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Guide to Backpacking With Children in Uganda:

Backpacking with children is quite a good way for kids to learn about the outdoors and develop independence and responsibility but it can be a challenge. It is also just a great way to have fun, that is, as long as you plan well. Here are four tips to help you out.

1. Generate Interest

Trying to generate some interest first is a good idea. Forcing uninterested children to go backpacking is probably a bad idea because they are likely to resist, cause problems, and ruin the trip for all. A couple good outdoor movies can help a lot.

Try to find movies with characters who are the same age or a little older than your children. After watching them, suggest the idea of backpacking and gauge the response.

Try a camp-out in the back yard first if you are not sure that your children are old enough for backpacking. Let them help set up the tent and see how well they make it through the night, and try your best to make the experience fun for them.

2. Have the Children Plan with You

Let the children help in packing. The more the kids are involved in the whole process, the better. Let them help in choosing the trails you will hike, but narrow the options ahead of time to those most appropriate. Allow them to suggest what foods to bring, again, narrowing their options to meals that make sense for a backpacking trip. Help showing them how to use a map, and how to judge daily hiking distances.

3. Give Them Responsibilities

Have the children set up the tent or make the fire if they are old enough. If they are younger, you might have them collect sticks to burn, or prepare their sleeping pad and bag for the night. Give them things that they can handle, and let them know they are doing a good job.

When backpacking with children, it's okay to let them get a little ahead of you if there are no dangerous animals in the area. As long as you can hear them or quickly catch up, let them be out of sight just a bit. Don’t forget to tell the older children that they are responsible for keeping an eye on the younger ones.

4. Bring Fun Items

Most of the adults love the opportunity to get away from all the things of home, and can sit talking for hours while watching the sun set. Backpacking with children, though, might require some more entertainment. Bringing a movie player is probably a bad idea, Since the idea is to have a new and different experience, bringing a movie player is probably a bad idea. Otherwise, there are things that are fun and perfectly appropriate to backpacking.

For example, one pair of binoculars is enough and can keep young ones entertained for long stretches so that they may learn how to share. If they are old enough, a pocket knife and a quick lesson on how to make a walking stick might be a good idea. For evenings in camp a deck of cards is small enough to bring, and you can teach them a new game each night.

Lastly, make sure that when backpacking with children you teach them the rules of the woods. Show them where and how to go to the bathroom, what is allowed and what is not allowed. Remember to teach them to respect the wilderness and treat it right.