Tip 3: National Parks

With the 100^th Anniversary of the National Park system, there has been renewed focus on the parks as a national treasure and resource available to everyone. The Park system offers access to some of the most spectacular outdoor places in our great country, just waiting for your family to visit. Rather than rewrite what can easily be found elsewhere about the Parks, I want to share some experiences that have been valuable to my family as we’ve visited the Parks.

Junior Ranger Program

The Junior Ranger program is an opportunity for you and your children to invest in first-hand in each national park. In every park, you can pick up a Junior Ranger workbook at the closest ranger station or visitor center. The workbook walks kids through a series of fun activities specific to that park. Additionally, it asks that kids participate in outdoors activities and listen to a talk by a Ranger. The activities are age appropriate (older children are asked to do more activates, younger less) and very young kids can often complete assignments with adult assistance. The reward for this work?  Your child receives a special Junior Ranger badge or patch and takes the oath as an official Junior Ranger. It has been a special occasion to see the excitement each time our children have earned a badge and has been a favorite for them on each trip.

Schedule and Activities

On a trip to Yellowstone, I was not sure how much time to allocate to certain activities. Our kids were six and four and I wasn’t sure they would be that excited about geysers and mud-pops. I was wrong. It was a favorite of the trip for them, (outside of the bison sightings) and opened my eyes to what got them excited. From that point on in our trip, I looked for every opportunity to stop and see something similar. On each trip, it is tempting to set a fixed schedule and stick to it.  However, it is important to be flexible enough to respond to your children’s excitement. Yes, make a point to see the major sights, but also build on the “win’s” and enthusiasm for the things they enjoy. You might be pleasantly surprised at where it will take you and your family.

Child Carrier

For traveling to Parks with younger kids, there is no more valuable piece of gear than a backpack style child carrier. Walking for smaller children is unrealistic due to the distance and often sheer mass of people. Strollers as highly impractical and time consuming. A child carrier is the most practical gear for moving small children in these environments as they as compact, store all the “gear” you bring for small children (think diapers, food, drinks, change of clothes) and allow for easy movement throughout the crowds. The carriers also allow for flexibility to get off the main path and explore different areas that may not be sidewalk accessible. Be sure to note the weight rating of each pack, as it will limit how large of a child can be carried.

Planning

For the most popular parks, it is important that you begin planning as early as possible. Often, if you want lodging in the park itself, you must reserve a year or more in advance. There are many resources available to assist with your trip planning, but start with the lodging reservations and work from there.

National Parks can be a great way to wow your children and spark a life-long love of outdoor places.