Come and introduce your kids to the joys of bushwalking! You don’t have to be a member to come and try a few walks. Our range of activities is designed to help you and your kids or grandkids gradually develop skills and fitness, from easy urban walks to challenging adventures for families with kids in their teens.
PRAMbulations
PRAMbulations are urban walks on bike paths and other terrain suitable for prams. Usually about one hour to an hour and a half long, these walks take advantage of Canberra’s green spaces.
Tired of doing the same old walk around your suburb? Maybe your baby is too! On PRAMbulations you will discover pleasant parts of Canberra, and introduce your baby to the pleasures of seeing new places.
The Club has tried and tested PRAMbulation routes in Bonner, Bonython, Conder, Cook, Crace, Curtin, Dickson, Fadden, Forde, Fraser, Gordon, Isaacs, Jerrabomberra, Kambah, Macgregor and Weston Creek. Some of the Club’s self-guided walks are suitable for do-it-yourself PRAMbulations.
We lead PRAMbulations on request, for a minimum of 2 families. Just contact the Club’s Family Activities Co-ordinator (Di McDean, 0434 914 155, family.walks”at”canberrabushwalkingclub.org) to discuss a mutually suitable date and time.
Toddlers’ Toddles
Designed for families with kids from 1 to 4 years, these walks are usually less than 400 metres return. There is plenty of time to play in a creek, try walking on logs, climb small boulders and to turn stones, bark and sticks into play objects. Walking on uneven ground is great for your child’s balance and agility. And once they can walk, they can begin learning bush skills: ant nests are things we walk around, not across; wet rocks are more slippery than dry rocks; if in doubt, poke it with a stick instead of your finger.
Toddles are all in natural areas, usually within a 30-minute drive of the edge of Canberra, starting from a meeting point at around 9.30 am and finishing by noon. Generally, they are no-need-to-book walks. They are advertised online on the Club’s activity program.
Walks for families with school-aged children
On walks for children aged 5 to 10, there is time for exploring e.g. finding a way through slots and caves in granite outcrops, or swinging on monkey vines, or playing in a creek. The walks range further afield than the Toddlers’ Toddles, and may be an hour’s drive from the edge of Canberra.
Walks for older children include walks along creeks with optional swims. Two-day walks include, for example, camping beside cascades and pools in Ettrema Gorge, or camping in the Wave Cave. Distances are limited (4 to 10 km per day). Terrain is high interest and varied and often off-track. Accompanying adults generally need prior bushwalking experience and above-average fitness and agility.
These walks generally require prior bookings. They are advertised online on the Club’s activity program, usually during school holidays.
Mixed ages in your family?
If you would like to bring along kids who are older or younger than the target age range given in each walk description, please discuss this with the Activity Owner/Leader before the day of the walk. Older kids are generally welcome, provided they are patient with the pace of the target group. Younger kids are generally welcome if their parent is prepared to carry them some of the distance.
Walks for baby-wearing parents
PRAMbulations and Toddlers’ Toddles are great for parents with kids in baby carriers. Most Explorer walks and some of the easier Adventure walks are also suitable, but check first with the Activity Owner/Leader. For these walks, it is best to carry your child on your back, rather than on your front, because of trip hazards and prickly scrub.
Many of the Club’s easier adult walks are suitable for baby-wearing parents, with the Leader’s agreement. The Family Activities Coordinator has a list of Leaders who welcome baby-wearing parents on their easier walks.
Questions?
CBC Family Activities Coordinator, Dianne McDean, family.walks”at”canberrabushwalkingclub.org
