I have always believed that kids belong outside. As an avid hiker who raised my own children on outdoor adventures, I have carried that tradition into grandparenting. Hiking and exploring with my grandkids has become one of my favorite ways to spend time with them, wherever they happen to live.
But this particular adventure began when one of my granddaughters was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, not far from several Natural Lands preserves. When I was invited to spend every Friday with her, naturally, I devised a plan.
At first, our Friday adventures were walks on rail trails and running paths where I could push her in a running stroller. Once she had strong neck control, at around seven months old, we graduated to hiking. It was November. Bundled into a cozy snowsuit and hat, she would settle into the hiking pack, snuggle against my back, and often sleep while I explored.
Those early hikes took us around southeastern Pennsylvania, including two Natural Lands preserves, Stroud and ChesLen. Then I discovered Natural Lands’ Find Yourself Outside challenge, and our Friday walks suddenly had a bigger goal.
The Hiking Goal Grew
We started visiting the preserves within about 40 minutes of her Chester County home. As she grew, every outing became a combination of walking, riding, stopping, looking, and investigating.
Then her baby sister joined our Friday adventures, and I realized something: we needed to start again!
By then, we had already walked most of the Natural Lands trails closest to their home. But if the Find Yourself Outside challenge was going to belong to both girls, we were going back to the beginning. And I am so glad that we did!
Learning to Love the Outdoors
From the beginning, I asked the same simple questions:
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
I still ask them (and all of my other grandkids). It is one way to teach them that hiking is not just about the walk. It is about falling in love with all of creation.
Sometimes we hike quietly, listening for birds, water, wind, or movement in the leaves. Sometimes we hike in nonstop conversation (with giggles). We make room for both.
Today, the girls carry their own backpacks with binoculars, magnifying glasses, water, and snacks. They understand Leave No Trace principles and know that a trail is a living place. We take what does not belong there (trash) and leave behind everything else. We are visitors, one small part of a much bigger natural world, and our choices can set an example for those who come after us.
They have also learned that outdoor exploration does not have to look one particular way. It can mean running, romping, and playing hard. It can mean walking quietly and thinking. It can mean sitting still long enough to watch a butterfly, bird, or animal go about its own day. Because we hike year-round, they have watched the same landscapes change through every season.
Lessons learned on the trail are important lessons for life: patience, perseverance, self-control, caution, curiosity, respect and preparation. Sometimes, we fall down, get frustrated or grow tired. But most often, we discover natural beauty, learn new skills, enjoy time together and celebrate successes, big and small.
“I did it!” are three of the sweetest words, next to “I love you!”
Meet the Trail Crew
Since we are hikers, naturally, we have trail names.
The youngest girl actually named me first. When I arrived at their house on Thursday nights, she would yell “Bap-pap! Bap-pap!” because she knew the backpack meant we were hiking the next day. So Backpack I became.
After I shared stories from my Appalachian Trail hikes and explained the tradition of trail names, the girls needed names of their own. Arctic Fox is perpetually searching for her namesake. We have spotted plenty of red foxes in Pennsylvania, but strangely, no white Arctic foxes. Could our temperate climate possibly have something to do with that?
Muddy Girl requires considerably less explanation. If there is mud, she will find it. Whether she wants to find it or not!
1 Big Adventure, 20 Locations
Together, we completed the Find Yourself Outside Challenge. This blog post series is our look back at the places we explored: what makes each Natural Lands property special, what families should know before heading out, the trails we hiked, the wildlife and landscapes worth slowing down to notice, and, most importantly, what Arctic Fox and Muddy Girl thought of each adventure.
Their reviews may not always focus on the things an adult hiking guide would consider important. There will be favorite bridges, rocks, mud, streams, snacks, and places to run. There will also be complaints. Mostly about bugs. It is always the bugs.
But that is part of the point. Kids do not need every hike to be epic. They need opportunities to be outside often enough that nature becomes familiar, interesting, challenging, fun, and worth protecting.
So grab the binoculars, pack the snacks, and come along. We are heading outside.
About Natural Lands
Natural Lands is a nonprofit organization that preserves open space, cares for nature, and connects people to the outdoors throughout eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.
The organization manages more than 40 nature preserves and one public garden, totaling more than 23,000 acres across two states and 13 counties. The properties protect forests, meadows, wetlands, streams and wildlife habitat while providing free, year-round access for hiking, nature study and outdoor exploration.
That combination of conservation and public access is part of what makes these preserves such wonderful places to explore with kids. We aren’t simply finding another place to hike. Each visit gives us an opportunity to experience and learn about a natural landscape that has been intentionally protected.
Want to explore one yourself? Find preserves, trails, maps and visitor information through Natural Lands’ Places to Visit.
P.S. Want to support their work? Natural Lands members, volunteers, and donors help protect and care for these preserves for future generations.
Read Our Find Yourself Outside Challenge Reviews Below
Find Yourself Outside: Natural Lands’ Stroud Preserve
Four seasons, two growing granddaughters and miles of trails: discover Stroud Preserve through our Natural Lands Find Yourself Outside adventure.