[RumiDude]

[boot up]

For those of you with small kids, unable to obtain the book for whatever reason, I found what is sort of a summary of the book, and it looks like they even borrowed from the artwork in the book. Lost in the woods. Not quite as compelling reading for little kids as I remember the book, but a good list. If you teach your kids nothing else.... At least: 1) get them a whistle and teach them how to use it (one blast"testing", two blasts "here I am", three blasts "HELP!!) 2) Lids On (for warmth). The book had an example of measuring how fast a teapot cools with or without a lid. 3) ..... eh, go over the list. all pretty important now that I think of it. Staying put, insulation from the ground, keeping calm, letting rescuers find you.....

[wolffie]

[Hiker Mama]

Thanks for the book tip. And I actually didn't know the different whistle blasts. We know that you do 3 for help. They do know to stay put (I call it hug a tree) and to answer rescuers who are searching for them. They know they need to wear their hats. Last summer we just started learning how to build fires, but I know they wouldn't be able to make one if they had to. I realized they have their whistles integrated with their packs. Might make better sense to have a backup one on their body. Lots still to learn, but my kids would love it. I've mostly been focused on keeping myself prepared, but they are old enough (especially my son) to learn more on their own. As we've stretched our comfort zone for hiking and snowshoeing this winter, we've had some close calls - my son bonked and started down the road of hypothermia, it was real scary. My daughter did the same thing a year and a half ago. Made me feel like a bad mommy. If anything else had gone wrong, or if I had had problems myself, the situation could have been ugly. Things can switch from good to bad so quickly.

[furthur]

I wish we could copy and rename this thread...maybe Essentials for Hiking with Children. Though I don't currently have the opportunity, I do anticipate taking grandchildren out someday in the future (no pressure, son), and all comments have been excellent!

[treeswarper]

My next trip to town, I think I'll buy a whistle for a three year old that is already wanting to explore in the woods behind her grandparent's house. She's smart. We have started asking her which way back to the house when out with her. She has somehow learned about deer and elk tracks and which way they are going. Maybe she's a future forester?

[markh752]

[DigitalJanitor]

[Snowbrushy]

[markh752]

[markh752]

[HitTheTrail]

I think it depends on the child and their personality rather than training (family training or Scouts). Having been involved in the Scouts from Tiger through Eagle with my son I observed training was a good thing, but how well it “stuck” sort of depended on the individual. You need to read your kids and plan accordingly.

[AdventureStrong]

If they'd only had the 10 Essentials, they'd have been good to go. It's sad the kids had to die because of their father's lack of preparation.