Hiking and Camping with little kids.

[jackelope]

My kid's school in Duvall is hosting it's 1st annual(and hopefully many more to come) Outdoors Expo. They're asking for parents to come and help with demo's of pretty much anything outdoors. Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, Climbing, anything... I'm pretty excited about this. The guy that is putting the whole thing on is doing some hunting stuff. My wife and I are in charge of a fishing boot, and a hiking/camping/backpacking booth. I'm looking for ideas when it comes to camping and hiking with kids. What has worked well for you? I have a 5 year old who is a camping addict. She loved it from the 1st trip we made. She's hiked a bunch for a 5 year old too. All kids are different though and I know the same things that worked for her may not always work for all kids. Not worried about anything too high tech as these kids will be from Kindergarten to 5th grade.

Thanks in advance.

[boneaddict]

glowsticks, flashlights(headlamps), critters like newts or salamanders.   Fur.  smores, maps   rocks, fire building

[jackelope]

glowsticks, flashlights(headlamps), critters like newts or salamanders.   Fur.  smores, maps   rocks, fire building

Do we have newts and salamanders here?

Fire building is unfortunately not an option.

[snowpack]

lots of newts on the wetside.

[jackelope]

lots of newts on the wetside.

Dang. I used to be a newt and salamander catching machine back east. I've looked a few times but never found any here. I guess I just assumed they didn't exist out here.

[turkeyfeather]

Keep them busy with activities. Instead of handing out glow sticks, have them make their own. You can have them try to build their own bows out of sticks they find and string. Those are some of the things I have done.

[actionshooter]

lots of newts on the wetside.

Dang. I used to be a newt and salamander catching machine back east. I've looked a few times but never found any here. I guess I just assumed they didn't exist out here.

Just be aware that the rough skinned newt is poisonous, the cute little guys with the orange bellies.

[Whitpirate]

Cherry Valley or Stillwater?  And if you need some help let me know I'd be willing to help.  We could do some basic knots with para-cord, Foil-packet cooking (in a charcoal bbq) to show them some basic cooking stuff, tent assembly, etc...

My boy is in 2nd grade at Stillwater.

[fireweed]

boiling water on a pack stove and Cooking up a packet of freeze dried and having a taste is a hit.  My kids love the raspberry crumble.

[Fl0und3rz]

Compass and maps for the older kids, fire safety for all, and/or camp fire building for some of the older ones.

Awesome idea, BTW.

[Fl0und3rz]

boiling water on a pack stove and Cooking up a packet of freeze dried and having a taste is a hit.  My kids love the raspberry crumble.

That or a hobo pie maker, loaf of bread, butter, and cherry/apple/blueberry pie filling is also a hit.

[jackelope]

Cherry Valley or Stillwater?  And if you need some help let me know I'd be willing to help.  We could do some basic knots with para-cord, Foil-packet cooking (in a charcoal bbq) to show them some basic cooking stuff, tent assembly, etc...

My boy is in 2nd grade at Stillwater.

Neither... 
Private school.

[runamuk]

lots of newts on the wetside.

Dang. I used to be a newt and salamander catching machine back east. I've looked a few times but never found any here. I guess I just assumed they didn't exist out here.

I caught tons of newts and salamanders as a little girl in the woods in Duvall... the creek at the back of our property held some crawdads as well, not to mention the toads and frogs in our pond.  I never did grab that bullfrog he was a wiley one, I collected over 50 treefrogs one time when I was like 3.  We also caught the heck out of snakes.  we were strange little girls I guess.  old logs in the woods where its damp and there is lots of leaf litter is where I would find salamanders flip over small bits of wood newts often are just cruising the damp shady spots.  Course Duvall was mostly woods and forest back in the 70's its changed an awful lot since then.

[steen]

For very small children I used a backpack to take my small kids with me.  I'm sure you are looking for intertainment for children but I'm thinking about the parents also.  I carted my kids around in a backpack for almost 3 years ( they were small children under 20 lbs.)I enjoyed it very much!

[jackelope]

Obviously I haven't spent enough time in the woods in my own backyard.
 

Thanks Run.