Take Your Kids Camping - Tips To Make the Most of Your Trip

Camping is fun, if you don't mind bugs, heat, peeing behind a tree, and perpetual dampness. But there is something about sitting beside a roaring fire with friends that makes all the discomfort of the outdoors seem insignificant at the time. Camping is a great experience for kids, especially in this hi-tech day and age when the most outdoor exposure many kids get is the jungle background on their computer. If you are thinking about going camping with your kids, or someone else's kids, you should keep in mind the following.

Unless you strive in 100% humidity and 100 degree temperatures the middle of the summer is not the best time to plan a camping trip. Spring and Fall are much better suited for spending long periods of time outdoors when the climate is more temperate. If you do decide to brave the summer heat and set up camp anyway, make sure there is plenty of shade and you have lots of ice or ice packs on hand to keep cool with. A few ice cubes wrapped in paper towels and placed on the back of the neck does wonders when it's scorching outside.

Everyone's camping list will vary but there are a few essentials everyone should pack like trash bags and baby wipes. Even if you don't have a child in diapers, baby wipes are a must. Camping is a dirty endeavor and baby wipes come in really handy when you want to get clean quickly without trekking to a bath house. Many state parks and campgrounds are carry in carry out facilities, meaning you are responsible for your own trash. Even if they provide dumpsters or trash cans you can never have to many trash bags. Trash bags are also great for storing dirty clothes and transporting soft or non-breakable items.

When arrive at your camping destination keeping kids quiet and busy while setting up can be a chore. If your kids are old enough to help set up a tent or carry large items they will most likely be eager to help, especially if camping is still novel to them. Younger children can easily get in the way so give them a job to do too. Carrying small items or their own belongings is good, or the best (and most fun) for young children is gathering "fire wood" which is usually just small sticks but they do come in handy for starting a fire. Set up ground rules before you arrive, let your kids know how far they can wander and where they can go. Staying in "eye sight" is a good rule for young kids, make sure they can see you and you can see them at all times.

Finding things to do in the great outdoors is not a challenging as it seems, and most kids, particularly young kids who don't miss the phone and computer as much, will delight in may made up outdoor games that are perfect for camping. Having a scavenger hunt outside is a great thing to do to pass the time. You don't need any special set up just give your kids a list of things commonly found outside like pinecones, rocks, a stick shaped like a Y, different colored leaves, mushrooms, (tell your kids not to eat them), flowers, etc. Having a prize for the child or group that finds all the objects first, or for everyone, will make the game even more fun and provide motivation to explore.

Kids innately love to learn so if you are familiar with outdoorsy stuff, share your knowledge by showing your kids what you know hands on. If not brush up on a few outdoor facts to share. Kids like to learn about poisonous plants, (and it helps them to avoid them) bugs, and animals. Squirrels will provide lots of entertainment jumping from tree to tree and one of the most fascinating bugs, the ant lion, are found in many wooded areas of the country. Most camping areas have activities for kids from nature walks to crafts so be sure to enquire when you check in.

Camping can be a wonderful and educational experience for kids and adults alike. As long as you enjoy the beauty of nature around you and time spent with family, a little dirt and a few bugs should be easily overlooked.