Camping with Kids

By Karin Dery

If you're looking for a fun and relaxing getaway, don't go camping with babies or toddlers. You will most likely need a vacation when you get back. But if you're looking for a fun way to getaway with kids that are all on solid food and out of diapers, GO CAMPING!

Screaming, bored, and tired children are hard to handle at any age and vacationing with these unhappy little people makes staying home look more like a vacation. But take it from an experienced mom of three boys, camping is a hit with kids! Just mentioning that we'll be heading out to Canmore next weekend for a little camping holiday spurred many excited YEEHAH's and much anticipation from my little men. Can we go hiking along the river? Can we build a fire? Can we roast marshmellows?

I understand that camping for some seems like more trouble than it's worth. Putting up the tent, setting up the site, cooking with sub-standard tools and equipment, could be looked at as being a whole lot of, what's the word... WORK! But for the adventurous types, it is a fantastic way to expose kids to so many things all at once.

For starters, picking a campsite. There is only one campground in Canmore that you can actually reserve in advance. That would be the Bow Valley Provincial Park Campground. The others are first come, first serve, and many are self-registrations. For the latter, you can choose which campsite you want, depending on availability of course. Getting the kids to look at a site and decide if it would fit the tent and be a good spot for exploring, is very exciting for them and makes them feel important in determining the outcome of the experience.

The first few minutes after parking at the site tell it all. They step out of the vehicle, look around with big excited eyes and off they go! It's time to explore! They will get to know that one site better than YOU ever will in just a matter of minutes. Vegetation, animal tracks, and of course, the famous fire pit, will get them revved up in no time. That is, until they see you move to the next step in setting up camp - the tent!

I don't know if little girls nowadays would show interest in helping out with the tent, but as a young girl, I found it fascinating. My boys of course, eat it up! This is a great opportunity to let them shine! They learn a lot by watching but once they are a little older, give them a job to do. Let them have the pleasure of putting in a peg or two, hold a pole for you, and next thing you know, they are men! Well, at least they FEEL all grown up and that's all that matters.

Building confidence in kids doesn't stop there. Camping would not be camping without roasting some weiners on the fire. Oh, oh, I just said fire! This is where kids just can't get enough. The whole process of preparing a fire is not only fascinating but educational at the same time. Ok, you can really be zealous and teach them to make a fire without lighting a match, but I admit it, we're not there quite yet and rubbing two sticks together gets old fast when you're 5. But preparing the materials to start a fire is a simple science that kids can understand and help you with as well. But be mindful of all fire safety rules and guidelines.

Bellies full, it's time to set up the inside of the tent which is another adventure all in its own. This has to be my boys' favourite part. Giving them the responsibility to set up their own foam mattresses, sleeping bag and pillow gets them all anticipating the most fun part of the day. BEDTIME! Yes, bedtime is an entirely different event when camping. I don't know what happens but the minute kids get inside of a tent, they get an instant smile and they start to do some pretty funny things. Lights out? Nope. Lights on! Flashlights are a must for each child. They won't get scared of being in the dark and the shadows they make, along with all little sounds of nature going on outside, makes for a party of the senses and a whole lot of giggling!

There are so many activities you can do when you're out camping with kids. Part A of this topic touched on the simple things that make camping such a cool thing to do with kids. Check out Part B next month to get details about things to do with kids while you're out camping in Canmore. Is camping with kids relaxing? Not a chance! But just like my kids, I can't wait until next weekend!

About the Author:

Karin Dery is a mother of 3 young boys and owns a timeshare in Canmore, Alberta. She is a fulltime dayhome provider and runs a website in her spare time.

Visit www.canadian-rockies-canmore.com/camping.html for more info on camping in Canmore and all that this alpine village has to offer.