Take A Hike
Facebook Group Helps Families Hit The Trails
Some of KATHRYN WAPLE’S finest memories come from her weekly hikes with her dad and grandpa while growing up in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
“Tramping behind them, watching the dogs run in the cold winter woods while my grandpa explained the habits of white-tailed deer and what bear marks on a tree look like, and my dad showed me how to whistle like a quail. Those experiences have definitely inspired my life,” says Waple.
While Waple’s lifelong wilderness experience prepared her to know enough about hiking and camping as an adult, she knew next to nothing about camping with a young child. Once her daughter was born in 2014, getting her outside was one the most important aspects of her parenting.
Finding that her family’s mood improved the more time they spent outdoors prompted her in late 2015 to start “FAMILIES HIKING IN WILMINGTON,” a closed Facebook group of more than 200 members who share trail tips, swap advice, and plan meet-ups.
“I started the group to create a place where people could share family-friendly hiking spots around Wilmington, ask questions, and meet other parents determined to counter nature deficit disorder by spending time in wild places as much as possible with their families,” Waple says.
Not a medical diagnosis, the term nature deficit disorder came from author Richard Louv’s 2005 book Last Child in the Woods, in which he argued that children suffer negative physical and emotional health when they spend less time in nature.
The Families Hiking in Wilmington group has a range of hikers from all backgrounds and levels of experience. While some families in the group often travel across the state, others prefer to stay local and hike the same spots. Families are given the chance to explore new ideas of how they can spend time together or keep energetic young children busy.
“People are spending less time outdoors now than ever, and I think it is a serious problem,” Waple says. “So much learning and wonder happens when you get outside. Listen to the birds, what can they tell you? Watch the frogs, what are they doing?"
"When children and families are outside, they are learning and experiencing with all five senses, all the time. That is something that can’t be replicated by any device,” says Kathryn Waple.
Waple finds helpful tips for her own camping excursions as well. As members check out new places or old favorites, they share stories about their experiences.
“For me, the experiences of other families doing what I love doing inspires me to keep it up and do more. Camping with a two-year-old? No problem! One of our members posted about camping with a toddler and a newborn! Amazing!” she says.
Waple tends to keep her hiking local while her daughter is young, although trips are extending farther away as she gets older, such as their weeklong camping trip planned to Northern California. Locally, her favorite spots include Brunswick Nature Park, Carolina Beach State Park, Bluethenthal Wildflower Preserve on the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus, Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve, and Poplar Grove Plantation. Waple enjoys these trails for a variety of reasons.
“What appeals to me about them is the range of different trail lengths, which is pretty crucial when your main hiking sidekick is half your size and likes to walk,” she says. “I follow her lead, and as her curiosity is sparked, we detour to follow what excites her. Sometimes, we spend three hours in a place and don’t go farther than a half mile. It’s not about covering distance; it’s about getting her outside and cultivating her curiosity about the natural world.”
While the physical aspects of hiking are a part of it, Waple believes hiking extends to help families on a holistic level that goes beyond the notion of exercise.
“A day spent hiking, on the surface, doesn’t seem ‘productive,’ but the intangible benefits stay with a person forever,” she says.
When she is not hiking, Waple runs her company Gray Cat Botanicals, which focuses on making medicinal herbs from safe, locally grown plants. She also teaches classes on how to make and use herbal remedies in the home and kitchen.
Waple is also excited about the new job she recently started with Nature Connect NC. The local homeschool and preschool program’s mission is to cultivate curiosity, compassion, and connection with the natural world, all traits Waple frmly believes in.
For those interested in hiking but unsure where to start, Waple suggests learning about any safety hazards for a particular trail, but to ultimately settle on a place and go for it.
With multiple marked and well-maintained trails in the area, there are a lot of options for families just starting out, and not having to venture too far from the parking lot, either. The hiking process is a lot of learning as you go, figuring out what hikes you like and what level you’re comfortable with.
Waple believes half the battle is just getting out there and exploring.
“It’s hard to be unhappy in the woods,” she says. “(I leave feeling) amazed at the world and full of wonder – sweaty to the bone and relieved to head home, but always better for having gone.”
To view more of photographer Terah Wilson’s work, go to www.terahwilson.weebly.com.
