Gift Ideas for Camping Teens

When I was a kid, camping was a much simpler activity. Take a blanket and hang it over a clothesline. If you were lucky, you had a sleeping bag, if not you took a couple of blankets and slept between them. A camping meal was comprised of whatever you could scavenge from the refrigerator. Cold cut sandwiches were the norm. But, this is not the case today. Camping, like so many other activities has moved into the modern, high tech world. Teen boys who go camping typically want the best equipment available. This is a great advantage to those who want to buy gifts for the camping teenager. There are many different items that will come in handy on a camping trip. Here are a few suggestions for gifts for the camping teenaged boy.

1.Tent. There are so many selections when it comes to tents, the only thing that is holding you back is your wallet. You can buy a decent 4 man tent at a sporting goods store, or at a discount retailer such as Wal-Mart for about $30-$40. This will be big enough to for at least 3-4 teenagers to sleep in comfortably. On the other hand, if you want to get a top of the line 4 person tent, with the same capacity, you can visit REI online (www.rei.com), and purchase the Black Diamond Guiding Light 4 man tent for $599.95. The best bet is to go with the cheaper tent, since we all know that teenage boys can be hard on their equipment. Which is worse, a torn rain-fly on a $30 tent, or a torn rain-fly on a $600 tent? Of course, there are many models of tents available throughout a large range of prices. Find the one that fits your budget, and I am sure that teenager will be thrilled!

2.Cookware, Dishes and Utensils. If your teen is going to have the opportunity to do real camping, then they are going to need a good set of camp cookware. You can purchase each piece individually, or buy a set that will have all that is needed. At the very least, a good skillet for cooking over the fire, at least one pot for boiling water, and fire grate will be needed. A hot dog fork would also be very handy, as most teens would be just as happy fixing hotdogs over the fire as frying up a steak. Dishes of some sort will also be a must. Metal dishes with enamel coating are most popular among campers because they are durable, and easy to clean up. Again, these can be purchased separately, or in a kit containing all the dishes that will be needed. Finally, your teen will need utensils for eating. Camping silverware is available, as is a utensil tool. That is, a tool with fork, spoon and knife built in. This is particularly convenient, because all the eating utensils will be kept close together.

3.Knife and Axe. Every camper needs a knife. If your teen is not ready to be responsible enough for a knife, he isn't responsible enough to be camping! A knife will be used for clearing low tree branches, cutting guide lines, hanging clothesline, cutting kindling, and a myriad of other purposes around the camp. Make sure the knife is sturdy enough to hold up to all the duties that will be required of it. Another great option is a Swiss Army Knife style knife. It will have many different tools on it, all of which a resourceful teenager will find a way to use! An axe is also a necessity around a campfire. It too will be used to help clear a campsite, chop wood for the fire, and cut kindling. Both of these items can be found fairly cheap at any discount retailer such as Wal-Mart. Don't spend more than is necessary, as these are also items that are often lost by younger campers.

4.Flashlight or Lantern. Both a flashlight and lantern would be helpful around the campsite, especially for those late night nature calls. A good flashlight can be purchased for less than $15 at Wal-Mart. Buy one of the new ones with a brighter bulb, and it will last much longer. Lanterns are a bit trickier. There are several kinds that are available, and they all have their advantages. Some like the old style lantern which burned propane. I do not recommend these for younger campers, as they can be very dangerous to light. Even though some now have an electronic ignition, they still sometimes have to be lit by a match. If the propane is allowed to leak out too long before it is lit, this type of lantern can catch fire, or explode. For this reason, I recommend a battery powered lantern. There are basically 3 types that are available. You can buy one that runs on regular batteries (probably C cell or D cell), and it will last long enough on one set of batteries for a couple of nights of camping. The second type runs on a 6 Volt battery, and will typically run longer than one on other battery types. My personal favorite, and the one I use, is a lantern that is rechargeable. It cost about $30, and is very efficient. It will run for 3-4 nights on a single charge. It also comes with a car charger, so I can charge it while I am away.

5.Sleeping Bag. This can be a very important piece of equipment, especially if your teen will be camping in cooler weather. This is also something that improves in quality directly proportional to the amount you spend. Simply put, the more you spend, the better the bag. Look at the rating of the bag you are considering. Some will only be rated down to 30 or 40 degrees Fahrenheit. More expensive bags will typically be rated to colder temperatures. If you are going to buy a sleeping bag for a gift, make sure that it is rated to the proper temperature for your teen's needs. If he is sleeping out in 20 degree weather, in a bag that is only rated down to 40 degrees, he will freeze all night long. Don't scrimp on this gift, if you decide to go with it!

6.Food. If you really want to treat your teen to a special camping gift, get him some MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). These can often be found at Army Surplus Stores. They may not be the greatest things to eat, but they will give your teen an "authentic experience." These are really surplus meals from the armed forces. A commercial version of these prepared meals can also be found in many camping specialty stores. Again, check out REI for this gift. You could also purchase some more traditional camping snacks for your teen. Bags of trail mix and jerky can go along way towards quieting the stomach of a teenager on a camping trip!

7.A Compass. If your teen is going to be hiking and camping, a good gift is a compass. A traditional compass is very inexpensive, but can be invaluable if your son gets turned around, and needs a little help getting back to his campsite. Now, there are also electronic compasses available. One thing to remember with these is that if the battery dies, and there are no backups, it could mean being lost. So, either go with a traditional compass, or make sure that your teen has back up batteries at all times. A third suggestion in this category is a GPS unit. These are the Rolls Royce of compasses. A hiker can actually mark his trail every step of the way, ensuring that he cannot possibly get lost. These too run on batteries, so make sure your teen leaves home with plenty of batteries.

These are just a few suggestions of great gift ideas for camping teens. Check out the camping section of your local sporting goods store, or visit REI online (www.rei.com) to find other great ideas. There are thousands of products available, ranging from just a few cents, to hundreds of dollars, that you can purchase to make your young camper happy!