Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness
A NOTE TO GROWN UP CAMPERS Remember your childhood climbing over rocks searching for birds nests and puzzling over animal tracks in the mud Remember the daydreams of find ing gold as you dug in the dirt and searching for wolf packs or giant bears as you hiked through brushy woods Many of us have those memories because we had the time and opportunity to wander in the natural world Today's children have little if any contact with nature let alone the wild Jaded badgered by advertisers locked safely in their homes children are being shortchanged And understandably children aren't always free to explore nature it's seldom around the corner Many children have become the recipients of a synthesized natural experience They observe nature via books and videos without dipping a toe in an icy brook or smelling wildflowers They wear rain forest T shirts but have never enjoyed plucking shiny peb bles from a stream crawling after a bulbous toad or picking and eating wild berries Children need nature they need to touch it hear it and taste it They need the simple experiences playing in piles of freshly cut grass feet in soft mud a caterpillar wiggling down a finger These things are
now often the most difficult for us to provide It isn't easy trying to find twigs or pebbles let alone trees to climb or places to fish when we live in tightly secured manicured and planned housing structures Nature can't be purchased in stores or by mail order or sent on a fax machine We have to go out of our way to provide some time to wander picnic camp or hike These true experiences can't be synthesized Contact with nature gives children a chance to realize they can make a difference They can see their immediate control and effect on the world around them when they fill birdfeeders water plants or lift a rock just to see what s under it If the next generation loses touch with nature we are all in danger We need nature for our spirit for our soul Without exploring the natural world we will not learn to cherish or even respect it We will lose our connection to other living things and will not care if they are destroyed So take that hike enjoy that picnic and set out on that camping trip You will give yourself and your child memories to treasure for a lifetime Here are a few important things to remember When you go Stay Safe Safety while camping is a primary concern Nature is always changing and unpredictable so get all the information you can about the area before you go Ask the campground supervisor the state park ranger or forest service ranger if there is anything
that might pose a danger Ask what hazards might be in the area weather terrain fire or flood Are there animal problems with bears cougars or poisonous snakes Ask the ranger about precautions for deer ticks Follow his or her advice use common sense and good judgment and you'll all enjoy yourselves more First Aid Get a first aid handbook the Red Cross publishes an excellent one and a first aid kit with extra supplies for whatever may come up Use com mon sense and be prepared Know the Rules Find out ahead of time whether animals or plants are protected and can't be gathered Know if you are on public or private property and what the rules are Learn what s allowed in your campground pets campfires or when lights should be turned out for example Supervise Children at All Times There is always the possibility a child will become lost and the results can be very serious Be firm about the rules against leaving camp alone Try to Iose proof your older child ahead of time with instructions about what to do Never allow young children to wander away from camp alone it's an exciting time for them but you are ultimately responsible for their safety Realize that in mountainous areas dark falls rapidly after sundown take no chances Find Out Get some field guides for plants animals and rocks so that you can help your child identify
things he or she sees Maps and guides are available from forest rangers campground supervisors and local bookstores Respect the Outdoors Think green remember your impact on nature and teach your child how to leave things in better shape than you found them Respect Other Campers A campground is a small community so be a good citizen Pets noise litter and rude behavior can disrupt everyone else's enjoy ment Make the Most of It Try to enjoy everything even a rainstorm can become an event when remembered back home next winter Family camping can be a wonderful way to introduce your kids to the wonders of nature and to enjoy each other's
