Camping with Kids - Wild Texas Forums: Parks, Travel & Recreation

kmerian · 02-18-2008, 12:25 PM

I am taking my 5 year old daughter on her first camping trip this spring. She is so excited. I have reserved a spot out at Hill Country SNA. I was wondering, what would be some good activities? She loves the outdoors and exploring and I really want her to keep that enthusiasm, any ideas would be appreciated.

Troop198 · 02-18-2008, 01:00 PM

Intersting choice of parks, no potable water there, and its desert camping, no river, but it does have horseback riding.
Personally I would find a park with trees and a river but all parks can be fun.

Kids can help with meals like foil packs, or hot dogs, then do your own star gazing party at night.
Be excited
If you aren't excited about an adventure, you can't expect a child to be. Point out everything as if it is the first time you have ever seen it. Show how to do something, whether it is gathering sticks for a campfire, or cooking or tying a knot. A good idea is to bring extra plastic garbage bags to pick up any trash you come across. Kids remember when they do something right that somebody else has done wrong. TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR CHILD HAVING FUN, they sometimes forget until you bring them out. Did I say to have fun.

kmerian · 02-18-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troop198

Intersting choice of parks, no potable water there, and its desert camping, no river, but it does have horseback riding.
Personally I would find a park with trees and a river but all parks can be fun.

Kids can help with meals like foil packs, or hot dogs, then do your own star gazing party at night.
Be excited
If you aren't excited about an adventure, you can't expect a child to be. Point out everything as if it is the first time you have ever seen it. Show how to do something, whether it is gathering sticks for a campfire, or cooking or tying a knot. A good idea is to bring extra plastic garbage bags to pick up any trash you come across. Kids remember when they do something right that somebody else has done wrong. TAKE PICTURES OF YOUR CHILD HAVING FUN, they sometimes forget until you bring them out. Did I say to have fun.

Thanks for the tips. I was told there was a creek in Hill Country SNA, is it dry most of the year? Anyway, hauling in water is not a big deal, it will just be the 2 of us (still trying to talk my wife into going).

Shannon · 02-18-2008, 03:42 PM

I love Hill Country SNA, but it is definitely one of the more arid parks. The creek is small and difficult to get at from most of the campsites (West Verde Creek campground offers the easiest accessibility, but you need to look out for poison ivy en route to it.) You will have to hike a bit to access the creek, otherwise, other than of course the pond just before the park entrance (I don't know how much water's in there with our dry winter, but usually you end up driving through an inch or less of water from the pond as it slowly trickles across the roadway.)

There are Port-o-potties within walking distance from the campsites in West Verde Creek, though how close you will be depends on which site you get. It's actually closest to where you might park your vehicle. There are NO potable water spigots, so you'll need to bring water even for cleanup.

We're taking our 11-month-old on her first TENT camping trip in April, but we're sticking close to home--Guadalupe River SP--and going with a park with lots of opportunities, including park playgrounds, a river, open fields for stargazing, some wildlife (albeit usually of the smallish variety--rabbits, racoon, etc.)

srds · 02-18-2008, 05:21 PM

We stayed at the Wilderness Camp Area and had a pond pretty close,people where swimming , and wading in it,also the West Verde creek runs thru a large part of park .Like Shannon watch your step,people where wading and trying to tube in deeper areas.We had some nice hiking and great star watching at night.I'm glad we took porta shower made trip a little nicer.It's a great place to get a way and just relax,be sure and take more water than you think you will need.We did'nt have kids with us on that trip,but sure they would have plenty to see and do.Hope you have a good trip.

srds

Have Fun

campermom · 02-19-2008, 07:48 AM

We've day tripped HC a few times before. Have you day tripped anywhere close to home yet? Since you are in San Antonio, maybe try Perdernales, Guadalupe, Enchanted rock, even Bastrop is fairly close. See where her interests are. When you do those day trips, have her invite a friend for the day. We've done that a few times. The neighbor boy would never have been taken out there otherwise.

The trick to a great outdoor experience is to be prepared. Get a small toy of an animal you are likely to encounter while camping. If you have a book about wildlife, or central TX birds, or geology, or astronomy for her to look at BEFORE you go, she'll have a keen eye to notice upon exploration of the park. Give her a disposable camera to capture the things she likes. She can press flowers in a journal, and add the photos to it later. She can tell ghost stories at the campfire with you and make up games using sticks, rocks, and other found items.

My son likes building shelters, which isn't always a good idea to disturb a pile of sticks, but maybe she could take a few big sticks and a blanket to make a shelter to keep occupied while you are cooking, or whatever. Tell her some of the things you can do while there and let her pick. If she can't decide, then start with the less exciting and build up to the horseback ride. There is a building out there that is abandoned, right along the road. We explored that and talked about what it would have been like to live out there a long time ago. Then we crossed the road, by the pond and explored the cliff for arrowheads. ( never did find any but it was still fun looking).

You may want to try teaching her how a lady uses the restroom when the potty is 500 yards away. Drop your pants, tuck them tightly behind you knees, squat as low as you can, and there you go. Watch out for the shoes and cactus. Remind her to trash her trash.

A small fanny pack of backpack is a great thing for them to have. My son has water, a snack, a whistle, a happy meal toy, a pocket knife, flashlight, plastic bag, tissues, and a camera. During the hot months we also pack sunscreen, river shoes, and a small towel in case we get wet exploring somewhere.

Keep the meals simple and let her help. If you bring just enough for each meal, you won't have many issues throwing away the uneaten food, there won't be any.

Have fun and post up when you return.

kmerian · 02-19-2008, 09:44 AM

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

I have been taking my daughter on short trips to various parks in the area for years. Most recently Eisenhauer park here in San Antonio. I am planning some day trips between now and the camping trip to get her adjusted. We live about 5 minutes from Government Canyon SNA and so we will probably go there a few times, as well as Friedrich Park. One of our favorite places is Old Tunnell WMA (my wife and I had one of our first dates there).

I have already begun getting my daughter little things for the trip. Just the other day I got her a kids flashlight at Academy and she is just happy as a clam. I find getting her things for the trip, one thing at a time is really helping to keep her enthusiasum up.

As for Hill Country, I reserved a spot in the West Verde creek area, so we would be near the composting toilets and the creek. I know Hill Country is a primative park but I am looking for the seclusion you can't seem to get at Garner or Guadalupe River.

jaymes · 02-19-2008, 02:55 PM

The best thing to do while you are sitting at your computer now, is to type "children's camping activities" in the search box. Another thing, is to grab a boyscout or girlscout handbook, many great things inside them, tailored just for young ones.