Camping With Kids

'When can we go camping again. Grandma?' asked my four year old granddaughter.

Those words gave me goose bumps, because nothing is more satisfying to me than sharing the out of doors with young people, especially my nearest and dearest.

To begin, with, not everyone in my family agreed that taking preschoolers camping was a good idea. When I told my older and childless son, the long distance solo hiker, that I was taking the girls camping, he replied 'Count me out. They're too young I'll wait ‘til they're older.'

I remained undaunted; however, I did spend many hours visualizing and planning. So, here's what worked for me.

Keep them entertained!

Choose a site with interesting natural features This time I chose Sycamore Canyon which has trees, creeks, a beach, and lots of safe bike routes.

I think tents are intrinsically entertaining for young children-zipping and unzipping the door. crawling in and out- what fun! On the other hand, most adults do not want bugs, dirt, leaves and sticks where they are going to be sleeping. So, we had a Play Tent and a Sleeping. Tent. The rule was anyone could go in and out of the Play Tent as much as they liked, but you needed Mommy's permission to go in or out of the Sleeping Tent. This kept both groups happy.

Different children have different interests. For me, no one should be forced to do anything on a camping trip. Let everyone choose how to spend their time. On one camping trip, my niece spent hours sitting in her tent reading stories to her doll; whereas my sons preferred chase games and exploring. Fascination with animals and bugs is one interest most young people share, and older children may enjoy a book about annual tracks and scat. On the trip with my grandthildren, I brought paints, paper, crayons, bubble mixture and wands, sand toys, and a croquet set. Their parents brought their bicycles and their dolls.

Keep them safe.

Bad sunburn will spoil anyone's trip. Apply sunscreen early and often. Get local information on rattlestiakes, poison oak, riptides and any other possible hazards. Make sure that young children are supervised and that older one's know how to avoid danger.

At night, establish limits regarding the fire. Know how close you can put your feet before melting those rubber soles. Point out that the grill, the nearby rocks, and the pan handles will all be too hot to touch. Make clear who is old enough to light the fire, to add wood, and to fan the flames, and who is not.

Keep them comfortable.

Know the likely high and low temperatures and bring the right clothes and sleeping bags. If rain is likely, make sure your tent is in good shape, with a dependable rain fly. Some of us may be able to survive a cold or a wet night in good temper, but I have never met a child who could.

Let us pass on to our children and grandchildren Sierra Club's mandate to explore, enjoy and protect the planet. Let's take them camping.

Looking for a way to introduce the children in your life to the outdoors? Check out the Little Hikers section online.