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If you are going to take the family on a family road trip to one of our nation’s national parks, you should take some time before hand to plan some activities that will involve the kids with the vast outdoors. The natural parks provide the perfect opportunity for parents to teach their children about the wonders of nature and the importance of taking care of the planet.
We’ve done some research and found some good books that can help you work with your kids in making the outdoor experience at your next national Park a memorable one.
Parent’s Guide to Hiking & Camping – by Alice Cary (Norton).
This great book deals with questions that many parents have regarding the types of activities that are compatible with the ages of the children. Alice covers topics such as the types and distance of hikes for young children. What to do and implement weather. What types of equipment are best used to help keep your children from getting lost or help them to be found in such an event.
The book is quite readable with many photos, informational boxes, advice from real people with children of their own. You’ll read about tidbits of advice spanning from purchasing children’s gear before the trip to addressing terror ridden fears of open-air toilets. She hits age-specific issues spanning the entire cycle of a child’s life and what they’re ready to do or what they may have to deal with in an outdoor camping situation.
The book is a wonderful addition to your family activity library that easily supplements and outdoor oriented lifestyle. The book is full of information on how to keep your kids warm, dry, happy, and excited about the outdoors.
The Kid’s Wildlife Book – by Warner Shedd.
This book focuses on younger children from about ages 7 to 12. It serves both as a field guide and an activity book with lots of information and fun snippets that the kids will enjoy. Each creature that is highlighted in the book as information presented in small bites and similar categories across all the animals. Biological terms such as dwellings, diet, animal sounds, procreation/meeting use more natural terms that kids can relate to such as, “Home Sweet Home”, “What’s for Dinner?”, “Let’s Talk”, and “Family Life”.
Not only is there information about animals that your child may encounter a national park, or in other outdoor settings, but there are also activities that the kids can participate in the helps them to understand the outdoors and nature better.
Book features include black ink cartoons, range maps, illustrations, and animal tracks.
Audubon Field Guides – by the National Audubon Society
The national Audubon Society has created an amazing collection of field guides over the many years that it has been in existence. Many of these field guides come with color pictures, and interesting facts on just about every species of the different animals highlighted in each of the books. Each book is centered around a specific theme. Some of the themes include trees, Southwestern plants, mammals, insects, spiders, reptiles, and even the night sky.
While these books may be a little heavy for children, they may help you become the ultimate Field guide for your kids. While on your family road trip through the national park, your children will be amazed by the little facts and tidbits that you know on the various plants and animals that you encounter.
In summary, early preparations by you as parents can make the world of difference to your children. A national park can be a true outdoor wonderland. Special activities and highlights given to the kids during your trip will only serve to enhance their experience there.
