Painted Rocks vs. Leave No Trace

Six years ago this month, Hike it Baby completed its first hike. Since then, the organization has grown tremendously. And for its "birthday" this year, Hike it Baby is teaming up with Deuter and Leave No Trace™ Center for Outdoor Ethics for the Together We Hike trail cleanup event. Hike it Baby is commemorating its very first hike by focusing on giving back to the trails and the natural spaces in the communities in which we hike. The trail cleanup event will encompass all of Hike it Baby's core values: supporting all families, building community and celebrating nature. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUIttomc6to&feature=youtu.be This month, we hope you will join us and challenge yourself to host, participate in or independently clean a trail or natural space. Inviting members of the community can encourage everyone to clean up the communities while learning from each other. If an official Hike it Baby cleanup hike doesn't work for your schedule, feel free to get out on your own and clean a local trail at your convenience. To find family-approved locations to host a cleanup hike, use the Family Trail Guide. Or to join a cleanup hike, you can look through already submitted hikes that are labeled "Together We Hike." Celebrate Hike it Baby If you can't join a HiB cleanup hike, try to get outside and celebrate Hike it Baby’s birthday anyway. As a teacher, I find myself unable to participate in most HiB hikes since they are scheduled while I'm at work. Since joining Hike it Baby, however, I find myself making sure we get outside as a family, whether it's a trip to the park, walking in our neighborhood or hitting the trails. This organization has truly opened my eyes to the importance of nature for children, getting involved in the community, celebrating everyone's unique differences and how we, together, make up this great organization. While raising a generation to love nature and the outdoors, a trail cleanup is a great way to get children involved in taking charge of their communities and making sure these natural areas are protected and safe for years to come. Challenge the children on your hikes to try and collect as much trash as they can to help protect the trail. While cleaning up, talk to your children about the importance of the leave no trace principles, which include staying on trail, respecting wildlife, leaving what you find and being kind to others. Practicing leave no trace and sharing it with others will help ensure our trails and nature stay protected for future use. https://youtu.be/VQYDDGsNlaI Make it a social affair Whether you host or participate in a HiB trail cleanup or clean up your local greenspace with your family, your impact will help ensure that the community will be enjoyed by others now and into the future. For more information on the However you participate, share on social media how you are celebrating with @hikeitbaby to provide inspiration to all HiB communities by adding #HikeitBaby #TogetherWeHike at Instagram - @hikeitbaby // Facebook - facebook.com/hikeitbaby // Twitter - twitter.com/hikeitbaby. Help build community 1. HiB summer community T-shirt campaign  We’re celebrating our value of supporting all families through the first Hike it Baby Community Campaign. Get a unique Hike it Baby shirt and 10% of proceeds will be donated to OUT There Adventures, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ kids to get outside. Fulfilling our goal to get ALL families outside is a big task and we are so excited for the opportunity to support another organization doing this work. Campaign ends 7/31/19. Options available from infant to adult. 2. Deuter dirt bag & LNT card Donate $30 and as a thank you from us, receive a one-of-a-kind Hike it Baby Deuter dirt bag & a Kids Leave No Trace resource card. 30% of proceeds will be donated to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, which works to protect the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. Donations are tax-deductible. The campaign runs while supplies last.   Read more: 5 Tips for trail cleanup safety Giving back -- Trail cleanup hikes How to teach kids to be trail stewards 10 Ways to have a positive Hike it Baby environmental impact in the new year Featured photo by Jessica Human. This blog post is sponsored by Deuter.            

It's important we Leave No Trace when exploring outside, which can be hard when hiking with toddlers and children. This video walks you through having a successful hike with little ones who might have a hard time not picking up rocks and flowers or leaving their new favorite stick behind. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO When planning your outdoor adventure, have your child research the weather forecast and help them plan the best clothing to wear, provide trail choices, and allow them to choose their lunch or snack for the trip. STAY ON THE TRAIL Always use established trails whenever available. Kids often want to explore off trail, so teaching them to walk in single-file in the middle of the trail, even when the trail is wet or muddy, is very important. Talk with them about the impact their presence has on plants, animals and bugs. To help make staying on trail fun, encourage your children’s imaginations while directing their powers of awareness and conscious foot-stepping by playing “detective” and following your “ninjas” trails as they navigate the forest. PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT Accept the challenge of packing out all trash, leftover food and litter when visiting the outdoors. Play “I spy” with trash by creating a competition among kids (or between kids and parents) to see who can collect the most litter. RESPECT WILDLIFE Animal encounters are a natural fascination for kids. Help your children understand how to keep a safe distance from wildlife. Quick movements and loud noises are stressful to animals. Never feed animals. Keep wildlife wild. LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND This can be difficult for kids. When your kid discovers a cool rock or finds the perfect hiking stick, it can be really hard for them to leave it behind. With toddlers, a first step can be to limit trail treasures to one item and talking to them about the impact of picking flowers and leaves can have. For older kids, you can give your child a camera to take photos of treasures they find on the trail or have them carry a nature journal to record their discoveries. BE KIND TO OTHERS Encourage kids to be respectful, courteous and polite when playing outdoors. Model and teach good manners, such as sharing the trail with others while avoiding bad behaviors, such as making loud noises or talking on a cell phone. What are some of your ideas for helping your kids be adventurous on a hike while maintaining the nature around them? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. https://youtu.be/hiJD65oAIGg Read More: Leave No Trace: What does it mean for kids? Leave No Trace part 2-"Choose the Right Path" Leave No Trace part 1-Plan Ahead and Prepare