Camping with kids provides many stimulating and pleasurable adventures. Obviously it is a fun experience for them, but it is also quite rewarding for the adults involved. Sharing your camping and other recreational activities with them and seeing them learn and grow is incredible! Often we will learn (or relearn) things as we teach them. Their enthusiasm can be infectious and help us regain some of the youthful feelings we might have thought we had out grown.
Don't have any kids or grandkids of your own? Borrow some! How about nieces and nephews or neighbors? You will find renewed excitement in exploring the great outdoors through the eyes of youngsters. We had an older bachelor in our riding group who liked to lead the little kids on skill builder rides around camp. He was often quite gruff, even abrasive, with adults, but with the kids he was really kind and patient. It was a real thrill to see "Uncle Phil" on his massive dirt bike leading a half dozen or so youngsters on little 50 cc machines around the desert. BTW, he hated to be called "Uncle Phil".
We began camping and dirt biking long before the advent of DVD players and in-car entertainment systems. Eventually we did have a motorhome with a TV and VCR that allowed the kids to watch movies during long drives, but until then we had to make do the "old fashioned" way, playing games like "I Spy" and the "Alphabet Game" and singing songs (a favorite was "Beep Beep" about a Rambler and a Cadillac -- always a favorite since my Dad was a Rambler mechanic). Once in camp, we kept a variety of entertaining games in the motorhome for inclement weather. Yahtzee and Uno come to mind, along with various wooden and wire puzzles and ordinary picture puzzles. And don't forget books! Even our least academically motivated son learned to enjoy reading when he couldn't be riding.
For those of you who may not have been introduced to "travel games" in your own youth, "I Spy" works like this: one person chooses an object within view and chants "I spy. I spy. I spy something _________." Fill in the blank with the appropriate adjective, such as color (most commonly used) or other significant characteristic (tall, short, big, small, close, far, beautiful, ugly, etc). Then the other participants try to guess what the object is. The winner gets to choose the next target. The object of the "Alphabet Game" is to be the first to find all the letters of the alphabet on signs, vehicles, or license plates outside of your own vehicle. Both of these games have the advantage of sharpening awareness of the countryside you are traveling through and sometimes the kids will discover a sign for an interesting side trip or attraction you might want to consider visiting. Letting them choose some of the attractions along the way will help them feel more like it is their trip as well as yours. If they do spot something and you don't have time to stop on this trip, jot it down so you can make time for a future visit. Identifying license plates from as many states as possible is another fun and easy travel game and (don't tell the kids), educational. Singing songs is also a good way to pass the time and keep kids occupied. One of our family favorites was "Beep Beep", a song about Rambler passing a Cadillac. It had special meaning for our family because my Dad was an American Motors (Rambler) mechanic for many years. If you don't remember that old 60's song, the Rambler outruns the Cadillac! Another time-proven travel game is the license plate game: see how many different states you can identify on passing license plates -- only one person gets to claim a particular sighting.
With today's technology, kids can bring along their favorite tunes on their Ipods or smart phones or watch their favorite movies on in-car entertainment systems, greatly reducing the incessant plaintive cries of "Are we there yet?". But if they get really involved in a movie the plea may change to "Are we there already?".
Trip planning can also go a long way toward making the journey more enjoyable for everyone. Build in or leave time for some interesting stops along the way. Even a few minutes strolling around a road side rest area will rejuvenate the driver and get rid of some of the wiggles of the younger set. Many rest areas include kiosks with information about local history and attractions that are both fun and educational. Involve the kids in planning the trip. The more they are invested in what is going on, the better their attention span. Watch for historical sites, which are often identified by signs before you get there so you can plan your stop. Almost without exception you will find nice views and interesting information to share with your young wards.
We often made the long trip from our home in southern California to visit grandparents in Oregon. Quite frequently we were on a fairly tight schedule and simply "flew" up I-5. There are few roads as boring as I-5 through the Central Valley of California (it is flat and straight and not much to look at) but you can make great time! One year we allowed ourselves more time and took an alternate route that included the 49er Trail on Highway 49, through much of the Gold Rush country, stopping for mine and museum tours and enjoying plenty of local foods. Small cafes in small towns tend to serve up some of the biggest and best breakfasts I've ever eaten -- and at reasonable prices. That trip was one of the least stressful we ever took with the kids. It was a lot of fun and everyone learned a great deal about the California Gold Rush and what life was like in a mining camp or laboring in the mines. Another year we chose to travel the Coast Route home from Oregon, which took us through the redwoods and provided many miles of fantastic beach and mountain scenery. We could make it to Grandma and Grandpa's house in one day if we drove straight through on I-5, arriving tired and sometimes with cranky kids (and adults!). Taking the more scenic routes required two or more days of travel time each way, but everyone was in better shape when we got there and got a lot more out of the time spent on the road and created a lot more memories. Being better rested and in a move convivial frame of mind frame of mind from a less stressful trip let us enjoy our time with our family even more, making up for some of the extra time spent enroute.
Take a few minutes, before you leave home, to look over historic, cultural, or entertainment opportunities along the route to your next destination. And remember to watch for those "Historical Marker" signs along the way. You'll likely find plenty of interesting side trips along the way. Not all of them will fit your interests or your schedule, but you can usually find several that do. There have been few side trips that ever left us wishing we hadn't spent the time. When we first started out it took a trip to the library or the local BLM, Forest Service, or Parks department to get information. Now you can get more information than you can use in just a few minutes right from home using the Internet. Taking a wifi enabled laptop or Smart Phone along will allow you to look up information along the way and answer unexpected questions from curious youngsters. You can find free wifi at many truck stops and restaurants these days. Even some McDonalds have it. If you can't find wifi you should be able to use a "hot spot" app on your Smart Phone. Some GPS systems offer local attractions on the map or the ability to search for things by category.
Making kids comfortable. Traveling by RV will be a new experience for many children, at least at first. Encourage them bring along favorite books, games, small toys, and, if you have the technology, CDs and movies. Find room to bring their bicycles along if you can. And bring your own too! Bikes provide hours of wholesome exercise and a freedom to explore that stimulates young imaginations. Plan on serving some of their favorite foods and treats. Over the years we developed several snack traditions that our kids and even our grandkids still enjoy. A camping trip is probably not a good place to experiment with exotic recipes that even YOU may not like. However, it is often a good opportunity to explore some basic pioneer cooking, which keeps things simple and is a good fit for camping activities. Make sure they bring clothing that is appropriate to the climate, weather, and activities. And don't be afraid to let them get dirty! It will wash off -- eventually. But the memories will last a lifetime. Invite the kids to bring along a favorite pillow, blanket, or teddy bear to make sleeping more familiar. The excitement and novelty of travel and camping often translates into difficulty sleeping so making things as familiar as possible will help them (and you) get through the night. Encourage them to bring their teddy bears and favorite blankets.
Educate yourselves. Kids are naturally curious. You can expect dozens of questions along the way, ranging from traffic, vehicle, and location inquiries to probing questions about the human or geologic history of various sites you encounter. I'm sure you will find it interesting and entertaining to learn more about all these things too. Just how do lava caves form? How long do redwoods live? How tall is the tallest redwood? What was that truck hauling? What is that building for? How high is that mountain? How deep is that lake? How cold/fast is that river? The questions are endless, providing infinite opportunities to share your knowledge and experience with your kids and grandkids. Of course, some questions may require a more immediate response than others. "Why does this spider have a red hour glass on its tummy?" will probably prompt a quick stop to prevent a black widow spider bite! "Where does that road go?" or "What is the name of that mountain?" might be something you can answer together with the help of a map the next time you stop -- and take a moment to give a little map-reading instruction. Or it might give you an excuse to do some unscheduled exploring. Questions like that are good reminders that it may be time to pull over and stretch your legs -- and your imaginations.
Maps. While we're on the subject of maps, maps can be a great tool to keep kids entertained on a long trip. Before you leave home, give each child his or her own map and show them how to identify landmarks along the route. Give them a marker to trace your progress. For younger kids you might want to make sure it is a washable marker or you'll end up with permanent artwork on your table or your upholstery. You may need to call out significant landmarks, especially for younger kids. "We just crossed the Mississippi River." "We are now entering Cheyenne." "We are climbing up the Siskiyou Pass". Letting them chart progress on their own maps helps them get a feel for where they are and helps them develop map-reading skills they may find useful when someday, they are doing the planning and driving. Modern hand-held GPSs can add a level of accuracy and detail that can be educational as well as fun.
In camp activities. If your outing includes OHV activities, you will have lots of in camp things to do. Make the kids part of setting up your camp. They can help get out camp chairs and firewood, connect power cords and hoses (if you're in a campground with hookups), even help set up awnings and tents and rolling out awning mats. If you have OHVs, they can help unload and prep them to ride as well as get out and prepare their own personal gear. OHVs always need some attention: fuel, lubricants, cleaning, checking adjustments, tightening fasteners, etc. They need to learn to take the time to get things set up before simply riding off in search of their own excitement and pleasure. Sooner or later, you will all return to camp and having everything organized and ready will make things easier and more enjoyable. Neither you nor your kids are gonna feel much like doing all those routine setup chores after 3 or 4 hours out on the trails! Let the kids know what they're doing isn't punishment or just "busy work", but real jobs that you NEED their help with. Even two- and three-year olds can carry a stick or two of firewood or toss their own paper plates etc into the trash or the fire. Yeah, I know, sometimes it is faster and easier to just do things yourself, but the long term rewards of sharing responsibilities and teaching skills and good habits to your young companions will pay dividends for them -- and for you -- for years to come.
If OHVs are part of your regular outings, be prepared to include children in at least some of the rides. Modern side-by-sides make that easy. Carrying a small child on an ATV or dirt bike takes some extra care, skill, and planning but it can be done very successfully. As the kids approach kindergarten age you might consider getting them their own rides if its in your budget. Small (50cc) dirt bikes and ATVs are designed for little kids, with simple controls. They often have adult-controlled methods such as exhaust restrictors to limit power and acceleration, allowing you to tailor the power of the machine to the capabilities and developing skills of the child.
If OHVs are not part of your current curriculum, plan appropriate activities for you and the kids long before you arrive in camp. Nature hikes, fishing, swimming, and lawn games are all quick, easy, and popular activities. If the weather isn't cooperating you may need some indoor activities to pass the time. Being cooped up in a small space with one or more energetic youngsters will soon try the patience of even the calmest parent or grandparent. Once again, games, books, puzzles, and movies are the traditional solutions to this problem. More innovative adults might involve the kids in preparing the next meal or, although the kids may not like it, in performing routine cleaning tasks inside the RV. With the right attitude and proper instruction, even cleaning can be fun and is often necessary by the time you reach camp. It also provides a source of satisfaction when a job has been done well.
Night time activities. Night time in camp provides some unique opportunities you won't find at home. Teach the kids how to safely build a camp fire. Sit around the fire and tell family stories. Sing favorite songs or songs from a camp songs book. Look at the sky. Even without the aid of a telescope you can identify many constellations. A particularly useful one is the Big Dipper, since it can be used to locate the North Star, which provides an overhead landmark for navigation. Other popular and prominent constellations are the Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, and Orion. Not all constellations are visible at all times of the night or at all times of the year, so a pocket star-guide may be helpful. Many kids today have never seen the Milky Way, since city lights completely obscure it from view. They will be fascinated to learn that cloudy band across the sky is actually a view through the billions of stars that make up the disk of our Galaxy. I once baffled a fellow camper when I commented that we were "comfortably basking in the glow of a hydrogen-fusion furnace 93 million miles away." He questioned the accuracy of my reference to the distance from the Earth to the Sun, claiming an orbit that would have put us somewhere inside the orbit of Mercury where our oceans and even atmosphere would boil away. Even after I provided written proof from an astronomy book I had on board he still didn't believe me and insisted he would have to look it up on the Internet when he got home. Guess that's a result of our modern, computer-focused society. Speaking of the Internet, you might use it to research some the stories and legends associated with the constellations. For example, the Big Dipper was also known as "The Drinking Gourd" and there is an old folk song called "Follow the Drinking Gourd" that tells how it was used to help slaves find their way north to freedom. The Indian legends call the Big Dipper the Big Bear and explain that the long tail (the handle of the Bid Dipper) is the result of a chief grabbing a large bear by the tail and swinging it around and around so much that its tail stretched out before flinging it into the sky
A small celestial telescope, or even a pair of binoculars, can provide enhanced views of the moon and stars or even the Milky Way. With even a modest telescope you should be able to see the rings of Saturn, the red glow of Mars, and the red spot on Jupiter, something that always delights youngsters. Optically enhanced views of the Milky Way reveal that what looks like clouds are really billion of distant stars. Seeing or reading about these features in science books is interesting, but seeing them for real takes on new meaning. Since planets are "wandering stars", you will need a sky-map to know where to look for them -- unless you are well-versed in astronomy. The most useful maps I've seen are a kind of night sky calculator, a disk with markings along the circumference that you use to set the date and time in order to align the disk with the night sky. Use a red filter on your flashlight when looking at your star maps to preserve your night vision for viewing celestial bodies. White light will make your irises constrict and limit your night vision. You may need filters to view the moon. While it is comfortable to view the moon with the naked eye, it is incredibly, even painfully and possibly dangerously, bright when viewed through a telescope or binoculars, so be cautious. By the way, a celestial telescope usually inverts the image so they aren't very useful for viewing objects on the ground. Knowing the image is inverted can help you when you need to align the telescope, because if you move it the direction that seems intuitive, it will probably go the wrong direction.
While on the subject of astronomy, how many planets are in our solar system? If you said nine, you are a little out of date. The correct answer is eight. Recent discoveries of more planetoids in the Kuiper Belt (such as Huamea and Makemake), some larger than Pluto, have caused it to be designated a planetoid or dwarf planet.
Geocaching is a pretty popular activity for kids of all ages these days and kind of blends modern electronic technology with an old-fashioned treasure hunt. It bills itself as the world's biggest treasure hunt. You'll need a good GPS and know how to use it. You can get clues for where to find caches by signing up for free on Geocaching.com. Usually you collect a souvenier (treasure) from each cache you locate and you are expected to contribute something of your own to replace it.
Another fun night time activity is trying to identify night creatures in the area around you. Owls, coyotes, and raccoons are common inhabitants of the night in many places. Owls and coyotes can be identified by the sounds they make. Raccoons tend to be less vocal but are more likely to approach your camp, especially trash cans, in search of a meal. Various insects will be attracted to lights. Unless you have a particular interest in entomology you probably won't find viewing or naming them particularly appealing or useful, but just watching the variety and their interactions with the light and with each other can be fascinating, even if you don't know what to call them. We sometimes use a portable bug catcher light to control insects around our camp and RV. The kids get a kick out of the snapping sound when a hapless bug ventures too close to the light and gets zapped. You can tell the air temperature by counting cricket chirps. Count the number of chirps in 14 seconds and add 40 to get the Fahrenheit temperature. The Celsius formula is a little more complicated: count the chirps in 25 seconds, divide by 3 and add 4.
Which brings us to yet another topic: Insect Control. Just about anywhere you go camping you will encounter insects, many of which are benign, but some of which can cause discomfort or even serious dangers to human beings. I mention insects here in the section on Traveling With Kids because kids tend to be particularly susceptible to insect bites, probably because of their propensity to explore things, which brings them in contact with insect infestations. Hopefully, as we adults have grown older we've learned to avoid unnecessary contact with insects and limit our exposure. If anyone in your party is allergic to bee stings, be sure to see your doctor for a prescription for an Epi-pen and learn how -- and when -- to use it.
Mosquitoes are one of the most common problems, especially around lakes and rivers, which are popular camping spots. Mosquitoes will be prevalent anywhere there is standing water, such as in an old quarry or near irrigation canals and ditches. Mosquitoes can be more than just an annoying
nuisance. They can carry West Nile and other serious diseases. Minimizing the amount of exposed skin is one of the basic ways to prevent mosquito bites. Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Avoid sandals and open shoes and wear socks. Hats with mosquito nets can protect the face and neck. For exposed skin, such as face, neck, ears, and hands, apply a good mosquito repellent such as Deep Woods OFF. It contains a chemical called DEET that is recognized as the best defense against mosquitoes. Most often mosquito bites cause itching and discomfort because humans are allergic to the solution injected by the mosquito to thin our blood making it easier for them to suck it. We make things worse by scratching them and often causing them to become infected which is why they bleed or become red and swollen. In some areas mosquitoes also carry the West Nile Virus, a serious, sometimes deadly, disease. So preventing mosquito bites is very important. There are a number of devices to repel mosquitoes from patios and camp sites. Citronella candles, lamps, or torches are helpful and they are a pleasant addition to picnic tables and camp sites, but they are not as effective as "mosquito coils", which are ignited and give off fumes that repel the nasty little critters over a surprisingly large area. There are also personal electronic devices and bracelets you can wear to keep them away. Check the effective range of any mosquito repellent device and use as many as necessary to provide an adequate defense of you, your family, and your camp site. Bite sticks will take the sting out of insect bites. The active ingredient is ammonia, so just a drop of ammonia on a bite will do the same thing. Another quick and easy treatment to ease the discomfort of insect bites is ordinary toothpaste (not gel). A spritz with automotive starter fluid will quickly take away the sting too, if you happen to have some of that handy.
Always keep the screens on your RV or tent closed to prevent insects from entering YOUR space. OK, maybe it isn't YOUR space, it is THEIRS but you're borrowing it temporarily and you want exclusive use inside your RV or tent. You won't get much sleep with a squadron of mosquitos buzzing around your bed!
Bees and other stinging insects can also be a problem in some areas, mostly during the day time. Insect repellents may be effective against some but not all of these threats. If you or any member of you group are allergic to bee stings, you should carry and "epi-pen" for immediate use in case of a sting. Avoid walking through flowering plants that will attract bees. You might want to keep a can of wasp spray in your RV in case you discover a wasp nest near your camp site or on your RV. Don't wear flowered shirts or blouses. By the way, wasp spray is a pretty good (and legal) substitute for Mace or pepper spray. They usually have a range of about 15-20' meaning you can keep threatening animals (both 2 and 4-legged varieties) at a safe distance. You don't need the training or licensing that is sometimes required to purchase MACE or pepper spray.
Spiders are very common and can be a threat both day and night. At any given time there is probably a spider within 3 feet of you at home or in the wild. Fortunately there are only a few species in America that are dangerous. The black widow is perhaps the most famous, but the bite of the Brown Recluse can be more dangerous. The best defense is to avoid places where spiders can be found. Don't reach under logs or rocks or into holes in trees or in the ground. Wear gloves when handling firewood. Black widow bites are painful but usually heal without serious implications. If you observe a severe reaction (extended swelling and redness, extreme pain, vomiting, etc) see immediate medical help. Brown recluse bites inject a venom that destroys tissue and can lead to large scale damage. One web site recommends applying activated charcoal directly to the bite to absorb the poison. If you suspect a brown recluse bite, seek medical attention right away. People have lost entire limbs due to untreated brown recluse bites. BTW, did you know spiders eyes are reflective? Some dark night hold a flashlight at the end of you nose an point it at the grass or shrubbery in your yard or campsite. Holding it at the end of your nose aligns it so reflected light will come back to your eyes. Chances are you will see multiple pinpoints of bright light reflecting back at you from the eyes of resident spiders. This can be a fun activity to share with kids.
Don't you or your kids run around camp in flipflops or bare feet. And don't sleep with your bare feet exposed. Doing any of these is an open invitation for bugs to bite. While this is especially true in desert environments where scorpions abound, it is also important in less threatening places since you can encounter poisonous insects anywhere.
Camping with kids can be a lot of fun -- for you as well as for them, if you are properly prepared. It may even give you a chance to be a kid again yourself! By the way, just about everything that applies to camping with kids applies to camping with senior citizens. My grandmother traveled with my mom and dad in their motorhomes for many years, and from what I saw, it was a delight for everyone. Grandma was well past retirement age (her doctor described her as "about 15 years out of warranty") and had some physical limitations but she was always a source of wisdom and humor and delight.
Have fun everyone!
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