Hug-A-Tree Youth Lost-in-the-Woods Safety Program at Umstead State Park

Registration required (space limited); indoor session then guided hike.

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About this adventure

Rangers at William B. Umstead State Park run Hug-A-Tree, a preventative search-and-rescue program for children of roughly 7 to 11 and the parent or guardian who comes with them. The idea is simple and practical: children sometimes get separated from their family on a trail, and knowing what to do in the first minutes makes it far easier for searchers to find them. The morning starts with an instructional session indoors at the Crabtree Creek visitor center, where kids learn the core habits taught by Hug-A-Tree, then the group heads out on a guided hike to practice those skills on a real forest trail. It is a free two-hour program, so it suits families who already hike Umstead and want their children better prepared before winter walks. Space is limited and the park asks families to register in advance through the online form linked on the event page. Dress for the weather and wear shoes that can handle a dirt trail.