Quick Camping Lessons

Camping in a way is forming a new civilization of it is done in the true American way. I am speaking of pitching a tent and creating a campfire. The lessons are endless almost with this type of camping.

If you pitch a tent in the middle of nowhere, you have to clear the land. In clearing the land, you learn about tools, plants and even some leveling. A smart camper learns quickly to put his or her tent on moss or at least on a layer of carpet. The carpet keeps moisture out. The carpet and moss protect against tears in the tent from rocks or other things under the ground surface that may come uncovered.

A smart camper also quickly learns the difference between harmless plants and plants that can cause rashes and other harm. Never make a campsite near poison oak or poison ivy. Take the time parents, learn these harmful plants, and educate the children as well.

Parents also need to teach their children to take care of food and to keep the campsite clean of any food scraps. This means bread, chips, candy, and snacks need to be in plastic containers so that there is no odor to call the animals.

Coolers, dishes, and tabletops should be washed often to keep pests from entering the camping area. Parents will also need to make certain that small children have their faces and hands washed often as they tend to get food all over them. It would be a shame if a bear wandered into camp to eat the creamed spinach that your infant dribbled down his sun suit.


The campfire is also a great area for lessons to be learned. Gathering wood should not be just one person's job; small children can gather sticks or small stuff to use when an adult starts a fire. Stick a box for the children to fill near a tree and allow the children to fill it. Teach them why they need to gather the small stuff, and explain the dangers of fire when starting a fire.

Explain why the fire needs to be contained in the fire pit; a forest fire is an awful thing to start. Take the time also to explain what type of stick is needed to push the burning logs around to slow down the fire or speed it up.

I hope that your children will never need to make a fire themselves. What happens if you get hurt out in the middle of nowhere and fall ill, you child may have to build a fire to signal help. It is better to teach them this lesson so they can do it, if it is ever needed. Teach them the ways of camping and they can carry these lessons and adapt them as needed in their lives.