| There's nothing 6 year olds or older kids love | | | | identification. |
| more than being in the outdoors. Camping is an | | | | Always involve the kids in the basics of the camp. |
| outdoor recreational activity involving spending one | | | | If the adults do all the preparing, cooking, and |
| or more nights in a tent, a primitive structure, a | | | | cleaning, the kids don't learn. The look on children's |
| travel trailer or recreational vehicle at a campsite | | | | faces is priceless when they've made their first |
| with the purpose of getting away from civilization | | | | wood campfire or pitched their first tent. The |
| and enjoying nature. National parks and other | | | | best advices is plan with the kids, but always |
| publicly owned natural areas are popular venues | | | | leave plenty of room for running, swimming, biking |
| for camping. Camping is often restricted by law to | | | | or just kicking around a ball. Kids love to comb |
| designated sites in order to prevent campers | | | | beaches, draw in the dirt and gather rocks. |
| from damaging the environment. | | | | Always have paper and crayons handy, cards are |
| You can use camping to teach the kids | | | | good, too - but don't worry about entertaining the |
| independence and self-sufficiency. Survivalist | | | | kids 24x7. Camping is all about learning to |
| campers set off with little more than their boots | | | | entertain you without TV and games. Throw in a |
| on the roughest of trails-the idea being to really | | | | book or favorite magazine for yourself, and use |
| gut it out. However, you might prefer to set up a | | | | your imagination to fill in the rest. |
| tent within a few hundred feet of a campsite. | | | | If the kids behave well, reinforce their behavior |
| This can serve as base camp from where you | | | | with a prize. The prizes can be simple little things |
| can set out on nature hikes, which include fishing | | | | usually picked up at the local five and dime |
| and swimming. | | | | store...i.e. bubbles, a comic book, a toy car, a box |
| Camping usually is a breeze with kids this age. | | | | of crackerjacks...etc. You could also shop for your |
| They can help set up the tent and unload the car | | | | prizes online. Wrap the prizes to make it even |
| and can be trusted to remain nearby without | | | | more exciting. Gift wrapping material is available in |
| continual supervision. One thing though-every child | | | | an assortment of colors. With the short attention |
| must have their own flashlight! Everyone loves | | | | spans kids have, the new prize will tide them over |
| making cool shadows on the tent walls and all hell | | | | 'til the next stop. |
| breaks loose if sharing is required. Kids enjoy | | | | Take the illuminated "glow" sticks (the kind in the |
| looking at the different kinds of insects that they | | | | foil cover that you break and shake) to use at |
| can find. They might even catch frogs and | | | | bedtime for night lights. Tie one to the ceiling of |
| minnows near the lakes and streams. You could | | | | the tent when the children retire and untie and |
| let them examine these creatures and return | | | | lower it when you retire. Bring one for each night |
| them unharmed to the wild. Also, carry bug jars, | | | | of camping. The soft glow becomes softer as the |
| nets, and buckets. | | | | night wears on and is gentle on adult eyes! You |
| Hiking with six to eight year olds is generally a | | | | may prefer the green ones versus the red |
| comedy of errors. Buy some of those disposable | | | | one-the red are brighter it seems. |
| cameras or provide your kids with cheap cameras | | | | The camp journal. Take plain white paper - about |
| at the start of a hike. The novelty of being able | | | | 5 sheets per kid. Get you kids to fold the pile in |
| to carry their own cameras will get you through | | | | half and hold it together with a paper clip. Get |
| your travels that day. Get the photos developed | | | | them to color the front cover and title it My |
| at a one-hour place if possible while you are still | | | | Camp Journal. Kids are very proud of their journal. |
| traveling - and then make a huge deal about their | | | | If there are some kids who can't read or write |
| incredible pictures. Alternatively, you could provide | | | | yet, tell them to do pictures instead of writing in |
| them with some of the latest digital cameras that | | | | them. They will have a nice memory of their first |
| give an instant printout-however, you better be a | | | | trip. |
| "richdad" if you decide to make this choice. The | | | | Bring cards. You can play many games with a |
| next time you hike, the kids will be eager as long | | | | simple deck of cards. They can even be a deck |
| as you provide them with enough batteries and | | | | that is missing cards. Young kids don't know/care. |
| enough film or digital storage media! | | | | Go fish, and war, and let the kids explore their |
| Pick a theme for the trips. It helps you organize | | | | wild side under controlled conditions. |
| activities around a central concept. Much easier! | | | | Pack lots of socks for each child-at least two |
| Some favorites are "Western" including a chuck | | | | pairs or more per day. If there is a drop of |
| wagon meal, corn bread muffins and tea. You | | | | water, or mud puddle of any kind to be found, |
| could come up with 20 ways to use a bandana | | | | they will find it! Don't expect the socks to come |
| around camp and practice tying knots with | | | | clean even with the best of detergents. |
| one-foot sections of rope. At night, you could | | | | If you have an FRS (family radio service walkie |
| have a small campfire with twigs and sing old | | | | talkies), one of the neat things you and your kids |
| western cowboy songs, try some cowboy | | | | could do, is a game of high tech hide-and-seek of |
| poetry and learn a little about the stars. | | | | sorts... they can hide out, and you have to find |
| The "Survivor" theme is another hit, focusing on | | | | them (providing they can see you when they |
| back-to-the-basics camping essentials. Children this | | | | hide, for safety's sake)... and vice versa... lots of |
| age can grate cheese, stir a cooking pot, fetch | | | | fun, and you can use the walkie talkies all the |
| water, hand wash and hang laundry, clean up | | | | time, in stores when you go shopping and she is |
| around camp and even pitch the tents with a little | | | | with her stepmother, or other times. A walkie |
| help. They love to hike (1 to 2 miles) with | | | | talkie is a wonderful little gadget for kids! |
| frequent breaks. Be sure to take along a trail mix | | | | Just use your imagination and remember what it |
| snack the kids can make themselves. You could | | | | was like to be a kid... ideas of things, little things |
| even make it a bit of a competition. Kids love | | | | you can do to make anything more fun will fill |
| competitions. | | | | your mind almost instantly! One last thing, when |
| "Explorer" themes like Lewis and Clark are great | | | | talking with a kid about anything serious, get down |
| for this age group, too. They naturally love to | | | | to their level! Squat down or get them up on |
| explore. Take along magnifying glasses, containers, | | | | something high so they can see eye to eye with |
| nets and plastic cups to catch and examine | | | | you and not feel intimidated... hug your kid, and be |
| insects. Set a firm, no touching policy for reptiles, | | | | thankful everyday for the blessing they truly are... |
| insects and plants until they've been identified-this | | | | they can be a challenge, but they are there for |
| saves a lot of worry. Use handbooks to make | | | | you too... remember that. |