Canadian adventurer Jim Baird shares 9 expert tips for taking a young family on hunting and fishing trips

#9  REAP THE BENEFITS

I believe young children who get to experience outdoor adventures develop faster both physically and mentally. They learn practical skills such as paddling, hauling wood and lighting fires, and in turn come to enjoy hard work. At the same time, they learn a lot about nature and develop a love of the outdoors, making their lives all the richer for it.

Due to a rare genetic syndrome, my older son, Wesley, has some considerable developmental challenges that prevent him from walking and talking. His therapists have often reiterated how spending time in nature is good for any child, but that it’s especially beneficial for children with disabilities. My wife and I can see how he loves our adventures, and we’ve seen him improve over time because of the outdoors. He’s become more engaged and aware of his surroundings, and he’s learned to sit up on his own, no doubt due to building up muscles from sitting in the canoe and around camp.

My youngest son, on the other hand, learned how to snowshoe at 16 months. By that age, he’d also learned to carry wood and put it on the fire all by himself. And don’t worry—since the age of one, he’s known that fire is hot, and to not get too close. His balance is also impressive for his age because of all the uneven ground he’s been navigating during our outings. The skills and knowledge he’s already acquiring as a small child will ultimately help him become self-reliant, and build his confidence in the process. From my experience, it’s amazing how little it takes to positively influence a child in the outdoors—and that alone makes family adventures into the wild more than worth it.

What’s on Jim Baird’s packing list for outdoor family adventures? See www.outdoorcanada.ca/familygear.  

Jim Baird’s new National Geographic TV show, Home In The Wild, follows his family’s active outdoor life.