Like Grant holding the line in the wilderness of Western Virginia, you might find that you want to take your kids for their own little camping campaign out in the woods.
Although many think of it as an activity best enjoyed by adults, camping is a great activity for children of all ages, with the appropriate preparation. Ghost stories around a fire, dips in mountain streams, and the chance to teach your kids about nature, either through a magnifying glass or by playing tree identification games, make camping trips a great summer activity.
"I started with mine when she was six months old," said Lee Bryce, a manager at REI, a national camping and adventure gear cooperative. "We do family camping. We drive up to the site, because when kids are really young it's best to do it with the car."
As kids get older they can handle longer hikes from a base camp, according to Bryce. Now that his daughter, eight year-old Shannon, can go farther, he gives her a backpack— although with as little as possible in it.
"Kids can carry up to 25 percent of their own weight," Bryce said. "But I've met very few who will."
Bryce recommends bringing a favorite book or small game for kids, and he said that parents should bring water from home if their children are especially young. Also, according to Bryce, "Take food they like. A camping trip is never time to experiment with food."
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