Camping with kids

[Kelly]

As many of you know I camp alone with my kids.  Some things that I have found that work well are ~

* Use the buddy system.  Nobody goes anywhere without a buddy.  That includes riding bikes around a loop, going to the bath house or playground, etc.

* Make sure each kid has a job to do during set-up and take-down.  (I'm the first to admit that I let this one slide too much!  sometimes it's just easier to do it myself!!)  For example ... my 4-y.o. can put pieces of wood be each stabilizer, her sister 'walks' the bungie cords under the bunk ends, her other sister is in charge of poles and her big brother helps get me situated in the site.

* Camp with friends.  This takes a load off all of us.  The kids and I were out 20 nights this season and only 2 of them were without fellow campers.


How about sharing your ideas?  Both for camping with kids in general and as a single parent ... [/FONT]

[tlhdoc]

I also camp alone with kids (DH is not a camper) and I agree that they should help set up and take down the trailer.  Even younger kids can do simple chores.  You might have to supervise them so that they do it right, but the kids will know that they are helping.  I can't believe how much more fun we have when camping with friends.  I am not saying we don't have fun when we camp alone, but with friends it just adds that much more fun.

[HersheyGirl]

We have the system down now, the kids do the outside setup, like crank down the stabilizers, BAL leveler set up, crank up the top, pull out the beds etc.  I then do the inside stuff.  When it comes time to packup, it is the reverse.  Sure makes alot less work for all of us.  Older DS (16) is a really big help and the other 2 are learning the ropes. Older DS is getting really good at helping hitching up too.  We too love camping with friends and family, it just really adds to the enjoyment of each trip.  We have only gone on one trip this year as just our family.

[sully349]

Im not a single parent...not yet  :rolleyes: , but most of my short trips are with 2 of my 3 boys. My oldest doesnt think its cool to camp with Dad. So when we go my two youngest( 14,11) have jobs and they like to help. Im a lousy cook so they help me with that also!!! Burnt hot dogs taste better when we all help to burn them. My problem is that they both head off in opposite directions and they both want me to go with them. I use 2 way radios to keep up with them but by the time the trip is over Im wore out!!  I still enjoy it and wouldnt give it up for anything. I know Ill miss it when they are camping on their own with their cool friends. Dads cool-o-meter is running on empty.

[bearbait]

sully349.....Even when you think the "cool-o-meter" is wearing off,  the foundations your building now will be much appreciated later on.  I really thought my father was quite possibly the dumbest man on the face of the earth until I was 21 or so (I can say this because I've told him the same thing).  But as I matured into adulthood,  I came to realize I was right, Dad wasn't on the "cool-o-meter" at all,  he was way above that.  Now my father and I are pretty much best friends,  we do things together,  talk on the phone,  seek advice from one another and are there for each other to lean on whenever needed.  That all came from the same foundation that he built with me back then,  the same that your building with your kids now. that foudation lasts a lifetime.

As it relates to camping,  my father always had me involved with the set-up of the camper when I was growing up.  I had lots of jobs I did and as I got older,  more were always added.  What I learned from that was that camping was a family working together and a lot less about individuality.  It made for a pleasurable experience for all of us.
 
My son has a few jobs he does now during set-up,  none for takedown because it's easier for me to just do it myself.  But as he matures,  more responsibility will be added to him.  It's a lot easier for me to teach him good habits in helping now than it is to wait till he's old enough that he thinks he knows everything...
 
It's all about building foundation,  at least that's my opinion.

[ForestCreature]

We camp with kids......
 Other peoples.  They get to go back to their  parents campers after I get done riling them up  :p:D

[tlhdoc]

Marcy are you still feeding the kids a lot of candy when they come over to see you? :yikes:

[cyclone]

Tracy, who do you think told Don's kids that s'mores should be made with more than a small piece of candy bar.  "No, no...the chocolate is supposed to COVER the cracker".

I think all of you with kids are on the right track.  There were 4 of us, and we each had jobs to do in setting up camp.  When I wasn't big enough to help set up the tent, my mom sent me to get water so she could get started on supper.  This was long before the days of w/e sites.  We laugh when we get started on the old camping memories.  The air mattresses my parents used had foot pumps.  We used to fight over who got to blow them up.  We eventually moved to a pu, but not til I was a teen-ager.  It amazes me to think of how "brave" they were in taking off on a three week road trip tenting much of it.  Now I see Kelly doing that, and I think....she's either incredibly brave or incredibly (well, I better stop there!).  Ok....she's brave.  Anyway; you are ALL creating memories your kids will cherish.

[marydell]

I agree with Kelly.  I am a single mom with 2 kids and have just gotten back from a wonderful weekend with friends.

The buddy system works well; gives me a bit more confidence that they will find their way back and their safety.  My kids are 7 and 4 and I have implemented camping duties for them also.  They can't do much yet.  My camper is all manual and not much about it is easy.  I look forward to the day when they develope muscles and stamina.

I learned in live that you have to do what you want and have fun.  You can't wait around for the perfect situation to start living.  I am 38 and just recently divorce and have never been more content with life.  The kids and I are meeting a lot of great new people camping.  Went with some old friends this weekend and meet new one's to go camping with.

Although, unlike Kelly, my camping season is even more plentiful now.  The fall is wonderful here in Louisiana and this weekend in Flint Creek Campground, Wiggins, MS was just gorgeous.

[ForestCreature]

Tracy, who do you think told Don's kids that s'mores should be made with more than a small piece of candy bar. "No, no...the chocolate is supposed to COVER the cracker".

Hehehehe......That was way too funny....I'll always remember his reaction.
 He insisted it wasn't possible to fit half a Hershey bar on to half a grahm cracker. When I showed him it could be done , his reaction was " DAD!  this lady is crazy!"  (little did he know he was right )

[CJnRae]

Giving kids chores and assignments around the campground is a good thing. We didn't let the kids go off to play until the camper was set up and they had their beds all fixed up.  And beds have to be straightened up before you go play for the day.
 
 
Safety thoughts:
 
Something else to consider is the use of two-way radios.  We've used them in the past and have seen friends use them.  Kids feel so important carrying them around and moms get a wee bit of extra comfort knowing there's that "instant communication" available.
 
Another thing we did with the kids in the past was to give them a password.  It was a secret word that they knew and we knew and was to be used in case someone came up to them and said to the effect "Your mom told me to come and get you"  - if the kids didn't know the person- they'd ask what's the password.  If this person was really sent by mom or dad, they'd know it and the kids would feel safe going with them.  We did this alot with Scout when he was in those younger years.
 
Finally, one other thing I heard on tv way back when Jacob Wetterling disappeared - don't put your kids in clothing with their names on the front or back of the jacket.  Kids can be lulled into a false sense of security when someone addresses them by name.
 
Rae

[Acts 2:38 girl]

Also another caution here, just because your kids have to two-way radio - don't let them go to far.  You must have all seen the lifeguard that dissapeared in MA a few years ago, Molly Bish.  She had a two way radio too, and now her Dad is taking my kids pictures for a child saftey program every year.  This radio does not make your kids (no matter how old ) unTAKEABLE.  Please remember this.  

http://www.mollybish.org/