From the beaches to the mountains, Southern California offers an incredible choice of outdoor activities and hikes for children. Los Angeles is no exception. From oceans, mountains, forests to deserts, L.A. is surrounded by natural terrain for kids to explore. With children's lives being so busy and sedentary, many parents are encouraging their kids to join children's hiking clubs to get them off of the video games and onto the mountains.
Building Bridges to the Outdoors
The Sierra Club and its Building Bridges to the Outdoors programs believes every child deserves outdoor experiences. To help widen children's horizons, expand their imaginations and improve their physical fitness, Sierra club helps form local hiking clubs through their Building Bridges to the Outdoors program. They work with local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of L.A., local schools and with their members to organize hikes and other outdoor activities for children who live in an urban environment. Contact Tiffany Saleh, California Youth Representative at (213) 387-6528, ext. 204 or email Tiffany.Saleh@SierraClub.org to learn more on organizing or joining a Children's hiking club in Los Angeles.
The Community Hiking Club
The Community Hiking Club is a community-based program located in Santa Clarita (just North of LA) and is dedicated to organizing hikes and education children about local trails and wilderness throughout Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange counties. This program was created to support the youth of Los Angeles County who are most in need. The Community Hiking Club was founded on the belief that kids who experience exercise in a natural setting may continue to enjoy these activities throughout their lives. They believe this is an ideal form of local recreation with benefits that will last a lifetime. To learn more visit CommunityHikingClub.org. This site provides information about upcoming hikes for children in the Los Angeles area.
The OC Hiking Club
The OC hiking club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting men, women and children out of the house and into California's wilderness through social hiking activities. They specialize in connecting "at risk" kids with nature. They are dedicated to helping abandoned /abused and disadvantaged youth get outdoors on social day hikes and specialize in helping children who are in foster care. To learn more, visit OC-hiking.com.
About The Author
Jamie Latta is a writer in Los Angeles with over five years of professional writing experience. Her recent editorial work has appeared in The Hollywood Weekly. She's also a screenwriter. Her teleplays have been produced on the Hallmark Channel. Latta is also a copywriter who has worked in print, web and radio.
