The Badge Archive

Activity Description: A local day hike through a city or neighborhood to help youth explore the built environment, discover new urban features, and understand that outdoor adventure can start right outside their front door.

Items Needed:

• Supportive, well-cushioned walking or running shoes (pavement impacts joints more than dirt trails, so standard hiking boots may be too stiff)
• Small backpack with a water bottle and snacks
• Sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat)
• Fully charged smartphone and backup battery (for GPS mapping and emergencies)
• (Optional) Bright-colored or reflective clothing for safety and visibility

Before the Meeting Starts:

1. Decide a route. (5–30 min)
   • Plan a route using a digital map tool like Google My Maps or AllTrails. Set a distinct “summit” or destination for the hike, such as a distant park, a specific piece of public art, or a cafe.
   • Plan a loop rather than an out-and-back trail to force the group to see more and different places.
   • Consult and follow your specific youth organization’s official safety policies and activity checkpoints for urban walking and road crossings, ensuring proper adult-to-youth ratios.

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 35 min):

1. Introduce the activity. (5 min)
   • Discuss the concept of “urban hiking” or “city hiking.”s.
   • Explain that you don’t need to drive to a forest to go on a hike; urban hiking stimulates the brain by exploring the city in a new, attentive way.
   • Review traffic safety: Remind the group to always obey traffic laws, use crosswalks, and watch for cars and cyclists.
2. Go on an urban hike. (20 min)
   • Walk the planned loop toward your destination.
   • Direct them to look for ways to make the hike more challenging or interesting, such as climbing public stairways, taking pedestrian footbridges, or navigating park hills to replicate the rigor of a rural trail.
   • Challenge the group to navigate by eyesight and memory rather than staring at a phone, taking time to investigate random findings and process their surroundings.
   • Follow the unofficial rules of urban hiking: try to never backtrack, and stay observant of the different textures, terrains, and sights of the city.
3. Review their walk. (5 min)
   • Discuss what they noticed about their city that they had never seen before.
   • Ask them how walking on pavement felt compared to walking on a dirt trail.
   • Remind them that urban hiking is a great way to stay active and connect with their local community right from their own doorstep.

Things to Look For:

• Public Art: Murals, sculptures, painted utility boxes, and street art.
• Urban Nature: Community gardens, park wildlife, weeds growing in sidewalk cracks, and the mix of natural and man-made elements.
• Architecture and History: Old buildings, unique doors or windows, and variations in neighborhood construction.
• Elevation Challenges: Public staircases and steep neighborhood hills that provide a physical challenge.
• Sensory Details: The distinct sounds of city life, different smells, and the changing textures of concrete, cobblestone, and grass.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
_{(Not an official GSUSA Group)}

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
_{(Not an official GSUSA Group)}

See other Recommended Facebook Groups for some Scouting Organizations
_{(No official Groups)}

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