What's in Your Backpack?

What's In Your Backpack?

When taking your crew out on a hike there are a lot of things to remember.  Are you remembering all of the things you might need?  I put together this checklist to help you make sure you have all the essentials covered. Then you can relax and just focus on having a great hike! 

Some items that might make up your first aid gear on a hike. 

The Basics:

• Water, water, water 

• healthy snacks to refuel when energy gets low

• sunscreen

• bug spray

• bandaids

• antibiotic gel, like Neosporin

• Tweezers, tick key, needle-nose pliers... some tick-removing tool

• Maps, apps, compass, don't get lost! 

• Watch the weather. You might want to bring rain gear including boots, raincoats or ponchos.

  

  The mob geocaching in the rain.

• hand sanitizer

• Children's pain reliever

• Benendryl

• fully charged cell phone

• Sun hat, visor, sunglasses

If you are hiking with a baby:

• bottles 

• extra water

• blanket(s), changing mat for diaper changes

• diapers, wipes, rash cream

• bug net if you have a stroller

• toys that can be attached to the side of the stroller or carrier

• if baby is too little for bug spray, dress your little one to cover as much skin as possible

• sun hat for warm, sunny weather

• extra hat and mittens in colder weather

• dress baby in layers

If you want to go the extra mile, you could also bring:

• change of clothes (My son is a puddle jumper! I have been grateful to have a change of clothes in the car more than once.)

• flip flops for the car (Sometimes after a long hike, the kiddies are glad to kick off their hiking shoes and socks and let those little piggies breathe!)

• Extra snacks for the ride home          

• animal track guide

• binoculars or magnifying glass

• Scavenger hunt checklist