Hiking Club - Field Bags

What do you take when you go for a hike?


I found some really great examples of field bags out there -

http://www.heywoodsmeadow.com/blog/show-and-tell-field-bags-1.html
(on these one click on a photo and it will take you to Flickr where
you can see what they put in their bags)
http://www.whiteoakschool.com/camp-creek-blog/2008/4/12/make-a-field-bag-from-recycled-clothing.html
http://blog.betzwhite.com/2009/03/field-guys.html

We are currently using some messenger-style kids bags that are working well. I loved the ideas above that encourage experiencing the hike in different ways, like sketching.

In their bags, the boys take -

• a spoon for digging
• a pencil
• a notebook - for journalling, it is a popular activity to stop along the way and make a sketch (love REI's Adventure Passports)
  
• two specimen jars - actually clear plastic salt and pepper shakers I found at the dollar store - they so far have housed tadpoles, bugs of all kinds and currently there is a cocooning woolly bear caterpillar in one. The best part they are light-weight and not easy to break.
• a magnifying glass
• The bag has plenty of room for other finds like pine cones and rocks.

In my bag, I take -

my cell phone/wallet
first aid
camera
water/snacks
a bird guide
my field journal + coloured pencils
handkerchief

All this is to experience the hike and build some memories. Most of these things are for convenience and fun. Really for the best hiking you need nothing but to open yourself to your surroundings. What do you notice as you hike? What do you hear, see, smell, feel? We always try to look for something new. I love seeing things from my boys perspective. What they think is interesting and what they notice re-opens my eyes to a beautiful world.