We are working hard to launch our first product (The Yosemite National Park Scavenger Hunt) but it is still a couple of months away... until then, I thought that I would recap some of the other family outdoor recreation activities that we have explored in the Trailmix.Net blog.
Photo Credit: Majorvol via flickr
Here they are:
Geocaching with Kids
Geocaching has been described as a high tech Easter egg hunt that uses billion dollar military satellites to hide and seek Tupperware in the woods. We have done some empirical studies (365 finds at the time of this writing) and have concluded that this is one of the most fun outdoor activities that parents with children can pursue. Read The Joy of Geocaching for a detailed account of our discovery of this remarkable sport.
Hiking with Kids
Simple and straightforward. Get some shoes, pack some sandwiches and find a trail. Hiking with kids is not only good for the kids but it has a way of slowing down the world for the adults too. If you are stressed out and looking for a relaxing activity that you can enjoy right now with your children, look no further.
Advanced users can scout a trail using Google Earth. And if you are really looking for a cardio challenge you can learn how to use the rest-step to climb hills with a child carrying backpack by clicking this link.
Wildlife Watching with Kids
Here is another activity that you can do with minimal upfront cost. Again, you just need some shoes and a green area. The key to watching wildlife with kids doing your homework before you go. This can be done by purchasing a field guide, visiting the right web pages on the internet, or visiting a library. Remember to keep the wild things wild.
Birding with Kids
Our friends over at Birdfreak.com recently published a guide to birding with kids which is worth a read if you are looking to take up birding. Actually, if you are into birding their blog is worth a visit. I am very new to this sport and pretty much everything that I know I learned from these fine folks. Highly recommended.
Snowshoeing with Kids
We recently posted a list of winter safety tips for enjoying wintertime outdoor recreation with kids. Be sure to give it a onceover before you head out. Also, if you are in the market, we also did a gear review on Atlas Jr. Snowshoes. We didn't receive any kickbacks or reward from the Atlas Snowshoe company for writing this, we genuinely like their products.
So that's it. Five activities that you can start with your children today. Start one up, your kids will love it.