Kids Alaska Fishing and Adventure Vacations

For many of us, our fondest childhood memories entailed a hiking, camping or scouting trip. The big-backyard was full of adventures including tree-houses, gardens and butterflies. With more and more people moving to the city, exposure to nature is becoming more important for young children to assure they inherit an interest in wild places. We at Wilderness Place Lodge thankfully have been seeing more and more families with young children visit us for fishing or other combo adventure trips. We therefore have introduced more activities and suggested adventure bundles that not only engage children, but seek to educate them as well. From fly-fishing clinics to scavenger hunts, rock painting, day raft trips, etc. We aim to diversify the experiences for your kids to keep them engaged, active and happy. Please do contact us if you are interested in trip options for your children. There are certain activities and times of the summer that are ideal to visit Alaska with your children. We will happily put together what we feel is the best, safest package for your family.

Every successive generation that does not take their children to the wilderness endangers the future of wild places. It is mainly outdoor hobbyists such as fishermen, hunters, campers, hikers, wildlife photographers, paddlers, birders, etc. that bring necessary attention to preserving and protecting natural resources and biodiversity. The reinvestment of those that care for nature pays extensive dividends. But, not only is our reinvestment in nature important, but nature’s reinvestment in us as well. Children and adults that spend consistent time in the out-of-doors each week lead healthier, happier lives. Katie Wells, a mother and blogger, describes this appropriately as “Ecotherapy.” With the onset of childhood obesity, mental illnesses and lack of family chemistry, it is time we all returned to our roots as American families and head to the woods, parks, streams, lakes and forests for an affordable, restorative retreat. It not only benefits the family as a whole, but plants an everlasting seed of interest in our youth that they can re-plant in future generations.

The Outside articles had me searching my memory archives for the most impactful outdoor experiences that I had in my youth. Almost all of them revolved around camping, fishing and hunting with my family. My grandfather was a forester. He was a quiet, but happy and contented man. I always looked up to him, mainly because of the peace of his demeanor. Every chance he had, he would be fishing, hunting, harvesting firewood or working on his Christmas tree farm. His passion for the outdoors and labors of love in the forest led to true happiness and peace in his life. Silently he passed on this passion to his grandson as did my grandmother, father, mother, aunt and uncle. My family has a deep love of nature. I’m forever grateful as my inheritance of this love has been a driving force throughout my entire life. Fishing, hunting and camping with my family was a great experience that fueled my desire to be outdoors. But, it was only when I was set free into the wilds myself, that it became a part of me. In native american heritage, a tribe would determine when a child was mature enough to be set free. The child then would be outfitted by the elders with the necessary tools to live in the wilderness. The child was set free into nature for an undetermined amount of time. They called this a “vision quest.” The child would explore and live within nature until the child had a life altering physical, emotional or spiritual experience. The child would then return to the village to share this experience with the elders. This vision quest often became the foundation of purpose for the lives of each of the tribe members. Many children received their official name based on the outcome of their vision quest. The main purpose of this was to empower the child to find a passion greater than themselves to live and strive for. Pretty cool.

It is our hope and prayer that every family would have as unique of an experience as my family has had within nature. Children so desperately need a sense of wanderlust and curiosity beyond the grid and outside of the box. There is a strong interdependence upon our activity within nature and nature’s influence on us. Never underestimate it’s influence on the life of a child. So, as Christmas nears, consider gifting your child a fly rod, pair of skis or snowshoes. As new year’s resolutions become the trend, consider planning more hiking, camping or fishing trips including all members of your family. Let’s all do our very best to wild our child and re-wild the child within all of us.