These days, most kids’ daily routines begin with school, perhaps followed by sports practice or another extracurricular, ending with some TV time before tucking into bed and repeating it all until the weekend. While there is nothing wrong with a routine, the monotony and reliance on screen time can make many children feel stuck in a rut.
Enter HAWKs L.A.(Hiking Adventures With Kids), which provides a variety of programs ranging from after school enrichment to week-long camps.
Playing outside is a source of joy, creativity and freedom that children innately possess. HAWKs L.A.’s programs are designed to nurture and encourage children’s natural sense of wonder. In doing so, their curriculum is designed to educate children about animals and ecosystems, help develop geographical skills and begin identifying native species. Guiding young adventurers on their nature walks are HAWKs educators, who are equipped with a diverse range of skill sets. Many educators have backgrounds in counseling, elementary school teaching, biology, entomology or parenting their own little ones, too. HAWKs L.A. rotates 10-20 locations within each of their regions, which educators have scouted for features like restroom accessibility, trail steepness, poison oak levels or other safety concerns.
Aside from their nurturing approach, HAWKs L.A. is unlike any other nature program because of unique experiences like shallow water snorkeling where children count trout populations, star gazing at Mt. Wilson Observatory and moonlight hikes. Participants of the moonlight hike have the chance to learn about nocturnal creatures and experience the changes of a natural landscape as day turns to night.
Whatever the activity, HAWKs educators are deeply engaged with their adventure group, tailoring the experience to each child’s special interests. Their philosophy is not to compete with video games and TV shows, but to help each child connect to their surroundings. A number of educators are known to facilitate activities like jumping around on boulders, digging for crystals, or structure building with sticks to simulate popular games like Minecraft and Legend of Zelda.
From seeking out nocturnal animals in the darkness of the night, to recording insect and pollinator observations, HAWKs L.A. will foster courage and confidence, and cultivate the intrinsic curiosity in every child.
To learn more, visit hawksla.com.
