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Don't sleep with snacks in your pocket: Veteran tips for hiking and camping with kids

(Photo: Wes Johnson/Springfield News-Leader)

So, you want to take your kids on a hiking trip? Here are some great tips from fellow hikers who have done it.

Nick Belluardo: I used to teach a wilderness survival merit badge course for Scouts. Most young kids, despite being strongly advised, would forget about the snacks stashed in their pockets. This proved an issue when we stayed in open shelters, and one Scout woke up with a raccoon sitting on his chest.

Jennifer Connor: Set yourself up for success by planning your backpacking or float trip, then cutting the distance in half.