Hiking with Kids and Teens

Jennifer Noel Wilson
Oct 1
3 min read

When was the last time you took the kids hiking? Or do you prefer to hike on your own or with friends? Hiking with kids & teens can be challenging, but also quite the fun adventure,

especially as they get older. Family hiking encourages kids to be outside, explore, be in awe of God’s creation, and get their bodies moving.

Benefits of Hiking

Did you know hiking helps improve balance, strengthens muscles, boosts your mood, inspires creativity, and can help you sleep better? Hiking as a family can also strengthen your relationships and encourage conversation. Best of all, hiking brings you closer to God.

Hiking Challenges

While you’re hiking, consider trying one of the following challenges to help encourage the above benefits:

Find items in creation starting with each letter of the alphabet. Talk about how God created everything.
Collect leaves. Each time you pick up a leaf say something you love about someone in your family (for fun you can even include the pets).
Have a treasure hunt by searching for geocaches in available areas.
Create your own treasure hunt or scavenger hunt. I’ve created one for you in the files below.
Choose a bible verse as a family before your hike. Practice memorizing the verse during the hike. Come up with fun hand motions or find items during the hike that relate to the verse.
- For example, Romans 1:20, “Ever since the world was created it has been possible to see the qualities of God that are not seen. I’m talking about his eternal power and about the fact that he is God. Those things can be seen in what he has made. So people have no excuse for what they do.”
- Point out things God has made in His creation while you hike and memorize the verse.
Collect items on your hike to make a family decoration for your home so you can remember your time together. (Be sure you have permission to take whatever items you find. Some state and national parks prohibit taking certain items.)
Collect stones (like the stones of remembrance in Joshua). Paint or color them, write a Bible verse on them and the date of the hiking trip. (Again be sure not to take anything not allowed.)
Share your highs and lows from the week. What was your favorite thing that happened? What made you sad? Be sure to always share more highs and end encouraging each other.
Point out things God has made in creation. Talk about your favorites and why you love them.
Pick a spot on the trail to sit and admire God’s creation. Have a picnic or eat a snack. Share your favorite parts of the hike.
Find out what wildlife may be in the area. Learn about the wildlife and take any needed safety precautions. (We had to bring bear spray on our last hike.) See how many you can find.
Take lots of photos, journal, and make a memory book.

Places to go

From neighborhood hikes, to hiking in the Grand Tetons at over 7,000 feet, hiking with kids and teens is a wonderful adventure. There are so many awesome places to explore God’s amazing creation.