Three Reasons to Take Your Kids Camping

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

The tradition of camping began in the late 1800s as the world became more industrialized, suburbs sprouted around large cities, and people moved away from rural areas. As you can probably guess, camping as a recreational activity grew in popularity the less people had access to the American rural life, and since then it has been not only a national pastime but a way to teach some skills and values to our children. If you have been thinking about taking your kids camping but need a little nudge in the right direction, here are three more reasons.

Reason #1: To teach skills they can’t get otherwise.

You don’t have to be a Boy Scout troop leader in order to relate some of the great skills that camping can teach. One single camping trip can include skills like fire-starting, cooking, setting up campsites, fishing, swimming, rope-tying, and hiking. In other words, it’s a great way to learn some basic survival skills. Maybe your children won’t ever need to use these skills, but it’s a nice thing to pass on anyway. You don’t want to lose touch with nature, and staying out under the stars for a few nights is all it takes to feel comfortable outdoors again.

Reason #2: Confidence-building.

As a child learns how to be self-sufficient, they also learn confidence. Why? Because if they know they can handle themselves in the wilderness, they’ll learn that they can trust their own skills and instincts. This is a crucial way to build self-confidence and is employed by the Boy Scouts. Sometimes we forget just how easy we have it in a world of air-conditioning and indoor heating that we forget the innate value of self-sufficiency and what it does for our self-esteem.

Reason #3: It’s fun without the consequences.

What does that mean? Well, a year’s worth of video games might not always have the most positive effect on your child’s health. But activities you can do outdoors are almost always healthy and help build their level of fitness. This doesn’t mean you have to tackle an obstacle course when you’re out camping – simply being outside will include walking, jogging, and moving around that you can’t always get indoors. Video games are fun, too, but they can take their toll on the body. The more you can get your kids to play outdoors, the better.

Are these the only reasons to take your kids camping? Of course not. But if you take a trip soon, you’ll start to learn that your family has its own individual reasons for heading into the great outdoors.

Photo Credits: RichardBH

Are You A Backpacker?

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

When we think of the term “backpacker,” we probably get a particular image in our heads: someone walking solo through Europe, going from town to town after graduating from college and hoping to discover something about themselves.

Okay, maybe our image of the backpacker isn’t that specific, but we do know one thing: being a backpacker isn’t limited to the profound. Backpacking is also about integrating hiking and camping into one enjoyable, relaxing activity that helps you get out of the world for a few days and cut loose. Spending the occasional weekend on a backpacking trip doesn’t mean you’ve mentally checked out; instead, it means you’re simply recharging your batteries.

With that in mind, ask yourself a few questions to determine whether or not you have the personality of a backpacker, and you’ll understand in a few minutes whether you have it within you.

-Do you function well alone, or at least feel the yearning to get away from things?

You might have a busy and active social life, but sometimes taking “time off” doesn’t only refer to work. Spending a day or two camping by yourself can be totally reinvigorating, especially if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of a highly active social life. If a break from “people” sounds as welcoming as a break from work, you might want to spend a weekend backpacking, if even just to try it out.

-Do you enjoy camping?

You don’t need to enjoy being alone to be a backpacker; often, you can spend a backpacking trip with a friend or loved on. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, you come to another question: how much do you really like camping out under the stars. To some people, the novelty of sleeping directly under the clouds or under a tent is refreshing and welcoming. To others, they can only think about how many canisters of bug repellant they’ll have to bring. If camping out without breaking the bank sounds good to you, you might have the personality of a backpacker.

-Do you want to learn self-sufficiency?

Sometimes, you don’t need to be predestined as a backpacker; you can develop those skills by backpacking! Learning self-sufficiency is a great skill, especially to people entering college or the work force. For you youngsters who want a taste of what it will be like to depend on yourself for your livelihood, a simple “one-weekend trial” can be a big step forward.

Do any of these personality types sound like you? If so, consider giving backpacking a try. You’ll enjoy your own cooked food, clear summer nights, and sometimes a more developed relationship with a loved one.

Photo Credits: Mat Honan