The Unplanned Poop

You Have to What???????

It's a beautiful day outside, and you decide to take your kids for a hike. The weather is warm, nature is beautiful, and you can hear the sounds of birds singing in the tree branches above.

Everything is perfect until you hear, "I have to go potty," and there are no restrooms around.

I always made sure my kids went to the bathroom before we left for a hike, and we stayed within a short distance of a bathroom or outhouse wherever we went. This strategy worked for quite a long time.

Then came a day when we were exploring a new nature trail, and one of my kids announced that it was time to take a poop. I started to herd all of the kids back to the car so that we could drive to the closest bathroom, but I was informed it had to be "now." Now???? Really???? Not in a few minutes? No. It had to be now!

I led my kid off the trail to a secluded area where the bowel movement could take its course.

I found a stick, dug a hole, and handed over some leaves for wiping. Although this took care of the immediate problem, I learned that day to always be prepared in case a similar incident occurred again.

To be prepared for the unplanned bathroom emergency, you just need to pack a few simple items on your hike. I suggest putting these in a small backpack so you can keep your hands free.

Your outdoor bathroom kit should include:

Trowel

Toilet paper

Toilet wipes

Disposable gloves

Sealable sandwich bag or dog poop bag

Hand sanitizer

If you have a child who is leery to squat for fear of being seen, I recommend also packing a small baby blanket that can be held up in front of the kid to ensure privacy.

Some Basic Protocol

Find a location about 200 feet away from the trail and any water sources, such as streams or ponds.

When searching for a secluded spot, be careful not to get near any poison oak or ivy.

In the warmer months, take care there are no snakes in the area.

Bushes and trees can provide privacy.

For boys, peeing outside is pretty easy. It's a little trickier for girls as they need to squat, so in this case, instruct her to squat as low as possible to avoid any backsplash and make sure she has toilet paper. Afterwards, use disposable gloves to pick up the used toilet paper and put it in a bag. Now, both of you can use a wipe to clean your hands.

If a child needs to poop, follow the same safety protocols as listed above. In this case, though, you'll need to find a place where you can dig a hole.

It's best if you can locate some soft ground to dig a hole about 6 to 8 inches deep.

When ready, give the child some toilet paper and toilet wipes. Encourage the youngster to aim into the hole. Sometimes, this is easier said than done, so try not to get frustrated. The closer to the ground the child can get, the better. Again, holding on to a sturdy object can be very helpful.

If, by any chance, your child can't hold it long enough to dig a hole, let the kid go ahead and poop on the ground, then dig a hole and bury it after the fact.

When finished, gather up any toilet paper as well as your disposable gloves, leaving no mess behind. It's important to keep the environment clean.

Use your trowel to fill in the hole and make sure you both wipe your hands. Mission complete!