Camping with Kids

Camping presents a wonderful bonding opportunity for your family and is a great way for everyone to connect with nature.

Here are a few things to things to think about when considering a family camping trip:

• Start with shorter trips and gradually work your way up. Choose campsites within a few hours drive and stay over for only one or two nights.
• Try car camping for your first experience. Driving your car right to your site provides several advantages. Firstly, it allows you to pack more, ensuring you have everything you may need. From this you will learn about the things you won't need next time. Car camping usually means being near amenities such as toilets and showers, fire pits or barbeques. It also gives you a quick out if the weather changes or your kids just need a break.
• Camping facilities can range from full-service, complete with toilets and showers to no amenities at all. Make sure to choose a destination that best suits the needs of your family, as well as their interests, ages, and your own camping experience.
• Some campsites offer organized activities - hikes with rangers, family programs, a visitor's centre and/or discovery centre. You may want to consider these destinations for your first trip as they provide additional programming support if you need it and can also help fill rainy days.
• Choose destinations and sites early and make reservations! National and provincial parks fill up quickly, especially on holiday weekends. Choice sites near lakes or rivers are also usually the first to go. 
• Involve your children in the planning process and in selecting a destination. This will help generate much enthusiasm and a sense of ownership in the trip.

By Rochelle Strauss