Three Steps for Camping with Kids

Home / Articles / Three Steps for Camping with Kids

Ask anyone about their most vivid childhood memories. Chances are, if they went camping with their families, it’s those memories that often rise to the surface. Do you like the idea of camping but find it too daunting after putting in long workdays, school activities, and all of the necessities of life? Here are some tips for camping with kids that just may get you on your way.

And keep in mind, if you have a fourth grader, they are part of the Every Kid Outdoors program. Fourth graders and their family get free access to hundreds of parks, lands, and waters across the country for an entire year! Visit the Every Kid Outdoors website for more details about the requirements and benefits of this program.

Use these steps to prepare you and your little ones for a memorable experience in the outdoors!

1. Choose a Destination and Reserve a Campsite

Young boy shyly stands at the entrance to a turquoise blue family tent at a campsite

North Cascades National Park (Robert Root, Share the Experience)

2. Prepare and Pack

Asian American family making s'mores

Recreation.gov

3. Make it Special and Find Teachable Moments

A father bends down to his two young children and points at towering sandstone rock formations

Capitol Reef National Park (Nina Mayer Ritchie, Share the Experience)

Explore Related Trips

Bring Home a Story