Forest Etiquette
How pleasant it is to walk in the forest or go hiking with friends! There is so much to discover—you can see different trees and flowers and listen to the birds singing. But be careful…
You are unlikely to see any predatory animals. They stay far away from places where people are present. However, there are small insects that can cause a lot of discomfort. And most importantly, it is easy to get lost in the forest. To ensure that only good memories remain from your hike, remember a few important rules.
Protecting yourself from insect bites is not difficult. First of all, wear closed clothing and forget about t-shirts, tops, and slippers. The perfect clothing for the forest includes pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat, and closed athletic shoes. Second, it is necessary to use insect repellents. Special creams should be purchased in advance from pharmacies.
Before heading to the forest, let adults know where you are going, with whom, and for how long. This is the fundamental rule applied to all types of hikes. If you do not return at the specified time, they will start looking for you. Keep this in mind.
If you realize you are lost, stop and calm down. The best way to calm down is to hug a tree. Try to remember where and how you were walking. It is possible that once you stop rustling around and rushing back and forth, you will hear rescue sounds indicating that people are nearby. Try to attract attention to yourself by calling out loudly. If no one responds, stay in the same spot. Believe it—help is already on the way.
The forest’s greatest enemy is fire. For this reason, fires should not be lit during fire-prone seasons or in windy weather. And never leave an unextinguished fire unattended. Before leaving, you must extinguish it by pouring water on it or covering it with soil.
Treat nature and its inhabitants with care:
* do not destroy birds’ nests or anthills; do not harm grasshoppers and butterflies,
* do not take baby animals home,
* do not pick excessive amounts of flowers,
* do not break glass.
Do not touch or taste mushrooms and berries.
Never leave trash in the forest. Collect it and take it with you to dispose of in a trash bin. If it is not possible to take the trash with you, you should dig a hole, place the trash inside, and cover it with soil—though you must keep in mind that not all types of trash can be left in the ground.
This is exactly what we learn with the children during our classes, in a more in-depth and detailed way. This informal education helps children demonstrate correct behavior during hikes.