My first trek: 6 keys to getting out into nature with girls and boys

Hiking, more recently known as trekking, involves exploring poorly developed natural areas on foot, almost always along existing routes. Some trails are demarcated and marked, while others barely reflect the footprints of the brave who made their way through the vegetation or rocks.

Practicing trekking, for those who love nature, is entertaining and stimulating: from a physical point of view, it promotes an active lifestyle, strengthens muscles, improves cardiovascular resistance and develops motor skills. Additionally, it fosters a valuable connection with the landscape, developing greater respect for the environment and direct knowledge of the local flora and fauna.

When hiking alone, Juan Pablo Gardeweg, founder of Editorial Compass, seeks to discover different places or approaches to things. “I am always amazed by the immense coigües of the south or the oak groves of the central area.” But when he is accompanied, especially by children, he is responsible for showing the birds along the route, the types of trees or even the geographical details. “That makes me happy”.

Gardeweg has been dedicated to producing books and hiking guides for decades, but this year it has launched an edition different from the others: this is the Hiking guide with children », a publication that invites families to enjoy the outdoors without fear, with everything you need to know to have a good experience, in addition to offering options for walks for the day or even for a night.

“Children are real sponges, absorbing a lot of knowledge, especially when it comes to understanding what nature is like,” he analyzes. Walking around and observing the environment “arouses their curiosity,” he explains.

When the temperatures are good, the possibility of swimming in a river or lagoon is essential. “It’s an experience they will never forget, it’s a reward for the effort of walking for several hours,” he says.

Your guide is valuable because it is also easy to have a bad trekking experience. Not being prepared, not calculating times or distances correctly, or not anticipating the weather can turn a walk into a trauma. Therefore, when children are introduced to this activity, it is essential to instill in them knowledge and habits that promote safety, respect for nature and responsible autonomy.

To have a successful trekking experience, it is essential to have the right equipment, mainly suitable clothing. “The most important thing is always to have shoes intended for the development of this activity; that is, hiking shoes,” says Francisco Barriga, director of the Ecotourism Administration degree at Andrés Bello University, Viña del Mar campus.

His recommendation is trekking shoes, shoes with a high upper, “which allow you to have firmness and stability in your approach, both when going up and down, which is the most important thing.”

Gardeweg suggests that the sole of shoes should have good grip and ideally be waterproof. The option used by your children, for example, contains Omni Grip sole technology, ideal for fit and grip during trekking. “Besides being waterproof, they work great for all ages,” he says.

A windbreaker and a fleece are the other key pieces of clothing Gardeweg mentions. They are essential to deal with “climate changes, which occur suddenly because of a strong wind or when there are a lot of trees,” he mentions. Bulky parkas, for this type of activity, “only add weight and overheat you.”

But before choosing your clothes, you must review and analyze the weather conditions that will prevail during the expedition: just as unpleasant as leaving with too many clothes is leaving with insufficient shelter. “If there is a chance of rain, wear windbreakers and sturdy shoes; If the weather is going to be nice, a good sun hat and lots of sunscreen,” says Barriga.

Hiking poles are an accessory that can be useful for more complicated trails. “In general, children don’t use them much, but it’s always good, because it allows them to have a better footprint and put less weight on the knee,” comments the UNAB academic.

Trekking, in addition to being entertaining and challenging, can also be a practical experience for children, in which they will learn the basic notions of orientation and interpretation of signs. An experience that will help them in their autonomy and decision-making.

Putting these skills into practice will improve their safety – especially outdoors – and their self-confidence and contribute to the overall group experience. “We must always instill common sense in them; for example, realizing that if we are lost, we need to retrace our steps and find the way back where we came from,” Gardeweg recommends.

“What can be used to instill in children while hiking is respect and care for the environment,” suggests Barriga. And for this, it is necessary to encourage behavior in harmony with the place they are visiting.

For example, Barriga says, “not removing leaves or branches, or wanting to take certain things home.” Even though the natural environment may be somewhat altered, the idea is to encourage preservation and respect for nature, teaching them not to disturb the flora and fauna, to collect and take away waste and to follow “leave no trace” practices. impact.

Carrying and drinking enough water is essential to prevent dehydration, regulate body temperature and avoid muscle cramps and fatigue. In addition, a balanced diet provides the energy necessary to face physical challenges and contributes to muscle recovery after activity.

This is why it is advisable to bring several bottles of water – hopefully one per person -, to have eaten well before leaving and to have healthy and energetic foods for the trip, such as fruit, cereals, nuts or dairy products. If the walk is long, packing a few sandwiches or some hard-boiled eggs will never hurt.

Why not bring some chocolate biscuits, chips or treats? Because these products do not always help you stay satisfied or hydrated, the energy they provide is not of good quality and, moreover, their packaging generates a lot of waste.

Effective communication is essential for safety during trekking. Children must learn to express their needs, share their observations and follow the instructions of adults in charge. “Hanging out with kids, ideally, means putting aside smartphones and connecting with them,” says Gardeweg.

The idea, he says, is to take the opportunity to talk, to know their stories, the things that happen to them, their fears and their joys. “All this happens while trekking,” he emphasizes. Additionally, facing challenges during the activity provides opportunities to build resilience and foster teamwork, as children will learn to overcome obstacles and collaborate to achieve common goals.

This may seem obvious, but it is extremely relevant. “To accompany boys and girls, especially for the first time, you have to choose routes that are not difficult, that are pleasant for them,” explains Barriga. The ideal, he suggests, is that they don’t do many kilometers and that they have a good landscape, so that they will like it visually and leave them wanting to repeat it.

“Many parents want to take their son or daughter trekking in the hills, on medium-level routes, but instead of generating a good experience, we are causing quite the opposite,” explains the academic.

You also need to be patient, understanding and not push the limits too much. “If someone is very tired, it doesn’t matter: we’ll go back and repeat it another time,” says Gardeweg. By starting little by little, he advises, you can discover a boy or girl’s abilities. “Otherwise, they will never want to go on an adventure again.”

For the first few times, he recommends having a tasty reward upon return, such as a delicious meal of your choice; This can motivate them to come back. In his last guide, the specialist has a meal from the northern national geography on and just suggests more than 50 places in the country to travel with the family in the trekking world, with destinations to organize different vacations and take place in the camping world Also.

*Product prices in this article are current as of December 11, 2023. Values ​​and availability are subject to change.