Thom Conte, park visitor
Editor’s note: Thom and his children are featured in several of our 2016 Fall Hiking Spree ads.
The Summit Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree has been the perfect excuse to slow down, take a deep breath and appreciate the amazing works of nature found throughout Summit County.
Admittedly, I was a little nervous about tackling our first Fall Hiking Spree with two young boys, ages 4 and 2. Despite a few challenges, we quickly found a rhythm that led us through every trail on the 2015 list!
What was our motivation for participating in the Spree? I wish I could say it was a love of the great outdoors, but, to be honest, my little boys just wanted hiking sticks. The sticks may have gotten us on the path, but it wasn’t long before visiting new parks, exploring trails and having picnics became the real motivators — of course, the boys still wanted their sticks!
Participation in the Fall Hiking Spree encouraged us to visit and explore some truly amazing parks. Whether it was Liberty Park’s cave, Goodyear Heights’ cattail marsh, or Hampton Hills’ steep valleys, every park had a unique and exciting story to share.
The spree allowed us to learn in ways that could never occur in a classroom, through digital media, or in the pages of a book. From informal lessons on geology and life science to trail etiquette and nutrition, there were countless teachable moments along the trails. These wonderful lessons brought us back for the 2016 spree and are sure to pull us in for years to come.
We’ve just completed our eighth spree trail for this year, but our fall hiking season is just getting started. There are so many new trails to explore and more than a few we want to see again.
Thom’s tips for hiking with small children:
1. Embrace the Pace
Be realistic about how long each hike will take. Every stream, rock, stump, and chipmunk may need to be investigated. With little explorers, a one-mile hike can easily take more than an hour.
2. Start With The Easy Trails
There is an enormous difference between hiking a Rating 1 (Easy) and Rating 3 (Strenuous) trail. Setting off on a Rating 3 as your first hike is sure to end the enthusiasm.
3. Pack Snacks
Keeping your kids energized is important for a successful hike. Allowing your little ones to help choose healthy snacks for each hike is a fun way to keep them motivated!
4. Take Pictures
Keeping a visual record of your Spree is a great way to share the excitement with friends and family. Pictures are also a wonderful reminder of what you’ve accomplished.
5. Play Games
Games can help to make a difficult hike fun. My boys enjoy completing scavenger hunts of things commonly found along the trails.
6. Bring a Child-Carrier Backpack
Little ones will get tired on a hike. Many of the spree trails are not stroller friendly, so be prepared with a child-carrier backpack. Our 4-year-old had no problem completing the hikes with energy to spare. It was more of a challenge for our 2-year-old, but frequent stops, a little patience and time in our backpack made the spree a positive experience for everyone.
