KTDontheGO: Busy Teens Are Happy Teens - Outdoor Fun Ideas!

Teenagers want independence. They want to explore their world from every angle in every opportunity, and they want to do it without us. It can be difficult for parents to know how much freedom one up-and-coming young adult should be permitted, and with whom, especially when it comes to venturing away from home.

Fortunately, outdoor recreation is cool in Alaska, so from snowmachines to skiing, backpacking to disc golf, teens in the 49th state have a ton of options for healthy ways to enjoy each others' company outside the boundaries of mom and dad’s house. As my father always said, “Busy kids are happy kids, and happy kids are kids less likely to get into trouble,” so here are a few suggestions to encourage healthy peer relationships among both guys and gals (hopefully they don’t sound too geeky, coming from a mom).

Encourage group activities. Disc golf is hot, so send the kids to one of the many courses cropping up all around the state, like the new course at Alyeska Resort, or up in Fairbanks on the UAF campus. Snowshoeing can mean a fun afternoon of plowing around the snowy drifts of Alaska’s many trail systems. Send kids down to an Alaska Public Lands Information Center to search out a trail well-suited for their abilities, and let them do the legwork for a daylong wilderness trek, including food, first aid, and way-finding. Try the Eagle River Nature Center area, or Palmer Hay Flats for a great day trip not too far from civilization or cell phone range.

Plan a longer trip together. Sure, teenager hormones rage wilder than a stormy night on the ocean, but sometimes, including a group of teens on a family trip can be just the ticket to actively demonstrate your family’s values and make some valuable connections. Make clear the rules, establish boundaries, and enjoy getting to know the important people in your teen’s life. Hint: include other parents in family meetings about destinations, activities, and expenses, and make sure everything is crystal clear regarding hotel, airfare, or transportation costs. Some brave parents I know took both daughters and their boyfriends to a family reunion at a remote fishing ranch in Colorado, and all reports indicate everybody had a wonderful time. In Alaska, options range from a weekend trip to Alyeska Resort where Family Specials provide two connecting rooms, movies, pizza, and a chance to chill after a day of skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking. Take advantage of the annual PFD sales and Constituent Fares of Alaska Airlines and fly the gang down to Juneau and explore our state capital (Bonus! They might even learn something).

Talk, talk, talk. Use trips or outings to simply hang out with kids and get to know them as people while you still have the chance. It is during these times, with no homework, soccer practice, or work meetings, that communication between teens and adults can flourish. Take a time-out with your teen and his or her pals. Eat a meal together, play a round of Monopoly (you’d be surprised at how much teens still enjoy this game), and stay up late shooting the breeze. You’ll learn a lot, and the kids will, too:.Parents are important people in a teen’s life. They need us, and we need them. Sometimes it just takes a little getaway to clear that up.