Bird Watching
Through the use of digital cameras, hike leaders and young hikers can photograph birds in their natural environment and share and discuss the pictures upon returning to camp. Each girl can also snap pictures with her own inexpensive disposable camera to take home as a souvenir. The girls should be equipped with bird-watching field guides and pairs of binoculars.
Animal Tracking
Tracking animals can be fun and challenging.
Tracking animals based on footprints and other telltale signs is, according to Crosswalk.com, an "uncommon skill," but it can be a lot of fun for young campers. Begin by finding a set of animal tracks. The girls can use an animal track field guide to identify the footprints, and then attempt to discern the age of the tracks based on print definition and surrounding debris, determine the path of the animal by looking for clues like broken branches, crushed leaves or animal droppings, and discuss why the animal was headed in that direction (for example, toward the lake for water or running from a predator).
Sketch Hike
A sketch hike provides an afternoon of nature observation and art. Each girl should bring along a sketch pad and colored pencils. Hike to a specific place like a forest clearing, a river or a waterfall and have the girls sketch the nature around them. Move on to a few more locations for more sketching, then return to camp for an art show and discussion.
Terrarium Building
A lasting reminder of the terrarium-building hike.
Take the girls on a hike with the intention of bringing home a bit of nature to nurture, suggests StormtheCastle.com. Before the hike begins, each camper should be equipped with a small glass or plastic terrarium (leave this at camp), shoebox, pencil and notepad. Somewhere along the hike, each girl locates a plant that she wishes to transplant into her terrarium. She also gathers items from the plant's environment like soil, twigs or rocks. On returning to camp, each girl re-creates the environment of her chosen plant in a terrarium. She can then take it home and nurture her tiny ecosystem.
Blind Hike
A blind hike is a great way for girls to bond with each other and learn about nature by methods other than visual observation. Divide the girls into pairs. While one girl is blindfolded, the other girl leads her along the trail, guiding her to step over rocks and around steep dips, and describing the environment. As one girl describes the surrounding nature, the blindfolded girl listens and touches. On the return hike, have the girls switch places.
