Hiking Honor (Adventurers)

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Learn the golden rules for a hike:
   • Never pull up living plants;
   • Do not remove any kind of sign or marker;
   • Stay out of properties marked "No Trespassing";
   • Ask permission before hiking on private property;
   • Do not litter;
   • Always hike accompanied;
   • Always carry water with you;
   • Wear appropriate footwear and clothing;
   • Observe and make marks along the way so you do not get lost;
   • Never cut down trees or branches;
   • Always walk on the left side of highways and roads.

   Answer: The golden rules of hiking are: 1) Never pull up living plants; 2) Do not remove signs or markers; 3) Stay out of areas marked "Do Not Enter"; 4) Ask permission before walking on private property; 5) Do not throw trash on the ground; 6) Always walk with someone; 7) Always carry water; 8) Wear proper shoes and clothes; 9) Watch and mark the trail so you don't get lost; 10) Never cut down trees or branches; 11) On highways and roads, always walk on the left side. — These rules protect nature and keep you safe during the hike.

2. Take a hike through nature, collecting interesting things such as:
   • A leaf (explain why you preferred it);
   • A feather (find out which bird it is from);
   • A stone (learn what type it is);
   • A seed (identify what plant it comes from);

   Answer: How to do it with an adult: 1) Go out for a hike and bring a small bag or box; 2) Pick up a leaf you think is pretty and say why you liked it (color, shape, or size); 3) Look for a feather on the ground and, with help, find out which bird it came from; 4) Choose a stone and see whether it is smooth, rough, or covered with little bumps to figure out its type; 5) Find a seed and, with the help of a book or the internet, find out which plant it came from. Keep everything to show later. — Collecting and observing helps the child get to know the plants, animals, and nature around them better.

3. Take another hike that ends at a place for a picnic and games.

   Answer: How to do it with an adult: 1) Choose a pretty and safe place for the hike; 2) Bring a snack, water, and a towel for the picnic; 3) Walk together following the golden rules; 4) At the end, sit down to eat the snack and rest; 5) Then play tag, hide-and-seek, or another outdoor game. Don't forget to pick up all the trash before you leave. — Walking, snacking, and playing together makes the outing fun and teaches you to take care of the place.

4. Take part in another hike, led by the Counselor of your Unit. During the outing, take part in an alphabet safari, where each participant writes down objects from nature, one for each letter of the alphabet. Example: a = acorn; b = bark; c = clover; d = dandelion; e = earth; f = feather; g = grass; h = honeycomb; ...... etc.

   Answer: How to do it with the Counselor: 1) Go on the hike with your Unit and bring paper and a pencil; 2) Along the way, look in nature for something that starts with each letter of the alphabet; 3) Write down what you find, such as a = anthill, b = bark, c = clover, d = dandelion, e = earth, f = feather, g = grass, h = herb; 4) Keep going until you complete as many letters as you can; 5) At the end, compare your list with your friends'. You can just observe and write things down, without needing to pull anything up. — The alphabet safari makes the hike more fun and helps you notice the details in nature.

5. Take a long hike with at least two rest stops. Along the route, there should be a need to cross at least one watercourse, jumping over the stones or wading through the middle of the river or stream.

   Answer: How to do it with an adult: 1) Plan a longer hike along a safe trail; 2) Bring water and a little snack; 3) Make at least two stops to rest and drink water; 4) When you reach a shallow river or stream, cross it carefully by stepping on the stones or wading through the water, always holding hands with the adult; 5) Keep going to the end of the trail. Wear sturdy shoes and never cross deep water or a strong current. — Resting at the stops and crossing the water carefully makes the adventure safe and exciting.

6. Prepare a written report about the hikes you took part in while completing the honor.

   Answer: How to do it with an adult: 1) Remember the hikes you went on; 2) On a sheet of paper, write or draw where you went, what you saw, and what you liked most; 3) Tell one interesting thing that happened on each outing; 4) Glue or draw the things you collected, like the leaf or the feather; 5) Show your work to the Counselor. You can ask an adult for help with the writing. — Writing about the hikes helps you keep the good memories and tell what you learned.