<p class="ingestion featured-caption">I've gone on many hikes with my son, and we've found ways to have fun doing them. Amanda Adler</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Tearing my <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/son-video-games-inspired-ai-robotics-awards-computer-science-2024-6">video-game-obsessed tween</a> away from technology and into the wilderness is no easy feat.</li><li>After exploring 40 <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-lesser-known-us-national-parks-according-to-frequent-traveler-2024-1">national parks</a>, my son is more fond of hikes (as long as I don't call them that).</li></ul><p>I love exploring <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-natural-beauties-united-states-from-woman-visited-every-state">America's natural wonders</a>, but tearing my 11-year-old son away from his video games and into the Wi-Fi-free wilderness hasn't always been easy.</p><p>In the past few years, we've hiked through 40 national parks together. In that time, I've learned a lot about <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/family-camping-hiking-teenagers-learning-lessons-california-john-muir-trail-2024-11">how to make hiking more exciting</a> and engaging for kids — even reluctant ones like mine.</p><p>Here are my best tips for getting kids interested in exploring the outdoors.</p>