CAMPING WITH KIDS: INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO THE REAL OUTDOORS

Introduction

Fresh air. The sounds of birds. The rustle of the trees in the wind. If you love the outdoors and would like to pass along your love to your children, grandchildren, or other young person, I would like to share some ideas that will make everyone a “happy camper.”

We camped for years with a Volkswagon van and a tent. We no longer have the VW (actually, we went through two of them), but we still have the tent. We also have a smaller, lighter tent now, and a Chevy van.
There are also three grandchildren now, and I hope that they will grow up to appreciate outdoor activities other than theme parks.

Appreciating the outdoors means to leave the television and video games at home. I don’t even like bringing a radio or personal stereo, although a good book on tape might save the day if your whole trip was rained out. I think bringing along books is just fine. A weather radio is the only exception to the electronics gear—I want to know if a severe thunderstorm is heading my way, or if flooding is a possibility.

EQUIPMENT

Tent (Make sure you take a dry run before you leave, and have all the poles and stakes)
Mallet or hammer (for driving stakes; if you forget, it takes a lot longer using a can of baked beans)
Ground cloth
Sleeping bags
Foam pads for under sleeping bags
Lantern and flashlight (and spare batteries)
Folding chairs (optional, we sit on the ground)
First aid kit
Equipment for whatever sports you will be participating in (fishing gear, binoculars, compass)


CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS

When packing, take into account what the weather will be like as you travel, and at your destination. It could also be unseasonably warm or cold. Check the weather forecasts before you leave, but leave room for quickly changing weather.

FOOD

Will you cook over an open fire, on a gas stove, or both? Make sure you pack the correct supplies.

55 quart insulated cooler (for perishables)
smaller insulated cooler (for cold drinks)
stove or trivet for cooking over fire
pots and pans (a small Dutch oven, a small frying pan, and a small saucepan are sufficient to prepare food for four people)
coffee pot (if you need one)
plates, bowls, cups, forks, and spoons
box or plastic container for storing dry food (cereal, cookies, etc.)
sharp knife
spatula and large spoon for stirring and serving
aluminum foil
zip lock bags
trash bags
moist towelettes
dish pan, dish soap, and a couple of kitchen towels
a couple of plastic resealable containers

I do not take a vacation to cook. Unless your family fishes, or has some family outdoor favorites (hot dogs, S/Mores, hobo stew), I say the less complicated cooking the better. I will leave the outdoor cake baking to others. While I can exist quite nicely on unheated foods for a week, not everyone feels the same as I do. Here is a sample of what I would bring along on a week’s camping trip.

FRIDAY (leave after work)

PLAN THE ITINERARY

Don’t keep all the fun for yourself! Let the kids get involved in planning. Just remember that long stretches en route to a destination make for cranky children. A trip closer to home can be just as exciting.

Try to incorporate some of your child’s interests when you plan your trip. Does one have a rock collection? Is one interested in astronomy or birds? What did they study in school this year—what will they be studying next year?

Unless you are heading cross country for another reason, try out some short weekend camp trips.


HAVE FUN