142]

Not that she cant do it or wont, but doing it and staying as "clean" as she can.

I bring along baby wipes that I cut in half. They use them to clean-up.

Not too worried about drinking water. She loves water and drinks it all the time. I buy the crystal lite packets and she loves them.

The problems is that water in the backcountry doesn't always taste like water from home. Some times it is "hard" (sulfur) or acidic, etc. It is the water's flavor that can be a turn-off for them. I sort of enjoy the different water flavors, but they don't.

[JAK]

I think a small wool or fleece blanket is very handy with kids about, especially if they do any swimming, planned or otherwise. Also useful as spare clothing and for sleeping. We each had a fleece blanket poncho with a light nylon poncho same size, and we covered ourselves at night with our hiking clothes, then the fleece ponchos, then the light nylon shells. Very versatile. On the colder night she got more and I get less, but it was warm enough inside a kids tent with out two blue foam pads. I think you really have to have the option of snuggling them if they get cold anyways, so unless your regular sleeping bag is big enough for that you have to do something else. Homemade fleece poncho/blankets worked for us, and I think the nylon shell was worth its weight also. Full width ground pads are key. Hers can be shorter of course. I don't use a tent myself, but with her along I slept better knowing she was right there and couldn't wander off without waking me. I'm not that worried about bears here either, except when she is with me, and again I think it helped that she was right there. There have been no recorded fatalities in New Brunswick from bear attacks, ever, but not a lot of statistics on 48 pound kids sleeping in the woods either, so keep 'em close I say. We had one visitor sniffing at my feet in the morning to wake me up. I think it was a racoon. It had dragged her sneakers and my pack a small ways also, but did no harm otherwise. Food was hanging a ways away, which I don't normally do by myself either.

Anyhow, we have alot of bears here, but they are very timid, but I think you should keep really small children really close regardless, no matter where the food is stored. It just seems natural to me to do so, and I think its something that bears can understand, even if we don't.

[jesse]

I would carry all the gear. Don't need spare clothing. This subject comes up a lot. I think i'm in the minority. How much does she weigh? 8 lbs is a lot for a 7y/o.

[Outrider]

She weighs 60lbs.

[JAK]

Yeah, toilet paper is another luxury I get when Margaret comes along. When I was her age and younger leaves were good enough for the girls in my neighbourhood, but that was then I guess. Her call. I did teach her to take one leg all the way out beforehand. Avoids alot of grief. She still does that as far as I know. My only job now is to make the cat holes for number two, and to fill them back in again. Anyhow, one set of clothes should be enough, but its probably a good idea of this includes at least one set of light polyester tights, and one set of light fleece pants also, so they can wear one or the other or both. Two layers is more flexible than one. I don't really see the need for underwear at that age if they are wearing fleece or tights but I figure that's her call. One pair is probably a good idea. If your resourceful enough you can wash and dry that sort of thing on the march when you need to. Her mother packed a boatload of clothes course, but we left most of that in the car.

[Outrider]

I am good as far as clothes go. She has all kinds of fleece tops and bottoms. I got her a good base layer as well as some kids trail runners from REI and good wool socks.

[JAK]

I would carry all the gear. Don't need spare clothing. This subject comes up a lot. I think i'm in the minority. How much does she weigh? 8 lbs is a lot for a 7y/o.

I concur. She does her job by marching and exploring. She hiked me into the ground, 19km on the last day from 1:30 to midnight in the rain, and half of that in very rugged terrain. When she gets a bone in her teeth there's no stopping her. More of a hiker than a camper I guess. 48 pound hiking machine. Still light enough to carry, which I don't mind either now and then.

[JAK]

I am good as far as clothes go. She has all kinds of fleece tops and bottoms. I got her a good base layer as well as some kids trail runners from REI and good wool socks.

Margaret like to wear my brimmed hiking hat.
Good thing its adjustable.

[tlbj6142]

Here's what I bring for my kids...

1. LS or SS polypro top (depending on season). Get these from Wal-Mart or Target for $5-$9 each
2. Zip off pants (once upon a child for $4-$6)
3. 2x wool socks (sierratradingpost always has them on closeout)
4. polypro "long johns" (top and bottoms). They wear these to bed most nights. And maybe in the morning if it is cold. Rarely while hiking.
5. 1 pair extra underwear
6. long oversized (must be able to wear all their clothes under it) rain jacket (once upon a child and/or closeouts from campor, etc.)
7. old tennis shoes. I use to bring sandals but I no longer do. If I were to go hiking in hot weather where I know they would play water all day, I'd bring cheap-o sandals.
8. TNF Tigger sleeping bags. Though my oldest now uses a Mountain Hardware $100 down bag I found on clearance somewhere.
9. heavy fleece top
10. fleece hat and gloves
11. Lanyard with whistle and LED
12. journal/pencil/crayons/plushy
13. Short inflatable pads (TorsoLite from bpl.com)
14. bowl, cup, spoon
15. For my youngest, I bring along extra pants in case they get soaked from playing, rain, falling in a puddle, etc. Once they are 7-8yo I let them suffer.

For my 4yo, I carry everything (though I do have a stuff sack with shoulderstraps he starts with, but I end up carrying it within an hour). For my 7yo, she carries all of her clothes, pad, journal/plushy, bowl/cup plus our snacks for the day in a $9 Target book bag. My oldest carries her clothes, journal/plushy, pad, bag, bowl/cup, some water and our tent (homemade 2# 3.5 person tarptent) in a Deuter Fox 30.

I carry 3 sleeping bags, stove, my stuff, most of the food, most of the water, everything else (in my Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone).

[budforester]

Bug dope... was that mentioned? I especially liked Yellow Jacket's suggestion that she have a whistle and light.

[Outrider]

Yeah, the whistle and light is a great idea. We are going camping in two weeks and I am going to do some day hikes with her and let her take her pack so I can get an idea how she will do.

[Bulldawg]

Honestly, I guess I'll accused of child abuse or something, but I have a 7 year old (be 8 in September) who has been carrying everything she chose to carry since she was 5. She probably has 100+ miles under her and loves to hike. In fact she decided to go to the movies with family instead of hiking with me Saturday and bugged me all day Sunday to take her. Had it not been Easter, we probably would have went back out Sunday. I always tell her the basics she must have for each hike and let her decide on the rest. I always check her pack and it has yet to reach the 10 pound mark. It mostly hovers around 7-8 pounds. Now she is a bigger than normal 7 year old. She stands at 54 inches tall and weighs around 70 pounds. She plays basketball, soccer, and softball. Probably going to be like her dad and be bigger than everyone else until high school then watch as everyone passes her!

We too are planning our first overnighter once the nights get warm enough. Probably late May or early June. We plan on a 14 mile--2 day hike. She easily, without argument or fuss does 8-10 mile days, so I am sure with the added weight of a sleeping bag, she will be just fine with 7 miles per day. I have appreciated all the ideas here. i will hunt for a led to hang around her neck. She already always carries the whistle and does carry a flashlight in an outside pocket of her pack. I plan on carrying all the food and her hammock. She will carry her water, her clothes, her sleeping bag, and anything she choses on her own to take. We always take the propel water packets out with us. we tried the Nunn tablets and they IMO are just nasty!! I am going to monitor this thread and see what other great ideas are put out her by all the great members on Whiteblaze. Thanks!!