If you are planning a family camping trip this summer, you’re probably wondering how to keep the kids entertained. Your kids will enjoy themselves especially if camping is a new experience for them. They’ll be having a blast helping you setup the weatherproof tent Webtreasure Hunters, gather firewood, cook meals , and all the usual camping “stuff” that parents take for granted. It’s best to organize some activities and bring some games to keep them entertained while you’re at your camping spot. Here are ten suggestions you can try in planning your family’s camping trip. Many federal and state parks provide Junior Ranger programs throughout the summer camping season. The programs vary from park to park but they’re always targeted toward children and constantly encourage participation from parents. The Junior Ranger program is a great way to mix the fun, educates about the environment, history, and safety along with plants and wildlife. The programs focus on a specific topic each day and typically about an hour long. There are parks that offer Junior Ranger programs specifically for teenagers and teens. These programs include longer hikes that explore various interesting natural features or history of the region. You can find out more information about the Junior Ranger program from the National Park Foundation, or Google(tm) your state’s name and include the term Junior Ranger. One sure-fire way to beat the boredom and stress of camping children and that’s to stay near a lake, river or ocean. Kids love playing in the water and it’s pretty entertaining for parents, particularly on hot summer afternoons. Although young children may not be keen on long hikes, if they have a river to swim in, or if they’re able to just take in the scenery, it’ll keep them entertained for hours. With the possibility of a reward at the end, it is easier to keep kids engaged when they go hiking. A scavenger hunt is another method to make hiking enjoyable for kids. It’s possible to start with “A” and then move on to the alphabet. Keep looking for items which begin with that letter. It’s not necessary to bring anything back to the campsite, just move on to the next letter. Or maybe snap a picture or two. This is a fantastic way for children to be engaged in the outdoors. It also helps youngsters to explore and absorb more of the surrounding. I’ve grown so accustomed to doing this with children that I’m now going through the alphabet on my own walks. Perhaps I’m just a kid at heart. If your camping trip with your family is accompanied by a sandy beach, there’s no substitute for buckets or scoops as well as other plastic objects that are awash in sandy delight. Kids love collecting shells and rocks from the beach. The buckets can also be used to collect the shells. Whatever your family camping plans could be, there’s likely to be times at the campsite , and you will want to plan for fun activities for kids that can be accomplished in a small area. Bubble blowing is a great idea for kids. An ice-cold bottle of bubbles can keep them entertained. Who can blow the biggest bubbles? Who has the ability to blow the largest bubbles? There’s no need for your seniors to be convinced to join the party. Horseshoes are a well-known sport and some campgrounds have horseshoe pits. Ring toss and washer toss games which are easy to setup around the camping site. They’re fun for children and are much easier to control within the campsite than throwing the ball around. The greatest thing of games like these is that everyone can participate and yet they’re so simple that kids can play by themselves if you are making meals or packing up gear for the evening. Memory games, in which you mix up a collection of cards or tiles, and then you turn over two tiles to locate a matching tile, are fun picnic table activities that are suitable for children and adults alike. Memory games don’t need any minimum number of players. This is perfect if you have children camping with your friends. Even though it’s difficult to take ice cream along on the trip to camp with your family, products such as the Play & Freeze(tm ice cream maker) let you make your own at your campsite. It’s not easy to keep frozen ice in place however it is possible to bring block ice, which melts faster, and crush it with an instrument. Review my experience with the Play & Freeze. Portable DVD players make it easy to host your personal campsite “movie night” with a popcorn from the campfire. This is a great option to make s’mores when you aren’t looking for your children to be pumped up on sugar prior to bedtime. For more information about popcorn in the backcountry, visit Campfire Popcorn. Many portable DVD players feature a 12-Volt charge port, which allows them to be recharged using your vehicle. You can purchase a vehicle charging cable at any electronics retailer if your DVD player isn’t equipped with one. A short ghost story is okay. Let me know whether scaring your kids with ghost stories, before they go to sleep in their bags, would be an ideal idea. With the campfire roaring and the sounds of the forest and other noises at night, the campsite is the ideal spot. Hey, I’m beginning to be scared of myself!
