Enjoying the Chill Outdoors: A Guide for Winter Hikes with Children
Family Winter Adventures: Embracing the Outdoors with Yemaya Maurer and Lucas St. Clair
Yemaya Maurer, co-author of the AMC Guide to Winter Hiking & Camping, and her husband Lucas St. Clair, have a passion for sharing the joys of winter travel with their young daughter, Gabriella. This passion stems from Maurer's own discovery of the pleasures of winter exploration as a young adult.
Maurer, who previously worked as an outdoor educator, now encourages families to embrace winter activities, believing that children are happier and healthier when they spend time outside. One such activity is snowshoeing, a safe and enjoyable way for families to explore winter landscapes together. Cross-country skiing and winter hiking on cleared or groomed trails are also recommended, providing low-impact exercise and ensuring safety.
Creativity is a key element of these winter activities. Building snow shelters or forts, making snowmen, and snow angels can make winter hikes more fun. Maurer and St. Clair suggest engaging in "elk hunts" or "moose safaris," where children search for animal tracks in the snow, offering an educational and fun experience.
Safety is paramount during these activities. Proper gear, such as warm clothing and waterproof footwear, should be used. Parents should also check weather conditions and choose routes appropriate for the family's experience level. It's important to stop frequently to check that a child is warm and comfortable during winter hikes.
Maurer wishes she had experienced winter activities as a child, including sitting around a crackling fire and waking to fresh powder. To make winter hikes more enjoyable, she suggests bringing plenty of snacks, such as hot cocoa with or without marshmallows.
In their guide, Maurer and St. Clair follow three simple guidelines for family winter activities: Keep it fun, keep it safe, and keep it going. They also emphasize the importance of teaching children layering principles to regulate their own temperature during hikes or skiing.
Children spend very little time outside, according to various studies. By encouraging winter activities, families can help instil a love for the outdoors in their children and create lasting memories. Hiking to frozen waterfalls can be a child-friendly adventure, avoiding summer crowds.
Maurer and St. Clair took their daughter Gabriella to AMC's Gorman Chairback Lodge for winter activities. Showing enthusiasm for winter outdoor activities can make children enthusiastic too, as Gabriella was intrigued by the frozen pond, peering through the ice and walking on its slippery surface.
By embracing winter activities, families can create a bond with nature, foster a love for the outdoors, and create unforgettable memories together.
Engaging in winter activities such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and winter hiking not only promotes outdoor-living but also contributes to creating a fun and engaging home-and-garden lifestyle for families. These activities can even include excursions like "elk hunts" or "moose safaris," where children learn about wildlife while enjoying the outdoors.
