Trailside Games and Activities

Jeeping with children is always an adventure.

A child’s unique perspective on life, what they see, it’s why we wheel to begin with – to return to that excitement and wonderment even for just a moment. Bringing kids along can be difficult at times as even the best mini-Jeepers can be tired or bored. Here are some tips from our experiences with children to make your day better.

Beyond the obvious take frequent stops, get out and explore, try to really engage your children with what they will see while driving. Create a scavenger hunt style game where your children each check off a box for what they have seen inside or outside the vehicle.

Scavenger Hunt:

• Types of vehicles (Jeep, Motorcyle, ATV, Side by side, etc)
• Structures (Mine shaft, cabin, FS gate)
• Animals
• Things that happen inside the Jeep or to the Jeep (Driver shifted to 4 Low, Lockers were used, Tires deflated, Shifted to 4 Hi, etc)

You can really engage your children by going the extra step and introducing additional topics to your trip.

In Colorado, nearly every road passes a mine. Bring a hammer and gloves and safety glasses and smash open rocks your kids bring to you to find gold. Of course, always be careful around mining areas and be sure to scout out for shafts or open portals first. Mine dumps can be easily and safely accessed from below, or outlying prospector pits are also good sites for kids looking for rocks that keeps you away from most potential danger. If safety is the paramount concern, you can always find a rock outcropping away from mining to “prospect”. Some mines are also still private property, so know your location first.

Be creative. Know your child and adapt: do they love bugs? Bring a bug catcher and devote some time to finding bugs. Do they love wildlife? Get a cheap set of binoculars and see what you can find. Or maybe the just love building forts or fake fire rings. Indulge them. Play with them. Then play in the Jeep too.