It’s never too early to get your kids into nature, especially when you camp with kids. Sure, it’s more work than getting them into an iPad at a young age, but it will be more rewarding in the long run. Family camping trips are informative experiences for kids. A family weekend in the forest can be challenging and stressful, but incredibly fun. Find your desired destination, bring the essential outdoor gear, and convince your fellow campers that you’re embarking on an amazing adventure together.
First, decide where you want to go. There’s a variety of state park campgrounds in the mountains, on the coastline, in the forest, or near lakes. You can view maps and images of nearly all of them online, and make reservations at reserveamerica.com. Doing this research will inform you on the range of amenities available at different locations. Are you looking to rough it in the woods with minimal services, or do you want access to hot water bathrooms and electricity? Many campgrounds have activities onsite, like zip-lining, paintball, river rafting, or canoeing that cater to families. Popular sites tend to be overbooked through the summer months, so plan ahead!
Camping requires a significant collection of gear, so decide whether you’re getting into a once-per-summer outing or a new family activity. Gear To Go Outfitters is a useful source for renting camping supplies. If you want to invest in your own gear, we suggest purchasing quality products from reliable brands that you’ll only need to buy once. It’s not worth saving $50 on a tent when the trade off is a wet sleep. If it’s your family’s debut entrance to the outdoors, consider renting a camper or RV. That way, you have the general comforts of home, but can still enjoy a campfire and outdoor fun.
In terms of the kids, it’s your call when you want to teach them how to swing an axe and chop wood. You might want to ease them into helping pitch the tent before moving them on to lighting the fire or shimming kindling with a hatchet.
The most important detail is to make camping exciting, so everyone in the family wants to do it again. These days, it’s a valuable thing to raise your kids to be outdoor savvy and have experience in nature.
If it’s your first family camping adventure, you probably don’t want to trek into a remote location where you only have what you can carry to rely on. Work your way (and your kids’ way) up to that. Start with a family operated campground or a state park, where you can drive into your site that has an electrical hookup and is steps away from a hot shower.
You’re not going to have the option to escape indoors when the sky opens up, so bring tarps, rain gear, and waterproof containers that will keep everything dry. In the outdoors, things get soaked in seconds, but take hours to dry out. Yes, there are some camping locations that have a zero percent chance of rain, but this is a general guideline to be prepared for the weather. If there’s a drastic change in temperature from day to night, be prepared for that. If the sun is scorching hot by 7am, pitch your tent in an area that has morning shade. Work with your environment.
There’s no shame in bring an air queen-sized air mattress with an electric pump. Bottom line is that if your family members don’t sleep well, they won’t want to do it again. If you want to pack light and avoid bringing your pillows from home, invest in quality sleeping pads and sleeping bags. Your camp bed is not where you want to cut corners.
You’re going to be playing with fire (literally), using an axe and knives, cooking with gas, and possibly encountering wildlife. Have a first aid kit with you and think about a satellite phone if you’re camping somewhere out of reception. Make sure someone back in the real world knows exactly where you are and when you’re due back.
The whole point of being in nature is to engage in it and take a break from your everyday life of being plugged in. Bring supplies so you can do crafts, makes things, go fishing, birding, hiking, play games, and take advantage of your surroundings. The most important activity to do with the kids that cannot be overlooked? S’mores.
Discover more