Making Family Camping Fun

Few memories stay with children longer than those of family vacations. You may remember little of the daily routine of your childhood, but you probably have clear memories of special outings and trips with your family.

• Family camping can be wonderful, but I would suggest starting a practice run in your backyard. You can test all your equipment and accustom your children to the experience of setting up a tent.

• Remember when you pack to include raingear, boots, and jackets no matter what the weather report says. Even though you can make an emergency raincoat out of a big plastic trash can liner. Do select clothes with an eye toward layering. To avoid odors of damp soiled clothes you can pack fabric softener sheets in with them.

• Take a magnet if you're going to the beach and search for coins in the sand. Bring plastic bags and cans so you can store collected treasures and valuable finds.

• If you like hiking with kids, make water a destination. It's more fun for kids than a view or a vista. And, finally, you may might want to let a reluctant hiker walk with someone other than Mom or Dad if possible. It's harder to complain or give up if someone other than Mom or Dad is the listener.

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