Teaching Survival And Camping Skills To Children
A true survivalist will go to some pretty extreme lengths to acquire certain survival skills that they feel are necessary. However, when it comes to teaching survival and camping skills to children, a more scaled down and age appropriate version is important. Since a scout leader is pretty close to being omnipotent to kids, you may want to consider signing them up for scouting. Scouting has been around a long time and has helped an untold number of kids to become more self-sufficient and confident through things such as hiking camping activities.
Your children do not have to join the scouts in order to have fun camping. It is an activity that you can do together as a family. And as far as that goes it doesn’t even really have to be in a tent. You may want to consider traveling in an RV or camper and perhaps for a couple of the days, you can break out the rest of your outdoor gear and sleep under the stars. Kids love having a campfire and, sure, you can roast marshmallows and hotdogs or anything else that comes to mind. A family campground may have a few extra amenities or activities in close proximity. Try to make sure at least once while camping to go hiking; it doesn’t have to be a long one, just enough to spend some time together and perhaps impart a little of your nature knowledge on the kids. (Don’t worry they wont know you memorized the guidebook).
During the summer it can be exceptionally difficult to connect with your kids because of work responsibilities. If you have one available in your area, then you may want to consider summer camp for the kids. There are many different programs for kids; it does not have to be a sleep away camp. It can be for a few hours every day or perhaps a two-week long camp. If your child has never been camping before, then you may want to make the first time a day camp. Of course, with everything there is to do, like making crafts, leaning about wildlife and camping, they may want to stay longer.
Many times when a family goes camping together they learn things they didn’t know about each other, or that they had forgotten. You may be surprised at some of the topics and thoughts that come out when sitting around a campfire. It’s not about having the latest camping gear, or the best campground RV. The hiking and camping activities are actually secondary to being together as a family. Children are young for such a short time, so enjoy it while you can.
By Nature Editor
