Well, summer’s coming to a close fast, at least for the kids who'll be back in school within two weeks. Remember the first assignment, "what did you do on your summer vacation?" Well, before summer closes out, here's your assignment: "What outdoor activities did you do with your kids on your summer vacation?"

There will be a lot of you are hard-pressed to answer that. Really, think about it, what outdoor activities did you do with your kids, grandkids or even great-grandkids? I hear it all the time that kids don't do the outdoor stuff that we used to do. Kids sit in front of the television, video, nintendos and the like, the "electronic babysitters.” But whose fault is it? Not theirs.

I read hiking reports every week from several of the area hiking clubs. I've even gone on a few hikes. Who is it on the hikes? The older people, many of whom say that kids don't hike anymore. But the irony of it is that these same hikers never bring along their kids. In the half dozen hikes I was on this year no one brought along their kids. What a shame that we did not introduce our kids to the outdoors via one of the least stressful, least consumptive, least costly activities like hiking. So, I challenge you, Mr. and Mrs. Hiker to bring a kid along next time! Maybe they'll take an interest and you'll have another member in your hiking club.