Backpacking
By Shirley Hickman
Backpacking
is a culminating activity for older youngsters with a fair amount of outdoor experience. An ICO leader typically shepherds a small
group of youngsters 14 years old or older from day hikes to overnight car camping trips, and, finally, to backpacking trips
ranging in length from a few days to up to a week or more. This process may be spread over a year or over a several year
period.
Backpacking trips are most successful when working with no more than 7 to15 youngsters, for instance:
-
Members
of an after-school club
-
Students
in a classroom who self select as they experience day hikes and car camping
-
Students
attending a continuation school
Hiking
and camping with young adults in the backcountry takes lots of planning. When going to a high-altitude destination, above 9,000 ft, some preparation should be made for dealing with acclimatization, such as
high-altitude local day hikes. Everyone should carry their full pack on the local
hikes to determine what weight is realistic; the participants themselves can compare pack contents and determine, with guidance,
what is necessary. Leaders need to make sure the students are adequately hydrated before and during the trip.
Spending
a few days in the wilderness can be very challenging to youngsters, as well as to their teachers, so it is best to:
-
Work out
the logistics in their own setting, e.g., at their school
-
Plan
together the destination
-
Plan
together the transportation
-
Plan
together the menu and distribution of chores
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Who will
purchase the food?
-
Who will
pack the food?
-
Who will
prepare the food?
-
Who will
do the clean up?
-
How can REI
help outfit participants?
-
What
will the participants need to bring?
-
What
will the participants use to collect and disinfect water?
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