The memory is so clear in my mind that it might be there forever. Two kids, older sister and younger brother, are trundling off down a trail. Sister carries a yellow bucket. Brother, in rubber boots, is holding his sister's free hand.
They are venturing into the woods, headed for a small creek, seeking ingredients for their "soup." That would be pine cones, grass, rocks, dirt, moss and sticks.
It is one of those fine moments you experience as a parent when all of the work of packing the camping gear and all of the pit stops on the trip north are worth it.
Sitting there as mom and dad, you know instinctively that you are doing something right for your offspring. You have brought them to this semi-natural place and pitched the tents and created a little world within the bigger world. Now, from this new and wonderful base, they are spreading their wings, testing their independence, forging into new territory. Together. Without fighting. In the great outdoors.
It is worth it, camping with the kids. But it isn't easy.
If you're just getting started in camping with kids, we thought you might enjoy a few kid-friendly ideas.
STARTING OUT
Before you head off to the wilds, such as a nearby state park, try pitching the tent in the backyard and spending a night there. It'll get the kids accustomed to night sounds, the idea of sleeping in a sleeping bag and the novelty of the tent. And as a parent, you can go through the necessary stage of waking up in the middle of the night wondering if your child is suffocating down inside that bag. She won't be, but you'll have to see for yourself.
HOW FAR IS FAR ENOUGH?
Especially with young kids, it isn't necessary to drive halfway across the country to find a place to camp. Young kids have little concept of distance. They don't know where you are, only how long it takes to get there by car, which is almost always too long. In the beginning, make it easy on yourself. Camp close to home.
LUGGING THEM AROUND
There are so many good things to haul kids in, and you should make them part of your camping gear. You can hike with an infant slung on your chest quite nicely. Once they get to a certain size and can hold their little heads up, you can think about carrying them in one of those child backpacks. In fact, if you're having trouble getting your children to take a nap in the tent, sling 'em on and take a walk. They'll be out in a flash. Those same carriers also work reasonably well for cross-country skiing.
CAR-CAMPING
A great way to begin. You've got the wonders of running water nearby, plenty of smooth paths for toddlers and other families to understand when your child is wailing at 10 p.m. You'll be amazed at the natural wonders kids can discover in fairly civilized surroundings.
TAKE THE BIKES
If bikes are permitted, campgrounds are great places for kids to ride and explore. Ride to the visitor center, to the beach, to their friends' campsites. The campground becomes something like a small town.
ABOUT CLOTHES
It's pretty basic. Sweatpants beat jeans. Hooded sweatshirts. Plenty of T-shirts. More socks than you think you'll need. Gloves, always in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Caps, always in Minnesota and Wisconsin. A stocking cap or headband is never too much. Fleece is warm and dries out much faster than cotton.
Rubber boots
Don't leave home without them. Pick up a pair and pass them down through the family as the kids grow. Kids in camp can almost live in rubber boots. They pull on easily and kick off easily when entering or leaving the tent. Wool or synthetic socks are better than cotton inside these boots. Not so clammy.
Diapers
If you use disposables, pack them out or dispose of them properly. If you use the real thing, remember, your pack will be heavier on the way out than on the way in.
WHAT ABOUT BUGS?
You'll probably want to avoid repellents that contain the mosquito-repelling ingredient DEET. Best bet is to dress kids in clothing that covers most exposed skin. Tuck pants into socks or boots. We've also used bonnets on kids and smeared liquid soap on the bonnet's brim. Or, just travel in late July, August and September when bugs are minimal.
AND NOW IT'S NAP TIME
Doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing. If it's nap time, experience says, let the child sleep. You can try to delay a nap to fit your own schedule, but chances are you'll pay later. Which brings up the matter of ...
EXPECTATIONS
This is probably the single most important thing you can consider when planning to camp with kids. Who are you there for? It isn't yourself. You're there primarily for the kids, and you sort of have to become a kid yourself. Travel on their schedule. Sleep on their schedule. Flit from one activity to another on their schedule. Once you accept that and let go of your own notions of what camping was B.K. (Before Kids), you'll be much happier.
ABOUT PADDLING
Where do you put a 1- or 2-year-old while you're paddling the canoe? First, you might have to re-evaluate how far you're going to paddle. Little kids are programmed to explore, and a canoe isn't large enough for them, to say nothing of the possibility of falling out. A reasonable solution is to put the child up front, right in front of mom or dad in the bow seat. It's best, when they're at that busy age, not to have the bow paddler paddle at all, but just to be with the child. Hope for no wind.
ANATOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Obviously, there isn't always going to be a biffy in the woods. This is no problem for boys, who are equipped to put out small fires and flood anthills. For young daughters, try this procedure: Stand behind her, so you're both facing the same direction. Squat your own self down, grabbing your daughter behind the knees. Let her sort of sit back along your thighs and rest her back against your chest. Use your own thighs to support your forearms as you hold her. Hold her off the ground far enough so the grass and wildflowers don't tickle her. It works.
THE BLANKET
Like rubber boots _ don't leave home without it. Or any (small) stuffed animal or little possession that is of great value to a child. It's security. It's no big deal. Bring it along.
WHAT ABOUT TOYS?
When you're camping, kids find all kinds of things to do, with all kinds of stuff they find in the forest. Sticks. Leaves. Dirt. Roots. Rocks. Pine cones. Grass. If you bring toys, the kids would still rather play with what they find at the campsite. The only things that facilitate this play might be a small plastic bucket (the handle will break; take duct tape) and maybe a small shovel. Kids will also need a few of your camping supplies: short lengths of rope or parachute cord, spoons, cups, paper towels, maybe a cookpot. A small squirt bottle is fun, although sooner or later they'll turn it on each other.
LET 'EM PACK
Even when they're very young, let kids pack their own small packs of whatever they want to bring along. Well, maybe not scissors. But a couple of books, a small doll or stuffed animal, their blanket. That way, they have their own packs _ and a sense of being like mom and dad. As they get older, the packs get larger, and their loads get more essential to the trips.
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
It will. You'll need two things to stay sane. One is a large (about 10-by-12-feet) coated nylon tarp to string over the picnic table or campsite, so you can stay out of the tent and out of the rain. The other is entertainment for the tent _ coloring books, markers, Crayons, drawing paper, books. Put these things in resealable plastic bags and save them for the rainy day.
SNACKS
One family gives each child his or her own resealable plastic bag at the beginning of each day with a day's allotment of goodies _ hard candies, M&Ms, caramels, pretzels, whatever. It's up to each child how soon he devours the contents or how long she hoards them.
TRANSITION TIME
Sooner or later, canoeing families reach the point where they can't paddle in the same canoe. One creative set of parents say when their boys were young and wanted to paddle their own canoe, the parents let them. They just tied a 50-foot piece of rope from the parents' canoe to the boys' canoe so they wouldn't get too far off course.
FIRST-AID
A standard pack includes a pain reliever (in child-appropriate strength), bandages (hundreds), sunscreen, tweezers (a Swiss Army Knife is handy), a thermometer, sterile gauze pads and wide adhesive tape.
LIFE JACKETS
Always worn in the boat or canoe. (It's the law). Always if the child is playing near water, unless you're close by and watching like a hawk. And even then, why not?
