Every hike teaches me something: the changing light in the pines, a fresh and mysterious bird song, the startled shock when a trail runner bounds past.

Summit of Owls Head with Brigid.

But hikes with my children have taught me the most. Here are a few things that I learned hiking Owl’s Head, one of my favorite family outings:

• Boulders aren’t something to get around, they aree something to play on.
• Trees have personalities, feelings and sometimes we have to give them names.
• A shady perch on a hot afternoon deserves more than a quick drink.
• It’s lunch time when you’re hungry … wait too long and you’ll be sorry.
• Getting tired? Pull out a chapter book and read a bit.
• Are there elves watching from that dense brush? Could a dwarf fit into that little cave? Is that walking stick really a wizard’s staff? Yes.
• And the summit doesn’t matter. Maybe we’ll get there, maybe we won’t

Want to get out of that summit focused, head down, oblivious hiking posture? Take a kid along.