Top Books for Hiking with Kids in the West Kootenays
WalkingtheWestKootenays- Jun 7, 2024
- 7 min read
Here is a peek into our personal collection of outdoor books. Listed below are some of our hiking and walking family favourites. These books are a mix of child friendly hiking and nature study, trail guides, wilderness skills and plant identification. We’ve used them all and we highly recommend adding them to your home library. Underlined titles, when clicked, will open a new tab where you can view the book in more detail.
Throughout human history plants have provided us with food, clothing, medicine and shelter. Canada is a huge country with diverse habitats that are home to an incredible diversity of plant species that have helped native peoples and early settlers survive through the centuries. This book describes nearly 600 common trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns, mosses and lichens that have been used by people from ancient times to the present.
Nancy Turner describes more than 150 plants traditionally harvested and eaten by First Peoples east of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia and northern Washington. Each description includes information on where to find the plant and a discussion on traditional methods of harvesting and preparation.
Pacific Northwest Foraging: 120 Wild and Flavorful Edibles from Alaska Blueberries to Wild Hazelnuts
Douglas Deur, a lifetime Northwest forager and specialist in Native American plant traditions, shares his insights and experiences, showing you what to look for, when and where to look, and how to gather in a responsible way.
A seasonal guide for foraging year-round, detailed information for safe identification, suggestions for sustainable harvesting and tips on preparation and use
In Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants, Scott Kloos is your trusted guide to finding, identifying, harvesting, and using 120 of the region’s most powerful wild plants. You’ll learn how to safely and ethically forage, and how to use wild plants in herbal medicines including teas, tinctures, and salves. Plant profiles include color photographs, identification tips, medicinal uses and herbal preparations, and harvesting suggestions. Lists of what to forage for each season makes the guide useful year-round. Thorough, comprehensive, & safe, this is a must-have for foragers, naturalists, & herbalists in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, & northern California.
See the world in a whole new way! Acclaimed illustrator Julia Rothman combines art and science in this exciting and educational guide to the structure, function, and personality of the natural world. Explore the anatomy of a jellyfish, the inside of a volcano, monarch butterfly migration, how sunsets work, and much more. Rothman’s whimsical illustrations are paired with interactive activities that encourage curiosity and inspire you to look more closely at the world.
Plants of Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia
Over 675 species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and lichens commonly found in the region from the crest of the Rockies to the Coast Mountains, including the interior of Washington and Idaho. Detailed species descriptions are combined with concise drawings and color photographs to make plant identification easy.
More than 250 bird species are included in this handy guide to the birds of Interior BC and the Rockies. The region covered runs from the east slopes of the Coast Mountains to the Rockies, including the Okanagan, Thompson, Kootenays, Cariboo-Chilcotin; Jasper, Banff and Waterton national parks; and Highway 16 west from Jasper to Smithers. Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies is aimed at beginner and intermediate birders who wish to identify the birds they regularly spot in this area. However, the book will also appeal to more experienced local and visiting birders who want to learn more about the behaviour, habitat and seasonal occurrence of local birds. Packed with useful information, this handy, portable guide tells you how to identify local birds, find out where they live and what they eat, how to attract birds to your yard and how to select a pair of binoculars. Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies features
colour coding by species,a checklist to record your sightings, 400+ full-colour photos,a compact, easy-to-carry size, insights from expert birders.
The ultimate resource for experiencing the backcountry! Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. Based on the 5Cs of Survivability--cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, & cordages--this valuable guide offers only the most important survival skills to help you craft resources from your surroundings & truly experience the beauty & thrill of the wilderness. You'll also discover detailed information on: Choosing the right items for your kit, manufacturing needed tools & supplies, collecting & cooking food & protecting yourself from the elements.
Fun, informative and practical introduction to safely foraging with kids, from the UK's bestselling foraging author.
In today’s world of increasingly sedentary lifestyles and a growing detachment from the food that we eat, it has never been more important to encourage children to put down their screens, get outside and engage with the natural world around them. Foraging with Kids is a fun, practical book for parents to work through with their children that encourages families to interact with their environment and gain knowledge and practical understanding of the natural world through exploration and play. The projects are based around 50 easy-to-identify plants that are abundant in parks, forests and hedgerows worldwide, making the challenge of discovering functional flora just as achievable to those who live in the city as in the countryside. Once they have foraged their plants, children will be amazed by the diverse practical uses that they can set them to; from making soap from conkers or setting a delicious egg-free custard with plantain, to stopping minor cuts from bleeding with hedge woundwort. Children will take great pride in seeing their gatherings forming part of the family meal and parents will be amazed at how even the most vegetable-averse child will develop an enthusiastic appetite for a meal that they have contributed to. Illustrated throughout with beautiful hand drawings and with essential information on plant facts and identification, as well as a diverse range of engaging, practical projects that the whole family will want to get involved with, this is the perfect book for anyone who wants the children under their care to get outside, connect with nature and have a lot of fun in the process.
Hiking is a great way to relax, connect with nature, and enjoy time with your family. Bringing your kids along can be rewarding for you and for them, but it can also add new challenges and concerns to your trip. Get Your Kids Hiking is loaded with everything you need to know to hit the trail with kids; from gear to simple proven techniques that will make your hike safe and fun. Written with both the novice and the seasoned hiker in mind, Jeff Alt provides all the information you need to take your child out on the trail.
This books offers: Age-appropriate ways to include your child in all aspects of the hike. Checklists of what to pack for any type of hike. Kid-friendly menus. Advice for hiking with a child who has special needs. Get Your Kids Hiking is the playbook to inspire an appreciation for the great outdoors in your children and keep your young child or teenager interested in a family hiking trip.
5 stars this book is a fantastic read and reference
Down and Dirty Tips and Tricks for Families on the Trail
Published in partnership with the American Hiking Society, Families on Foot offers practical advice and engaging activities to make hiking even more fun for families. You'll find clever ideas and inspiration that apply to kids of all ages--from tackling diaper blowouts in the backcountry to using smartphone apps and GPS to engage teenagers with nature. Information for children with special needs and seniors also is included.
Author Jennifer Pharr Davis, the former record holder of the fastest thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, together with her husband Brew Davis, marries old-fashioned know-how on safety, preparation, and trail conservation with modern day activities and technology, inspirational and interactive games, and down-and-dirty fun on the trail. Information includes smart tactics for families with kids of a variety ages on the trail―from tackling diaper blowouts in the backcountry to getting teenagers engaged in nature with smartphone apps and GPS―and is inclusive of special needs children and senior adults.
Bear bags, wilderness showers, and telling the temperature by counting the cricket chirps...
Whether you're planning an over night in the backyard or a weekend in the wilderness, this book is packed with stuff to know. The basics, from gearing up to choosing a site to building a tarp tent. Tasty outdoor recipes: Solar Oven Pizza, Chow Down Chili and s'mores of course—with 8 variations.
Plus: how to keep a Field Journal, exploring the nighttime sky, creepy campfire stories, and when it's time to go home, leaving no trace. It's everything you need to pick up and head for the hills.
The ultimate family-friendly guide to foraging with kids.
Children are natural foragers — they love to get outside and search for hidden treasures. And once they get the foraging bug, there’s no turning back. Before you know it, they’ll be asking where they can find the sweetest summer berries or the best wild apple trees.
This
fun handbook includes information on finding 30 of the most commonly found wild plants in North America. You can find most of the plants in your nearest forest, park, and sometimes, even in your own backyard. In addition to identification information, the book includes clear instructions on how to best prepare these delicious wild foods with kid-friendly recipes like Puffball Kebabs, Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, and Wild Raspberry Muffins.
留言