September 23rd, 2009
Whether you’ve taken the kids camping just once or you’re a seasoned camping family, here are some helpful hints for making your next camping trip the best yet.
Part 2: Planning the Trip (for experienced campers):
1. Get the kids involved.
Find out what the kids love about camping — and which parts they could do without. Get their input about where to go, what activities to plan, what food to bring or cook, and when to go. Ultimately, as parents you have the final say, but by listening to your kids and actively involving them, you might learn some interesting things about them — and if they know their feedback is being considered, they’re likely to have a much better time on the trip, with less complaining (which is good news for everyone involved).
2. Try someplace new.
Do your research — talk to other families, search online, or contact your local parks & recreation department. Find out which campgrounds would be suitable for your family’s interests and experience level and plan to try a new place. It’s easy to fall in love with one or two campgrounds and keep returning there, but you never know what else you might be missing.
3. Plan for a new activity.
While the kids (and adults) are likely to have their favorite parts about camping, now might be the perfect time to introduce something new. Whether you consider adding fishing, night goggles, horseback riding, or kayaking to your family’s camping repertoire, be sure to plan ahead, choose a reputable supplier, company or guide, and talk to your children about what to expect. If the activity doesn’t go over well, you can always skip it next time, but at least everyone got the experience of being an explorer and trying something new.
4. Consider inviting friends.
If you’re feeling brave, why not let each child bring a friend? While this certainly requires extra planning, extra packing, and extra responsibility for the parents, it virtually ensures that every child has a wonderful time. If you’ve got several children (for example, 3 or more) and the thought of all these “extra” kids seems overwhelming, consider letting one child bring a friend, and rotate which child gets this privilege for each camping trip, so everyone gets a turn and the adult supervision doesn’t become unmanageable. And who knows? Your child’s friend just might return the favor at some point, giving you a whole weekend to yourself.
Stay tuned for part 3 where we will explore the many teaching opportunities camping provides to show kids what it means to respect nature.
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