Part 5: Making Memories Last

For smaller children:

• Take lots of photos
• Shoot video and “interview” the kids about what they like about camping
• Encourage each child to collect leaves, twigs, etc. for a collage
• Consider investing in a toddler camera (learn more about Kids Digital Cameras here)

For school-age children:

• Give each child a journal for the trip
• Encourage each child to write about their experiences
• Give each child a disposable camera to use as they wish during the trip
• Offer journal questions to help them get started (e.g., what was your favorite part of today? what about camping has been totally different than you expected? What would you like to do next time we come camping? Who in our family do you think would love to come with us next time and why?)
• Invite them to draw pictures of their camping experience

For teens and adolescents:

• Encourage them to keep a private journal of their thoughts, feelings and experiences
• Create an outdoor photo adventure journal
• Let the kids use the camera and video camera to capture special moments

Once you return home from your camping trip, why not create a picture DVD to share the highlights? A photo/video montage would look great on a LCD projector rental from Projector123.com.

Have you found this series to be helpful? If so, please share with a friend and post your comments below.

Part 4: What to Pack

1. Clothing

Kids will be kids, and you can count on your kids getting extra dirty during a camping trip, so extra clothing, socks and shoes are essential items to pack. Be sure to also pack swimsuits if swimming is an option, and towels if showers are provided. Warm pajamas and layers are a good idea, as it can get chilly at night, depending where you are camping. Rain gear is also a good idea in case of inclement weather.

2. Sunscreen

3. Insect repellent

4. First aid kit (especially with antibiotic ointment, calamine lotion, bandaids and simple meds like children’s Tylenol)

5. Games, activities or toys (just a few should cover it, and while they’ll likely prefer playing with rocks, sticks, bugs and dirt, you’ll be glad you brought the toys if it rains and everyone is confined to the tent)

6. Loveys and other bedtime items (stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, etc.)

7. Favorite snacks

8. Food

9. Cooking utensils

10. Camping stove OR lighter fluid, charcoal, firewood, etc.

11. Water and water bottles.

12. Sleeping bags, blankets, tents, stakes, rain fly, dining fly

13. Camera and film or memory sticks, batteries

14. flashlights, batteries

15. glow sticks (for fun and safety at night, and can also double as a nightlight after the kids turn in for the night)

16. deck of cards

17. graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows for s’mores

You are likely to think of other things you wish you’d packed once you arrive at the campsite — it helps to make a list while camping of “things to bring next time” and you can add it to this list to ensure you travel with everything you need.

Join us in the final installment of this series, where we’ll share some tips for making memories last.

Part 3: Respecting Nature

1. A Word About Safety.

While it’s true that kids can get into mischief most anywhere, camping seems to provide ample opportunities for just that. From a roaring campfire to a swiftly moving stream, to unusual species of bugs and insects, to woodland animals, to other campers and their dogs, children require quite a bit of guidance and instruction in order to enjoy a safe and fun camping experience. It’s best to begin these conversations long before arriving at the campsite, and continue throughout the trip.

Don’t be discouraged if you feel like the safety police during the first family campout — remember, this is an entirely new experience for your children, and it’s your first experience parenting them through it. Just do your best to be watchful yet patient, and remember that each subsequent campout will require far less policing from you.

2. Respecting Nature.

Children who have the opportunity to participate in camping and outdoor activities tend to have a greater respect for the earth and its creatures. Camping provides a great opportunity for parents to talk about preservation, conservation, the symbiotic relationships found in nature, and more. Who knows? You all just might want to hug a tree while you’re enjoying the fresh, clean air.

3. Building Outdoor Skills.

Most kids love to do the activities that are required at the campsite. Hunting for wood, collecting kindling, helping pitch the tent, prepping food for the campfire, stoking and feeding the fire, filling water jugs — all these are interesting and unusual activities kids tend to love. Plus, there’s something about being outdoors that makes it feel less like a chore and more like fun. Evening walks are extra-fun with the addition of flashlights, and fishing is a special treat.

In the next installment, we’ll talk about what to pack for your family camping trip.

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.

Part 1: Planning the Trip (for first-timers)

1. Get the kids involved. Talk about the things you will see and do while camping — to small children, “camping” can seem like a foreign word or concept until they have some way to experience it first-hand. Consider pitching a tent in the backyard and letting the kids play in it, to get used to the idea. You might even want to plan a backyard camping night to let them experience what it feels like to sleep in a tent (without a night light) and to hear the crickets and outdoor sounds. Make sure everyone has a flashlight and try to make this experience as fun as possible to build anticipation about the “real deal.” You might want to start a conversation about campfire safety and begin to build outdoor awareness before the official trip begins. The more prepared children are, the better they tend to fare.

2. Don’t over-schedule. If you have very small children, choose a campground relatively close to home. That way, if the kids have a meltdown (or if it pours or gets too cold), you won’t have far to travel to get them into their own beds. Try not to plan too many activities for this first camping trip. The kids are likely to be entertained for hours by other children at the campgrounds, bugs, sticks, rocks, woods, streams, the campfire, the tent, flashlights, etc. You may even want to bring easy heat-and-serve meals and save the real campfire cooking for next time (which also means less equipment to pack this time). By all means, please do remember the s’mores!

3. Expect the unexpected. Plan for contingencies such as rain, bugs, cuts, scrapes, bites, etc. The more prepared you are, the better off you’ll be — even if you never need any of those extra items. And who knows? Your kids just might fall in love with camping, which would be the best surprise of all.

In part 2, we’ll look at trip planning tips for experienced campers. Stay tuned!