Winter Camping With The Kids

With the Winter season just around the corner, winter camping with the kids might be something your family would enjoy.  If so, be sure to take all necessary precautions to stay warm, dry, and healthy.  Here are some tips to do just that.

Title: Winter camping with kids

Author: Paul Lander
I was ten the first time I camped in the winter, and a boy
scout. My leader warned us to change our socks and mitts every
couple of hours; I listened, but my best friend didn't. We spent
our second night at the hospital after he passed out from
hypothermia. Unlike many things in my life, this was one lesson
I was happy to learn from afar. If you're considering winter
camping with kids, some preplanning will make your trip safe and
fun.

 For your first adventure, keep it to one or two nights and stay
within driving distance to civilization. Kids are generally
better sports than adults; cold mornings and early evenings are
fine as long the time in between is packed with lots of outdoor
fun. Set your kids up for a lifetime of winter camping with
these simple rules:

Gauge your speed. If you're hiking to your destination,
remember that the snow will slow you down. A trail that takes
two hours to traverse in the summer will exhaust short legs and
take twice the time during the winter. Moderate your
expectations and have a back-up plan if you can't make daily
goals.

Over estimate clothing needs. Warm, wet weather followed
by a cold night is your most dangerous enemy. Thankfully, high
tech fabrics designed to wick moisture away from skin make
staying dry easier to manage. Estimate your clothing needs and
add 50 percent more when traveling with kids. And remind them to
change often - even if they argue. Hypothermia is not a death
sentence, but frostbite is irreversible (damage can vary from
mild scarring to tissue death).

Never go anywhere without your compass or GPS. This is
rule number one, no matter what the season, but it can be a life
and death issue in the winter. During snowstorms your own
footprints, landmarks and animal tracks disappear. And panic
sets in fast when freezing to death becomes a real possibility.
While you're at it, make sure you have cell service for that
first trip.

 Stay close to your equipment. This may seem like a
misnomer, but hikers who set up camp and then go for a walk to
find water or wood are as common as brown bears in Tennessee.
Explore your surroundings only in pairs and mark your position
continually on your GPS or compass. If you do get turned around,
you'll be able to make it back to the equipment you need to
build a fire and stay warm.

When it comes to camping with kids, capitalize on their adventurous spirit. After all, when was the last time you spent a night in a snow covered forest just for the fun of it?

About the author:
Paul Lander, The Nomadik Fanatik, at  Nomadik.com  offers advice,tips & tricks and personal anecdotes on wilderness adventures. Visit his blog  for information on hiking, survival  camping  and finding the right gear for your adventures.

 Winter camping trips with the kids sounds  like an adventure in fun.  Is this something your family would enjoy?