Camping with Kids: Challenges That Create Lasting Memories

Camping with our young kids wasn’t easy—but it was memorable

Here's what I learned along the way.

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My Instagram feed has been full of pictures of friends that their kids to the beach. I get it, I like the beach a lot. But the forest and the mountains are my real loves. The way the damp leaves smell in the morning. The peace of walking underneath a canopy of trees. The sound of firewood crackling at night. Sigh, heaven. I also grew up camping with my family and have done some intense hiking, backpacking and search and rescue. So it’s kind of in my blood—I wear my frostbite scars with honor. So I couldn’t wait to get my future kids out into nature (minus the frostbite). I had visions of us hiking to a stream, swimming and splashing all day, then cooking a big meal over a campfire as we sing songs and laugh. Then, I actually became a parent. Of three kids, actually, all of whom are still very young… and a dog… and a husband who doesn’t really like camping. Despite the realization that it wouldn’t be exactly as I planned, this summer we finally decided to take our first camping trip as a family.

Here is what I learned:

1. Set the bar low

I had to remind myself over and over again that this trip would not live up to my expectations. I know this sounds like a bummer way to start a trip, but it really helped. I have the tendency to over-plan and get really (really) excited about things. This is not a bad quality, but it can lend itself to disappointment when things don’t go as hoped. I didn’t want us to leave the trip feeling like it was a failure in any way. This trip was a success, and a big moment for our family, no matter how it turned out. Instead of forcing activities or memories, I forced myself to just… be . Not expecting the trip to be magical opened us up to appreciate the unexpected moments of magic as they occurred naturally, without being forced. This got harder, of course, when our car got stuck in the mud (true story), and we had to wait three hours for AAA to arrive. But when our kids talk about the camping trip now they still squeal with delight as they recount the story of the tow truck coming. You’re welcome (I guess)?

2. We made it really easy

I put my camping ego aside, and we took a lot of shortcuts on this first trip. We didn’t stay in a tent but rented a barebones cabin instead. For dinner, we ordered a pizza. And we let the kids play on our phones for a little bit in the evening. Those things didn’t make for a truly authentic experience, but goodness, they really helped. I have started to realize that there is no shame in making things easy, especially when you have little kids. And they didn’t know any different. As far as they are concerned, we hiked the Appalachian Trail and gathered all our own food from the earth. This was a lazy camping trip, for sure—and that was exactly what we needed.

3. I over-prepped for safety so I could calm down

I have hiked and camped in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in February—this was not that. At any given moment on our trip, an ambulance could have easily reached us, and we were only a few minutes away from a hospital at any point. But it made me feel much better to know that we were safe and ready for anything that should happen. We bought a first aid kit , a survival kit , too many flashlights and bottled water. I was really big on everyone wearing good footwear and teaching them how to walk carefully on uneven terrain. We also used the opportunity to teach about other areas, like water safety. Rita Goldberg of the British Swim School recommends “[teaching kids] to avoid water hazards and to not approach a fountain, river, pool or lake without an adult’s supervision and permission .” We also incorporated their “Water Watcher” program, which assigns a “badge of responsibility” to one adult at all times, who maintains a constant watch over the kids while they are near water.

These easy steps, that we decided on ahead of time, made me feel much more relaxed, and therefore better able to enjoy our time. This trip took some emotional adjustments on my part. It wasn’t glamorous, or particularly exciting. But that was exactly what it needed to be. Emily Glover wrote that “by getting away from the distractions of home and focusing on each other…we’re reminded of what really matters.” We found that in the woods—together.