Games & Activites
Canoeing
During layover days, enjoy some relaxing time, hiking time and exploring in the canoe time. With life jackets on, let the kids practice paddling the canoe and gain experience in turning and handling the boat in a safe and stress free supervised location. The bay of a lake or a shallow pool are good choices.
If the kids are old enough, allow them to practice “falling out” of the canoe and what they would do if this actually happened while traveling. Teach and talk about safety such as staying put during bad weather and windy days and general first aid.
Packing
If your kids are old enough to read, give them the clothing list before the trip and ask them to gather and pack their own bag. Check to make sure they have only what they need. If something is missing, explain why it’s important to have it. If too much has been packed, explain how extra weight adds work due to unneeded items add work and discomfort on the trail. Keep toys to a minimum. Encourage kids to make/invent their own toys on the trail.
Cooking
Everyone in the family can get creative and invent gourmet dishes that can be made with trail food. How about spicy macaroni and cheese with a side of salsa for dinner, or whip up a batch of peanut butter gorp balls for dessert. Harvest your own blueberries and mix some of them with instant cheesecake for a little blueberry cheesecake surprise. Yum!
