8 ACTIVITIES TO GET YOUR KIDS INTO HIKING

Have you heard of Geocaching? Do you know how to build a hut? Discover eight activities to keep your children occupied while hiking.

If you choose to take your children, especially your pre-teens, on a hike, don't forget to plan fun and stimulating activities to keep them interested and prevent them from dragging their feet after a few minutes.

Children need a series of quickly accessible mini-challenges to keep them involved in the walk and to use up their excess energy. It's also an opportunity for you bring out the child in you and spend some quality time with your little ones.

Tip: invite one of your child's friends to ensure a truly unforgettable day. There's nothing more important than sharing these moments with people your own age.

Activity 1: Build a tree house in the great outdoors for both the young and old to enjoy!

Get children of all ages together for a creative outdoor activity! Building a tree house is a great way to stimulate the imagination and share unforgettable moments with the family. Ready to take up the challenge? Follow the guide and let your creativity run wild!

Equipment:
- A very long, sturdy branch
- Two sturdy Y-shaped branches
- Branches of different lengths

Duration and number of people:-30 min / 2 people

Step 1:find some very strong wood, a long branch for the top of the hut, two Y-shaped branches to support it and lots of branches of various sizes to make the two walls.

Step 2: plant one end of the longest, strongest branch and support the other end with the two Y-shaped branches.

Step 3: cover the sides with all the other branches.

Step 4: cover the frame with leaves or snow, depending on the season.

Activity 2: Discover how to tell the time with the sun and your hands as a family

What if you could tell the time outdoors, without a watch or a phone? With a little practice, your hands and the position of the sun are all you need to estimate the time accurately. Learn this simple technique for telling the time using the sun, a perfect trick for adventurers and those curious about nature.

Equipment:
- Both hands
- A clear view

Duration and number of people:5 min / 1 person

Step 1: find an open spot and stand facing the sun. Take advantage of this moment to admire the nature around you!

Step 2: position the palm of your hand so that it is facing you, fingers together, with the bottom of your little finger on the horizon. This is an excellent way of connecting with the elements.

Step 3: place your hands one on top of the other until you reach the sun. Watch how the shadows change – it's fascinating!

Step 4: count the number of hands and fingers you use between the horizon and the sun. Each finger represents 15 minutes. You can even have a competition with friends to see who can find the exact time the fastest!

Activity 3: Make water drinkable on a walk

Equipment:
- A plastic bottle
- Scissors
- Gravel
- Sand
- Charcoal
- A piece of cloth

Duration and number of people: 1 hour / 2 people

Always carry out this activity with an adult. Do not drink the filtered water if you have any doubts.

Step 1:cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle. This opening will be used to pour the water into the filter.

Step 2: place the bottle upside down and put in the piece of cloth, a layer of charcoal, a layer of sand and a layer of gravel, in that order. These different layers help to catch the impurities from the water.

Step 3: pour water into the top of the bottle and wait for it to pass through. Collect it in a container, and it will flow out gradually, having been partially purified at each stage.

Step 4: Collect the flowing water in a clean container. For even more effective filtration, don't hesitate to repeat the process, filtering the water several times until it is as clear as possible.

Activity 4: Build a water mill

Turn your outdoor day into a creative and educational project for your children by building your own water mill! This fun and educational hands-on activity that teaches you about the principles of water power while you have a great time with your family and friends.

Equipment:
- A round cheese box lid
- A wooden crate
- A wooden spade
- A saw
- Glue
- Two Y-shaped branches of equal size

Duration and number of people:45 min / 2 people, including one adult

Step 1:start by cutting the wooden crate to create eight strips. Make a small notch at the base of each strip to make it easier to join them to the lid of the cheese box. These strips will form the blades of the mill.

Step 2: make a hole in the centre of the cheese box lid that is large enough to slide the wooden spade through. This will act as the axis of rotation for the mill.

Step 3: Insert and glue the strips onto the lid of the cheese box, spacing them evenly. They must be positioned so that they catch the flow and turn easily when the mill is placed in the current.

Step 4: use the two Y-shaped branches as stands to hold the windmill at the surface. Place it in the river, making sure the water is deep enough to push the strips. Watch in amazement as the windmill begins to turn under the effect of the current!

Activity 5: do a photo safari and share the images on Instagram

Add some creativity to your hike by doing a photo safari and sharing the photos on Instagram! This fun and friendly game invites you to capture the beauty of nature while sharing unique moments with your friends or family.

Equipment:
- Sheets of card
- A pencil
- Scissors
- A box cutter
- A smartphone

Duration and number of people: 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how much time you want to devote to it during your day out. 1 or more (the more the merrier!)

Step 1: start by cutting out words for objects or colours to be found during the hike. For example: fir, bark, bird, blue, green, grey, etc. You can also include challenges such as ‘an animal in motion’ or ‘an interesting shape’.

Step 2: distribute the cards to the participants. Everyone must now look out for things corresponding to the words or colours on their card during the hike.

Step 3: when a participant spots an object or colour on their card, they must take a photo using the cut-out on their card. This will give a unique effect to each image, making them even more attractive for Instagram. Don't forget to capture fun, spontaneous moments!

Step 4: reward the most beautiful photos and the most liked photos on Instagram.

Activity 6: Make a daisy chain

Create your own flower wreath in just a few simple steps and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature during your walks! This craft activity is ideal for having fun on your own or with a group while connecting with the environment.

Equipment:Daisies (or any other flower with long, flexible stems, as long as it's not a protected species).

Duration and number of people:10 min / 1 person (but it's also fun to do as a two!)

Step 1: start by picking some daisies, taking care to keep the stems long enough. This will make it easier to make your chain and fix it in place. Make sure you pick the flowers in an unprotected place and in reasonable quantities.

Step 2: take a daisy and tie it around the stem of another daisy. Make sure the knot is tight enough to hold the flowers together. This step is crucial if you want to have a strong chain.

Step 3: bring the two stems together and add a new daisy, tying it in the same way. Continue adding flowers by tying them together until you reach the length you want. To finish, close the chain by slipping the remaining stems into those of the first daisies, creating a pretty circular shape.

Activity 7: Play detective with animal footprints

Turn your hike into a real detective adventure with this exciting game that will stimulate observation and team spirit! Get ready to explore nature while learning to identify animal prints with your children.

Equipment:
- A footprint finder (download below)

Duration and number of people: activity goes on throughout the hike / 1 person minimum.

Step 1: keep an eye out for animal tracks on the ground or in the snow. Encourage each participant to be aware of their surroundings, paying attention to details such as the size, shape and arrangement of the footprints. This can also be an opportunity to talk about the animals you might come across in the area.

Step 2: as soon as a footprint is found, take out the footprint finder and look for the corresponding footprint in the guide. This will not only verify the identity of the animal, but also provide interesting facts about it. Encourage participants to take notes on the prints they find or to draw them in a notebook!

Step 3: at the end of the hike, get together to count the number of footprints everyone has found. The person who finds the most footprints is declared the day's “super detective” and gets a reward, such as a badge or a home-made certificate.

Activity 8: Find treasures with geocaching

Your walk becomes a real treasure hunt with geocaching! This exciting activity combines adventure, technology and exploration. Whether you're with family, friends or even on your own, geocaching offers an enriching and fun experience for all ages of your children.

Equipment:
- A smartphone
- The geocaching app (download below)
- A pencil or pen

Duration and number of people:30 min–1 hour / 1 person minimum

Step 1: connect to the geocaching app and browse the caches available near your location. The app will show you a map with clues to the location of the treasures to be discovered. Choose a cache that looks interesting!

Step 2: each cache usually has a riddle or clue that will lead you to the hidden object. Use your analytical and observational skills to solve the riddle. This may involve solving codes, finding coordinates, or interpreting clues hidden in the environment.

Step 3: once you've solved the riddle, set off in search of the hiding place. When you find it, carefully open the box and make a note of your visit on the piece of paper provided. It helps to keep track of visitors and share your experience with other geocachers. Then return the box to its original location so that others can enjoy it too.

Margaux

My Top 3 walks: Lac d'Anterne, the West Coast Trail and Vercors (but I can’t choose between them)! What I like: setting off on forgotten trails, old shepherd’s or postal trails. What I don't like: people who throw their litter in the forest.