Are you gearing up for summer fun with your family? What kinds of trips will you be taking this year?

In our family, we love to go camping. Spending family time outdoors, appreciating the natural world and connecting in a slower-paced environment brings us closer together. It also teaches our kids how to respect and protect nature and gives them a personal relationship with our geographic area.

As you probably know, camping with kids is different than camping without kids! It is in many ways more fun. But it also requires extra planning and consideration.

Here are some tips to making your camping trip more kid-friendly:

1. Plan the trip as a family and get input from everyone – especially the children. To browse and reserve campgrounds, try Reserve America or the U.S. government's portal for campground reservations. Most states have a Web site for state park campgrounds, so try a Google search for yours!


2. Think about activities, not just scenic vistas. What do your kids like to do? Fishing? Swimming? Hiking in the woods? Try to find a camping spot with good activity options that will engage all members of your family. Educate yourself a bit about the place you're going, and be prepared to translate some local knowledge into exploratory activities relevant for your child's age. Looking for birds or bugs, dissecting a pine cone... whatever you'd enjoy exploring in your own back yard, only more so! And encourage your kids to leave most all of their toys behind. There will be plenty to explore!


3. Keep it short and sweet. Two to three nights is usually plenty for young children. As for the distance to your destination, avoid locations that require more than two of driving to get there, if possible. This gives your kids an opportunity to know your "neck of the woods" better, and shifts the balance of time away from traveling to and fro in favor of time spent at your destination.
   
4. Do a practice round. If your kids are new to camping, consider doing a backyard campout first, to practice setting up the tent and sleeping outside.


5. Come prepared to teach and model good stewardship. Depending on the camping arrangements, you may need bags to pack out your trash, to help kids understand the responsible and safe use of fire in camping, and avoid transporting firewood, buying locally or gathering it on-site instead.


6. Pack a simple first aid kit, including any medicines (especially prescriptions) you might need for fever, cough or allergies. We tend to bring herbal and homeopathic remedies. And remember the bug spray! We like the herbal spray Buzz Away.


7. Teach your kids what to do if they get lost. The most common advice is for them to stay right where they are if they are lost. Consider giving younger children a whistle to wear and blow if they need help.


8. Take clothing that can be layered so that you can adjust as the temperature changes. Plan for rain so you have fun even if it comes.


9. Bring several flashlights so the kids won’t fight over them. They are also fun to play with in the dark! Remember to bring extra batteries.


10. Bring more water than you think you will need and pack a small bottle for each child to carry.

Do you have tips from previous camping experiences with kids? What do you wish you had remembered to take? What was the best camping trip you took with your kids and why?