The Badge Archive

Activity Description: A day hike during or immediately following a rainstorm to explore how water transforms the natural environment, practice wet-weather trail safety, and learn the proper gear choices required to stay warm and dry.

Items Needed:

• Waterproof or water-resistant hiking shoes or boots
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Synthetic or wool clothing (No cotton, including socks)
• Water bottles (Hikers often forget to hydrate when it is raining)
• Heavy-duty trash bags or Ziploc bags (to waterproof the inside of backpacks)
• Dry towel (leave in the vehicle for after the hike)
• (Optional) Trekking poles for extra stability on slick mud

Before the Meeting Starts:

1. Decide a route. (5–30 min)
   • Choose a trail with good drainage, such as a gravel path or a forest trail with tree canopy cover. Strictly avoid trails that feature steep rock scrambles, deep water crossings, slot canyons, or areas prone to flash floods.
   • Check the local weather forecast to ensure there is rain, but absolutely no threat of thunderstorms or lightning.
   • Consult and follow your specific youth organization’s official safety policies and activity checkpoints for hiking in inclement weather, ensuring proper adult-to-youth ratios.

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 40 min):

1. Introduce the activity and wet-weather gear. (10 min)
   • Discuss why choosing the right clothing matters.
   • Explain the outdoor rule “Cotton kills.” Cotton absorbs water and loses all its insulating properties, which can lead to hypothermia even in mild weather. Synthetic materials (like polyester) and wool retain their warmth when wet.
   • Demonstrate how to line the inside of a backpack with a trash bag to keep extra layers and snacks completely dry, as most backpacks are only water-resistant, not waterproof.
2. Discuss trail etiquette and safety. (5 min)
   • Explain how to navigate slick terrain.
   • Teach the group to walk through mud puddles, not around them. Walking around mud tramples delicate vegetation and permanently widens the trail.
   • Point out specific slipping hazards to watch for: wet leaves, exposed tree roots, smooth rocks, and wooden boardwalks or bridges, which become exceptionally slippery when wet.
3. Go on a rain hike. (20 min)
   • Walk the trail and observe how the environment changes in wet conditions.
   • Direct them to look at the vegetation; rain washes dust off leaves and makes mosses and ferns appear a vibrant, electric green.
   • Search for fresh animal tracks. Mud is the perfect medium for capturing footprints from deer, raccoons, or birds that may have moved through during the storm.
   • Look for newly formed water features, such as ephemeral streams, overflowing creeks, or small waterfalls that only exist after heavy rainfall.
4. Review their walk. (5 min)
   • Discuss how the trail felt different in the rain compared to a dry day.
   • Ask them to evaluate their gear and share what kept them the most comfortable or what they would change for their next rainy hike.
   • Remind them that bad weather does not have to ruin a trip if you have the right equipment and understand how to navigate the trail safely

Things to Look Out For:

• Vibrant Colors: Moss, ferns, and lichens soak up the moisture and instantly turn a bright, electric green. The rain also washes dust away from leaves, making the entire forest look deeply saturated.
• Damp-Loving Wildlife: Earthworms surfacing on the trail, along with slugs, snails, and amphibians like frogs, toads, and salamanders that come out to hunt and move in the wet conditions.
• Fresh Animal Tracks: Soft, freshly rained-on mud is the perfect canvas for capturing highly detailed footprints of deer, raccoons, coyotes, or birds that moved through the area.
• Temporary Water Features: Small ephemeral streams, newly formed puddles, and tiny runoff waterfalls that only exist during or immediately after a downpour.
• Water Droplet Displays: Spider webs, pine needles, and bare branches catching and holding crystal-clear water droplets, which often look like glass beads.
• Petrichor: The distinct, earthy smell in the air that happens when rain hits dry soil, caused by a mix of plant oils and soil bacteria being released into the atmosphere.
• Fungi: Mushrooms and bracket fungi that rapidly swell or seemingly pop up overnight in response to the sudden spike in humidity and soil moisture.

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