41
votes
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
As an active adult in the Boy Scouts of America, I would highly suggest that you find a local scout troop in your area and sign up. Not only will you be helping the troop in a number of ways, but it ...
- 809
39
votes
Two kids sharing a sleeping bag
Not a bad idea.
I happen to have a 5 and 3 year old. I can think of reasons for not letting them sleep in the same sleeping bag, but none of them are because it wouldn't work in theory. If your two ...
- 53.5k
27
votes
Accepted
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
Volunteer in Search and Rescue (SAR).
I just got certified through my state's Sheriff's Association as a volunteer search and rescuer. I went through a two-month-long class with an intense outdoor "...
- 386
22
votes
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
I don't know of any organization as you describe, but there certainly ways for adults to learn outdoorsmanship.
There are likely outdoor clubs in your area that run educational programs. Here in New ...
- 21.4k
18
votes
Accepted
What kind of baby carrier is best for use walking and climbing in the hills?
All our kids have been coming on hikes with us since they were newborns. We have two types of baby carrying hiking packs, two more snuggly baby carriers, and a variety of baby wraps.
The answer to ...
- 53.5k
15
votes
Can you safely use retired ropes for belaying children?
There is a little bit information out there (here), about falls of climbers heavier than normal which suggests (very roughly) almost a linear relationship between fall load (force) and body weight, ...
- 1,451
14
votes
Accepted
Hiking with kids - what are the right distances?
15 km (9.3 miles) is really long for the average 5 year old, especially when it's 65% longer and at higher altitude than what she's used to. This sounds like a bad idea to me.
You say you can carry ...
- 21.4k
14
votes
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
You could read the Boy Scout Handbook and the BSA Fieldbook to get a strong basic knowledge of scouting skills. You'll need to get hands on experience, but that doesn't require being in the back ...
- 376
14
votes
Accepted
Quick and easy winter shelter for kids to build
There are a few different styles of shelters that come to mind with differing levels of difficulty. A lot of it depends on if they will be making it to survive the night, or to survive for an ...
- 2,654
14
votes
How can I safely climb a glacial route with just a kid or one other person?
While children can be proficient mountaineers and well trained, there are things they likely cannot do and some additional risks they face. For example, children are more susceptible to hypothermia. ...
- 10.7k
14
votes
Accepted
Combining a Frontpack with a Backpack while hiking
All conventional backpacks are unbalanced
Here's the problem with conventional backpacks - they are inherently unbalanced. So once you are carrying any kind of non-trivial weight, you have to lean ...
- 11.7k
11
votes
What kind of baby carrier is best for use walking and climbing in the hills?
As a supplement to @ShemSeger's answer, NZ rucksack makers Aarn offer clip-on front pockets that help counterbalance the weight of a kid on your back if you're using a carrier with a waist-belt and ...
- 11.7k
11
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How can I safely climb a glacial route with just a kid or one other person?
There is a clear answer here: just don't do it!
Glacier rescue is challenging - you need to know the techniques and practice them seriously. And I can tell you from experience that a glacier rescue ...
- 11.7k
10
votes
Accepted
Is it too soon to go family hiking with an infant? Packing tips?
It's not strictly too soon. I have known plenty of people who camped with a nine month old in rougher conditions than you describe. It's too early if you are not in condition to carry a baby in ...
- 32.1k
10
votes
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
There's a lot of great answers here, and one answer touched on it, but I really wanted to emphasize the quality of the resources and classes available at REI. Classes are open to members and non-...
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9
votes
Can you safely use retired ropes for belaying children?
This is a really difficult question to answer in the abstract. The UIAA claims that
Ageing caused only by storage can almost be neglected compared with ageing during use. This also ...
- 10.7k
9
votes
Is it too soon to go family hiking with an infant? Packing tips?
Carrying all the gear won't be easy. Whoever has the baby will probably only be able to carry one day's worth of baby stuff and nothing else. Either you get a rucksack carrier as Russell suggested (I ...
- 26.1k
8
votes
Hiking with kids - what are the right distances?
If she is easily doing 10 km now, then a one shot of 15 km isn't unreasonable.
Yes it will be a challenge. You may have some tears toward the end.
Tips: Assuming typical alpine country, -- lots of ...
7
votes
Best rope for a rope swing
I have been doing quite a bit a research on rope as I am nearing the completion of my magnificent 40 foot tree swing project. in all that I have gathered from seemingly knowledgeable sources......
- 71
7
votes
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
http://www.outwardbound.org/ - has education programs for adults.
However, I think you're on the right track with just finding your local community in some online way. For example, you can learn a ...
- 171
7
votes
Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids?
The American Alpine Club and the Alpine Club of Canada each have local sections that offer regular skills courses in ropes, weather, orienteering (map, compass, GPS), climbing, mountaineering, ...
- 6,291
6
votes
Is it too soon to go family hiking with an infant? Packing tips?
Last month I camped with my then-nine-month-old son. This was his second time sleeping in a tent with us, the first time he was four months old.
It helps that my family, including our 7- and 9-year ...
- 307
6
votes
Combining a Frontpack with a Backpack while hiking
I have hauled a backpack and a baby in a front carrier, while also walking two dogs. I wouldn't "recommend" it to anyone, however, I will continue doing it, because it is my only practical option. I ...
- 10.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Games for kids in the great outdoors
Things we have enjoyed in the past as a family. These are not all "games", but I think they will help address the larger part of boredom.
Teach the kiddos all the things are you doing and let them ...
5
votes
Best rope for a rope swing
If you live anywhere near an ocean harbor, there's not a better rope for a swing than good old 3" halyard, double braided nylon (mooring lines for ships) Search the yard to find a pile of it coiled up ...
- 51
5
votes
Can you safely use retired ropes for belaying children?
My rule of thumb is, if you have to ask if something is still safe to use, the answer is always no.
We all try to minimize risk and maximize cost/benefit. When I was younger and had less disposable ...
- 30.3k
5
votes
Two kids sharing a sleeping bag
I'd probably wonder about the quality of sleep they will get. This depends a lot on the sleeping bag itself, how warm it is, if it comes with a zip, what the outer temperature is, etc., but also, on ...
- 221
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