10 Reasons To Take Kids Camping

“Took my Sunday School class on a one-night car camping trip this weekend - three adults and seven third- and fourth-graders. No, it's not backpacking, which I HAVE done with a group of kids (much more of a challenge), but it does get them outside and active! We kayaked, fished, roasted marshmallows, played Frisbee, and generally had a lot of fun. If you've never taken a group of kids camping I encourage you to try it some time. Getting kids outdoors and away from their TV's and Nintendo's is one of the best things you can ever do for them. It inspires a love and respect for nature, and gives them a chance to bond with the adults in their lives in a way that will create lasting good memories. Camping trips with my Dad are some of the fondest recollections of my childhood.

So here are the ten reasons:

Bugs are better than drugs.

It's a great opportunity to perfect your techniques for baiting hooks, untangling fishing lines, and fixing stuck zippers.

Hearing your name repeated loudly and urgently approximately every ten seconds makes you feel important and needed.

Sitting in a puddle of spilled Dr. Pepper or Sprite gives you that cool, refreshingly sticky feeling.

It's a chance to subject your tents and other gear to high-intensity endurance testing (all of my stuff was up to the challenge, fortunately).

The fact that no one got burned, drowned, or impaled on a fishhook renews your belief in miracles.

It's fun to observe the expression on a mother's face when she sees the live (or recently deceased) toad, snake, or large insect, and formerly white socks, brought home by her little camper.

Your dining companions will be easily impressed by meals of hamburgers, Froot Loops, or Cheez-N-Crackers (note: picky appetites are virtually unheard of after 24 hours of running around a campground).

The pride that landing a three-inch bluegill can bring is priceless ("I CAUGHT A FISH!! I CAUGHT A FISH!!").

You will never take a child camping that doesn't want to go again.”

“Mmmmmmmm...not all drugs are worse than bugs!”

“LOL Oma! Kids are amazing with their untainted views, aren't they?”

“Just got back from backpacking weekend with a bunch of kids. 2 of which were newbies. Beautiful weather, shelters were empty and the mosquitos were few. After getting off the trail at 11 -first we ate everything that was left in our packs, the stuff I hid in the car, we went to the diner, scarffed everything in sight, stopped at the 7-11 to pick up more stuff, did a side hike (waterfalls, played in the water, caught frogs, crayfish, found deer bones, laid in the sun). On the way home, got milkshakes and Ice cream.
Its amazing how hormornal, moody, sullen teenagers turn into just plain kids when they are in the woods.
What a horrible weekend!”

“Omahiker, that is great! That is so encouraging. I hope to take my former sunday school class (7/8th grade boys) on an overnight trip. I still need to find a wknd and another male adult to join us.

Most of these boys havent been camping before. One asked to bring a C.D. player, I replied "no". He said " Then what are we gonna do?" I remember numerous trips as a kid, great times!!!!”

“(formerly young&creaky) I agree, Omahiker, I just got back from camping with my family and we had a good time. My 8 and 6 year olds slept in their own tent and my husband and I had peace until 4 AM when a quarrel broke out over who was in whose space in the kid's tent. I'm sure they will get better at this as we go more often. The ranger said there were a lot of bears in the area, but luckily we didn't see or hear one.

My husband and I made a list of which things we would do differently or bring, that we had forgotten. AND we all had to adjust to the prevalence of all kinds of bugs. I grew up RVing, so tenting is taking some learning. I usually go with the girl scouts, since I am a leader, but that isn't the same as using your own tents and camping with the public. We didn't get to do as much hiking as I would have liked, but we'll get more organized as we go. I haven't backpacked yet, and I still haven't figured out how to get four people's gear into two adult packs and the kid's two daypacks. But this site has helped me a lot.

You sound like you and the kids had a lot of fun boating and fishing. We haven't gotten to that yet, but that's a whole other set of gear. Thanks for giving your time to the kids. It is stressful and fun at the same time. Like the "scary" bedtime stories they tell in the tent in the dark. Or the competition to toast the perfect marshmallow.”

“I miss not camping and backpacking with our Scout troop. We always had the most fun. One of our troop rules was "no players and electronic games".

I believe that camping, and especially backpacking, are wonderful activities for kids and their development. Backpacking, especially, can bring out some latent qualities in some kids. I say this because because I was Master of Ceremonies at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor last month for a young man who was the biggest goof off you could imagine when he came into our troop. However, ONE THING he could do was backpack--and never complained about anything while doing it. He ended up being one of the star players on his high school football team.

I could go on, but I won't.”

“Reason #1 - It drives Nigal crazy if he's camping next to you.”

“I'd sooner cut my wrist as to take a young kid backpacking. 12 years old is about as young as I care to take. My girlfriends son has been 3 times now and he's getting better every trip but It's still got it moments.”

“This must be church backpacking trip weekend. I took seven kids out this weekend on a real sleep in the woods 10 mile a day trip. One complication not planned on was there was a state horseman meeting at the nearby state park and for some reason horses go berzerk when they see colorful packs on fidgity kids but I came back with all kids in one piece thank God!”

“I'm going on a 3 dayer with a 4th grade class this Tuesday.
I've done this several times. I never get to excited about it, I always think my time would be better spent on a backpacking trip.
But when I go and all is said done I'm always glad I went and end up having a great time.”

“calnatv,
I know what you mean, but it is worth it. I just figure I'm growing my own future backpacking buddies and since they are young and strong they carry most of the stuff... it works for me!”

“Believe it or not, Nigal is going backpacking with a kid in two weeks *and* he even made a sleeping bag for her! He's a good guy :^)”

“I don't know if growing up camping made me a better person, but it sure gave me a lot of great memories. I'm glad my parents took the time and trouble to take my sister, brother and me.
You people taking groups of other people's kids are really special.”

“I think its because the kids actually have time to think, talk and socialize with each other. The conversations we have are amazing. Time seems to be scare with the kids now.
They also get to be completely on their own. They are in charge of their own lives for the weekend and the only program is getting to their destination in one piece.
They are more confident in their skills, they have a sense of accomplishment. Plus its just fun. Gives us an excuse to be out there”

“OmaHiker,
You are definately a saint. Glad you had a good time. My wife and I teach 3rd & 4th graders at our church also so I can imagine some of the things that you had to put up with. There's no way we would take our 21 kids to the woods. I wish I could, but I know better!”

“Last weekend I took some cubscouts camping and it was the first time for many of them. They all had a blast, as did I. Sure, they don't carry their own weight, but they are kids afterall.”

“null”

“Reason No. 2: They will scare away the animals. Who wants to be disturbed by pesky wildlife??

Reason No. 3: You might lose one or two on the way.

Reason No. 4: They will make sure you have lots of space at the campground, like the 16 empty spots surrounding you. Go ahead, spread out.

Reason No. 5: You hate to just throw away the old rancid graham crackers, misformed marshallows and the Hershey bars that sat in the window of the car too long.

Reason No. 6: Someone has to test the effectiveness of the mosquito repellent.

Reason No. 7: The computer or TV is broken.

Reason No. 8: Who knew you could have your own "Blair Witch Project" experience as young ones show artistic talent in stacking branches in ominous ways??!

Reason No. 9: It's fun to be able to teach identification of poison ivy and then have it passed around for closer inspection.

Reason No. 10: Testing your Halloween costume in the woods has fun and often unexpected results. WOW!! It really IS SCARY!!!

There ya go, a tip of the hat to you, Lipstick Hicker, for No. 1.
:-)”

“Reason No. 2: They will scare away the animals. Who wants to be disturbed by pesky wildlife??

Reason No. 3: You might lose one or two on the way.

Reason No. 4: They will make sure you have lots of space at the campground, like the 16 empty spots surrounding you. Go ahead, spread out.

Reason No. 5: You hate to just throw away the old rancid graham crackers, misformed marshallows and the Hershey bars that sat in the window of the car too long.

Reason No. 6: Someone has to test the effectiveness of the mosquito repellent.

Reason No. 7: The computer or TV is broken.

Reason No. 8: Who knew you could have your own "Blair Witch Project" experience as young ones show artistic talent in stacking branches in ominous ways??!

Reason No. 9: It's fun to be able to teach identification of poison ivy and then have it passed around for closer inspection.

Reason No. 10: Testing your Halloween costume in the woods has fun and often unexpected results. WOW!! It really IS SCARY!!!

There ya go, a tip of the hat to you, Lipstick Hicker, for No. 1.
:-)”

“Hey, I was having computer problems!! sorry bout the double post”

“lizs, pesky wildlife, LOL! Normally at the campground where we stayed, I am able to feed two families of geese and their babies, but the geese took one look at our kids and made a beeline for the opposite side of the lake. Thanks for the additional reasons.”

“Rabbitman, 21 kids, no way! Maybe you could try taking the boys and girls separately? The most kids that age I have ever had was ten (with one other adult) and I would not want to try taking more than that. I was on the verge of committing murder, or at least setting a very bad example with my language, for that entire trip. Also did a campout with 14 teen-agers a couple of years ago. It was very challenging keeping those little hormone factories away from members of the opposite sex after lights-out.”

“Omahiker, it looks like you are a morning person. I've been on for 45 min reading everyone's posts from last night, and yours this morning. No one else seems to be on, or else they are just reading too.”

“ME TOO!

(How's come my work computer says 6:16am when Ms.LyndyS' time is 6:34? Hmmmmmm....isn't that just like work, always trying to squeeze more time out of ya!)”

“Geez, Buddur, you're at work already? Where are you, Nova Scotia, more eastern than eastern standard time? Or do you like to go early and beat traffic?”

“http://www.kirotv.com/news/5931298/detail.html

That's reason #1 not to take kids hiking in the winter in Washington.”

“damn...did you see the report about the woman smothered to death by her own piled up clothes?”

“Isn't this the reason TO take your kids camping thread?



A terrible tragedy for any family to endure, that's for sure, but I don't see how being a kid has anything to do with it---the limb could have fallen and killed one of the parents as well. A kid could be killed getting off a school bus but that doesn't mean they should stay home from school. That's why we call them accidents; they can happen anywhere at anytime without any warning. If the parents knowingly (or unknowingly) took the family out after misreading the conditions, it's a heavy burden they'll carry forever. Sad story.”

“USA, I read the story, and while bery sad-it could have happened at home, in their backyard! Should we not take kids in the outdoors? I don't buy that. I realize that when Ford is with me in the backcountry we could have an accident. But I also realize that the same could happen at school, in our car, at home. Live life at it's fullest...and realize that sadness can and will happen.”

“I was just thinking the other day that of all the group trips I go on the “All About the Kids” hikes are far and away my favorite ones.”

“sarbar, I didn't say never take you kids into the outdoors... I said, in the winter, in Washington. You should know better than anyone else here that fall/winter is when our big trees tend to come down. Yes, a tree could fall on your house, and yes it could fall in the back yard and take out the dog as it happened last week in the news here. But the story says it was windy. I would play the odds and not take a child out in these conditions that we have been having lately.”

“I feel sorry for people that live their lives as a big statistic. "Why take any chances?", they say as they deny their kids a peanut butter cookie because of some report they read that .001% of the kids that eat them choke and die on a peanut shell. I remind my friends not to let the source of their greatest joy become the source of their greatest misery.”

“I have great memories of camping as a kid. Toasted marshmallows, hay rides, huge canvas tents, campfires..etc..etc. I can't wait to share these things with my own children!”

“Ok, fine, take your kids hiking under 100 foot fir trees loaded down with rain and blowing in a 50 mph wind and the roots are in soil soft as a sponge after 20 straight days of rain. See if I care.”

“See now, that would be just stupid!”

“scouting is great way to see the world of your youth from a different perspective. I am just learning this as a new varsity team coach.”

“Thank you, backslacker. And now you know the rest of the story.
last edited: 1/09/06 10:19:40 PM”

“"The rest of the story" wasn't part of your original story.....probably why so many people took your bait.”

“I'm taking BowlderSon winter camping in Yosemite this weekend. Looks like it will snow. Hope we don't freeze to death.

Should we take any warm clothes?”

“No, but please inform the government where you'll be so they can bail ya out. A safty net society is no good if ya don't use and depend on it. :)”

“We'll be in a national park - that means they're responsible, right? I'll alert the 'copters now....”

“I don't buy that USA..heck I used to live under 100 or so of trees on the ilsnad, and every day in winter was a bad wind day. Wind would howl and howl. We used to lose 1-2 trees a year on the property. I would go hiking in the Kettles and the ACFL even in wind storms. I chose not to think about it.
When I backpack with Ford, I try to not camp under trees...it is a matter of am I going to stay indoors all the time, or go out. Trees fall year round, as do branches. It could happen in summer even!”

“Oh no!! The wind is blowing! We can't go outside!

Get real. :p”

“you guys hike in the wind??!!...you're crazy...this one time i hiked when it was windy and a gust of wind blew my hat right off and into a gorge...i thought "that could have been me in that gorge"...now i only hike on 65 degree sunny days when there is absolutely no wind”

“65 degree sunny days? Are you NUTS? Haven't you ever heard of skin cancer? You are living on the edge my friend.”

“Yeah! Proof:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/43545974/537188037jeHedX”

“Is that your wife? Why does she have hair on her chest?”

“Ha ha! I'll tell BowlderGal you said that!”