What to Know Before Booking an Outdoor Adventure Trip with Kids

Are you looking to take the kids on an outdoor adventure but aren't sure where to start?

Booking an outdoor adventure trip with your family is one of the best things you can do. Just remember…

If you aren't prepared, it can quickly turn stressful – and even dangerous.

Luckily, any family can have an amazing outdoor experience with enough planning and the proper self reliance skills. There's never been a better time to plan your next adventure. The global adventure tourism market was valued at $483.3 billion in 2025. With that rate of growth, it's only going to keep growing.

Family adventures are big drivers of this growth. Family travel came in as the top trend in 2025 with 47% of travelers saying they took multigenerational trips. That's up 17% from just the year prior.

Before you book that family adventure, there are a few things every parent should know.

You'll learn:

• Why Self Reliance Skills Are Important for Family Adventures
• How To Prepare Your Kids Before The Trip
• How To Choose The Right Outdoor Adventure
• Safety Gear and Planning Musts

Why Self Reliance Skills Are Important For Family Adventures

Self reliance skills are an important foundation for any outdoor trip with kids.

Why? Nature isn't predictable. Weather shifts. Trails get lost. Kids act differently in stressful situations than you might expect.

Giving children some basic self-reliance skills before venturing into the backcountry can mean the difference between an amazing memory and a trip to remember for all the wrong reasons. Skills like:

• Reading a map or compass
• Building a shelter
• Knowing where to source safe water
• Basic first aid

Kids love learning this stuff too. Signing your family up for a basic survival class before your trip is one of the best decisions any parent can make. Not only does it build confidence and self reliance skills, it gives everyone on the trip a base level of outdoor knowledge you'll be glad you have.

Imagine this scenario:

Little Timmy realizes he wandered too far from the tent. Because he knows basic self reliance skills, he's able to stay calm. He uses his whistle to signal for help. And he builds a shelter to protect himself until his parents find him. Because he knows these skills, Timmy stays safe. And that's priceless for any parent on an outdoor adventure.

Preparing Your Kids Before The Trip

The most important part of any outdoor adventure with kids is preparing them for the journey ahead.

The issue? Most people don't do this. They find a trip they want to take, throw some stuff in a bag and hope for the best.

That's a recipe for disaster.

Children should be prepared at least a few weeks before your trip begins. Involve them in the planning. Let them pick some gear. Study the trail map. Learn about potentially dangerous wildlife you might encounter on your journey.

Physical prep is important too. Take your family on a few shorter hikes before your big adventure. Build up their stamina so they don't get as tired on your trip. You'll thank yourself later!

Don't forget about mental prep either…

Make sure your kids understand that there will be challenges and difficult moments on your outdoor adventure. Bugs will bite. You might get rained on. That 5-mile trail you thought was easy could be really difficult for young kids. Prep them for these events, and they'll be more likely to push through without falling apart.

Here are a few ideas:

• Discuss what they might see on the hiking trail
• Watch kid-friendly documentaries about your destination
• Practice self reliance skills at home like how to tie different knots and fire safety
• Let your kids carry their own small backpack on those practice hikes

Building that mental and physical resilience will set your kids up for success. And resilient kids make for great adventure partners.

How To Choose The Right Outdoor Adventure

When taking your family on an outdoor adventure, not all trips are created equal.

Picking an adventure that isn't appropriate for your family's skill level is a mistake.

Here's how to avoid that mistake:

Assess the difficulty level of your outing based on the youngest member of your family. That epic, multi-day backcountry hiking trip may sound like a dream. However, if your youngest child is only 6-years-old and has never been camping, they might not be having fun.

Think soft adventure activities if you're taking your kids on their first outdoor adventure. Family friendly hikes, beginner kayaking, wildlife tours and camping trips are great ways to experience the outdoors without overwhelming your little ones. These trips allow you to build up your family's self reliance skills so you can take on more difficult adventures down the road.

Double check that your tour operator is family-friendly. A good operator will have guides that are trained and experienced in leading family groups. They'll provide age appropriate safety equipment, be clear on difficulty levels and communicate emergency plans. There should always be a qualified individual with first aid training on hand.

You don't necessarily have to choose the cheapest option. An experienced tour operator can ensure your entire family has a safe and enjoyable outdoor adventure. Do your research. Read reviews. Ask tons of questions. Then pay them for their expert guidance.

Safety Gear and Planning Musts

This next part is where most people fail…

They don't have the proper safety gear on their adventure. In 2024, 4.4 million people were treated in emergency rooms for sports and recreation related injuries. The majority of those injuries were preventable!

Here's the safety gear every family should have before venturing outdoors:

• A well stocked first aid kit
• Navigation tools. Map, compass, or GPS device.
• Sun protection. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses.
• Water and water purification supplies.
• Layers to protect from varying weather conditions
• Emergency whistle
• Flashlight

Gear is one part of the equation. Proper planning is just as important.

Give a copy of your itinerary to a friend or family member not going on the trip. Double check the weather forecast for your entire trip. Know where the closest medical facilities are located. Have an emergency communication plan that every family member knows.

These things take minimal time to do but can be a huge lifesaver if something goes wrong. Proper self reliance skills include planning ahead and being prepared for the unexpected.

Wrapping Up

Booking the perfect outdoor adventure trip for your family doesn't have to be stressful or scary. With proper preparation, investing in the right gear, and focusing on self reliance skills for your kids... you can take them on the adventure of a lifetime.

Let's recap:

• Self reliance skills are important on any outdoor adventure with kids
• Physically and mentally prepare your kids before the trip
• Not all outdoor adventures are suitable for your family
• Invest in the proper safety gear
• Have a solid plan in place before you leave on your adventure

Families who complete these steps before their outdoor adventure are the families who tell awesome stories when they return. Stories of confidence gained, resilience, and love for the outdoors that your kids will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Don't overlook the preparation. It can mean everything on your family's next outdoor adventure.