RE: Children s ages = Camping interest?

[my4cuties]

 
My kids are 9 1/2, almost-7, and almost-4 yr old twins.  Do you think our 9 1/2 year-old would remain interested in camping with the family for many years?  Enough for us to purchase a Hybrid big enough for the 6 of us?  We ve tent camped, and they ve loved it.
 
 Thanks!  Lauire

[fivegonefishing]

 my4cuties
You know your kids the best; as long as the kids aren t always fighting and he/she is able to do stuff that interests them then I don t see why they wouldn t go until teenage years.  My parents camped up till I was about 12 then we wern t able to go anymore but sure wish we could have.  Good luck with your decision!
 
 Tammy[]

[Starryart]

 my4cuties
My daughter is 17 now and she stopped wanting to camp when she entered high school. Of course, she became very busy with her courses and marching band takes up a lot of  time so what little free time she had left she did not want to spend it at the campground. At this stage, hanging out with her friends is the thing to do.
 I think it has lot to do with your kids extra-curricular activities.
 So I would say count on the high school years to be the point where they fade out of the camping mode.

[GaryWT]

 my4cuties
My oldest is 14 and can not wait until camping season.  He loves hanging out with the kids, swimming, hanging at the rec room, going to dances, playing basketball and volleyball, riding bikes etc.  He has been camping since he was 1 and continues to love it.

[springer02]

 my4cuties
Our almost 12 year old DD thinks camping " ROCKS"  and she can t wait to go again!  She spends countless hours salamander hunting in the lakes and rivers, she meets other kids at the cg, rides her bike, walks the dog which is a great way to meet new people, reads tons of books and even likes being with us!  If there is a beach/lake, she could spend a whole day there.  She does miss television, though.  I read previous posts to her about not liking camping when kids get older and she said, " not me!"   We sometimes bring a friend along but not always.
 
 Tena

[Gatsmommy]

 my4cuties
I camped with my parents till after High School. Then they bought a small camper/van with no room and kicked me out to the tent. Think there was a hidden message? []
 
 Even in High school I liked to go, but then I always liked hiking and could sit at the campsite for hours with a good book.
 

[startx]

 my4cuties
Our teenage nephews love to camp with us, but they don t have the opportunity fairly often, like your own child would.
 
 Our one nephew though, that lives with us, loves camping with us, and he is 18.  He is mad right now because looks like the weather will keep us home this weekend, and we were really hoping to make a short weekender trip to a local state park.
 
 I think it all depends on your specific kids, but even if the nine and a half year old only makes it to high school, that is a good five years of comfortable camping in the hybrid, and you would then have room if the younger ones wanted to bring a friend if the older one stops wanting to go.  I think the hybrid could still be a good investment for you, especially if you were to maybe camp more with them in those years.

[Miller Tyme]

 my4cuties
Our kids can t wait to go camping in summer. TJ is 8, Tiffany is 6, and they are constantly bugging us. Christopher is 14 and pitches in setting up camp. He s getting as good as me w/leveling, popping up, starting fires, etc.
 Now I just have to keep him away from my beer cooler...[][:@]

[AustinBoston]

 my4cuties
The answer is " it depends" .  Our experience is quite positve, with one 19 YO DD and one 17 YO DD who feel very " left out"  if they don t get to go camping with us.  
 
 If you create positive and unique memories, and make sure you are not unbearable yourself (this can occasionally be a problem with me), they will look forward to camping long after they are out of the house.
 
 Austin

[Miss-Teri]

 my4cuties
Mine are fourteen, thirteen, and nine, and they all LOVE it!  I grew up in the country, but since the kids were born we ve lived in the city.  When we camp, they get to see things they never get to see at home such as Pelicans fishing on the water s edge, or a snake eating a large frog or wild moose in the campground.  
 
 This stuff is just - as the commercial says - priceless - and they enjoy every moment of it!

[Camperroo]

 my4cuties
Our kids love, love, love camping.  They are already talking about our upcoming season and actually watch videos from our trips such as Gettysburg, etc.  Our almost 14 yr. old is already planning on celebrating her birthday at the campground and figuring out which friends she can bring along.  Our 9 yr. old loves to fish so much when we camp, that this morning I found him watching a cable show on saltwater fishing!  First thing he said when I asked him why he was watching fishing on tv he said "  because I can t wait to go fishing when we camp"    I think our kids will be camping with us for many years to come.  They love the time together and they have friends who beg us to bring them along...so between just us and then the friends I think we have future camping trips covered for a long while.

[hbfc6]

 my4cuties
I think it depends on the kid. I have three boys and two of them enjoy it more than the other. I also think it depends on the type of camping that you do. We camped with  my parents all through High School. My twin and I would borrow my Dads pop up in college and camp with some friends by ourselfs. I remember in High School my Dad took us to Kings Island and we had a real good time. The one year we went to St. Louis and went on a riverboat ride. Yes it is worth it go ahead and buy the Hybrid.

[LocomotiveMan]

 my4cuties
Mine are 19, 12 and 9 all boys.  They love to camp.  The 12 and 9 years olds are like my wife, camping crazy.  The 19 year old loved to camp even after he went to the Military.  When he comes home we are going camping.
 
  But, kids will tell you how they feel, just ask.

[ShirleyT]

 my4cuties
All the KIDS (meaning not married or no children I guess)  in our family love to go!! We have a wide variety of ages.  Colors indicate immediate siblings. Let me think about their ages...
 
 1 1/2 yo girl
 6 yo girl
 7 yo girl
 8 yo boy
 9 yo girl  
 11 yo girl (mine)  
 17 yo girl (her boyfriend joined us on labor day weekend)
 18 yo boy(his girlfriend joined us labor day weekend)
 19 yo boy (left for the army after our first camping trip of last summer, will be sent overseas after he graduates patriot missle school next month)
 21 yo boy (getting married this summer, will see if his future wife is a laker)
 24 yo  boy (a tanker in the army, when able to take leave he joined us at the lake last summer, now enroute to Turkey)
 
 Sometimes the kids bring friends with them also, as the boys and girls have gotten older they have brought girlfriends or boyfriends or had friends meet them at the lake for a day trip.
 
 We generally have 15-20 people when we go to the lake. I think we have a compound rather than a campsite! *LOL*