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Camping can be one of those life experiences that stay with a child well into adulthood. Depending on how they perceive it, a childhood camping trip can become something they look back on with fond memories, or it can conjure up intense distaste and dislike for anything having to do with the wonderful outdoors. To head off the second outcome, parents should try to take some special considerations into thought when planning a camping trip that involves kids.
Keeping your Sanity by Being Prepared
To save your sanity, try to prepare for nearly anything! If a camping excursion with kids is any one thing, it is unpredictable. The weather will be your main opponent. Weather can be hot, cold, rainy, so dry that you can not have a campfire, (and who ever heard of a camping trip without a campfire!) snowy, with sleet… I think you understand. Pack accordingly, and no matter how warm a time of year it is, always bring with warm attire and sturdy hiking boots for everyone in the family. An extra pair of shoes should also be packed in case of wet conditions.
Whether you will be camping in a park, or camping in the wild, find out ahead of time if the area has areas that are clearly not kid friendly. You may have heard from a friend of the ‘perfect’ spot to camp at, but is that cliff really an area that you want your toddler having access to? What has the weather been like just before your trip? If heavy rains have been in the recent past forecast, that family campground, with a peaceful river setting, maybe should be skipped, as water levels are probably a lot higher than normal.
If you will be staying at a campground, do they have playground equipment, bathroom facilities, or cabins to rent? Find out beforehand and make what reservations are needed well in advance. While you may not mind traveling to a campground only to find out that they have no openings, you can be sure your kids will not take it so well. If you will be camping in an undesignated campground area, make sure that you have a back up plan in case you arrive to find somebody else already occupying that perfect spot.
Safety Precautions
The safety of your children is the top priority to keep in mind when planning your camp out. When hiking and even just moving about the campsite, make sure they know and understand the rule of ‘always in sight’. They should always keep you in sight, and you should always keep them in sight! Occasionally, for whatever reason, this rule is not followed. A child separated from the adults in charge is not only a scary situation; it is a potentially dangerous situation! A plan should be discussed beforehand on what to do and not do if this happens. Each child should have, preferably on a chain so they can keep it with them at all times, a whistle. Explain to them that this is not to play with, but to be used if they become separated from you. Tell them that they should stop, stay exactly where they are, and blow the whistle. It is very easy to become disoriented and quickly lost in an area that they are unfamiliar with. You will be able to find them much easier if they stay put and blow the whistle. The whistle is also a good deterrent for wild animals. A flashlight should be provided for each child with both fresh batteries and a spare set. Also, give children a pocketsize flashlight and encourage them to keep it with them at all times. A plastic zip bag with rations, such as raisins and jerky, should also be given to each child when hiking. A compass, if they are old enough to know how to use one, along with a small pocketknife, can be very useful for older kids. In addition, do not overlook today’s modern conveniences of two-way radios and cell-phones. If the children are old enough to use them, they are excellent ways to call for help if they become separated or lost from you.
The Boredom Factor
When doing any type of travel with kids, boredom is always a factor. Again, try to head this off before it happens. Kids love to collect things, and camping is an excellent opportunity for them to do this. Provide them with one of those plastic school-type boxes, packed with a few small jars and zip bags for keeping all the treasures they find. Top this off with a magnifying glass, tweezers, and a pair of gloves, and they will be all set to collect everything from rocks to bugs! Allow kids to bring with something from home that, while you may consider it unnecessary, they consider it essential. This could be a small radio or CD player, a pocket type game, etc. Pack a ‘goodie’ bag. This can have a comic book or two, a storybook for younger kids or a book of ghost stories or mountain man tales, for the older ones. Camping out is a perfect time to also explore ‘living off the land’. Learn together how to build a campfire from scratch, and how to cook with the campfire! The pickiest eaters will eat something that you never imagined them eating if they are the cooks AND they cooked it over a campfire!
Camping together with your kids can be both fun and a learning experience for everyone involved. Be prepared, be safe, and have fun!
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