I DON'T KNOW HOW I DID IT!!

[walleyechamp]

Years ago, when my kids were at home, we went camping as a family several times. Now don't get me wrong, I love my kids more than life itself. I just don't know what I was thinking taking toddlers camping. Yeah Yeah, I know it's good for them to experience the great outdoors and spend time together, but they should at least be at an age where they understand where they are and why. There was not a lot of time to enjoy the quiet of the outdoors with three kids and it certainly was not relaxing for my wife or myself. Well, kids are grown and gone from the nest and camping has a new flavor.

[Rob]

My 2.5 year old Isabela has been camping with us since she was 6 Weeks old. Now she absolutely loves it. (She has been begging me all Winter.) It took me, Mr. Ultralight, a while to get used to all the gear that is needed with kids, but it's been well worth it.

At about 18 months, we started activities while camping. She LOVES track and scat identification. She can pick out deer tracks and scat from 15 feet away.

We also got her a toddler's digital camera. Low res, crappy pics, but she feels like an explorer with it. We have gotten a few kids books too that have trees, insects, tracks, and flower identification. That keeps her interested too. Not as much as poop though...

It's not an easy undertaking, but I'm glad to be sharing my experience and knowledge with the kids, and hope that they someday appreciate the outdoors.

[bensdad]

My kids both love it and want to go with on camp/hunt trips. The wife would rather go to the dentist than camp.

[Kirstie]

Bensdad you should try taking your wife to on of the camper cabins in state parks. They have electricity, nice beds, nice little porch. They are a good compromise for those who don't like camping. there is also enough space where you can have a tent on the lot too if you want to do that!

[pezhead]

We did a camper cabin at Glendalough. We like it. Without the tent more room for other stuff like fishing stuff the big tackle box.
The only problem we had was our friends got locked inside. The lock was broke he tells his wife don't close the door waht does she do closes it. That's where the knife comes in to open the lock. It was funny .
The ranger fixed it and we where set to go.