Hiking and camping are some of the best activities you can enjoy together as a family.  Your children will develop a love of the outdoors and get plenty of exercise.  It is also a chance for you to reconnect with your kids.

Often a single dads biggest challenge is finding meaningful activities with their children.  Nature hikes are a great way for single dads to be involved with their children and have fun. 

Nature hikes thru a forest preserve or state park are an ideal outing.  Keep it simple at first by staying on the walking trails and keep your hikes short.  When your children are older you can plan more adventurous camping and hiking trips.  For the best hikes let your children have time to explore nature.  Having fun is what it is all about.

A little planning and preparation will make sure these nature hikes are a success.  You do not need special hiking clothing or backpacking gear.  It is best to keep it simple.  I’ve put together a list of hiking essentials and some optional hiking supplies to get you started.

I’ve found the best backpacks for short nature hikes are the strap backpacks.  They are light and compact yet big enough to carry your hiking essentials.  The straps can get uncomfortable after awhile.  So if you plan on taking longer hikes I recommend shoulder backpacks.  These are sometimes called day backpacks or daypacks and look like a kids backpack.

I’ve always had a love of the outdoors.  I have great memories climbing rocks, playing in streams, catching frogs, and climbing trees.  I want my kids to have these same adventures.  A little planning and preparation will make sure you also have good memories that will last a life time.

dbcfsp6e4w