Welcome to the second edition of “Readers Weigh In,” where I pose a question on the Go Explore Nature Facebook page and you respond. Then I feature as many answers as possible with everyone here (along with a link to your wonderfully amazing blog if you have one).
The question I posed this week:
What’s Your Best Piece of Advice for Someone New to Camping With Kids?
Here’s what some of you had to say.
Michelle from Restore Your Nature:
Make sure your pick a family/kid friendly campground. Leave the electronic games at home. Check your immediate area for safe exploring for the little ones. Bring extra socks/clothes – more than you think they’ll need. Stay flexible. LOL.
Melynda from TravelingMel:
Don’t expect it to be anything like camping without kids, and I mean that both good and bad. It is so fun watching kids explore and experience all kinds of “firsts” in the woods. It’s amazing to pass your camping skills (or is that skillz?) to the next generation. But, you won’t be sitting around the campfire drinking a glass of wine and listening to the sounds of nature …
Michael from TrailMix. Net:
[My wife] Sara set up a tent in the living room and then the backyard to help them ease into sleeping in different locations. It worked great. They camped out more nights than they slept inside this summer and visiting a campground was a welcome change of scenery.
Family Wilds:
Take some items/routines with you, e.g., blankets, favorite toy, bedtime book reading. We also took some of our daughter’s favorite foods with us the first few times we went. She did great, and may have done great without these things. At the least, they made us feel more prepared and confident, which really goes a long way.
Nicole from Arrows Sent Forth:
Be prepared for temperature changes. When you only sleep indoors in your comfy house, you forget that while it may be warm during the day, it is often chilly in the evening while you’re sleeping. Warm pajamas, plenty of blankets, etc.
Also, plan out your meals and keep the food well organized. Nothing worse than hungry, cranky kids and no game plan for dinner. Given the amount of time they’ll spend outside, plan on your kids’ appetite increasing, and be prepared with plenty of snacks, too.
Ariella from Sanborn Western Camps:
If you have a “destination” hike/exploration planned, make a “high/low” surprise package: put some special snack treats or nifty “explorer” items (mini magnifying glasses, specimen jars, etc.) into a ziplock bag, then cover the whole thing with duct tape (you can reuse the bag … and who doesn’t need a little extra duct tape on a camping trip). Then, if they are big enough, have them carry it and then they can decide to either a) open it at their “low” moment or b) open it at their “high” point of the day. Either way, it will create anticipation, motivation, and a little mysterious fun for your adventure!
Bring lots of snacks, a first aid kit, and glow sticks for when it gets dark.
Now it’s your turn – what’s your best advice for families new to camping?
If you want to get in on future conversations, be sure to “like” the Go Explore Nature Facebook page.