Illustration by Aron Rook.
I have amazing memories of childhood camping trips.
Whenever I see pinecone birdfeeders or macrame anything, my inner child transports to 1980-something, when my scouting uniform still fit, and the adults around me took care of the details. With someone else remembering smores ingredients, mess kits and insect repellent, I had a truly carefree time.
Brooke Augustine, camp property coordinator for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, loves camping so much that she turned it into a multi-decade career.
“Camp is a magical place where you can be silly and embrace your inner child. Everyone should have the opportunity to go,” she said. “The person you are when you arrive is not the person you will be when you leave.”
When my husband and I tried to create camping trip memories for our own children, our excursions became tainted by snafus like forgotten rain gear, heavy packs, rationing water and sub-par snacks. And my ghost stories around the campfire were not the hit I’d hoped.
One camper on our ill-fated trips, Richard Kopp, is now a parent and sportsmen supplier. Even when prepared and fully outfitted with camping gear, “Things will not always go right, so have patience. Laugh when stuff goes wrong. Your kids model what they see,” Kopp said. “And be prepared enough that, if you forget something, you can improvise.”
I’ll let your imagination fill in the blanks on his toilet paper advice.
I learned the hard way to compile a camping checklist, packing the first-aid kit, matches and food in water-tight containers. The internet contains excellent checklists, populated by seasoned campers with more computer apps than I ever had and containing more safety gear than ever invented during my childhood. Your checklist will be informed by your surroundings, accommodations and planned activities. You will also want to research the area for its wildlife, native plants, terrain, seasonal hazards, park regulations and available emergency services. Kopp recommends earmarking teachable moments for safety and conservation education.
Scout leader John Tassone of York has eight years of advanced camping experience with kids ages 8 through 18. Although he learned advanced survivalist skills in the military, like packing his own water filtration system, his advice for camping with kids is so basic, it’s sometimes overlooked.
“Check the weather and pack the correct clothing. For example, bring a rain jacket if rain is forecasted,” he said. “The proper hiking footwear is boots, not Crocs, and yes, this happens.”
For Augustine, flip-flops for the end of the day are a must-have. Also “good, yummy food that you like, and people you enjoy being around.”
Get Outside, Be Happy
If your kids are beginner campers, start simple. Try camping overnight in a campground close to civilization. As they gain experience, add complexity and grit.
Within an hour-ish drive from Harrisburg, “State parks like Pine Grove Furnace and Bald Eagle are the most family-friendly,” Kopp said, noting both have playgrounds and places to swim.
Rickett’s Glen is a winner for Augustine, as well as Jim Thorpe’s 100 Mile View Campground.
“The campsite sits on a mountain overseeing the whole valley,” she said. “I’ve camped there three times, and I will keep returning.”
To customize your level of primitivity and resilience, Tassone recommends local KOA camping sites. Showers, bathrooms and oft-forgotten items are available, plus KOAs offer family activities. As your camping skills advance, you won’t have to travel far. Harrisburg is situated right near the Appalachian Trail.
“The last thing you want to do with youth is provide bad first experiences because they will never want to go camping again,” Tassone said. “And remember that they are watching and learning from us. So, make good memories together.”
The array of camping activities can range from simple to adventurous, whether you’re teaching kids shelter-building, kayaking, or how to walk safely in a creek. While not all kids will enjoy the activities designed to grow their skills, and some kids are already way outside their comfort zones just unrolling a sleeping bag, one crowd-pleaser to suit all beginners is having a cookout.
“Cooking is always the prime event because youth always have food prepared for them by adults,” Tassone said. “This is an opportunity for them to work together, make critical decisions on what to bring, and then choose how to season and cook primitively.”
A multi-step cooking lesson includes gathering firewood, finding dry matches, building and lighting the fire, and cooking over it safely.
“Get campers to do a little more with each cookout so they know what to do,” Augustine said.
The least popular camping activity is getting rained out—but it’s not a dealbreaker. Augustine brings a box of random objects to every campout. She has her campers build indoor obstacle courses, play a game called “Dutch Auction” (found online), and hold a “Trash Bag Fashion Show,” which sounds like a bridal shower game. Augustine’s rainy-day games honestly sound more fun than sticking my foot in a muddy creek.
Tassone uses the downtime to educate kids on core concepts like weighing and checking gear, tying knots and lashings, and how to do things without technology.
Kopp takes a more present approach. “If you can go outside, then definitely go outside,” Kopp said. “Be happy you’re not at work. Go under a shelter and watch it rain.” (We used to call this “Nature TV.”) Notice how rain sounds like a steak sizzling on a grill.
Looking back on our cautionary camping tales, it’s no wonder my favorite “trips” were nestled inside tents pitched within our living room, adjacent to indoor plumbing. Although they weren’t flawless trips, we have wonderful memories and great stories to swap, campfire or not.
P.S. Before you leave, inform your emergency contact about your location and itinerary. And remember, take only pictures, leave only memories.
For more information on camping with Girl Scouts in the Heart of Central Pennsylvania, visit www.gshpa.org.
To find rules for playing “Dutch Auction,” visit www.summercamppro.com/an-introduction-to-dutch-auctions-at-camp.
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