How to Make Camping Appealing to Teenagers

How to Make Camping Appealing to Teenagers

You camped every weekend of the summer for the past 12 years. Your kids loved it. They looked forward to every trip. Once you arrived at the campground, they never wanted to leave.
Now, they are adolescent teens and the rules have changed. You still want your weekend getaway, but the kids are all wrapped up in their own teenage world. How can you convince them to come along and leave their world behind?
 

Change of Venue:
When they were young, they enjoyed the kiddie pool and It’s a Small World. Perhaps an upgrade to Blizzard Beach and the Tower of Terror is in order. Many amusement parks have camping adjacent to the grounds. At Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio you can camp right next to some of the fastest roller coasters in the world and just walk right in. I remember camping there as a child. The campground is so close you can go back to the RV for lunch and a break from Thrill-Ville.
 

Compromise:
You have been going to the same park for years. Include the teens in the decision of where you go next. Have a family meeting.
You have camping rules: no TV, no this, no that. Loosen up a bit; life is too short. Let them bring their Wii; eventually, they will come out of hiding and join you at the campfire on their own terms.
 

Bring a Friend:
As teenagers, some youths are joined at the hip. They think they can’t be apart for more than 8 hours or Armageddon will occur. I am seeing this first-hand at my home now. My 13-year-old daughter may spend all day with her buddies, but as soon as she walks in the door, the phone rings and is tied up for hours. Funny, I remember my mother complaining about this very thing, though I’m not complaining, I’m just amused.

To solve this problem, let your kids bring a friend along for the weekend. You may be surprised to see how this may enhance your experience as well. Sitting around the campfire with a newcomer will produce new stories.
 

Let ‘Em Loose:
There comes a time when you can’t be there every minute of every day watching over your kids. When they are young, you are afraid to take your eyes off of them. As they grow, you need give them a little more rope.

I experienced this feeling as an early teen camping at Sauble Beach with my parents. It was the first time I was allowed to wander off on my own on my bicycle. An otherwise dull weekend (in a teenager’s mind) became an adventure that I still remember today.

If you spent time nurturing and teaching your children for the past 13 years, they will be fine as they begin their own adventures.
 

Luv ‘Em Hug ‘Em & Let ‘Em Loose !