Teen-Friendly Outdoor Fun

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

02 Sep 2009 05:50 PM

Traveling with a teen is not always a pleasant experience. However, if you plan your trip so it (or at least part of it) appeals to your son or daughter's fearlessness, innate competitiveness and curiosity, then there's a very good possibility that your weekend together could be one to remember... in a good way.

The following activities are ideal for teens, who enjoy spending time in the outdoors and aren't afraid of physical challenges:

ROCK CLIMBING

There are numerous state and national parks that offer rock-climbing opportunities, such as Joshua Tree National Park in California and Custer State Park in South Dakota. However, only a handful employ trained experts, who can offer guidance, control the ropes, and school teens on safe climbing procedures. If your teen is new to rock climbing, you might consider sticking with a place that offers professional guides. Yosemite National Park offers several guided excursions, which caters to every one from novice climbers to more advanced scalers using steel cables.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Thrill seeking teens will love the chance to navigate rapids at a local waterway. Contact your local park to see if programs are available for beginners or head to well-known rafting destinations, such as the New River Gorge in West Virginia and Truckee, California.

SNORKELING

You don't have to be an expert swimmer to explore life under the sea. Your teens can don masks in relatively shallow shore beds across the country, including Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin, which features schools of colorful fish that dart around old shipwrecks sitting in 15 feet of crystal clear water. Rangers at your local lakeside (or oceanside) park can give you information on snorkeling spots suitable for beginners.

ORIENTEERING

Orienteering is a popular pastime for teens. The programs, which teach wilderness survival skills, are led by professionals and offer a host of outdoor challenges to participants. Orienteering trails are located at local parks throughout the United States, including Prince William Forest Park in Virginia and Canyonlands National Park in Utah. The parks' tree-lined paths allow teens to sleuth out control points by use of map and compass alone.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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