TIPS AND TRICKS

A Wilderness Skill For Kids: Teach Them How to Filter Water

If you’re going on a multi-day trip, bringing gallons of water on long hikes isn’t feasible. But planning ahead and camping with access to water sources is. Teaching your kids how to access and filter water will add a sense of confidence and excitement every time they go into the wild.

Here’s how to practice. The next time you’re out with the kids on a hike, plan to find a place with natural water sources. Don’t bring a water bottle, but do bring a filter like the Sawyer Mini Filtration system, $20, a handheld filter that attaches directly to water bottles or the included hydration pouch.This filtration system protects against and filters out all the nasty stuff (Protozoa, bacteria, cryptosporidium) that can make you sick and cause dehydration to be even worse.Show kids them how to use it, and explain that flowing water (rivers, creeks, and streams of snowmelt) are safer drinking options than puddles and lakes (stagnant water) because of lingering bacteria. 

Here are a few more wilderness survival skills to teach your kids.