One of my favorite ways to promote preparedness and survival skills with the kids is to go camping. And I’m not talking about pulling the motor-home into a commercial campground and hooking on to the water and electricity. I’m talking about real camping—preferably in a tent where you have to bring in your own water and non-electric entertainment. If you live in an apartment building in the middle of a city, this will take more planning than if you live in a very rural area. Don’t make yourself hate the experience, but get as primitive as you can stand.
And preferably camping lasts more than one night although that is not always possible. One of our favorite camping trips is a week long excursion we take every summer. Camping has provided the opportunity for us to try some of our gear (stoves, tents, fire starting items) in the environment it was made for. The kids get to help set up camp, build fires, cook, catch and clean fish, wash clothes and dishes and hair outdoors with limited water, and dig a latrine. Quality survival education disguised as fun.
Friday, February 26, 2010
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6 comments:
This is also an excellent way to expose a spouse to lots of prepping skills/concepts, if they are "city bred". You can start out with some conveniences and sort of ease them into it over time. That way its not going from the 21st century to prehistoric in the blink of an eye. That sort of sudden emersion can turn a spouse off to future learning experiences if they aren't used to it.
Whether its kids, a spouse, or yourself.. make prepping and training fun while you can. It will make everyone a lot more likely to put effort into it.
When our 3 kids were young we used to go camping every summer. We loved it and the kids loved it more. We did lots of fishing and canoeing and "looking" for treasures in the woods and on the beaches. Campfires and scary stories. We had some great adventures with nature and dealing with Montana weather was always interesting. The kids even seem to get along better when we were camping in the great outdoors. We created memories with them that last a lifetime. It was some of the best days of our lives.
We currently live in a small town and the backyard is the only place the girls and I can camp/practice outdoor skills. The 2 youngest girls are very good at setting up the tent ...they've spent the night out there several times. Now; I guess I need to haul my hide out there and camp with them ... and cook with my sun oven and/or a small campfire and wash dishes and sleep in a sleeping bag (on the ground!) and do other campy things!
Personally I hate sleeping on the ground. Used to love it and went backpacking 2x a month year round, camping, etc all.
Since I got into a job where I regularly spend a week or two or a whole month living out of a backpack, burning in the sun and freezing in the snow and sleeping in the dirt the fun is gone. About the last thing I want to do with my time off. Of course I do have all the kit and skills.
It is however an essential experience for kids so we will do it for them.
We at Honey Creek Outdoors like your blog and are following your updates, keep up the good work! :) Feel free to check out our blog and if you like it we'd love to have you as a follower! Thanks- HCO
Paladin-absolutely on the spouse and also totally agree on taking it a bit at a time! Thanks for the comment.
Karen-that's more of what we love about a good camping trip! Sweet memories. :)
karenNms-I know as I'm getting slightly older I'm less excited about sleeping on the ground. Get yourself a good air mattress and it's not too bad. The back yard is great because if it starts raining, you can just go inside! :)
TOR-totally understandable. It's that way here sometimes also. Hubby's job is very outdoor oriented and he's less excited about camping trips than the rest of us, but still goes and enjoys it.
Brandon&Cory-thanks for the visit and compliment. :)
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