We’ve consolidated some insider tips from the five Zilkha children on how they navigate the exciting (and many times daunting) adventure of the Outdoor Education World... 

Felix, 5-Year-Old

Survivor of a day-long Outdoor Education trip, but acts as though he’s been off the grid for much longer…

 

Safety Tip - Stay with your group! You need to have your emergency whistle on AND blow until the campers find you.  Don’t leave home without your whistle.

Food Necessity - Morning snacks, afternoon snacks and evening snacks.  Optimally stuffed with bacon (reportedly for protein), mango, watermelon and rice pudding.. (parent note - we have never sent him out of the house with rice pudding) 

Pro Tip - Don’t eat an apple on your camping trip or your loose teeth might fall out (parent note - Felix has several loose teeth right now. Take this tip with a grain of salt)

Celine, 7-Year-Old

Survivor of three camping and hiking Outdoor Education trips

 

Safety Tip - Make sure you know how to put up your tent!! AND choose your tent mates wisely. (parent note - as Celine’s teacher said this year - choose your tent mates that you will be “successful” with when you are camping - words to live by in all areas of life!)

Food Necessity - Annie’s Organic Cheddar Bunnies and bottomless S'MORES (parent note - never enough s’mores) 

Must-Have Gear -  Pack a small pillow - NOT a blow up because it can pop.  

Pro Tip- Remember a journal! (parent note - the journal is a definite must have for kids of all ages to put their thoughts down in this limited time without screens. Always worth the space in the pack!)

 

Dov, 10-Year-Old

Survivor of six hiking, camping and mountain biking Outdoor Education trips

 

Safety Tip -  Don’t go over your limit so you don't get hurt.  When biking - don’t go off every jump you see (parent note - I’m not sure Dov listens to his own advice).  Don’t push yourself past your ability zone - it’s not the place to try something new!

Noted Sage Advice - “If something seems unsafe and you’re next to a big cliff - you should probably walk your bike”

Food Necessity - Energy bars that are lower in sugar and high in protein. Not super sweet. (parent note - Dov packs Kind bars and puts NUUN tablets in his water bottle).  

Must-Have Gear - Sleeping Mat!! You need the accordion style instead of the inflatable style.  (parent note- The inflatables are almost always impossible to repack and accordion clips to the base of most hiking backpacks)

Pro Tip - Pack a lot of socks! Because your socks get dirty and you can’t clean them. Wool socks are best and don’t smell as bad (parent note - we still think they smell bad…)

 

Brock, 13-Year-Old 

Survivor of multiple mountain biking, hiking and rock climbing
Outdoor Education trips

 

Safety Tip -  Always use your headlight in the dark and have it close to you before the sun starts to set. Never keep snacks in your tent or under your pillow - bears are too smart… 

Food Necessity- For snacks, the little single packets of Nutella and prepackaged crepes.  They don’t go bad and the sugar in the Nutella keeps me hiking.  

Must-Have Gear - Bring outdoor sunglasses similar to mountain biking glasses.  Especially in high altitude and lots of Chapstick with SPF especially when in any dry climate (parent note - my kids have returned a few times too many with burnt and peeling lips, but perfectly fine faces thanks to the norm of applying sunscreen, but the atypical necessity of chapstick)

Pro Tip - Bring a cup with a screw top that you can attach to the front of your backpack with a carabiner so you can put snacks in it.  That way while you’re hiking you don’t have to access your backpack for food (parent note - he managed to fit a lot of Nutella crepes in his cup. Not the worst idea ever…) Bring MANY carabiners to clip things to your backpack. I swear that my stuff grows overnight and I use them for the overflow of items. They’ve been known to even haul wet socks…. 

 

Ollie, 15-Year-Old

Survivor of hiking, rock climbing and a multi-week Outdoor Education trip which included a required 24 hours of solo camping

 

Safety Tip - Share with someone who has more experience than you! Don’t underestimate teaming up with people who know more than you! Make sure you have a plan for if you get separated from the group and ALWAYS have your safety whistle on you. 

Food Necessity -  Peanut butter is a must and in large quantities. It makes almost any camp meal or snack edible.   

Must-Have Gear - Hiking boots that are broken in.  And wool socks to go along with them. 

Pro Tip - Have your backpack fitted for you at an outdoor retailer. AND you must break in your hiking backpack before you leave.  Nothing worse than having a backpack that feels like a boulder on your back!

(parent note - When we moved to Colorado Ollie had a five-day long Outdoor Education trip right as we arrived and they had never camped a day alone in their life. Ollie prepped by walking at an incline on a treadmill with rocks in their hiking backpack and wearing their new hiking shoes. I can’t say that Ollie loved that exercise, but it did help them prepare for the long days of hiking and camping that followed. And they actually enjoyed it!)