outdoor activities for kids

HIKE, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, URBAN NATURE
Neighborhood Hiking with Kids
- June 19, 2019
Hiking with kids doesn’t have to be daunting or intimidating. It doesn’t require fancy gear or long miles. All you need to do to get started is step outside your front door with the purpose of having fun and a sense of adventure. Today, we have Maggie (Nimo), active mom of two from Sydney, Australia here sharing how her family got started hiking by going on local neighborhood excursions. She walks you through everything you need to know about neighborhood hiking with kids and how to start your own family tradition.

Benefits of hiking with kids

Hiking is not only fun, but it has many health benefits for kids and adults. Hiking is a great way to get kids outdoors and is a fun way to get them to love nature and foster their curiosity about the world around them.

When most people think of hiking, they think of an expedition that involves fancy gear from The Northface, hiking poles and a hydrating Camelbak with a straw into your mouth. While these kinds of hikes can lead you to some amazing places, they are not always possible to undertake with small children. However, hiking doesn’t have to be so intense. Kids can get outside and hike in their own neighborhoods!

The start of neighborhood hiking

When my son was only 20 months, I fell pregnant with my second child. I had such bad morning sickness that I spent most of my days laying on the floor, the TV on and my son entertaining himself around me. When my husband would come home from work, we would go for a walk to get some fresh air. This was the beginning of our neighborhood hiking adventures.

In the beginning, we needed to carry my son most of the time we were hiking, but in no time, he was covering the distance all by himself! That was 3 years ago. Today, he is an avid hiker and is always encouraging his little sister not to give up.

Neighborhood hiking with kids

Our hikes have since advanced from our neighborhood to National parks, but we still make time to walk around the neighborhood a few times a week. Most of our neighborhoods are rich with interesting things to make a group of children excited enough to get outside. If you want to get your little ones hiking around your neighborhood, here is where to start.

1. Start a weekly tradition

Pick a day (or multiple days) in a week and call it “family hiking day.” Pick a time that suits the whole family, when the kids are not too tired or hungry. Also, make sure you are not in a hurry so the kids can explore. Our hikes usually happen in the evening, after dinner. This is a time when my husband and I are not rushed, the kids are full and they have that pre-bedtime surge of energy.

2. Make it exciting

Make a big deal of your neighborhood hikes and show them you’re excited about going. Help them pack a little bag with items for the hike (my kid’s bags contain water, a magnifying glass, a neighborhood map printed off Google maps and a headlamp for winter walks). Our hikes are known as excursions by the kids and we have reached a point where they usually choose which direction to take.

3. Find interesting things in your neighborhood to mark your destination

When we first started hiking and our son was small, our excursion used to take us to a neighborhood cat. When he became comfortable with that distance, we discovered a friendly dog that was a little bit further and this became our destination. We have since discovered other interesting things around the neighborhood and we choose to hike to those destinations. This gives the kids a goal and helps set their expectations.

Some of our other destinations are a large tree with all sorts of interesting insects to watch. There’s a large rock where we practice our climbing technique and a local dog park where we have made friends. Sometimes we hike to a construction site so the kids can see the diggers and tractors. Most recently, a local community garden has become a favorite spot for my 2-year-old daughter because she gets to feed all my lettuce to the chickens. Kids find interest in so many things that adults tend to overlook. Use your neighborhood hike to discover things in a whole new way.

4. Find friends to hike with

There is strength in numbers. This could not be truer when it comes to toddlers and pre-schoolers. During our walks, I usually notice that my kids cover way more distance when we bring friends along. I like to ask other mothers in the neighborhood and their kids to join us on our hike. I find that the children get so busy with each other that they rarely ever ask to be carried or complain about the distance.

5. Don’t worry too much about the destination

Yes, I mentioned that having a destination helps keep kids motivated, but make sure you allow them to explore. Toddlers and pre-schoolers get distracted very easily. Sometimes, a rock or tree will catch their attention and they’ll want to stop to explore or play. You can try to gently encourage them to keep walking, but don’t force them or get impatient with them. This will only make you frustrated and discourage them from trying the walk again.

If it so happens that a child stops and refuses to move on, then stay there! Let the kids explore whatever they find interesting until they’re satisfied. If after a while they still don’t want to move on, turn around and go home, and try again another time.

6. Don’t combine the hike with a task

Neighborhood hikes should not be the time when you plan to stop at the grocery store and pick up a gallon of milk. Separate “tasks” from “hikes.” These neighborhood hikes are meant to get your kid outside and into nature and eventually increase the child’s stamina and endurance. If you tie it to a task, you shift the focus to your needs and it then becomes impossible to move at the child’s pace. Remember, these child-friendly hikes should be led by them, so don’t rush them.

7. Safety first

As always, when hiking, safety is high on the list. Put down some basic rules that are easy for the kids to follow. Our rules are:
- No running too far ahead of the parents
- When asked, you must stop
- All children must hold an accompanying adult’s hand when crossing a street
We also try to avoid main roads, as its more peaceful and less polluted. We always repeat our rules before leaving the house. If any child is struggling with following them after a few reminders, that child goes back home with one of the adults. I have had to do this to show the kids just how important it is to follow the rules. I’m happy to report that, my 4-year-old son knows them and follows them quite well. My 2-year-old has not gotten the grasp yet, but I am confident she will get there.

8. Leave the gadgets at home

When we do neighborhood hikes, we make sure to stay off our phones. However, one adult usually carries a phone with them for emergencies and safety reasons, but it stays hidden in a backpack or pocket and is not to be used. Our hikes are a time to connect as a family. You never know when a pre-schooler is going to hold your hand and tell you about their day. If you are distracted by your phone, they may move on to something else and you’ll miss out on an important piece of your child’s day. Our neighborhood hikes usually last around 45 minutes, and everything else can wait.

9. Don’t forget to have fun!

The main purpose of our neighborhood hikes is to explore, exercise, and, most importantly, have fun. Use your imagination on your hike and pretend to hunt for dinosaurs or escape from crocodiles. Let the kids’ imagination take them places like the jungle or desert, and go along with them. You will be in for quite an adventure.

Start your own tradition of neighborhood hiking

If you want to get outdoors more with your family but find life getting in the way, neighborhood hiking is a great place to start. Getting out the door and into your local neighborhood is the perfect way to start adventuring more with the kids. Before you know it, you will be online ordering that fancy gear from the Northface, ready for a hike off a beaten track! We hope to run into you out there. Happy hiking everyone!

About the author

I am Maggie (Nimo). I’m originally from Kenya but lived in the U.S. for over 10 years. While living in Pittsburgh, I met and married a Slovakian man. We decided to move to warmer weather, initially thinking California, but we kept moving and ended up in Sydney Australia. We now call Australia home and when we are not busy working, we like to get out and hike, camp and travel with our children ages 2 and 4.

You can find more of their family’s adventures in the following locations:
Instagram – @babystepslongstrides
Website – http://babystepslongstrides.com/
INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Streamside Sensory Play
- May 20, 2019
This post is all about turning a visit to your local stream into a sensory experience for the kids. Creeks and streams are full of amazing opportunities for kids to get immersed (literally!) in nature. Playing in or near a stream is not only a learning experience about the natural world around them, but it’s also a chance for kids to get wet, muddy and have a lot of fun! We’ve already covered all the amazing benefits of letting your kids play in the creek. Today, we have Brooke Selb from wreckingroutine.com sharing the benefits of streamside sensory play and how her family enjoys their local creeks and streams.

Trading the hikes for a stream

With two kids under the age of three, our days of hiking double-digit trails on a Saturday morning are no longer realistic. While our kids do pretty well on the trail, we are capping out around three miles. In fact, during our spring break staycation, we hiked two miles in mildly windy weather and both kids cried the entire time! Not the relaxing hike we envisioned.

However, both my kids (Zoey and William) absolutely adore sensory bins of any kind (think rice, beans, dried pasta, and shaving cream). They also love being outdoors (just like their mom and dad). So, we combined those two things into something fun and took the arduous hikes out of our routine.

Streamside sensory play

Streamside sensory play is the perfect activity to get us all outdoors. We get to discover more about our surroundings, learn about local nature, and get messy. When I first realized how much Zoey loved this type of play, we ended up venturing out to our nearby streams at least once a week. Now that the weather is warming up, we are back to it! Our girl could not be happier to share her love of outdoors and water with her younger brother.

How to choose a good spot

I have found a few spots near our house in Colorado that are perfect for streamside sensory play. Some things that I look for in a good location are:
- A flat and level area next to the stream. This prevents the kids from having to reach down into the water from slanted ground, which can lead to falls. We also look for flat areas so we can put out a blanket for William to sit on or as a place to rest and have a snack.
- Location with a variety of textures. We like areas where the kids can get wet and muddy, with rocks or trees nearby. Gathering rocks and sticks to use in the water is all part of the fun!
- Slow running water. I like the water to have a little movement. Not only does it help keep the bugs away, but it ensures that the water is not stagnant or smelly. Although, do not choose a spot with too much movement because when the toys inevitably slip out of wet hands, you want to be able to snag them before they get downstream too quickly.
- Shallow water. The kids love getting in the water as much as possible, so shallow water helps me ensure they’re safe.
How to play streamside

This is the best part…there are no rules! Just let them at it! Zoey is good at digging, scooping, and dumping. There is no end to what you can do waterside: putting pebbles in buckets, making mud pies, building sand castles, splashing in the water with her animal figurines, chasing/catching minnows, and changing colors of dry rocks once they get wet.

Getting wet is a must in the hot months and playing in a stream is a great way to cool off and immerse yourself in nature. Playing in the stream allows all your senses to be stimulated. From the smell of the surrounding woods, to the cool touch of the water and the sound of the babbling stream. I let Zoey take off her shoes and socks and squish her toes around in the mud. She giggles the whole time!

What to bring to the stream

Another good thing about playing in the stream is that you don’t need any fancy gear or equipment. Mainly, all you need is your imagination and a sense of adventure! However, there are a few things I’d recommend you bring along for your streamside outing:
- A change of clothes. The most fun part of streamside sensory play is that the kids can get as wet, muddy, and generally messy as they want. While I try to time trips to the stream with bath night, a change of clothes will at least get you home with dry, happy children.
- A hat. While some of the streams might be shady, often times the best spots for sensory play are in the open. Protect those little heads from that bright sun with a hat and/or sunscreen.
- A sand toy set. Buckets, shovels, rakes, spoons, cups, toothbrushes all make excellent streamside toys. Essentially, anything that allows them to dig in the mud and scoop water. I’ve even brought a paintbrush along to make mud pictures on the concrete or rocky areas.
- Animal figurines. We bought a cheap pack of little farm animals from the dollar store and Zoey adores playing with them in the stream. She builds muddy hole homes for them, dips them in the water to clean them, and hides them in the grass or under little rocks. They certainly add an extra element of fun.
- A towel. Be prepared for muddy feet and wet hands! It is also nice to be able to dry off hands before the all-important snack break.
- Snacks. This should be a given because if we are being real, we never leave the house for any activity without a cache of snacks. There’s something about fresh air seems to make the kids extra hungry.
Let them play

The essential part of streamside sensory play is to really let the kids discover with all of their senses (except maybe taste, because…mud). They will get wet, muddy, and just overall dirty. Let them do it! They’re making memories! I promise they will talk about that time they were allowed to get as muddy as they wanted for years to come.

About the author

Brooke Selb is a wife, mom of two, and lover of all things outdoors. As a Holistic Health Coach and Personal Trainer, she strives to make weight loss, running, and healthy eating accessible and sustainable for the busiest moms.

Follow Brooke online in the following locations:

Website: www.wreckingroutine.com

Facebook: wreckingroutine

Instagram: @wreckingroutine
NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARK
Everything You Wanted to Know About Tinkergarten
- April 9, 2018
Raise your hand if you’ve ever heard of Tinkergarten? Tinkergarten offers outdoor, play-based education classes for kids 18 months to 8 years old (accompanied by an adult). Both kids and adults learn and grow together in the best classroom of all – nature! Tinkergarten believes that independent exploration, risk taking and getting a bit dirty help kids achieve great things – and we totally agree!

Today we’re taking the opportunity to tell you everything you ever wanted to know about this awesome outdoor educational program. We’ll walk you through the basic structure of the class, explain why outdoor education is important and give you all kinds of info about becoming a Tinkergarten Leader. We even have a wonderful interview with an experienced Tinkergarten Leader out of Oklahoma City, who will answer all your questions about the process and her experience.

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What is Tinkergarten?

Tinkergarten is a fast-growing network of 1,300 leaders who run independent classes. Each Leader brings a wide range of experiences and talents to their job. The Tinkergarten curriculum is based on core educational values and adapts to your particular region and season. Lessons are age-appropriate and span a broad range of skills. The activities presented in class progressively build week after week, season after season. In each class, kids are encouraged to drive their own learning – an engaging scenario allows kids to launch and direct their own play. No two kids ever have the same experience, because it’s the process that matters!

Some classes focus on a specific age range (such as 18-36 months, 3-5 years, etc). Others are available to children anywhere between 18 months and 8 years. By working with a smaller age range, classes can be more finely tailored to the developmental level of the children who participate. The larger age range lets whole families participate together. This also provides a chance for younger kids to benefit from the modeling and support of older kids. For older kids, it offers them a chance to be leaders for their younger classmates. Age ranges are meant to be used as guidelines, and many activities can be adapted for younger or older children.

All Tinkergarten sessions take place outside, in a local public green space. Each class follows a loose structure that includes an opening circle, main activity, closing circle and snack. The main activity focuses on open-ended exploration and play where kids actively engage in imagining, exploring and/or problem solving. While this activity is planned and guided by an adult, the interests of the children play a large role in shaping the way it unfolds. Snack time then allows children and their adults to relax and reflect on their learning and experiences.

The importance of outdoor education

Outdoor, play-based learning is a proven way to give children a solid foundation and love of education and nature. According to Scientific American, “Nearly all developmental psychologists, neuroscientists and education experts recommend play for kids 0-7 as the best way to nurture development and ready them for academic success later in life.” It’s also been shown that 80+% of brain development occurs before the age of five. Foundational skills built in those first 5 years will affect learning for the rest of their life.

Time and again, research proves that spending time outdoors provides children with a wide range of health benefits including social and emotional well-being. Outdoors in nature is the best classroom. When children play outdoors they are both stimulated and calmed. With the right guidance and learning opportunities, children open up, push limits, tinker, create, and problem solve. As a result of taking a Tinkergarten class, 82% of families spend more time playing outdoors together and 92% of families gained new ways to engage in their children’s play!

Try out a class

If you’re at all interested in Tinkergarten, I highly encourage you to try out a class! Prior to the start of a class, leaders organize free class sessions so that parents and children can experience a “Taste of Tinkergarten.” These free events, and all classes, can be found by visiting the Tinkergarten website and finding your location. Spring classes are starting soon, so go ahead and get registered for a class. You can also join a class even after the session has started, if there’s room. Check out the Tinkergarten website to find a class in your area.

My kids and I had the chance to check out a Tinkergarten class in our area last spring. The class we attended was in a (new to us) park that we were excited to explore. We started the class with an opening circle that included introductions and a song. Our main activity for the class was to create a fairy potion, using elements from nature. The kids all loved exploring the area and filling their individual jars with grass, twigs, leaves, flowers, rocks, acorns, etc. The kids explored the park, climbed the hill and stomped through the creek. They loved the freedom to perform the task at their own pace and having control over their own collection.

Once the jars were filled with natural elements, the Leader added water, food coloring and a bit of baking soda. The kids loved watching their potion boil and bubble – the look of magic on their faces was adorable! After the activity, we joined all the other kids on the tarp for snacks and another parting song or two. After the class, the kids all stuck around to continue their exploration of the park, while the parents chatted and caught up. Overall, it was a really fun experience for both the kids and the adults.

Become a Tinkergarten Leader

Tinkergarten is currently looking for spirited nature-loving individuals to join their team. Tinkergarten Leaders are moms, dads, educators, artists, lawyers and more. Being a Tinkergarten leader is a meaningful opportunity for anyone who values nature, play and learning. It’s also a way for you to make additional income and set your own work schedule. Plus, if you’ve got kids, you can bring them to work, too! You don’t need any formal teaching experience to be a successful Tinkergarten Leader. All you need is a passion and joy for play, a love of the natural world and your community, an ability to connect with kids and a supportive, team spirit.

The Tinkergarten team is talented and supportive. You’ll receive comprehensive training in early childhood development, adult development, community outreach, and much more. You choose the time, location and amount of classes to run, so the scope of time commitment is up to you. Training takes place online—choose from day or evening sessions to ensure you can balance the work with life outside of Tinkergarten.

If you’re interested in applying to be a Tinkergarten Leader or learning more about the process or how much you can earn, >>CLICK HERE<< for all the info!

Interview with Tinkergarten Leader LoriAnn Gregory

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your background

I grew up in Chicago, where I did well with the arts-rich school programming. However, I especially remember our extended visits to my grandparents’ farm in rural Georgia. I loved those wild summer days, transforming a dirt patch near the cow’s creek into our “castle,” sliding down steep deer runs in our “Georgia jeans” (the ones with permanently red-clay-tinged seats), and constantly tweaking our toilet paper holder design for the designated squat spot in the woods.

I graduated from Hendrix College with a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies and my teaching license. Since then, I’ve also become a certified parenting educator through the Positive Discipline Association, and am currently pursuing naturalist training through Wilderness Awareness School’s Kamana program. Of course, I completed Tinkergarten’s excellent leader training course before leading, and also love the additional training courses they offer leaders.

2. Describe your family

My husband and I have two children. My wild 8 year-old daughter would rather be outside, ideally barefoot in a tree, than anywhere else. She celebrated her recent birthday by suiting up in “explorer gear” and exploring the muddy banks of a local wildlife refuge lake. My son is 5 and seems to have the mind of an engineer, constantly surprising us with impressive inventions from loose parts found in the backyard and the recycling bin. My husband joins us on all our hiking, camping, and stargazing adventures, and is especially enthusiastic about the kids’ other main interest, LEGO!

3. Where/when did your love of nature begin?

I loved my childhood summers on my grandparent’s farm, and teenage summers working at an outdoor recreation camp, but I don’t think I really recognized my love for nature specifically until my daughter was born and I began to learn about birds, wildflowers, and animal tracks with her, and to see how spending time in nature calmed and centered me in the same way it clearly did her.

4. What are your favorite outdoor activities to do with your kids?

I especially like camping and canoeing as a family, but in all our outdoor adventures, my favorite memories are those unplanned, still moments between more active activities. When the kids and I quietly picnicked in our sit spots after a long hike last week and saw a juvenile hawk swoop over the heads of nearby joggers (who had headphones in and never looked up!), when our Tinkergarten class time has been over for hours but my kids and others from class are still playing in the “house” formed by low cedar branches while us grown-ups get to chat, when I wake the kids at 3am to see a few shooting stars before they fall back asleep — those are the moments I love most.

5. Have you ever taught before? What made you consider teaching?

Yes, I graduated college with a teaching license and did my student teaching in middle school social studies classes before moving overseas to work with an educational development program. After 5 years there, my family moved back to the U.S., and I began teaching adults in parenting classes. And, now I lead Tinkergarten sessions and homeschool my kids. I’ve said I wanted to be a teacher from the time I was in Kindergarten, but have certainly ended up teaching in different ways than I would have expected!

6. What drew you to the Tinkergarten program/curriculum? How long have you been with them?

We’re a homeschooling family, and I draw inspiration from philosophies including Waldorf, Forest School, Reggio Emilia, and more. A mom I knew online through a Forest School-inspired homeschooling Facebook group told me about Tinkergarten when she began leading in early 2016. I loved what she told me of the curriculum as well as how the weekly classes had developed a community of kids and families, both homeschoolers and other young children. A few months later, I completed my training, and that summer was my first season to lead! I’m currently leading my 8th consecutive season.

7. What are your favorite Tinkergarten classroom projects?

Tinkergarten leaders joke that every week becomes our new favorite! I’m especially fond of the open-ended silly play inspired by a few favorite stories from my own childhood, like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Going On a Bear Hunt, several STEM-themed activities we do with materials like boards for balances and rope/buckets for pulleys, and all the sensory-rich experiences ranging from making mud faces on tree trunks to painting thank-you cards for our local parks departments using color from nature (berries, beets, juicy leaves, and dirt!)

8. What are the biggest obstacles parents face regarding getting their kids outdoors more?

I think the biggest obstacles parents face regarding getting their kids outdoors more are scheduling and unknowns. I’m in several outdoor playgroups, and often make park plans with local friends. However, it takes a strong commitment to get everyone’s schedules aligned on a consistent basis. It’s much harder than it feels like it should be! Tinkergarten’s been a great way for us to “schedule in free play,” so to speak.

Unknowns include concerns about “what ifs” (what if my potty training toddler has to go right when we get there; what if they cry about today’s strong wind; what if that plant he’s rolling in is poison ivy). Parents today have questions about what to do in outdoor spaces. Especially if that kind of unstructured play time wasn’t a part of the adult’s own childhood. I know I benefit from spending time outside with others who know things I don’t — whether that’s which bug spray really works or how to empathize with a child’s fears while encouraging them to move past them. The more we get outdoors, the fewer the unknowns. My experiences tell me that I can handle whatever might “go wrong” — and it’ll probably join my favorite memories as a funny story for later.

9. What lessons do you want kids (and parents) to take away from your classes?

I hope kids will extend their play from our class activities. Their imagination sparked by the engaging inspirations and materials we use in class. I want them to benefit from the balance of familiar routine and freedom we create in our sessions, and all that they observe in their peers’ play. From the photos and texts adults send me after class, I’d say it’s been a success! This week, I got to attend a homeschool event led by a 6 year-old who’s been in several Tinkergarten seasons. I loved noticing how her leadership mirrored much of what we model in class. I’m confident that over time I’ll see more and more examples of children carrying the skills they’re developing in Tinkergarten class. Not only into the rest of their childhood, but also forward into the strong, creative, confident, collaborating problem-solving adolescents and adults they’ll become.

I want parents and other adults who come to class to feel more confident in their ability to adventure with their young kids outside. I want them to become more aware of their child’s development. I’d like to teach them how to redirect less exciting behaviors (like coloring the kitchen cabinets) into equally developmentally appropriate ones (like smashing berries into mud). But most of all, I want them to have more FUN engaging in their child’s play. After a Tinkergarten class, I hope kids and adults alike feel more connected to our community and natural surroundings!

10. What advice would you give someone considering enrolling as a Tinkergarten instructor?

I highly recommend attending a Tinkergarten class near you if at all possible. So much of Tinkergarten is about the experience which you can only pick up by being there — the moments when words AREN’T said, the variety of ways different children interact with the same materials, the moment when a leader helps adults feel okay with a lull in the group’s play — lulls are always so exciting, as they tend to precede a deepening of each child’s play!). Of course, that’s not always an option, as it wasn’t for me back when I joined and there were few leaders in this part of the country, so a great second option would be choosing one of Tinkergarten’s free DIY Activities and trying it out in your own backyard or favorite park!

If you’re interested in applying to be a Tinkergarten Leader
or learning more about the process or how much you can earn,
CLICK HERE for all the info!

And be sure to check out the Tinkergarten website to sign up for a Spring session class in your area.
GEOCACHING, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching with Kids
- May 25, 2017
Raise your hand if your kids are into nature AND treasure hunting! If so, I have the ultimate hobby (addiction) for you – geocaching! Our family gave geocaching a try for the first time last year on a rainy spring day and quickly fell in love with it. Going for long nature walks with kids can sometimes lead to boredom or frustration, but geocaching will keep them focused, entertained, and begging to get back outside. It’s a really neat way to get out to explore local parks and nature trails while giving your kids a mission to focus on (finding treasure). And it’s totally FREE! So, get ready for some fun because this post is your beginner’s guide to geocaching with kids and will give you everything you need to know to get started.

Geocaching is easier than it sounds

When I first looked into geocaching, I was underwhelmed by the information out there on exactly how to get started and whether it was doable with little kids. The GPS and waypoints language frightened me. I was confused about whether I needed a separate GPS device or if my phone would work. However, we decided to give it a go and turns out it’s so much easier (and more fun) than we ever imagined.

(Update: since we initially started geocaching there have been a lot of new GPS-games for kids to come out (letterboxing, Pokemon Go, etc.). We’ve tried a few of them, but geocaching is still our favorite.)

Geocaching with kids

This Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching with Kids is for anyone wanting a fun new outdoor activity for the family to get them outside and active. Geocaching is great for kids of any age. It’s a fun combination of outdoor exploration and technology. It’s perfect for parents that want to be more outdoorsy and adventurous. My kids and I love it and had I known how easy and fun geocaching was, we would have started doing this ages ago!

So, if you’re interested in geocaching with your kids, but don’t know where to begin, let me walk you through the process.

What is geocaching?

According to the http://www.geocaching.com website, geocaching (pronounced GEE-o-cash-ing) is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt using a GPS-enabled device (e.g. smart phone). Participants navigate to a specific set of coordinates and then attempt to find a geocache (container) hidden at that location.

Geocaches can be found all over the world and almost anywhere you can imagine. Geocachers usually hide caches in locations that are important to them, reflecting a special interest, memory or skill of the cache owner. These locations can be quite diverse. They may be at your local park, at the end of a long hike, along a bike trail, underwater or on the side of a city street.

What does a cache look like?

There are currently over a dozen “cache types” in geocaching, with each cache type being a different variation of the game. Geocaches vary greatly in size and appearance – everything from large, clear plastic containers to film canisters to a fake rock with a secret compartment. They can be large (traditional) or small (micro). The bigger they are, the easier (usually) for kids to find.

What’s in a geocache?

In its simplest form, a cache always contains a logbook for you to log your name and date of discovery. Larger caches may also contain any number of items, trinkets, souvenirs, etc. According to geocaching etiquette, you can take an item from the cache if you like, so long as you leave something of equal or greater value in its place. When you are finished, put the cache back exactly as you found it, even if you think you see a better spot for it.

What do you need for geocaching?

All your need to get started geocaching is a smartphone, a geocaching account (free), and a sense of adventure! Geocaches are everywhere and it’s a great budget-friendly low-entry activity that’s great for everyone in the family!

Step 1: Create an account and download the free app

Go to http://www.geocaching.com and create an account. It only takes a minute and is totally free. While you’re there, you can check out all the great information, videos and tutorials they have on how to play this GPS treasuring hunting game. Once you have an account, download the app to your phone. It’s also totally free and will give you “Basic” access to all geocaches with a difficulty rating of 1.5 and below (on a scale of 1-5).

If you’re geocaching with little kids, the free version will be perfect because it’ll ensure that you only get geocaches that are relatively easy to find, solve, and access. If you’re geocaching on your own as an adult or with older kids and want more of a challenge, you can upgrade your account to Premium plan, which gives you instant phone access to a lot more caches that are more difficult to find.

Step 2: Choose a cache to find

Open the app and use the map to find a nearby geocache. You might be initially surprised by just how many local geocaches are nearby in your area. They’re hidden, but everywhere! You can start looking in your neighborhood or drive somewhere with a variety of caches. I couldn’t believe how many geocaches there were close to me.

We picked a park in our area that has tons of local geocaches hidden within. We drove to the park, parked the car, jumped out, and picked the one closest to us. Your current location on the map shows up as a blue dot and all the “basic level” caches in your area will show as green dots, with the rest of them (the more difficult Premium ones) in grey.

The first time you use the app, it’ll ask you to point the phone in the direction of the cache you’re looking for, but you shouldn’t have to do that again. If you want more information on the cache, just click on the dot and it will give you information on the difficulty, terrain, and size of the cache (see middle photo above). Most of them also include a description of or story behind the cache. Some have clues/hints, if you want them.

Step 3: Click START and begin walking

Once you’ve picked a nearby geocache, click that green START arrow. The compass will guide you straight to your treasure! All you have to do is keep the red line of the compass directly in front of you. Adjust your bearings as the compass moves. Red arrows will appear telling you which direction to move if you’re too far off course. Your screen will tell you which direction you’re moving, how far from the cache you are (in feet) and a line showing the shortest route.

In the park we were exploring, most of the geocaches we found were just a little bit off the beaten path, which was really fun because it led us down hidden trails and into the woods. The kids (and adults) loved this and they thought the caches back in the woods that took some effort to get to were much more fun than the ones right along the road.

Step 4: Find the cache

As you get closer to the cache, make sure to zoom in/expand the map so you stay on track. Once you get within 30 feet of the cache you’ll get a warning on your phone that you’re almost there. The website and app both warn you that the location isn’t exact within 30 feet sometimes, so when your warning goes off, start to look around for good hiding places. This is when you let the kids know it’s time for treasure – first person to find it wins!

Remember that geocaches can be anything from a large Tupperware container to a tiny camouflaged film canister (or even smaller), depending on the level of difficulty (the app will tell you the size). Start with easy “traditional” geocaches. Initially, I was worried the kids wouldn’t be able to find them or would get discouraged/bored after searching for a few minutes. Not so! My 3.5 years old is amazing at finding the caches and gets super pumped every time he spots one.

The ones we found this day were hidden inside hollowed-out tree trunks, at the base of giant trees, inside stumps/logs, and in between rocks. They ranged in size from a plastic take-out container to a small barrel. Some were protected in Ziploc bags and some were hidden where rain wouldn’t bother them.

As the difficulty of the geocache increases, they get harder and harder to find. We had no issues finding five in one day ranging from 1.5 – 2.5 difficulty! Make sure you really celebrate every find, so your kids get really excited about finding more treasure!

Step 5: Check out the contents & sign the logbook

Even the most basic geocache should have some form of a logbook or sheet of paper. This is for anyone that finds it to record their name and date. All the geocaches we found this day had an available logbook with a pencil provided. However, I’d suggest bringing along your own pen and maybe a couple of sheets of blank paper in case the current logbook is full.

In addition, all the geocaches also had quite a few fun trinkets inside that the kids loved to look at and talk about. The rule is that you’re welcome to take a trinket, so long as you leave something of equal or greater value in its place. We brought along a handful of plastic gold coins, glow in the dark stars, and little army men. When we took a trinket, we left these in it’s place for the next finder. The trinkets are usually little toys, marbles or stickers. The kids thought this was the coolest thing ever and it made it feel like a real treasure to them!

Step 6: Log your find and post a message

Once you find the geocache, click on the big green button at the bottom of your screen that says “Log Geocache” and record your find. You can also leave a comment about the geocache. You can say you loved it, comment on how long it took you to find it, leave a hint for a future geocacher, post a photo, or note that the geocache needs maintenance or couldn’t be located. These posts are accessible to anyone, so try not to give away any secrets or take away the element of surprise.

Beginner’s guide to geocaching with kids

That’s it! So easy. The great thing about geocaching is that it’s basically free (as long as you have a smartphone) and you can do it anywhere! I can’t get over how many geocaches are out there close to me… and everywhere! Even the teeny tiny town I grew up in has at least a dozen! And since we started geocaching, we go treasure hunting everywhere we go, including when we go on vacation. We’ve found caches in four states so far!

Every cache is different and the kids are getting quicker at finding them. We’ve found a small pillbox container in the pilings outside our local fire station, a camouflaged container hidden inside a planter, under a trashcan, up a tree, under the beach boardwalk, and a geocache in a padlocked birdhouse where we had to crack the code!

If you’ve never tried geocaching, I highly recommend you make plans to get out this weekend and try it! There’s treasure out there waiting for you!

Have you ever been geocaching?