Hiking and Backpacking Tips
Hiking and backpacking tend to be very strenuous activities. The key to a successful outing is - of course - good planning. With proper planning an outing can become a very enjoyable and memorable event that the young men will cherish the rest of their lives, or without it many will be miserable, and will dislike such activities. Important factors to consider when planning a trip are:
- where (location you are going to)
- when (what time of year)
- age group (Straight Arrows to Challengers, or a mixture of age groups)
- training and physical fitness of participants
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Your training program should be dependent on the following elements: (1) location, (2) weather, (3) length of outing, and (4) age group.
Once you've determined elements 1-3, conduct a tailored training program for your age group(s) far enough in advance of the event to ensure comprehension and completion of minimum requirements for the participants. I recommend providing the following for the participants:
- a list of equipment (footwear, outer gear, tents, cooking, etc., list essential and nice to have separately)
- physical fitness training suggestions (legs and upper body conditioning such as running, bike riding, pushups, pullups, etc.)
- training schedule (what is to be covered during each session)
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Here are some suggestions that have worked for us:
- year-round requirements list
- seasonal modifications lists
(a) late Spring - early Fall
(b) late Fall - early Spring
- nice-to-have list
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List of articles on how to prepare for a backpacking trip:
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