2 Navigation Points Programs (Plus a Free Style)

Navigation Points Programs

“I don’t want too!” “Are We Done Yet?” “I want to go home!”

Are you familiar with any of these terms? If you have kids, and you have taken them out hiking, camping, or any other activity that involves physical activity, the answer is most likely yes! While this can be frustrating, the good news is The Navigation Points program was designed with you in mind!

As outdoor lovers, it is only natural for us to want to pass that passion on to our children. A healthy, active lifestyle exploring the great outdoors will present them with so many physical and mental benefits while teaching them so many important life skills they will carry with them into adulthood.

But we all know it is not always that easy! Kids can be stubborn! Okay, so maybe stubborn isn’t quite the right word for it. But if you have kids, you know just how difficult it can be to get them to try new things. And being a parent in this age of technology with cell phones, X-boxes, and Switches, it can be even harder to get your child to want to get up and move!

As frustrating as this may be at home, when you are traveling with kids and you find that they just don’t want to participate, that frustration is only multiplied! All the money and time that goes into trip planning, only to get there and realize that it may have all been a waste?

After dealing with this on more than one occasion, I decided to develop a system as a means of encouragement, so to speak. In exchange for trying something new, the child receives points that can be exchanged for something of value to them. You would be surprised how inspiring the thought of receiving a small toy or an ice cream cone (you know what will do it for your child!) when it comes to trying something new! The best part about this is the rewards can be adjusted as you see fit and can be adjusted for age levels.

If you want to teach your child to enjoy the outdoors, appreciate its beauty, and develop a sense of commitment to protecting it, the Navigation Points Program may help!

How Does It Work?

The Navigation Points program works by assigning a point value to different activities and educational experiences you may choose to enjoy with your children. When an activity is completed, the child is awarded the points. Once the points have accumulated, the child gets to choose a reward from your self-made rewards list (you know what your child likes!)

Some key factors to remember:

• The Navigation Points program was developed with the purpose of being fun and engaging, not to become like another chore. Avoid making it feel like just another thing to do.
• Rewards do not need to be fancy or expensive. Working towards something will give your child a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Something as simple as a candy bar (or alternate healthy snack) may be enough to motivate them. Download and use our free template for a rewards system. Involve your child in its creation to get them more excited about the program!

Navigation Points

Outdoor Adventurer Program

The outdoor adventurer program is designed to both educate and inspire your child to get outdoors, learn new things, and live an active lifestyle. The outdoor adventurer program includes topics like setting up a tent and building a campfire that will teach your child some basic wilderness skills.

The program also features outdoor activities like going for a hike and going for a bike ride that are more focused on physical activity. The combination of the two will give your child an excellent introduction to outdoor living and basic survival skills while working towards a goal (their reward!).

Activities can be completed more than once, and you can add on any activities you desire. You can find a blank sheet below that can be used to add on to the program or create an entirely new set of activities. It is completely up to you!

Go Green Navigation Points Program

The Go Green Navigation Points Program is designed to help you teach your child/ren about eco-friendly principles and tourism. The program includes a combination of eco-friendly topics to discuss with your child and some activities to do together to implement some of those principles into your family’s day to day routine.

You can find resources to help guide you through each activity/topic below:

• Leave No Trace Principles
• Green Transportation
• Energy Reduction
• Recycling
• No-Waste Challenge
• Water Conservation
• Ethical Animal Encounters
• Start a Home Garden
• Reusable Items
• Solar Energy
• Cultural Tolerance
• Campfire Safety (Protecting the Wilderness)
• Environmental Protection

Create Your Own

While we have created templates and rewards charts for you, you can create something entirely on your own to meet your family’s unique needs. If our pre–made templates don’t fit your needs, download and fill out our blank templates to create a program entirely for you.

Rewards

Now comes the fun part! Okay, okay….the entire program should be fun! But we all know the kids are working towards the prize! Once the child has started to complete the tasks and build up points, they will be able to exchange them for rewards!

We have provided a sample rewards system for some ideas, but you are free to adjust it to fit your child’s preferences. You can also choose at what point value you want your child to receive a reward.

Questions?

Please feel free to reach out to us at admin@thenavigationmom.com with any questions or suggestions you may have! We would love to hear from you!