News for Families

Get the latest advice for hiking with kids, opportunities for getting out with your family, and hear from family experts in the WTA community.

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Every Kid in a Park Launches in Seattle

Sep 10, 2015

WTA helped launch the Every Kid in a Park program, a new national initiative to connect kids and their families with the trails, wildlife, and history on federal lands for free.

My 2,500 Mile Journey to Build Trails

Aug 24, 2015

Youth volunteer Elizabeth Hopmann traveled from Texas to participate in two youth volunteer vacations this summer. Read her perspective of the experience.

Two Kids, Three Months, 100 Miles of Backpacking: Part II

Jul 28, 2015

Lorelei Felchlin is an adventurous spirit, and she's fostering that same spirit in her kids by getting them outdoors as much as possible. Joey (9), Elissa (7), and Vivian (1) spend their time hiking, backpacking, rock climbing and caving, and now they have set a goal to backpack 100 miles this summer. WTA caught up with her to see how the project is going.

Two Kids, Three Months, 100 Miles of Backpacking

Jun 26, 2015

Trending: Kids and Teens Fix Up Trails

May 26, 2015

In April and May, WTA supported a record number of 449 trail maintenance experiences with kids and teens! In addition, we worked with a total of 15 school and community groups, some more than once.

Trail Work as Quality Family Time

May 20, 2015

Volunteering with your kids on trail can be a very rewarding experience. It instills in them a sense of responsibility, and helps them take pride in a job well done. WTA Board member Joe Gregg periodically volunteers with his kids and offered a few words of wisdom about the value of getting young ones into volunteering at a young age.

Seeking Creative, Determined Girls: Join a WTA Youth Volunteer Vacation Today

May 07, 2015

WTA's youth volunteer vacations are a great opportunity for girls to try something new, learn a new skill, and have a ton of fun in on some of Washington’s most beautiful trails this summer. Sign up solo and meet a whole crew of new friends, or bring a friend and have an adventure together.

Include Your Kids on Outdoor Adventures

Apr 01, 2015

Outdoor enthusiast and photographer Gabe Grayum firmly believes in the importance of immersing kids in the wild, and the ability of young hikers to tag along on grown-up adventures. Read his advice on how to include them, and check out WTA's family hiking resources, including advice from some of our trip reporters extrordinaire on how to adventure with your young ones.

Future Voters, Avid Hikers Prove Advocacy Is for Everyone

Mar 10, 2015

Meet Planet Granite, a club of high school students devoted to getting their peers outdoors and to protecting their favorite local trails in the North Cascades.

7 Science and History-Focused Hikes to Explore Under the 'Every Kid in a Park' Program

Apr 02, 2015

“Every Kid in a Park” is a call to action to get every child in America outside as the National Parks system approaches its 100th birthday in 2016

Advice for Outdoor Families

Jan 28, 2015

Erin Kirkland, outdoor parent and editor of the new Outdoor Families Magazine, shares tips keeping kids warm and happy on trail.

WTA's Youth Ambassadors Are Doing More Than Ever

Dec 17, 2014

Youth Ambassador Program, youth program, teen volunteers, opportunities for youth

Practice Your Navigation Skills ... In a Corn Maze

Oct 20, 2014

Turn a fun fall tradition into a great, safe way to practice navigation with your friends and kiddos. One farm lets you hike Washington's PCT route in their maze.

PROJECT WILD THING: Film Encourages Kids to Play Outside

Sep 10, 2014

Reconnecting kids with nature is one preventative measure for improving children’s health, and British documentarian David Bond is leading the charge with PROJECT WILD THING: a hilarious, real-life film of one man's determination to get children out and into the ultimate, free wonder-product: Nature.

Sir-Hikes-a-Lot: Thru-Hiking 1,200 Miles on the PNT for Kids

Aug 26, 2014

Meet hiking hero, Erik Antonelli (aka Sir-Hikes-a-Lot), who is currently in the middle of hiking 1,200 miles of the rough and rugged Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) to raise funds for WTA’s Youth Program. It's a project he's dubbed Thru-Hiking for Kids.

IslandWood CEO: Your Couch Is Far More Dangerous Than You Think

Jun 03, 2014

Do parents really need to fear animal attacks, abduction and accidents? After looking more deeply into the facts and figures of these perceived threats, IslandWood's president and CEO Ben Klasky raises the question of whether we do children more harm than good in trying to keep kids "safely" indoors.

Destination Darrington: Hike and Visit This Mountain Loop Hub

May 30, 2014

If you've been itching to get out on the gorgeous trails along the Mountain Loop Highway, now is the time to visit. A coalition of outdoor and recreation partners have made visiting the area around Darrington easy with a map guide to outdoor destinations and local businesses.

Hike, Backpack and Camp: Tips for Memorial Day Weekend

May 22, 2014

With Memorial Day weekend coming early this year, you might still be nailing down your hiking, camping and backpacking plans. Read out tips for exploring snow-free destinations and scoring last-minute camping spots.

Cape Disappointment Is No Disappointment

Apr 27, 2014

Mid-winter break brings adventure and exploration on the southwest Washington coast to one family.

Choosing the Right Hiking Boots for Your Kids

Mar 31, 2014

Selecting kids’ hiking gear is as much about fit and performance as it is matching their personality. We hit the trail with three little ones to hand-pick a selection of kids’ hiking boots: the Salomon XA Pro 2 K trail runners, Lowa Kody GTX Mid Kids and the Vasque Breeze 2.0 WP boots.

Slideshow: Bonding and Building Trails in a New Community

Mar 06, 2014

With help from WTA's gear lending library and mini-grants, a group of teens with the Coalition of Refugees from Burma gave back to Washington's trails and got to know each other better as they built a new section of trail on Cougar Mountain.

Sally Jewell Aims to Put Young People to Work on Public Lands

Jan 09, 2014

The Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, secures the first million towards an initiative aimed at putting 100,000 young people and veterans to work outdoors on conservation and stewardship of public lands.

Choose from 25 'First Day Hikes' in State Parks

Dec 18, 2014

Start your year with a hike outside. Washington State Parks are hosting guided First Day Hikes in 25 parks around the state on Jan 1. Choose one close to you, and spend your New Year's Day playing outdoors.

Starting Your Own Outdoor Traditions

Nov 29, 2013

The holiday season is rife with traditions. This year, include a hike in your annual plans -- or plan a year of adventures for 2014.

WTA and Youth: Our Favorite Moments on Trail in 2013

Dec 04, 2013

From youth leaders to volunteer crews to the launch of our brand new Outdoor Leadership Training program, celebrate some of the our favorite youth moments on trail this year.

Treats for Tots (and Older Kids, Too)

Dec 04, 2013

Stuck on what to get a certain young one for the holiday season? Get the budding outdoor enthusiasts in your life something on our list and you're sure to hear about how cool it is all next hiking season.

Keep Kiddos Warm On Winter Adventures

Nov 12, 2014

Around every corner of a winter hike is the opportunity to see Washington from a new perspective. Snowshoeing or cross country skiing are great ways to introduce little ones to the beauty of winter. Even if you don't have snowshoes or skis, there are plenty of options that remain snow-free year round, so you can get out without having to save up.

Teens Improve Trails Renamed for Jim Whittaker, Nawang Gombu

Oct 15, 2013

King County recently renamed two trails on Cougar Mountain in honor of Jim Whittaker and the late Nawang Gombu. Together, the newly named trails form a 3.2-mile loop. The very next day, WTA youth volunteer crews were working to improve the trails for hikers in years to come.

How To Get Your Disney Princess-Obsessed Kid Out Hiking

Sep 25, 2013

Do princesses hike? In Washington, they do. From Tiana to Merida, Ariel to Princess Leia, if your kid can't get enough of Disney princesses, then use our princess guide to Washington trails to get your little one out hiking.

Take a Scavenger Hunt

Sep 23, 2013

How do you keep kids connected to nature when school and sports activities compete for attention? Launch a scavenger hunt between soccer games in a city park! WTA's Hiker Scavenger hunt allows kids to look, listen, touch and explore their local environment - all in an hour.