I think it’s time I posted one of our favorite annual traditions: The 5-Year-Old Backpacking Trip. When our first child turned five, my husband took him on a backpacking trip. The next year, he invited our 5-year old niece.
Every year since, we’ve organized a family overnight backpacking trip for anyone who wants to go. However, only the kids who are five years old or older are invited. This has become a kind of “coming of age” event for children in our family. They can hardly wait to turn five and be included in the adventure. After 17 years, our trip includes nearly thirty people!
Destinations
My husband chooses destinations that can be reached by an easy 1-2 mile hike. We live in Utah, so we have lots of hiking options nearby. Most of our trips have been in the Uintah Mountains, but we’ve also backpacked canyons closer to Salt Lake City. You can find lots of trails that are family friendly on websites and hiking apps like All Trails.
Food
The menu for the trip is always the same. (This adds to the feeling of tradition.) The group eats the fish they catch, Uncle Ben’s rice, steamed broccoli, and either s’mores or berry cobbler. For breakfast, we eat oatmeal hot chocolate, and bagels. It’s the same every year and the kids all love it. In fact, they all love to eat fish and we think it’s because of this annual trip. (No self-respecting five-year-old is going to let the older kids mock them for not eating fish.)
As our group has grown, we haven’t been able to catch enough fish to feed everyone. No problem! We pack in seasoned frozen salmon fillets wrapped in tin foil and cook them in the fire to supplement our meal.
We live near many mountains so this trip is very inexpensive and a highlight of the year. There’s a lot of power (and a whole lot of fun) in family traditions!
Do you have crazy sports fans at your house? So do we. Our family loves cheering. My high school and college kids especially love to dress up, cheer loud, and pump up the crowd. They have flags, wigs, capes, and coveralls in their team colors. It’s serious business.
One weekend, when they were all home, my 11-year old nephew mentioned that he had his last rec basketball game of the season. My older boys decided it was time to do something awesome. They invited all of our extended family that lived in town to come to the game. The theme was “White-Out” so everyone was asked to dress in white.
We showed up early to tailgate in the rec center parking lot. The kids played cornhole and ate pizza. We loved the confused looks of some of the folks driving by in the parking lot.
Then we took over the stands in the rec center. As you may know, there are usually just a few parents and siblings in the stands, so our group really stood out. The other families thought it was hilarious. The statisticians and referees also got the giggles. This was not a normal day for recreational 6th grade basketball.
The boys worked the crowd, leading them in cheers, chants, and the wave.
One of my sons decorated a few thrift store t-shirts so they could be thrown into the stands during time-outs. It was pretty funny.
We learned all the players’ names and cheered just like we were watching a college game. The players were a little confused at first, but they soon embraced the crowd and the court was full of smiles. Every time Cousin Henry made a shot or stole the ball, the crowd went absolutely crazy. It really was so fun! And, that big smile on Henry’s face was the best of all.
So, we hope this easy idea adds a little fun one day for your family. Make a little person’s day by really showing them you’re their biggest fan!
If your church, school, or neighborhood is looking for a great children’s Thanksgiving play to celebrate the holiday, here is a simple script we created. Printable Children’s Thanksgiving Play Script
Children’s Thanksgiving Play
Cast
3 Narrators
Squanto
3-6 Pilgrims
3-6 Native Americans
If you have more than 16 children, you can add more pilgrims, Native Americans, and narrators. Make it work for you!
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Children’s Thanksgiving Play Narrators
thanksgiving play Script
Narrator 1: Many years ago, the Pilgrims prayed for a place to live where they could worship Heavenly Father and go to church.
Pilgrims kneel in prayer.
Narrator 2: They decided to come to America. They sailed on a big ship called the Mayflower.
Pilgrims carry cardboard ship across stage. Native Americans wiggle blue fabric for water.
Narrator 3: It took great courage for the Pilgrims to cross the ocean. There were many dangers, and the boat was cramped. There were no showers or bathtubs on the Mayflower, so it was probably pretty smelly too.
One of the pilgrims smells another and passes out.
Narrator 1: After a very long voyage, the pilgrims landed in America in a place they named Plymouth Rock.
Native American runs by holding carboard sign “Welcome to Plymouth Rock”.
Narrator 2: They went in search of food in the forest. They gathered seeds and berries.
Native Americans hold branches in the air and pretend to be berry bushes. Pilgrims pick berries from the bushes and eat them.
Narrator 3: But soon the weather began to change. The first winter that the Pilgrims lived in America was very long, very cold, and very difficult.
Pilgrims huddle together. Native Americans run by holding snowflakes and making rain and storm noises.
Narrator 1: Many of the Pilgrims became ill and nearly half of them died.
One of the Pilgrims lays on the ground as if she is dead. Others cry.
Narrator 2: When Spring finally came, it was a time of joy!
One Native American runs by with cardboard sunshine.
Narrator 3: The Pilgrims were befriended by the Native American tribes of the area. The Natives taught the Pilgrims how to fish, plant corn, and build homes. The Pilgrims could never have survived without the help of their new friends.
Native Americans and Pilgrims shake hands. One pair fishes. One pair plants seeds with dead fish in a hole. One pair stacks wood.
Narrator 1: One of the Indians was called Squanto.
Squanto walks in and stands with hands on his hips.
Narrator 2: Earlier in his life, Squanto had been kidnapped by an English explorer and taken captive to Europe. Although this was a horrible thing, Squanto learned the English language and, when he returned to America, he was able to act as a translator, guide, and advisor for the Pilgrims.
Two pilgrims walk in and shake hands with Squanto. Squanto leads them to other side of stage.
Narrator 3: Together, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans hunted ducks and geese, and other wild birds. The Pilgrims would be ready, this time, for the coming winter.
One Native American and one Pilgrim walk across the stage with sticks as guns. Another child dressed as a turkey runs from other side of the stage, clucking loudly. The Pilgrim says, “Catch that wild bird!” They chase the bird off the stage.
Narrator 1: When summer ended, the harvest was bountiful!
Pilgrims walk across stage holding pictures of Thanksgiving foods. (Corn, Squash, Pumpkin, Bread, Fruit)
Narrator 2: It was time to celebrate! They had plenty of food and many new friends. They wanted to give thanks to Heavenly Father for all of their blessings.
Narrator 3: “Join us!” the Pilgrims said to the Native Americans. “Join us in a big feast of Thanksgiving!”
Pilgrims wave to Native Americans, calling them to join the feast. Native Americans enter.
Narrator 1: Everyone was so excited, and everyone gave thanks to our Father in Heaven.
Pilgrims place food in the center, then join hands with Native Americans.
Narrator 2: What a wonderful first Thanksgiving Day!
Narrator 3: So, this Thanksgiving, when you gather with your family and friends to eat and celebrate, remember to pause and give thanks.
All: Children are still standing in a line holding hands. Each one takes their turn to say, “Give thanks for __________________.” (At our show, we had each child make a poster and hold it up to tell what they were most thankful for.)
The children can choose what they want to say, but here are some examples.
Give thanks for family, food, laughter, a warm house, good friends, freedom, animals, ice cream, the earth, love.
Optional Dance/Song
If you want, you can add a dance and song at the end. We used this one by the Learning Station.
List of needed supplies
Costumes
Pilgrim costumes
Native American costumes
Turkey Hat(s)
Here are two great links for costume ideas and patterns:
Blue fabric or 2 blue plastic tablecloths for ocean
Leafy branches for berry bushes
Fishing pole
Wood to stack
Cardboard cut-out pictures of:
The Mayflower
Welcome to Plymouth Rock
Snowflakes
Sunshine
1 Dead Fish
Corn, Squash, Pumpkin, Bread, Fish, Apples
The kids had a great time performing this children’s Thanksgiving play and, we hope, they learned a bit about the first Thanksgiving. We also hope it reminded them of the many reasons they have to be grateful.
You can adapt this script to your needs. We hope it gives you a good starting point for your own celebration. Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you to my friend Charlotte for taking all these great photos of our Thanksgiving play!
We live near many mountains so this trip is very inexpensive and a highlight of the year. There’s a lot of power (and a whole lot of fun) in family traditions!
Props