During our 3 Steps Ahead summer program, Operation Xcel makes it a point to facilitate fun and educational field trips. One example is the trip to Hanging Rock State Park where our camp-goers got to tour the trails, learn from actual Park Rangers, and even become their own Junior Ranger! Hanging Rock Park even has a Junior Ranger event coming up soon, click here to find more information and register for your family's own Junior Ranger Hike!
Going on trips like these into the wilderness can be grounding when life feels sideways. Plus it's a perfect opportunity to having a teaching moment while simply enjoying time together with the kids. There are plenty of resources and activity sheets/ideas on the site, TeachersPayTeachers, that can help make the excursion easier on you! This site offers plenty of free options as well as paid, don't feel like you absolutely MUST pay to find helpful and fun activities. Beyond this, there are plenty of teachable resources from the Hanging Rock State Park site, with pdfs and downloadable resources. Since June is National Safety Month, we can go over some of the more important tips. There are many considerations that go into picking the perfect day to visit Hanging Rock or any park, let's highlight some of the safety aspects to keep in mind.
Safety Tips for the WILDERNESS!
First Aid is of upmost importance regardless of what you're doing or where you're at. It's important to carry a first aid kit with you every time you go for a trail hike. Things can happen, like a slip or a cut, within seconds and we absolutely MUST expect the unexpected when in the wild. Hanging Rock conveniently has a class for FIRST AID & Outdoor Safety!
Ticks, Mosquitoes, & Biting Bugs are always around during the warmer months (April - September). Based on the CDC guidelines, you should always keep in mind where ticks live; oftentimes ticks will choose to stay in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Wear treated clothes with products containing 0.5% permethrin. More information about insect repellents and how to find the best one for your needs can be found at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) registered insect repellent list! Be sure to always be thorough when checking for ticks during bath time as well. If a tick HAS buried its head in your skin, DON'T USE TWEEZERS, just cover the tick with Vaseline or some kind of thick cream over it. The tick will back out on it's own, even bugs need to breathe!
Animal Encounters are unavoidable in the woods, or at a park. There's not a high chance of seeing anything dangerous up close (beyond the small insect annoyances) and you should know what to do when you eventually do come across wildlife. With any snake, it's highly suggested to avoid them point blank. If you do end up bit, step one is to get to a safe area, mark the time, and call 911. Review the Snakebite Foundation's page on "How to Survive a Snakebite in the Wilderness" for more thorough guides.
- Losing Your Direction isn't hard when you walk off the trails. Occasionally even when your ON the trails you can get turned around. The first thing to do is STOP moving and SIT down to get your bearings. Loss of mental control is more serious than lack of food, water, clothing or possible proximity of wild animals. Look around for landmarks, continue to stay where you are and don't go anywhere unless you have a plan behind it. For more information please visit the Forest Service site, "Know Before You Go" and "If You Get Lost" articles!
Keeping these fresh in your mind before and during your Park trip will make sure everyone with you is safe. Some things can't be avoided, like contact with mosquitoes and ticks, and other things we can prepare ourselves for just in case! Good overall guidelines for park playdates is to wear breathable clothes, use insect repellent, keep hydrated, wear sturdy boots, and stick to the trails when hiking. Operation Xcel's 3 Steps Ahead program offers plenty of space and energy for the kids to explore the outdoors, including all the natural wonders Earth has to offer. Hanging Rock Park is not the only field trip we have, we also have went to see a Grasshoppers game, and tend to go to the pool each Friday! Don't forget to enroll, we are STILL ACCEPTING CAMPERS! Click me to enroll your child(ren) now!
