Outdoor

Activity Details

Time needed: 20–30 minutes

Materials needed:

• None

Setup: Outdoor adventures can make our hearts sing and our feet want to dance. But you can’t just head out on the trail without some planning. In this activity, you’ll use the video and steps below to help you plan an exciting outdoor adventure.

Activity:  

1.  Planning an outdoor adventure is half the fun! Watch this video to learn ten essential things you should put into your adventure pack. Then find a comfortable backpack and see which of these items you can find around the house to get yourself ready:

• Water bottle
• Warm clothing that you can take on and off if the temperature changes (sweatshirt, jacket, long sleeved t-shirt)
• Tools (like a walking stick or whistle)
• Flashlight
• Trail map
• Compass
• Towel or blanket
• Firestarter or matches
• Snacks
• Sun and bug protection

2. Now, decide what kind of hike you’re interested in. Here are some ideas:

• Night hike: Watch the stars, hear the sounds of the night, explore night creatures.
• Owl hike: Go on an owl prowl using flashlights.
• Woods hike: Hike in a forest or woodsy area.
• Beach hike: Hike on a trail along the ocean or on the sand.
• Heritage hike: Hike to a historic site in your town and learn about its history.
• Urban hike: Hike around the city or your community.
• Snow hike: Hike in snow.
• Rain hike: Hike after it rains. How does it change the hike?
• Senses hike: Hike with a buddy with one person blindfolded while the other leads. What do you see, hear, and smell?
• Penny hike: Flip a coin at each fork in the trail or sidewalk. Heads up, you go right. Tails, you go left.
• Photo hike: Take photos along your hike to tell a story.
• Color hike: Bring color chips (paint chips)

3. Now it’s time to make a plan. With your hiking companions, answer these questions to make a schedule and a plan:

• Where will you be hiking?
• What time of day is best for hiking in your area?
• Do you have a trail map? What trail will you be following?
• Will your hike cost anything?
• What games will you play as you hike? What songs will you sing?
• What's your hiking style? Will you take breaks? Do you need to be somewhere by a particular time? How fast will you hike?

Troop Leaders:  The instructions for all badge steps are available free of charge in your  Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit.

Girl Scouts at Home activities have been adapted from existing Girl Scout programming and optimized for use at home during a period of social distancing.

Adapted from Steps 1 and 2 of the Brownie Trail Adventure badge. Purchase the badge booklet to complete all requirements and earn the badge .