Question 1

Location - Where does Hikeabilities take place?

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities Hike & Seekers group program is held at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education located at 8480 Hagy's Mill Road, Philadelphia PA 19128.(https://maps.app.goo.gl/yDE5eLjvkSPLUwvm9)

Question 2

Date & Time - When will the Hike & Seekers group program be held?

Accepted Answer

The first Hike & Seekers 6-week group hiking program will take place on Saturday mornings in spring 2026.

Dates:
March 14th
March 21st
March 28th
April 4th
April 11th
April 18th

Times:
9:30 AM- 10:30 AM
10:30 AM- 11:30 AM
11:30 AM- 12:30 PM

Your child will be placed in one of the 60-minute time slots based on age and family preference.

Question 3

Pricing - How much does the Hike & Seekers group program cost?

Accepted Answer

Pricing
Hike & Seekers small group 6-week hiking program: $250 per child

DISCOUNTS
**Sign up by February 15th: $200 per child
**Refer a friend: For each friend you refer, you will receive $25 back

If you would like to sign your child up but need more time to complete the payment, please contact Regina directly by sending an email to hikeabilitiesot@gmail.com.

Question 4

Age - How old must my child be to participate in the Hikeabilities?

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities Hike & Seekers spring 2026 program is currently for children ages 6-12 years old.

Question 5

Leader - Who leads Hikeabilities?

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities is led by Regina Wilson,(https://www.hikeabilities.com/the-ot) a pediatric occupational therapist. Volunteers will assist as needed. Please navigate to The OT page to learn more about the lead therapist.

Question 6

Participants - Who would benefit from participation in Hikeabilities?

Accepted Answer

Children of all abilities are welcome! Your child does not need a diagnosis in order to benefit from Hikeabilities. They may just show some delays in skill development and need some help working on those skills. However, children with diagnoses are welcome! These diagnoses include but are not limited to: autism, ADHD, motor skills challenges, down syndrome, sensory processing differences, social-emotional challenges, executive functioning deficits.

Question 7

Referrals - I have a friend I think would be interested! Do you offer a referral bonus?

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities would love to have your friend(s) join! If you refer a friend to join the program, you will receive $25 back for each referral you make (up to $100).

Question 8

Siblings - Are siblings allowed to participate?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Siblings must sign up if they would like to participate. You will receive the $25 referral bonus for your additional child.

Question 9

I signed up for the Hike & Seekers group program on the website, what's next?

Accepted Answer

You will receive an email from Regina confirming that she received your submission and payment.  You will then be provided with additional details.

Question 10

Parents/Caregivers - Do parents/caregivers need to stay at the park while the program takes place?

Accepted Answer

Parents do not need to attend the program with their child; however, they are required to stay at the park for the duration of the session. We will have a lead therapist and volunteers to provide an appropriate level of support and supervision for the children. If your child needs 1:1 support, parents are encouraged to stay with their child and participate in the session with them.

Question 11

Bring - What does my child need to bring to each session?

Accepted Answer

Your child should bring/wear:
- Water bottle
- Shoes for walking/hiking (*make sure it's okay if they get dirty)
- High socks and/or pants
- Hat/visor​​
- Small backpack

*Dress in layers, especially if it is cold.

Question 12

Weather - Is this program rain or shine?

Accepted Answer

Hike & Seekers group program takes place outdoors for a reason! The program will be held in the rain and sunshine. If there is inclement weather in the forecast that would affect safety, the session will be cancelled and rescheduled for a later time.

Question 13

Cancellation and Refunds

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities cares about your safety. If a session needs to be cancelled for any reason, it will be rescheduled for another date in the future.

If you have already signed up and need to cancel for any reason, you must do so by March 7, 2026 in order to receive a full refund. If you cancel after that date, you will receive credit to be used toward a future program.

Question 14

Is the Hike & Seekers group program considered occupational therapy treatment?

Accepted Answer

No, the Hike & Seekers group program is not considered a direct occupational therapy service. It is  a program run by an occupational therapist who has expertise in supporting development in areas such as fine and visual motor skills, sensory processing, social-emotional learning, and executive functioning.

If you are looking for direct occupational therapy services for your child, Hikeabilities hopes to provide individual services in the future.

Question 15

Is this only a group program or do you offer individual services?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Hikeabilities is only offering a group program. The goal is to offer individual services in the future.

Question 16

Insurance - Do you accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities does not currently accept insurance.

Question 17

What if my child uses a wheelchair for mobility?

Accepted Answer

Currently, Hikeabilities is not equipped to accommodate those using wheelchairs. However, the goal is for this to be available in the future. Please contact Regina if you are interested in learning more about that opportunity when it arises.

Question 18

Collaboration - Hikeabilities sounds like a neat program! What if I am interested in collaborating?

Accepted Answer

Hikeabilities would love to collaborate with you! Please refer to our Opportunities page for more information.

Question 19

Research - What does the research say?

Accepted Answer

The following includes resources that back up the content in this website as well as research that emphasizes how the outdoors and occupational therapy are beneficial for kids.

Resources

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(Suppl. 2), 7412410010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001(https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.74S2001)

Bonham-Corcoran, M., Armstrong, A., O'Briain, A., Cassidy, A., and Turner, N. (2022). "The benefits of nature-based therapy for the individual and the environment: an integrative review." Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50(1), 16-27.

Chawla et al. (2014). Green schoolyards as havens from stress and resources for resilience in childhood and adolescence. Health Place, 28, 1-13.

Chen, Z., Orobio de Castro, B., & Liu, G. (2025). Does daily nature exposure enhance children’s self-worth and positive feelings? An experience sampling study. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 35(4), 948–958. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2024.2376238

Children & Nature Network. (n.d.). Research library. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://research.childrenandnature.org(https://research.childrenandnature.org/)

Cleland, V.; Crawford, D.; Baur, L.A.; Hume, C.; Timperio, A.; Salmon, J. A Prospective Examination of Children’s Time Spent Outdoors, Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Overweight. Int. J. Obes. 2008, 32, 1685–1693

Dettweiler, U., Becker, C., Auestad, B.H., Simon, P., Kirsch, P., (2017). Stress in school. Some empirical hints on the circadian cortisol rhythm of children in outdoor and indoor classes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5). http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14050475(http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14050475)

Firby, H., & Raine, R. (2022). Engaging with nature and the outdoors: A scoping review of therapeutic applications in contemporary occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 85(2), 101-115.

Koch, Lauren, “The Use of Nature as a Treatment Modality in Occupational Therapy” (2019). Honors Theses. 3163.

Mitten D, Overholt JR, Haynes FI, D'Amore CC, Ady JC. Hiking: A Low-Cost, Accessible Intervention to Promote Health Benefits. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Jul 9;12(4):302-310. doi: 10.1177/1559827616658229.

Oswald, T. K., Rumbold, A. R., Kedzior, S. G. E., Moore, V. M., (2020). Psychological impacts of "screen time" and "green time" for children and adolescents: A systematic scoping review. PLOS ONE, 15(9), 1-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237725(http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237725)

OutGrown. (n.d.). Start here: Turn the Blues Green (TTBG). Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.weareoutgrown.org/start-here-ttbg

Puhakka, R., Hakoköngäs, E., (2023). Adolescents’ experiences in nature: Sources of everyday well-being. Journal of Leisure Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2023.2204346(https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2023.2204346)

Sugiyama, M., Tsuchiya, K. J., Okubo, Y., Rahman, M. S., Uchiyama, S., Harada, T., Iwabuchi, T., Okumura, A., Nakayasu, C., Amma, Y., Suzuki, H., Takahashi, N., Kinsella-Kammerer, B., Nomura, Y., Itoh, H., (2023). Outdoor play as a mitigating factor in the association between screen time for young children and neurodevelopmental outcomes. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(3), 303-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5356(http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.5356)

Vogt, A.L., Zajchowski, C.A.B., Hill, E.L., (2022). A ramp that leads to nothing: Outdoor recreation experiences of children with physical disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leisure Studies, 41(5), 742-752. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2049629(https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2049629)

Wensley R, Slade A (2012) Walking as a meaningful leisure occupation: the implications for occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy. 75(2), 85-92. DOI: 10.4276/030802212X13286281651117

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