| Are you looking for a way to homeschool in the | | | | - Hat to keep off the sun |
| woods? Has the weather turned warm and you're | | | | - Tennis shoes or hiking boots |
| having a hard time keeping your children | | | | - Long pants and long sleeves (to avoid poison ivy |
| interested in their studies? Take your boys hiking. | | | | if you will be wandering into the woods) |
| A few hours of outdoor education is a great way | | | | - Warm layers of clothes, warm hat, mittens |
| to exercise their bodies while learning an amazing | | | | - Nature journals or cameras |
| amount of things about the world we live in. | | | | Be sure to hike in a variety of terrain, so that |
| Things for boys to learn about while on a hike: | | | | your boys will become familiar with different |
| - Animal tracks | | | | types of habitats: |
| - Botany - identify flowers, trees, grass | | | | - Coastal and beach areas |
| - Geology - identify different rocks, minerals, soil | | | | - Inside abandoned mines or caves |
| - Insects - identify. Which ones would be edible in | | | | - Prairie |
| an emergency situation? | | | | - Forest or Jungle |
| - Biology - identify mammals, reptiles, birds, etc. | | | | - Wetlands |
| Before you go, you may want to consult a trail | | | | - Mountainous Areas |
| map for the area you're planning to take your | | | | If your boys are already avid hikers, you can |
| boys hiking. Hiking trails vary in length as well as | | | | spice up any journey by turning it into a |
| difficulty level. You don't want to end up halfway | | | | scavenger hunt. Make up lists of things that you |
| down a difficult trail, miles from your car, without | | | | can see, hear, touch, smell... and (for the very |
| enough energy to get you back safely. Look for | | | | adventurous) taste. You can even award prizes at |
| trail maps in field guides, on-line, or at the visitor's | | | | the end of the trip for the person who found the |
| center of the park you'll be hiking. | | | | most items, the biggest item, the dirtiest item, |
| Things to think about bringing with you or wearing | | | | etc. Boys love variety, so the more twists you |
| on a hike (depending on the season): | | | | add to the hunt the more they will enjoy it. |
| - Water bottle or canteen | | | | No matter what season of the year you find |
| - Healthy snacks like nuts or granola bars | | | | yourself, taking your boys hiking is a great way |
| - Sunscreen | | | | to keep them interested in their studies over the |
| - Insect repellent | | | | long haul. |
| - Rain jacket | | | | |