Hello from Vegas! And anyone have advice for helping reluctant-hikers enjoy backpacking more?

[Vegan.Hiker]

I would look at some of the trip reports of @WasatchWill taking his kids. He seems to have a gift for making backpacking a really fun and kid-friendly.

He has tons of them but here’s one.
https://backcountrypost.com/threads/a-night-on-the-wedge.7582/

 

[Noun Sequitur]

My kids like geocaching. They get more excited when I say "let's go geocaching" instead of "let's go hiking". We also tried letterboxing last year with some success. Most letterbox locations seem to be urban, but hey... outside at least.

And +1 for spending one on one camping time with each kid.

 

[pstm13]

My kids like geocaching. They get more excited when I say "let's go geocaching" instead of "let's go hiking". We also tried letterboxing last year with some success. Most letterbox locations seem to be urban, but hey... outside at least.

And +1 for spending one on one camping time with each kid.

Good call. I think this is one of the best suggestions so far. Especially for the 8 to 12 year olds. My kids were obsessed with it. Just follow rules for public lands of course.

Also, the kid did love the wonky family videos from Apple iMovie at the end of the summer.

 

[Miya]

If this was covered in other posts sorry but my advise is the following:
-ignore there attitude and focus on the beauty yourself and express it (never say “why aren’t you enjoying this?”)
-quality gear (I buy it used and outfitted my daughter for $100) so they stay warm and dry in crappy weather and sleep well at night
-light pack (my wife and kids shove tones of their stuff in my pack)
-high reward low mile hikes 2-3 miles includes a number of great trails
-good food they enjoy with lots of sugar for energy
-incorporate there phone into it with GPS, weather, and photos and stuff (what awesome Instagram pics you will have!) but don’t tell them there will not be signal
-Positive female role models like this lady for the girls as they get older

View attachment 65001View attachment 65002View attachment 65003View attachment 65004
Text from my 11 yo daughter just after my original post

Awwww Dixie is my fave. She is the only thing i watch religiously!!
Great tips.

 

[Vegan.Hiker]

Awwww Dixie is my fave. She is the only thing i watch religiously!!
Great tips.

Yes! Dixie’s channel (Homemade Wanderlust) and Darwin’s (Darwin on the Trail) are my two favorite backpacking channels on YouTube. Very down to earth and inspirational people.

 

[Miya]

Yes! Dixie’s channel (Homemade Wanderlust) and Darwin’s (Darwin on the Trail) are my two favorite backpacking channels on YouTube. Very down to earth and inspirational people.

Haha I watch Darwin too!