Little Boots at Stonelick State Park

The trip to Stonelick State Park was a different one. First off, we arrived with a plan! Our family drove the the park before the hike would begin to make the "easter egg" hunt hike. E and I walked the trail backwards to hide easter eggs. We took pictures of each section so I would make sure I could pick them all up at the end (LNT and all!) Leave No Trace is a hard concept for a lot of people, but especially kids! The temptation to pick up a cool stick or rock is hard to resist. We wanted to make sure we did our part and walked the trail back afterwards to make sure we didn't miss any easter egg leftovers. This was it!! We were leading a hike! For those of you who have been reading since the beginning, you know we are amateurs. We enjoy hiking for sure, but are by no means experts. We look at these hikes as hikes with friends versus actually leading through the woods. Little Boots Hiking Club is a group for parents who enjoy hiking and taking their kids outside and targeted for kids 8 and under, but I would say the majority of the group was 4-6 with younger siblings. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to planning another event. There are already 2 in the words and the majority of the feedback from those who attended seemed like they enjoyed themselves!

E and I became the easter bunnies. To plan this amazing hiking idea for you, your friends, family, or your own hiking group this is what we did.

1. Open the easter eggs.

2. Fill them with LNT stickers (the most important guidelines of LNT put on stickers)

3. Invite your friends.

4. Go to a favorite trail and hide the eggs. (Take pictures so you remember, and stick to the trail as much as possible, again remember LNT).

5. Go on the easter hunt!

Our goal wasn't really to 'hide' the eggs as it was an opportunity to make a new friend. The kids were given a few stickers in their egg. At the end of the trial we huddled in a group before separating and the kids were given the chance to keep a sticker and give the others away and make a friend!

It was a fun way for the kids to make a friend and to share more LNT guidelines with the stickers too! One of the activities that we also did on this trail was end at an easter basket and inside were some things for the kids to enjoy. It held a notebook and a brown and green crayon for each kid!

Why brown and green? I will give you two guesses!

Overall, it was a short but successful first hike for the Little Boots Hiking Club. A small group continued forward on the next mile long trail. A group headed back to return to the beginning (and the parking lot). Another group (including us) went part of the way on the mile long trail and ended up turning around. It was a really fun time and I can't wait to plan for more events!

Also... someone stole my phone and took a selfie. So he gets posted everywhere I go, it's only fair! I can't wait for the next... 

#guentheradventures