Kids love camping and they also enjoy being part of the camping process. Getting them involved when they are young teaches them how to plan, setup, breakdown, and unpack from their trip. Then, when they become old enough to start camping on their own they will be confident in their camping skills and can truly enjoy it with their own friends and family.
They can start as young as three or four by helping to carry lighter items from the house to the car or RV. They love to be helpful at that age and will probably welcome the responsibility. While at the campground they can be tasked with setting the table for meals and helping to clear things away afterward.
Elementary aged children can help make a checklist for their own gear and can be trusted to pack the things that are on their own list. You might like to assign a backpack to each child to make it easy for them to pack and carry their own things. They can help with cutting up fruits and veggies for meals and pouring drinks for the little ones.
Older kids can help carry heavier items and can take on more responsibility for keeping the site clean, making up the beds, preparing breakfast, and keeping and eye on the younger kids. They can do the laundry and help with the unpacking once you get home.
Getting kids involved from a young age extends their enjoyment of your camping trips and you can be sure their will be accidents to laugh about years later. They’ll be making memories and building skills they can use for the rest of their lives. We love seeing families work together when they are camping and believe it makes the experience better for everyone.
