Last post, I talked a little about some summer activities that you can do with your kids, in particular camping.  I hope the few ideas that I posted about the planning and packing steps in preparing for a trip.  This post I’ll focus on the meals and activities that you can do while you are out of doors.     

Meals

            Planning and making meals while camping is another great opportunity to educate your children and get them involved in the trip.  Have them help you make the meal plan, but make each meal simple. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and hobo pies are easy to cook and clean up.  You can find some great tin foil recipes at Family Travelcamprecipies.com. If your kids are at a good age, let them cook or help cook their own food and definitely, definitely let them help clean.  Campsite chores like cleaning, collecting fire wood, or filling water jugs can be exciting for little ones. Plus, it gives us parents a little more down time.  Finally, don’t forget the snacks.  The outdoors has a funny way of making kids have huge appetites.  Make them easy to put together and familiar.  A child’s tolerance will be pushed on their first camping trip you want them to be as well fed as possible.  and other great food ideas at

Activities

            A camping trip should be as fun and memorable as possible.  Allowing your children to pick a few of the available activities will keep them active as well as involved.  Keeping a video, audio, or written journal of the trip is a fun activity and will help them get ready for the next by replaying their favorite moments.  Disposable cameras are a great way for little one’s to help capture the memories.  They can snap all the pictures they want of the things that were important to them.  Now, if you are a crafty parent, collages are another way for kids to make memories.  Take paper, glue, scissors, and crayons and let them pick leaves and pine cones to add or keep in a memory box.  Whatever you plan, make sure you have alternatives or back up plans.  Unforeseen interruptions such as weather or broken gear can torpedo all excitement and no back up can sink them.  Check with your campground.  Most parks will have a list of activities in the area, some will have kid friendly ones organized for you.

Above all, camping can be perfect learning experience for your children.  In this day and age of electronics and big cities, a quiet and calm weekend in the woods can teach kids much about themselves and their surroundings.  Taking time to teach your kids safety -identifying poison ivy and sumac for example- and respect for the outdoors is a great place to start.  Remember to take only memories and leave only footprints.  While there might be no one around for miles, there is no one and nothing around for miles. Teach them to keep within eyesight, for the little ones, and earshot for the bigger kids.  This will help them from getting lost.  If they find themselves lost, teach them to find a tree and stay put.  If they keep a back or fanny pack with them, make sure a whistle is inside along with a small first aid kit.  They should know that three blows is the standard signal for “Help!”

            Don’t forget to check out all the rugged shirts and cargos at Red21Boys by Wes &Willy and feel free to share any ideas for camping or any other outdoor activities. We love to hear from you!