August Environmental
Education Topic:
Hiking Seattle Parks
Step beyond the playgrounds and onto the hiking trails in Seattle's Parks. You will find lush vegetation, spider webs, slugs, and birds. These wild areas encourage multi-sensory exploration. Take time for observation, stop frequently, touch, smell, and listen.
Hikes may take you along Puget Sound or Lake Washington, through dense forest, and to beautiful lookouts.For Seattle hiking trail and park information visit www.cityofseattle.net/parks/search_byfeature.asp?ftr=58&searchSUBMIT=Go%21
Hiking Tips and Activities
Scavenger Hunt
What is fun to search for while hiking? Insects, the tallest tree, scat, berries, bigfoot. Giving kids something to focus on beyond the physical action of hiking will help involve them with the surrounding environment. Make a list for the kids ahead of time or simply read off the scavenger hunt questions before the hike begins.
Tick Check
This game can be especially usefull during a longer hike. A clothespin is called the 'tick'. The person starting pins the tick on another person. If that person finds the tick, they can take it off and pin it on someone else. Like hot potato, the object is to not have a tick on you when a counselor calls out "Tick check!". The person caught with the tick begins the game again. Ticks stow away on deer and seeds can stow away in our socks. Though ticks do live in the Pacific Northwest, it is important to reassure the students that they are unlikely to be found in Seattle Parks. That is why the game is played with a clothespin and not a real tick.
Stop and Listen
Ask the group to stop in silence and hold up a finger every time they hear a bird. How many were heard? Many birds or just several singing many songs?
Stalking
Can you walk without making a sound? Try rolling weight onto your foot gently. Find more information about quiet walking on: http://wikihow.com/Walk-Quietly-in-a-Forest
In an open spot near the trail you can play a stalking game. One person is "it' and is blindfolded. They have a rock or stick at their feet. Everyone else tries to creep silently toward the person and steal the object. If you are heard and pointed at by the blindfolded person, you must return to the periphery where you began.
Leave No Trace
Teach your kids about the Leave No Trace ethic. While hiking treat the environment with the respect you would expect in your own home. Be careful not to leave trash and to pick it up after others. More information can be found on: http://www.lnt.org/programs/frontcountry.php
Volunteer
Seattle Parks and Recreation Department has plenty of volunteer opportunities to keep our parks clean and healthy. From litter pick-up to reforestation work parties kids can get involved with rewarding community service, learn new skills, and spend time in nature. Find more information on: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/volunteers/default.htm and for information about Seattle's Spring Clean see: http://www.Seattle.gov/UTIL/Services/Garbage/KeepSeattleClean/Sping_Clean/index.asp
