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What id your child doesn't want to go on camp?

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What id your child doesn't want to go on camp?

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Malia Ryce o pens up about having a child who refused to go on school camp.

In the international school system in Hong Kong, many school camps start in year 4. On average, children are eight or nine years old when they have their first overnight school camp experience. It is meant to be an independence-invoking, confidence-building, personal growth-inducing adventure. The year 4 camp at our school by all measures sounded pretty good to me, but my son was extremely apprehensive about attending. Being away from his family for three days and two nights was not something he was looking forward to...at all. He wasn't even looking forward to some of the activities highlighted in the camp information shared at school. As a parent, I was advised that the camp was a mandatory part of the curriculum and to do my best to encourage him, discuss any fears he might have and reassure him it would be just fine. With a fair amount of discussion over days and weeks, he bravely accepted the challenge, if somewhat tentatively, and went off to camp.

On the final day of camp, I was there at school to receive my little guy and thought I would see a big smile on his face after having conquered his fears and maybe even enjoying camp. Instead, I watched him as he got off the bus, slightly scowling. The first thing he did was lift his shirt to show me a nasty gash on his hip from a fall. He was close to tears when he told me he repeatedly asked to come home and was not allowed. He recounted finally falling asleep around 1am the first night of camp and how tired he was, such that the second night he slept at 9pm. I sympathised. But actually, I had never been to a school camp. Did I really understand?
See also: October School Holiday Camps
My son told me on this very day that he would NOT be attending the year 5 camp the following year. I casually agreed but brushed off his comment because it was a whole year away. When you're a child, a year is a long time and a lot can happen in terms of maturity and growth. I presumed he would change his mind by the time year 5 camp rolled around. Guess what? He didn't. When year 5 started, he reminded me that he would not be going to camp this year. It was the middle of August after all and camp wasn't until early November, so I thought there was still time for us to convince him to go. I did my job encouraging him, saying he would be with his friends and they would all have such fun together. We looked at the camp information online. We talked about with whom he would share a camp cabin. I did my best to explain that camp was mandatory. I even said he had to go and that all of his friends were going, some of whom also didn't want to go. In the end, there was no changing his mind and because I had initially agreed, there was no changing mine either. I couldn't go back on my word.

I had to ask myself, would missing camp change his life? Is my life any better or worse for not having been to a school camp at his age? The schools I attended in the United States didn't do camps for kids this young. My husband didn't go to camp at this age in Australia either. So we decided, after much agonising over it all, to let him skip camp.

By not forcing my child to do something totally against his will, I was not only staying true to my word but also offering him a deeper level of trust in me that will surely benefit both of us in the future.

We haven't addressed year 6 camp yet, but my guess is that he will want to go. He's older now and more confident than ever.

From a reluctant child's perspective

Florence Clifford, now age 17, looks back at her year's attending, and not attending, school camp.

Initially, I didn't want to go to school camp - the idea of spending two or three nights away from home, in a completely unfamiliar place, at the age of eight didn't exactly appeal to me. For a quiet, bookish child, the information packs full of kayaking, obstacle courses and dreaded 'team-building' exercises were equally unappealing. Plus, I could be quite contrary- and once I'd made up my mind that I wasn't going to do something, being told it was mandatory only made me more determined not to give in and go.

My parents didn't really push it: I'd never been away from home before and I don't think they were too keen on the idea themselves, especially because one of the big things about all these camps was that there was no student-parent communication. Maybe it was supposed to build confidence, or independence, but I think throwing a bunch of eight-year-olds into a brand new environment and expecting them not to want reassurance from mum and dad, was a bit optimistic.

Other kids weren't so lucky, but my parents were never the type to force me to do things I didn't want to do, so I happily skipped Year 4 camp, and didn't feel any FOMO (fear of missing out) when the rest of my year group came back. I didn't get to skip school, but hearing about rock climbing and tightrope walking made me feel thoroughly vindicated for staying behind, and so I dodged Year 5 camp as well. My parents might have been a bit bemused as to why-I was sociable and had close friends who were all going - but they didn't object.

Year 6 was a different story: I felt a bit more confident, and (although I never admitted it to my parents) I wanted to get away from home for a bit, too. Unfortunately, my experience proved my earlier theories. Faced with the prospect of having to eat Spam-yes, really-I essentially went on hunger strike for a week; and our mattresses may as well have been rocks for all the sleep I got. The activities, as I'd predicted, weren't exactly up my street-I was risk-averse, and jumping off (what felt like) a ten-metre-high jetty into the sea and roaming through the Sai Kung wilderness in the middle of the night were two things I would have preferred to avoid.

We were told that all this would 'push us out of our comfort zone.' I didn't want to be pushed anywhere, except on a bus back to civilisation.

Did it make me more independent, or more confident? Well, I did tentatively try to argue with one of our instructors, so maybe it was character-building in a way. But generally, it just made me grateful I'd avoided camp the previous two times.

In spite of all that, by the time secondary school rolled around I was full of youthful enthusiasm for Year 7 camp. For one thing, it was-in classic international school fashion -in Borneo. Even waking up one morning with a moth dozing on my face was an improvement over the stench of Spam, and what can I say? That certainly took me out of my comfort zone!

This may all sound like a horror story, but it's one with a silver lining. I went to camp every year after, and each year they got better and better. Each time was a dynamic new experience. I'd never been snorkelling before Year 10 camp in a beautiful island off Malaysia, let alone been a hairs' breadth away from green turtles and black tip sharks. Blasting down deserted roads in a rickety tuk-tuk in Thailand in Year 8 was breathtaking (quite literally). So hang in there- it's not quite the boot camp you imagine it to be!

All schools seem to have different thoughts on school camps, with some starting as early as Year 3 and others as comparatively late as Year 7. For most primary schools, residential camps are only within Hong Kong, with popular spots including Lantau, Cheung Chau and Outward Bound in Sai Kung. Others take a bigger step across the pond for a cross-cultural trip to Beijing.

There really is no one-size-fits-all approach; some children aren't quite ready for it at that age, others are confident, independent and raring to go. Often the parents are more nervous than the kids.

What helps make it easier to pack them off to camp is the ethos of the school itself, some parents say. One mother with children at an international school explained that her school's "very nurturing environment...comes out at camp too."
This article appeared in Playtimes Autumn Issue 2019.
Related articles:

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What if your child doesn't want to go on school camp? - Playtimes

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Malia Ryce o pens up about having a child who refused to go on school camp. In the international school system in Hong Kong, many school camps start in year 4. On average, children are eight or nine years old when they have their first overnight school camp experience.

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What every parent should know before sending their child on camp.

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What every parent should know before sending their child on camp.

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School's out, temperatures are rising, and the outdoors are beckoning and that means that across the country, kids and their parents are gearing up for day camps and sleep-away camps. The problem is, not all soon-to-be campers are excited about their summer schedules. Some children are unsure about spending so much time away from their homes and parents and some are downright terrified by the prospect. Yes, most children experience some degree of separation anxiety, and many eventually learn to deal with the absence of their parents without experiencing undue stress. However, assuming that your homesick child will "get over it" might be a false-and even dangerous-assumption to make.

"I know from firsthand experience, as well as subsequent study, that separation anxiety can be more than just a harmless childhood phase," says Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man's Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and-Finally-Let the Sunshine In (StepWise Press, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-9658261-9-8, $18.00, www.toddpatkin.com).

"As parents, we need to be careful that we aren't unwittingly harming our children by trying to make them stronger, or by expecting them to do what we did or what all of the neighbors' children are doing."

Patkin speaks from experience. He dealt with separation anxiety throughout his childhood and remembers one instance in particular that was nearly disastrous.

"When I was ten years old, my parents decided to send me to a sleep-away sports camp in a different state. They figured I'd enjoy it because my brother did, and because I loved sports. Boy, were my mom and dad wrong despite their best intentions!

"The first night away from home I barely slept, and the next day I felt panicked and sick. Soon, I was experiencing full-blown anxiety attacks (though I didn't recognize them as such). My heart was pounding so hard I thought I was going to die. After seventy-two hours away, I was willing to do anything to get home so I tried to drink some of the paint in the art shop to force my ticket home. Luckily a counselor caught me before I could really harm myself, and my parents were called to bring me home early."

Patkin's story illustrates in vivid detail just how real the anxiety that stems from severe separation anxiety is for children, and it also shows that homesickness won't necessarily go away on its own. Stressful separations can have longer-lasting consequences, too.

"I have been haunted by memories of that terrible experience at camp from time to time ever since," Patkin shares. "I found it difficult to sleep away from home throughout my teens, needed to attend a college close to my parents' home, and even today, at age forty-six, I often have to push myself through a brief period of anxiety when I'm leaving home on an extended business trip."

Patkin is adamant that it's crucial for parents to gauge their kids' levels of anxiety before making any firm summer plans. And licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Howard J. Rankin, who wrote the Expert View sections in Finding Happiness, agrees.

"There are many different degrees of homesickness, and it's important to deal with them in appropriate ways," Rankin adds. "It's especially crucial to note that about one in twenty-five children suffers from Separation Anxiety Disorder. If you think your child might be one of them, you need to seek the help of a medical professional." See attached sidebar to learn more about Separation Anxiety Disorder.

"It truly is critical to make sure your children are ready to go to camp before sending them, because if you don't, you might find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place," confirms Patkin. "Leaving a too-anxious child at camp can cause real emotional harmand conversely, what your child sees as the 'failure' to stick it out if you let her come home early can haunt her for years to come. If you do realize after you've already dropped your child off and driven away that she's not doing well, work with camp officials to determine whether staying or coming home early would cause less overall emotional damage."

Patkin especially wants to emphasize that children, and especially their emotional growth, are not one-size-fits-all. And if you're in doubt as to whether or not to send in your child's registration, he suggests waiting until she is begging you to go to camp, and not the other way around.

Before sending your children away from home this summer, read on to learn how to spot separation anxiety and how you may be able to alleviate it if it appears, provided it isn't severe:
How to Alleviate Non-Severe Separation Anxiety
Talk it over with your child. Before signing up for any camp or an away-from-home activity, talk to your child about it. Ask him how he's feeling and what he thinks about these plans. Above all, be sure to acknowledge your child's feelings as legitimate. Even if you don't believe there's any real reason for him to be upset, remember that his feelings and fears are very real in his own mind.

"It's important not to be over-indulgent, but it's also crucial that you not completely dismiss your child's fears," Patkin says. "In my case, adults were correct that there was no actual danger for me to worry about-but that didn't banish my fears or prevent me from acting on them. It's a good idea to let your child have some say in decision making-if he flat-out doesn't want to go to camp, don't force him. You might also consider giving him a choice-day camp as opposed to sleep-away, for example."

Realize that some amount of separation anxiety is normal. Yes, listen to your child and give her wishes some weight. Also realize, though, that at some point you're likely to hear some variation on the "Mom, Dad, don't leave me-I'll miss you!" theme from any youngster. The timing and duration vary, but every child experiences some level of stress when facing a separation from his or her loved ones-so there might be no need to panic. The fact is, no matter how independent or self-possessed your child is, chances are she'll probably be reluctant to leave you. That's normal.

"If you hear words of doubt coming from your camper's mouth-especially as drop-off day approaches-don't automatically pull the plug on the whole venture," advises Dr. Rankin. "Especially for overnight campers, spells of apprehension and homesickness often occur, which isn't surprising, since your child loves you and isn't used to being so far away from you. Yes, it's always uncomfortable for parents when their kids are unhappy, but remember that you know your child best, so simply trust your instincts if you suspect that she's more than just a temporarily unhappy camper."

Look for causes. While almost every child does experience some degree of separation anxiety, these feelings don't always originate within the child. They can also be caused or exacerbated by outside circumstances. If your child is feeling distressed for another reason, he'll be in need of extra comfort and security which can easily lead to a stronger-than-usual desire to be with his parents in familiar surroundings. "Especially if separation anxiety, or its current severity, is abnormal, look for other things that might be causing these feelings," Dr. Rankin instructs.

"For example, a divorce, a recent or upcoming move, or even your stress that your child might be observing can trigger separation anxiety. If you suspect that something other than summer camp might be influencing your child's feelings, don't ignore the issue."

Practice shorter separations. If your child is apprehensive about being away from you and from home, it makes sense to work your way up to longer separations. (Think about it this way-if you're not an experienced runner, you wouldn't jump straight into running a marathon, would you?) Depending on your child's age and level of homesickness, practice short separations-maybe just an hour or two to start-and increase their duration, taking into account your child's reactions.

"One of the many factors that played into my summer camp meltdown, I think, is that I really hadn't spent too many nights away from home beforehand," Patkin recalls. "I didn't even like it when my parents left me overnight in our own home with a babysitter or relative, so of course I hadn't sought out sleepovers. If I'd had more 'practice' before being left in another state for what was supposed to be four weeks, perhaps my reaction wouldn't have been so severe or my family and I would have known that camp wasn't a good idea to begin with."

Stay calm and positive. You've probably noticed that negativity, pessimism, and worry tend to breed more of the same-and it should come as no surprise that this trend holds true when it comes to your children. If your prospective camper voices worries, acknowledge them, but don't feed into them by adding your own apprehensions to the pile. (And certainly don't bring up worrisome what-ifs yourself-for example, "I just don't know how I'm going to make it a whole week without you here, Junior!")

"During the days leading up to camp, it's best to focus on its positive aspects," shares Dr. Rankin. "Remind your child of how much fun she'll have and what she'll learn. And don't make a big deal of drop-off-if you get emotional, your child is more likely to lose control too. Lastly, if you do receive an upset phone call, email, or letter, don't make a fuss that your child can feed off of. Instead, try to talk to a counselor or camp administrator about your child's homesickness before making a decision regarding how to proceed."

Feed your child's interests. Sometimes homesickness can be sparked by boredom and unhappiness-so don't assume that just because you enjoyed science camp in your youth, for example, your child will too. It's always a good idea to make sure that any camp you're considering for your child is a good fit for him. After all, if he's happy and engaged, his attention is more likely to be focused on what's right in front of him, and not on what he's missing.

"Granted, I was unsuited for sleep-away camp for many reasons, but I think the only reason that I lasted as long as I did, even though it was just three days, is because I was at a sports camp-and I loved sports," recounts Patkin. "When I was on the ball field, I do remember actually having fun. Remember that camp is supposed to enrich your child and help him grow-if his daily activities aren't capturing his attention, of course he'll be more likely to long for you! I know that even today, when I'm on a business trip that's not going well, I'm much more likely to want to come home sooner rather than later."

Let your child take "home" with him. Your child may be traveling miles away, but there's no reason why she needs to leave home behind altogether. Send familiar objects with her, such as a favorite stuffed animal, a small picture of you, and phone numbers. She'll feel less cut off from everything that's familiar, and will therefore be less likely to experience severe homesickness. It's even better if she can go to camp with a friend from home. "Sending small objects with meaning can indeed remind your child that you love her and are thinking of her," confirms Dr. Rankin, "but don't go overboard. You don't want her to be so focused on things she's brought from home that she doesn't get engaged in camp activities. For this reason, it can also be smart to wait a few days to send letters. For many children, contact from home is less likely to trigger homesickness if they have already established friends and interests in their new environment."

Don't be too quick to provide an out. When dealing with separation anxiety, this is often the hardest line of all for parents to walk. If your child is upset and emotional and begs to be with you, you'd need to have a heart of stone not to be affected. Many parents soon give in to their child's pleading rather than endure their own resulting anguish!

"As a father myself, I completely understand why many people simply can't stand seeing their children suffer from separation anxiety," says Dr. Rankin. "After all, you're hardwired to see to your child's well-being and chances are, you're going through some degree of separation anxiety yourself. (In fact, a quick Internet search will reveal numerous articles advising parents who are feeling distraught or off-balance due to the absence of their children!) It's very important for your brain to remind your heart that if you give in too easily, you might prevent your child's emotional growth. Ultimately, though, you know what's best for your child-so if you truly feel that he's in a bad situation, err on the side of caution. Again, this is why it's so important to make the right decision regarding camp upfront-so that you can avoid causing your child to experience unnecessary anxiety."

"I believe that there are very few children who won't at least feel a twinge of homesickness when overnight camp-or any significant separation-rolls around," concludes Patkin. "But if you approach the situation positively and rationally and encourage your child to do the same, you'll both be better prepared for the separation-and you will be better equipped to determine if your child's anxiety levels aren't normal or healthy."

Separation Anxiety Disorder: The Basics

About one in twenty-five children suffers from Separation Anxiety Disorder, which goes beyond "normal" homesickness and can have long-lasting negative effects on your child's development. And as a parent, it's important for you to be familiar with the symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder so that you can identify it and take action if necessary. Children who suffer from Separation Anxiety Disorder can honestly believe that they will never see their parents again. Their fears may last for weeks or months rather than days, and may interfere with normal activities. Specifically, kids whose separation anxiety is severe may:

Worry that something might happen to you or other loved ones while you are separated

Suffer from nightmares

Manifest physical symptoms, such as a stomachache or a panic attack

Cling to you, especially in an "age-inappropriate" way

Refuse to go to a particular destination, such as school or camp

"Please trust me-I can tell you from personal experience that forcing separation on a child who suffers from Separation Anxiety Disorder can be disastrous," confirms Patkin. "Even if you have the best of intentions by enrolling your son or daughter in camp, you may be doing much more harm than good. As I've said, my own traumatic camping experience drove me to the brink of inflicting harm on myself at the age of ten. If you suspect that your child might have Separation Anxiety Disorder, please seek the aid of a medical professional! It's crucial to understand that this advice is meant for parents of children who are experiencing non-severe separation anxiety."
Todd Patkin grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. After graduating from Tufts University, he joined the family business and spent the next eighteen years helping to grow it to new heights. After it was purchased by Advance Auto Parts in 2005, he was free to focus on his main passions: philanthropy and giving back to the community, spending time with family and friends, and helping more people learn how to be happy. Todd lives with his wonderful wife, Yadira, their amazing son, Josh, and two great dogs, Tucker and Hunter. Dr. Howard J. Rankin is the creator of www.scienceofyou.com <www.mmsend2.com> and founder and president of the American Brain Association. He is a licensed clinical psychologist with a private psychotherapy practice, the Rankin Center for Neuroscience and Integrative Health, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He has written five books and coauthored two more, including the bestselling Inspired to Lose. His video and workbook The Five Secrets of Lifestyle Change were released in early 2011.

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What every parent should know before sending kids to summer camp - Pittsburgh Parent

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The lazy, hazy anxious days of summer: What every parent should know before sending kids to summer camp. For many children, the prospect of leaving home for a day, a week, or more can be more distressing than it is exciting.

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Children's agency, what is it and what should be done?

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Children's agency, what is it and what should be done?

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Yana Manyukhina, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy (0–11 years)

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Children’s agency: What is it, and what should be done?

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’Oh my God. The Principal came in today and chose a child to read. I knew what I had to do: I knew I had to remind the child to say

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To Engage Teens, Give Them Real Voice in Decision Making

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To Engage Teens, Give Them Real Voice in Decision Making

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Despite growing national interest in increasing out-of-school-time opportunities for high school aged students, many programs for older youth struggle to attract and retain youth. Research shows that programs that successfully support older youth intentionally create opportunities for youth voice, engagement and leadership at multiple levels. They reflect teens' increased needs for efficacy, responsibility and agency, and actively engage them in organizational and community leadership.

Teens are not only attracted to programs and events that tap their interests and passions, they are drawn to places that they themselves help to create. Youth become deeply engaged and invested when they share in program, organizational and governance decision-making. It helps them develop a real stake in the organization, one which has tremendous power for the youth, the adults that serve them, and the organization and the community at-large.

One successful way some organizations and schools engage youth as leaders is through a teen advisory council (TAC) model. At Neutral Zone, our TAC makes the final decisions about which programs to offer and whether they deserve funding. The TAC is an official board committee, and its leaders are voting members of the board of directors.

Our TAC also raises its own funds and directly supports five to eight teen-led projects each year, such as paying for a visiting poet, funding a camping retreat, or purchasing a new piece of equipment for the recording studio.

At the program level, teens should share in the planning and running of their own initiatives. This opportunity requires resources and time to support effectively. Teens must be trained to serve as facilitators, learning to develop a meeting agenda, run a successful meeting, ask guiding questions and use active strategies to keep a meeting interesting. All of this must happen in partnership with adult advisors who work closely with teen facilitators, scaffolding them to plan and run meetings, and helping them to navigate organizational issues when they arise.
[Related:What's New in Your Out-of-School-Time Program?]
Teens also deserve a seat at the highest levels of governance. Nearly half of the members of our board of directors are teens nominated by their peers. They are full voting members and sit on every board committee, from human resources and finance to fund development. They help cultivate major donors and plan programs. They do things that adults might normally be reluctant to let teens do, including hiring the leader of the organization, approving a budget or discussing sensitive staffing issues.

There are many benefits to having youth on a nonprofit board. It provides them valuable competencies and experiences, contributing to their development of 21st century skills and civic engagement. And it provides youth an amazing opportunity to build their social capital. Serving with bankers, lawyers, architects, artistic directors and college faculty exposes teens to a wide range of people and perspectives that they can and should tap, just like other community volunteers who serve on boards.

Having youth on the board strengthens the organization. Involving the very people who the organization serves and including their perspectives on important decisions strengthens an organization's mission and programs.

Finally, having youth on the board is good for adults. Adults don't get enough opportunities to see how amazing young people are and how many have a plethora of brilliant ideas, good values and strong work ethic.

Adults' commitment to youth development should include having the courage to let teens run the show. We have to give them important jobs, challenge them to make big decisions and help them learn from mistakes. When teens "help run the store" they develop 21st century skills and gain critical social-emotional competencies. Moreover, adult staff and volunteers experience greater satisfaction working with youth who have higher levels of engagement and motivation.

Most important, communities benefit by building a civil society whose youth are civically engaged and prepared to be active participants in a democratic society.
John Weiss serves as director of strategic initiatives for the Neutral Zone in Ann Arbor Michigan. For more information on YDS, visit More related articles: School-age Care and OST: a Conversation About the OST Workforce Time to End State-sanctioned Assaults on Our Schoolchildren Keeping Adolescents Engaged: What Can After-School Programs Do? neutral-zone.org/youth-driven-spaces/ or on Twitter @youthdriven.

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To Engage Teens, Give Them Real Voice in Decision Making - Youth Today

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To Engage Teens, Give Them Real Voice in Decision Making - Youth Today adheres to high-quality journalistic standards, providing readers with professional news coverage dedicated to examining a wide spectrum of complex issues in the youth services industry from diversity to community-based youth work.

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It's easy to talk about why camping is good for you, but what about why it's bad?

Camping is bad for you because it's dirty, stressful and can be uncomfortable. It's easy to end up injured and you're sure to sleep poorly. Let's not even get started on the wild animals and potential for venomous bites!
There are plenty of reasons why you're better off staying home or visiting a beautiful resort, or even an Airbnb or a hotel.
By the way, as an Amazon Associate, I earn when buying qualified products through links on my site.
Why Is Camping Bad for You?

Let me start by saying, I love camping. I love being surrounded by nature, spending time in the sun or on the water, and I love campfires. Even though I'm about to list all of the bad things about camping, to me it's worth to be able to experience being outside.

However, there are many people out there who aren't like me.

We all have our reasons for why we might enjoy or despise certain kinds of activities, and there are certainly those who just can't get into camping.

Whether you're someone who dislikes camping and needs help explaining to others why or someone who wants to understand how anyone else might dislike camping, you're in the right place.

Perhaps you're trying to convince your parents why camping is a bad idea for a family vacation. Well, here's an arsenal of reasons just for you.

Here are 18 reasons why camping can be an experience more likely to damage your health than help it.

1. It's Dirty

There's no escaping the dirt when you're camping. It's everywhere! Have you ever tried keeping dirt out of your tent or RV? It's frankly impossible. If you can't stand dealing with dirt, then camping may be uncomfortable.

If you have children or pets, then there's really very little chance of keeping dirt at bay. That includes the immense task of keeping your children clean. If there's sand involved, if you're camping at a beach, then you will find sand in every cranny possible.

Those of us who love camping may not see this as a big deal, but it's easy to see how some might prefer the comfort of a hotel room to time spent out in the wilderness.

I do a more full comparison of hotels vs. Airbnbs vs. camping including the cost perspective at my article here.

2. Camping Is Stressful

Space is limited. How do you make sure you have enough food to keep everyone happily fed for the entire trip? What can you do to make sure you pack enough in the way of bedding, clothes, and comfort to have as much comfort as possible without overloading your vehicle?

Between the planning and packing, there's a lot of stress that can be generated by the prospect of a camping trip. Not to mention you have to take the time to get everything set up when you arrive. When you're done, you have to take more time packing everything back into your vehicle and putting it back away when it comes home.

For those who don't enjoy camping, it's a whole lot of stress just to temporarily move somewhere they don't enjoy.

If you are trying to overcome the stress, I've written an article with some key tips if you are wanting to get better at packing for camping to make it easier to get out the door.

3. Good Luck Sleeping Comfortably

No matter where you camp, it's unlikely you'll be able to get a good night's sleep. If you stay in a tent, you're trapped on an uncomfortable air mattress that often stands a good chance of going flat by the time morning rolls around. To avoid that, you can try out a sleeping mat or cot but there's a slim chance even those will compare to your bed at home.

Some can find more comfort staying in their own RV. At the very least, this offers you the ability to find a suitable bed before actually going on your trip. Otherwise, you can opt to stay in a cabin or yurt at campgrounds that allow them. Just keep in mind that dirt can still be a problem for both!

If you're going to end up on a camping trip anyway, you can at least try to make it more comfortable. Take a look at our article on making car camping more comfortable to pick up some useful tips. We wrote another article about using a mattress topper to make your night better here.

4. The Weather Is Unreliable

If there's one thing I've learned from my camping experiences, it's that you can plan a camping trip for the middle of summer in a desert and still experience a rainy, nasty thunderstorm.

Thunderstorms can not only be annoying, they can also be dangerous. Check out our article on staying safe in a thunderstorm to learn what you can do to keep yourself and your family safe if you end up camping in one.

For camping fans, unexpected storms can be a source of excitement. However, it can also be a bummer for those who just want to relax out in the sun without worry about rain or thunder.

You just never know when the weather might turn on you, causing you to have to call it a day early and be trapped in your tent until the weather clears. On top of that, it's not always clear how the temperatures around you might fluctuate. You may just find that you packed for a hot desert getaway, only to find that you're freezing throughout the night.

In fact, this just happened to me and my family a few days ago. We were camping in 90 degrees Fahrenheit weather, sleeping on top of our sleeping bags, when out of nowhere, at 4:30 AM, a cold front came in dropping the temperature into the 50s. We fortunately had some warm clothing-if we didn't though, that would have been really miserable.

5. Two Words: Campfire Smoke

If you don't enjoy the smell of a campfire, then the heat a fire may provide may be of little comfort when compared to the smoke that comes with it. Not only can it smell bad, but smoke can have a nasty habit of blowing in your face. It stinks, it stings, and you'll have to keep moving around to avoid it.

Even when you're not directly around the fire, you're likely to find that the smell follows you everywhere. It gets into clothes, blankets, and towels. You may end up having to wash your things more than once just to get the scent out.

Many people bring objects from home to supplement their camping, such as pillows and blankets. A big bummer with a campfire is that if it's close to your tent, all your bedding will smell like a campfire when you get home! I talk about some solutions to this here talking about pillows.

6. It Can Be Dangerous!

If you're going camping, you can probably expect an injury to occur at some point. Naturally, the majority of these injuries are small things like cuts and scrapes, bruises, small sunburns, and other issues that don't usually require the need of a doctor to heal.

However, worse injuries absolutely happen! If we take a look at statistics from 2004 and 2005, we can see that around 212,708 people had to be treated each year for injuries related to outdoor recreation. This information comes to us from the Journal of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine.

On top of that, a great deal of these injuries can often occur while hiking. It's all too easy to end up with a sprain out there!

To learn about the top ways in which camping is dangerous, take a look at our article on the subject here.

7. There Are So Many Bugs

Crawling bugs, flying bugs, jumping bugs, bugs that sting, and bugs that bite. If you're going to be spending time out in nature, you've got to expect them to show up at some point. If you're lucky, it may just be a few flies interested in the smell of your food.

On the other hand, the unlucky may end up with bites or stings that itch, hurt or worse. Bees, biting flies, fire ants and more are happy to roam freely anywhere they please. It doesn't seem to matter whether you're outside or in your tent, you can't escape them!

Those who enjoy camping often see these insects as just part of the experience, but it's understandable why they may keep others from wanting to spend too much time in the outdoors.

It's just a fact that if you're going to be outside, you're going to face bugs. Part of camping is just accepting this, or doing your best to repel them. Slathering yourself with DEET isn't desirable to everyone since it smells so strongly. However, there are some natural ways to repel them. I found over 30 natural ways to repel bugs that are less stinky (except the garlic) and I put them in an article here.

8. The Bathroom Situation Is Less Than Desirable

At best, you're likely to have a public restroom setup while you're camping. At worst, you may need to dig a hole in the ground.

There's not a lot of privacy, nor a great deal of space to spend doing your hair or enjoying other self-care activities. Not to mention, you're likely to find some bugs around the lights and on the counters as well. Wherever there are lights or food, the bugs will follow.

I've camped at many a campground where they had bathroom facilities, and while it is better than digging a hole, it's really unnerving to have bugs flying around you, brushing against your leg hairs, as you use the facilities.

Unlucky situations mean trying to find a private enough location in the woods to do your business. You'll have to pack along hand sanitizer for the most basic of hand-cleaning after the fact. Humankind has come a long way since bathroom habits were conducted like this out of necessity, and it makes complete sense that you might not want to go back!

9. Burns Are Abundant

There are so many ways to end up with an uncomfortable burn while camping. Often, it comes in the form of a sunburn. Sunburns can make it harder to move, sleep or enjoy any part of the camping experience. On top of that, they increase the risk of skin cancer.

Even if the sun isn't a problem where you're camping, burns can also come from the campfire or cooking tools. Grills and camping stoves are prime places for unexpected levels of heat to take place. Even if you're extremely careful, you can easily end up with burnt hands or fingers by accident.

10. You Either Get No Shower Or A Poor One

Showers can be even more difficult to deal with than bathrooms. They're also something we can often take for granted. When you can take a shower on a daily basis, you may not think about just how nice it is to get a good clean.

However, you're sure to feel it if you end up in a campground with limited access to showers. While many campgrounds may have shower facilities, they are typically not the most private. In some cases, there may just be a curtain between you and other campers, and you're lucky if you get that!

If you aren't staying in a campground, then you may not have access to a shower at all. Dry shampoo can only do so much, and it's often difficult to get a complete clean without that relaxing stream of hot water.

Because of the difficulties of showering, we put together a very useful guide to finding a shower while camping here. There are lots of options, but they will require a bit more creativity and tolerance.

11. Campground Neighbors

Those of us who have been camping a few times are more than familiar with those campground neighbors. The ones who decide that every night is a drunken party, who choose to ignore the campground quiet hours, or who decide that midnight is the perfect time to share their campfire singing with everyone nearby.

Just imagine being kept awake all night by that one particular kind of neighbor, then experiencing a different kind of camping neighbor in the early morning hours. From time to time, those who decide to watch the sunset or head out for some time on the water may not be the quietest while doing it.

These neighbors may not be as loud as the late-night party fans, but they can really become a frustration when you're already sleeping poorly.

We've had a couple frustrating experiences ourselves. One in which our camping neighbor insisted on blaring music all the way till 10 PM, when I walked over and asked them to turn it off. To their credit, they did, but it definitely detracted from the peace of the nature for me. That same night, a horde of scouts rolled in after 10 PM and set up their tents in the dark right next to our campsite.

The only thing you can do in some of these situations is to bring earplugs. Earplugs = happiness

12. Camping With Children Is A Disaster

Not only can children be more prone to injuries, they can also be more difficult to keep entertained while camping. Most of the time, you can't just put on Sesame Street and trust them to relax happily. You have to find things for them to do all of the hours they aren't sleeping.

On top of that, you have to make sure they are eating and sleeping well. If you think you are having a difficult time with minimal, uncomfortable sleep then just imagine having a small child who hasn't been sleeping well either.

Dirt, snot, and crying are likely to become a common theme while camping.

Another perspective would say that the discomfort of camping is invaluable to building character. To that, as Calvin would say from Calvin and Hobbes: " Yeah, and last year you said diarrhea builds character." It all depends on perspective I suppose.

13. Let's Talk About Wild Animals

The wilderness is home to a whole host of animals that may be dangerous, or just annoying. Bears, cougars, wolves, coyotes, skunks, raccoons and more are sure to be wandering about the area.

Although many of the more dangerous animals aren't likely to be a huge problem in campgrounds, you are likely to find that the smaller ones can become troublesome. Raccoons are intelligent and brave and may become rather intimidating if they find out you have an easy source of food.

You will need to be aware of the more dangerous animals if you're camping outside of a campground. It's also worthwhile to keep in mind that bears and cougars can spend time around hiking trails.

If that's not enough to keep you out of the woods, I don't know what is!

If you want some tips to keep animals away from your tent, check out our article here.

If you want to see how likely it is to be attacked by a wild animal, check out our other article here.

14. Cooking Is A Hassle

Have you ever tried cooking a meal at a campsite? It typically means setting up a grill or portable skillet. If that's not something you want to do, then you'll have to learn how to cook on the campfire, which can be an imperfect way to get a meal.

Once you've managed to cook the food, you'll then have to figure out how to wash dishes. That can mean scrubbing them in a bucket of water, in the sink of an RV (if there is a water hookup available), or just letting them stack up until you can get them to your dishwasher at home.

The problem with dishes can be avoided with simple meals, paper plates, and utensils that can be tossed after their use. However, there's no denying this creates extra waste. Overall, dealing with food while camping is a complicated balance between the overly-simple and boring food options or putting in a whole lot of extra effort.

15. Unfriendly Companions In Your Tent (Or Sleeping Bag)

Aside from the animals that might maul, bite or scratch, there are also those that might leave you filled with venom.

What makes these critters even worse is that they often tend to be masters of stealth and hiding. Depending on where you're camping, there could be venomous spiders, insects, scorpions or snakes that could make their way into your tent or even your sleeping bag.

Even if they don't make it into your tent, is it possible that a venomous snake could bite you through your tent? After all, the fabric of a tent is often quite thin. Learn more about this subject in our article here.

If one of these creatures should manage to bite you, it can be extremely painful at the least. The bites of rattlesnakes, black widow spiders and more can end up in a truly dire situation.

16. You're Unlikely To Be Able To Contact Anyone

Camping is about getting away from everyday life. It's about shutting out the rest of the world and just enjoying nature. As a result, most campgrounds don't offer Wi-Fi to connect to. In many areas, you'll be lucky if you can get even a slight cell phone signal.

That means no posting to social media, no catching up with friends, and definitely no Netflix. On top of that annoyance, it really makes emergency situations more frightening. Should an injury occur, there's a good chance you'll have to travel a long way just to be able to call in help.

Additionally, it makes things a lot harder for people who may need to contact you for an emergency. For example, if someone is pet-sitting for you while you're camping and your pet runs away, it could be days before you know about what happened!

If getting Wi-Fi is important to you, I wrote a guide with tons of options just for you for getting Wi-Fi while camping. Check it out, here.

17. Odds Are, You're Far From A Hospital

If the possibility of being bitten by some kind of venomous creature isn't frightening enough, this fact definitely will be. Many campgrounds are located a decent distance from cities and major towns, ensuring that those who are camping can really get a nature-based experience.

The distance can be an annoyance in normal circumstances, but it can become a serious problem if a venomous bite is involved. Park rangers may have the basics to help with a bite until an ambulance or helicopter is able to arrive, but there's only so much they can manage.

Because of this, you'll have to keep in mind that camping can not only be stressful and dirty, it can also be downright dangerous!

18. You're Paying For All Of It

If all of these aspects of camping weren't bad enough for your physical and mental health, remember that camping also affects your financial health.

Most campgrounds come with a nightly fee that you have to pay just for the opportunity to sleep uncomfortably and possibly get bitten by something. Even if you aren't staying in a campground, there's a good chance you're taking time off for the adventure. That's money you aren't making and paid time off that could have been spent at a fancy resort.

Most people think that camping is inexpensive, and it can be if you already have the gear. Even with all the gear, camping costs more than you think. check out our article that goes into much greater detail on the costs of camping here.

But What If I Want to Go Camping?

So, those are reasons to not go camping. As I said at the beginning, in spite of all of that, some of my favorite memories are of camping! Why? Even though it can be uncomfortable, being outside and experiencing some of these challenges can be genuinely fun.

I find it's a great bonding time between me and my wife. We are busy at home with various projects, this website, and work, and sometimes it's fun to work together on the complete basics: food and shelter.

In fact, I wrote an article all about the mental and physical health benefits of camping here. there have been many studies related to this.

If it's your significant other that feels this way, there is some hope. We wrote an article specifically for husbands wanting to make camping a possibility with their families.

Camping is probably not for everyone. If any of these are a deal-breaker, than there's only so much you can do. That's totally fine! there's no requirement for everyone to go camping. Just know that there are a few things to make things more comfortable and bearable. Also know that it can take some practice and some adjustment of expectations. But once you get to that point, there's a lot of happiness to find.

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18 Reasons Why Camping Is Bad For You | Decide Outside

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It's easy to talk about why camping is good for you, but what about why it's bad? Camping is bad for you because it's dirty, stressful and can be uncomfortable. It's easy to end up injured and you're sure to sleep poorly. Let's not even get started on the wild animals and potential for venomous bites!

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If camping is so tough, why do we like it so much?

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If camping is so tough, why do we like it so much?

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amping: why do I persist? Why do I regularly, voluntarily, drive six hours to a wet field so that other people can hear me shout at my children? I only have to unpack my tent to see how much of a hurry I was in to get home last time. Among the folds and tangled guy ropes I find a musty child's sock, a distressed Grazia cover from 2009, an old crisp packet and a hat I forgot I ever owned. And yet, despite these warnings from history, I'm actually excited about the idea of putting up my tent. Again.

Not everybody, I can see, is as excited as I am when I arrive. "It's quite weird," says one anonymous G2 camper into her phone. "But I can't really talk about it because I'm at a campsite and everyone can hear me." Resolute non-camper Lucy Mangan is also on her phone, looking utterly bereft. She's been here for 20 minutes.

Across the site there is a wide range of skills on display. Some people obviously camp a lot; they packed light and remembered to bring a mallet. Others have clearly borrowed tents that they have never put up before. Some have come with large family tents they have never been obliged to erect singlehanded. Amid all the struggles it's easy to forget that this is the fun bit.

These problems are not mine. My Scandinavian tent may have the footprint of a bouncy castle, but I can put it up alone and I am practised at banging in tent pegs with a log. Soon a little tent city emerges - Camp G2 - clustered round an enormous tipi we've hired for our 24-hour stay at Wowo, the upscale campground (but not too upscale; it's not carpeted or anything) near Haywards Heath in Sussex. There's also a well equipped yurt hidden among the trees. It has a woodburning stove and spoons.

Camping was supposed to be one of those dowdy pastimes that became perversely fashionable for a moment, only to become just as unfashionable again once everybody tried it and found out what it actually entailed. But camping hasn't gone away; it's more popular than ever. Thanks to the recession, camping and caravan trips last year were up 27% on the previous year. Sales of tents and other equipment continue to climb. Both the high and low end of the market have expanded rapidly. "Glamping" - where you sleep in a luxuriously appointed tent someone elso has put up for you - is seen as an acceptable, if not preferable alternative to staying in a B&B, but you can also get a tent in Tesco for a tenner. Camping is suddenly for everybody.

Singlaong in the tipi (supplied by www.redtipi.co.uk). Photograph: Martin Godwin

My parents did not camp. Apart from a few dispiriting outings with the scouts, I have no history of it. The first time I tried - an Argos tent on a headland in Cornwall during the 1999 eclipse - resulted in a holiday of so many isolated magical moments that within a few years I had completely forgotten that the weather was actually terrible, and that our youngest child was six weeks old at the time. A few more camping trips convinced me I needed a better tent. Some time later I gave up on sleeping bags - I now take the duvet off the bed and stuff it into a bin liner. Over the years I have more or less figured out how I like to camp. I'm just not sure why I like to camp.

Perhaps it's because camping is to living as cooking is to barbecuing. It's basically an outdoor version of housekeeping. There is something so primally satisfying about escaping from our reliance on infrastructure that it turns the most tedious chore into an adventure. Suddenly making toast is interesting, just because it's so hard.

We've had an amazing run of real summer weather this year - it's all too easy to forget what a night in a tent in Britain can be like - but when you're out in the elements even good weather can be bad weather. Hot and sunny, cold and rainy, whatever: it all comes under the general heading of exposure, and people die of it all the time. Camping is exciting because even at its most tame it's still a tiny bit dangerous, although when you've finally put up your tent and fetched your water and made your toast, mere survival can get - whisper it - a little boring.

Ennui sets in at Camp G2 within an hour or two. Gathered in the big tipi to avoid sunstroke, people start to wonder aloud where things go from here. "Once you get into it you realise you've got nothing else to do but hang around and chat," says someone. "Enforced inactivity," says another colleague, trying to make it sound like a positive thing. Someone else enters the tipi. "There's a squirrel in the yurt," she says, sitting down. In the silence that follows, people begin to consult notepads and their phones. The camping trip is in real danger of turning into an editorial conference when someone suggests a nature walk. When someone suggests a nature walk that ends at a pub, participation swells to 100%.

Nature and beer have a powerful effect on the human spirit. At dusk building a fire, which definitely counts as Something To Do, becomes infinitely more challenging, and therefore more rewarding, when Sam Wollaston and I decide not to use any newspaper, relying instead on little curly bits of bark peeled from trees on the walk. It takes a little longer - about an hour longer - to get it going, but when it finally works I feel like Ray Mears.

Nutritious camping fare. Photograph: Martin Godwin

Cooking on a campfire is a task I leave to others. There's nothing about cooking in a squatting position in the dark that improves it for me. After a hasty supper an even more daunting challenge - the traditional singing round the campfire - presents itself.

Music and camping do not necessarily mix. Not that many people enjoy both. The farmer who owns Wowo encourages music, and tells me proudly that musicians camp for free, but I'm not sure how he distinguishes between musicians and people who simply own instruments. I have my banjo with me, but I'd rather pay than audition.

Even Wowo has limits designed to protect the ears of those camping nearby. Their list of rules prohibits bongos, for example. I am sorry to see it doesn't expressly forbid banjos, but I'm fairly sure it will next year.

There is a probably a point at which alcohol intake, fellow-feeling and fresh air combine to create an atmosphere ideal for communal singing. I don't know the exact formula, but here's a handy rule of thumb: by the time everyone is unselfconscious enough to belt out the one song they all know all the words to, and that someone can play on the banjo (in our case, I'm afraid, it was I Will Survive), you really should have all been in bed half an hour ago.

The next morning I am suffering from several competing forms of remorse. I am also dehydrated, and my air mattress is flat. My tent, which was cold and clammy when I got into it, is now hot and humid. At some point in the night it must have been the ideal temperature, but I slept through that.

Outside, guy ropes are already being wound up. Most of the tents are down before breakfast. I pack, as usual, with the unseemly haste of a man trying to outrun a tornado. When I'm done, I walk up to a colleague and tell him that, all things considered, the whole thing came off very well.

"Yeah, it was great," he says. "Are you ready to go? I'm ready to go. Let's get out of here."
G2 stayed at Wowo campsite in Sussex (www.wowo.co.uk). Call 01825 723 414 or email camping@wowo.co.uk Tipi supplied by Red Tipi (www.redtipi.co.uk). Call 01273 858406 or email info@redtipi.co.uk

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If camping is so tough, why do we like it so much?

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amping: why do I persist? Why do I regularly, voluntarily, drive six hours to a wet field so that other people can hear me shout at my children? I only have to unpack my tent to see how much of a hurry I was in to get home last time.

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Okay, I don't actually hate camping, but do have some friends who aren't big fans of it. After having camped a lot myself, I learned that camping can sometimes suck.

As fun as camping is, it can also be dirty, boring, and expensive. There's bugs, bad bathrooms, and there's no avoiding the weather.

To sum it up:

This year millions of Americans will be underhoused, underclothed, underfed, underbathed, live in unsanitary conditions and relieve themselves outside. They will be camping.

And many people feel the same way. Humans have spent thousands of years advancing technology to get away from nature. Why would you purposely make your life harder?

Here's what a few not so happy campers chimed in with:

Bugs, the rain, having to drag all that equipment with me, bugs, no shower or toilet, sleeping in a tent - did I say bugs?

I like comfort; soft bed, being dry and warm, being able to easily cook or order a meal. I don't see the appeal of intentionally making my life harder as a recreational activity.

Everything you do is a huge hassle. Eating, cooking, using the restroom sleeping and boredom like you can't believe. Bugs, smoke from fire, the kids getting bit by bugs, and everything is a huge pain in the ass.

There are a few key aspects of camping that can make or break a trip. The two biggest factors you'll want to nail down are:

If you're in good company and nail these two aspects, you got your basic covered. However, there are lots of other little pieces that can make you hate camping.

I've listed the most common camping problems and solutions to making camping more bearable.

Mosquitos Have No Mercy

The worse thing about being in the woods? Bugs. Mosquitos and midges are relentless. And after squatting these buggers all day and night, they will get annoying.

Even if you could hide from them all, there's always that one little bugger that finds your way into your tent. You try to ignore it but after 5 minutes, the buzz becomes unbearable and you're forced to get up in the middle of the night to swat it.

Solution: Bug spray and Deet will help. However, there are two problems with bug spray. The first is they aren't always healthy, and secondly, the smell isn't pleasant. What I think works much better is to use citronella candles or tiki torches.

The cheapest option is bug spray, but if you want to have a better camping experience, use candles tiki torches instead. You can place this in a perimeter around the common areas to create an insect shield and adds a bit of flair to your site.

Sleeping on the Ground Hurts

No matter when or where you go camping, you going to need to sleep somewhere. One thing I did not look forward to when camping is sleeping on the hard ground. Even with a sleeping pad ( do you really need a sleeping pad?), it would take me forever to fall asleep. Not only that, but I'd wake up with sore hips and a sore back, still tired.

Solution: Air mattresses can work, but they are heavy, take up space, and the cheap ones always deflate during the night. If you do invest in an air mattress, make sure it's a good one. Cots are one option, but my favorite way to sleep is in a hammock. Ever since I discovered my ENO hammock, it has made a world of difference for me.

It Rains Almost Every Time

Going camping? Chances are it's going to rain. And if you're not a seasoned camper with a lot of gear, it won't make for a fun trip. Not only does it get everything wet, but it makes everything more difficult. Want to cook? It's raining. Want to have a campfire? It's raining. Want to even go to the bathroom? It's raining. And hopefully, you don't find out later why not all tents are waterproof.

Solution: One of the best pieces of equipment to keep you dry is an E-Z Up ( See Amazon Price). These are foldable popup canopies that are specifically designed to keep you dry. You can cook under them and they also provide shade when it's sunny out. A must-have in big groups.

You may also like Best Extreme Weather Tents

Being Bored out of Your Mind

The biggest reason why camping sucks is being out in the woods can be pretty boring. The reality is, there is a lot of sitting around during camping. After all, you can only eat and watch the fire so much. If you're the type of person who doesn't do well without technology, then it gets worse.

Solution: Bring some friends and plan ahead. Swimming, biking, hiking, visiting local attractions, and board games are all ideas to pass time. Make an effort to bring some fun activities like cornhole, horseshoes, or ultimate frisbee. Bring Bluetooth speakers for music, listen to podcasts, or read a book.

You may also like Easiest Tents to Set Up by Yourself

It's Noisy and Crowded

If you're camping during the summer, campsites are going to be packed full. Most campsites don't have a lot of space between them either, making it seem like your staying at an apocalyptic refugee camp. Not to mention the loud drunks and crying kids. RV parks can be especially noisy too with their generators and AC compressors buzzing all night. Oh, and don't forget random singing, doors slamming, and car alarms at 3 am in the morning.

Solution: There are two ways to avoid noisy crowds. That is to avoid peak camping season (see the best time to go camping) or find a more rural campsite. Summer is usually the busiest, and even busier during weekends and holidays. Avoiding these times will also avoid some of the crowds.

Another way is to look for more rural or campsites that are tent-only campgrounds. Campsites next to popular parks or cities will naturally be busier. Shop around for campgrounds on places like HipCamp, GlampingHub, and even AirBNB. If you are new to Airbnb, feel free to use my invite to get up to $55 off your first booking. You might even want to consider renting a cabin or learn how to camp in a yurt.

You may also like Most Efficient Camping Stoves

Cooking is a Chore

Cooking while camping is a pain. Either you have to bring everything including the kitchen sink (yes, they have kitchen sinks for camping) or stick to simple meals. Cutting, cooking, cleaning along with packing all the required gear is a lot more to do than when you're at home.

As one camper put it:

What's fun about trying to cook anything other than hotdogs over a fire? Ash and embers cost your food while you cook it and bugs climb all over it when you try to eat it - if the wind hasn't already blown leaves and dirt into it.

Solution: Again, here is where preparation is key. It will still take some work, but if you camping in a group, you can all spread out the work. Come prepared to make simple meals that can be easily cooked over the fire or camp stove. I like to bring my 2 burner Coleman stove to cook pretty much everything I could cook at home. It's an incredibly good stove for the price ( See Amazon Price). One of my favorite meals are chicken quesadillas and tin foil dinners.

The Bathrooms Are Dirty, or None at All

Ah, the glorious bathrooms. What's fun about feeling sweaty and dirty and all you want to do is take a shower but the bathrooms are muddy and full of mosquitoes? Not all campgrounds have showers, and when they do, they are sometimes dirty, don't work all the way, or you can't get the temperature right.

Solution: Do your due diligence and read and find a campground and read the reviews. There are good campgrounds out there with good showers. If you can't take a shower camping, try sponge baths or using Biowipes. Surviveware wipes are biodegradable, unscented, and hypoallergenic. They are specifically made for camping.

You may also like How to Cowboy Camp the Right Way

It's a Hassle

Packing your gear, driving to the campground, unloading your car, then pitching your tent can really take the fun out of camping. And when you're ready to go, you have to break down your site and back up again. That's not to mention setting up fires, kitchen areas, and doing dishes. It's a big hassle for trying to enjoy yourself.

Solution: Plan ahead and split up tasks. Get bigger bags to store gear so you don't need to try and cram them into the manufacture bags that barely fit. Totes are especially useful. For meals, do most of the prep work at home. Meals can even be made and cooked ahead of time.

It's Expensive

If you've never gone camping before, you probably don't have a lot of camping gear. Tents, sleeping bags, stoves, coolers, chairs, flashlights and everything else can get quite pricy. And the food. It always seems like I buy a month's worth of groceries for a weekend camping trip.

Solution: Take your time planning what gear you need and shop around. Be on the lookout for when camping gear goes on sale and shop around at discount stores and used marketplaces. Borrowing or even retaining gear from outdoor stores are a great option if you don't plan on camping too often.

So Why Do People Enjoy Camping?

There's a lot of reasons why people do go camping. For me personally, it's a time to spend with friends and connect with them on a level I wouldn't normally.

It's a great bonding experience with friends. It requires team-work, problem-solving, and ends on a high note around a campfire.

It's where I can be independent and not need to depend on technology for my own survival. The reward is much better when you have to depend on yourself and what you have.

There is something so refreshing about hiking 12 miles away from civilization and having to be on your own. Stoking a fire, cooking a good meal and knowing you are in control of your own life.

It's a chance to disconnect from our daily electronics and remind ourselves that primal instincts are alive and well.

You may also like What Is Car Camping? (And How to Do It)

Camping Doesn't Have to Suck

If you hate camping now, it doesn't always have to suck. Planning ahead, go with the right friends, and at the right time of year can make all the difference. Get out there, have fun, and be safe!

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Why I Hate Camping - 9 Reasons Why It Sucks - Pack Your Tent

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Okay, I don't actually hate camping, but do have some friends who aren't big fans of it. After having camped a lot myself, I learned that camping can sometimes suck. As fun as camping is, it can also be dirty, boring, and expensive. There's bugs, bad bathrooms, and there's no avoiding the weather.

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top 16 quotes of kurt hahn famous quotes and sayings | inspringquotes.us

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Top 16 quotes of KURT HAHN famous quotes and sayings | inspringquotes.us

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Discover KURT HAHN famous and rare quotes. Share motivational and inspirational quotes by KURT HAHN. "It is a sin of the soul to force young people into opinions ... but it is culpable neglect not to im..."

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Time outdoors is good medicine for hi-tech kids

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Time outdoors is good medicine for hi-tech kids

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Green time may be the antidote* to screen time for children's brains, boosting academic performance, mental health and wellbeing, research suggests.

A review of existing research has found evidence to suggest the positive effects of time spent in nature could "buffer" or help improve the negative effects of time spent watching TV, on computers or playing video games.

"Few studies considered screen time and green time together, and possible reciprocal* psychological* effects," said University of Adelaide psychology researcher Tassia Oswald who reviewed all the published studies on the subject from the English-speaking world.

"However, there is preliminary* evidence that green time could buffer consequences* of high screen time.

"Therefore nature may be an under-utilised* public health resource for youth psychological wellbeing in a hi-tech era."

Ms Oswald is now planning a pilot study* with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute to further explore the interplay* between screen time and green time among young people.

"It's really hard to reduce young people's screen time, technology is here to stay and it's really important in a lot of aspects of life," she said.

"So it would be great to work out how we can relieve some of the psychological implications* of that and green time would be great, so we need to look into it further to strongly support that idea."

Ms Oswald said there was a growing trend towards prescribing time in nature for health benefits. She said some doctors in the US and the UK offered "green prescriptions", while "forest bathing" was popular in Japan.

However, the question of what made up quality green time was still up for discussion, she said.

Research to date suggests the answer depends on the age of the child. For preschoolers, a private garden is important. Primary school aged children need a larger place to play and for teenagers, the nature of the neighbourhood is important.

Brothers Lennie, 7, and Nash, 4, from the Adelaide suburb of Clapham love playing outdoors with their dog, Fred, and four chooks.

Dad Pete McDonald said his sons tended to get a bit irritable* if they were on screens too much.

"We're very fortunate to have a park right outside of the gate, so if the yard gets too small, just open the gate and they've got a playground out there they can run around," he said.
GLOSSARY

antidote: cure or medicine

reciprocal: an action or effect shared by two things

psychological: to do with the mind or mental state

preliminary: early

consequences: results

under-utilised: not used often

pilot study: a small study in preparation for a larger study

interplay: the way two things affect each other

implications: the effects of an action or decision

irritable: grumpy, unhappy

EXTRA READING Weird ways tech could be changing our skeletons Screen time can be green time How much screen time is too much? Get off that screen for just one day QUICK QUIZ

1. What has been found to improve the negative effects of too much screen time?

2. Where is researcher Tassia Oswald from?

3. What is Tassia Oswald now planning with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute?

4. Where is forest bathing popular?

5. How many animals do brothers Lennie and Nash have?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. My screen time and green time
Think back over the past 24 hours. Write down all of the things you have done that involved "screen time" and all of the things you have done that involved "green time". Separate the screen time items into two categories - essential (for education or wellbeing purposes) and non-essential (for entertainment). Give each of the activities an honest estimate of how much time you spent doing them. Calculate how much time in total you spent over the last 24 hours on essential screen time, non-essential screen time and green time.

Now that you know these figures, answer the following questions:

(a) Are you spending more or less time on screens than you thought?

(b) Are you spending more or less time in nature than you thought?

(c) Do you think that you have a healthy balance of screen time versus green time? Did working out the figures change your opinion about this?

(d) What are your top 5 green time activities that you enjoy doing?

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Health and Physical Education; Mathematics; ICT Capability; Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Create a daily schedule for yourself that you think includes a healthy balance of screen time and green time activities, as well as any other usual activities you do. Write a paragraph explaining why you think the schedule you designed strikes a good balance between the two.

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Health and Physical Education; Mathematics; Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Stretch your sentence
Find a 'who' in the story - a person or an animal. Write it down.

Add three adjectives to describe them better.

Now add a verb to your list. What are they doing?

Add an adverb about how they are doing the action.

Using all the words listed, create one descriptive sentence.

HAVE YOUR SAY: What do you like to do most when you're not on a screen?
No one-word answers. Use full sentences to explain your thinking. No comments will be published until approved by editors.

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Time outdoors is good medicine for hi-tech kids

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Green time may be the antidote* to screen time for children's brains, boosting academic performance, mental health and wellbeing, research suggests. A review of existing research has found evidence to suggest the positive effects of time spent in nature could "buffer" or help improve the negative effects of time spent watching TV, on computers or playing video games.

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In the early 1980s, a Harvard University biologist named Edward O. Wilson proposed a theory called biophilia: that humans are instinctively drawn towards their natural surroundings. Many 21st century parents, however, would question this theory, as they watch their kids express a clear preference for sitting on a couch in front of a screen over playing outside.

The national panic about kids spending too much time indoors has become so extreme that the crisis has a name: Nature deficit disorder.

While calling it a disorder might be merely rhetorical, it's clear kids spend significantly more time inside than outside. This shift is partly due to technology: Richard Louv, author of the book Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder, tells the story of interviewing a child who told him that he liked playing indoors more than outdoors "'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are."

Increasing parental fears about diseases and dangers of playing outside-despite evidence to the contrary-are another big factor.

And as suburbs and exurbs continue to expand, nature is parceled off more, and kids seem less inclined to spend time in a fenced-in yard, let alone jump the fence into a neighbor's or walk in the woods. Instead, indoor activities can seem easier (no sunscreen necessary!), safer, and even more sociable for kids who are growing up with multiplayer video games and social media accounts.

Why go outside?

Recent studies have exposed the benefit-even necessity-of spending time outdoors, both for kids and adults. Some argue that it can be any outdoor environment. Some claim it has to be a "green" environment-one with trees and leaves. Others still have shown that just a picture of greenery can benefit mental health. These nuances aside, most of the studies agree that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors. While it's unclear how exactly the cognitive functioning and mood improvements occur, there are a few things we do know about why nature is good for kids' minds.

It builds confidence. The way that kids play in nature has a lot less structure than most types of indoor play. There are infinite ways to interact with outdoor environments, from the backyard to the park to the local hiking trail or lake, and letting your child choose how he treats nature means he has the power to control his own actions.

It promotes creativity and imagination. This unstructured style of play also allows kids to interact meaningfully with their surroundings. They can think more freely, design their own activities, and approach the world in inventive ways.

It teaches responsibility. Living things die if mistreated or not taken care of properly, and entrusting a child to take care of the living parts of their environment means they'll learn what happens when they forget to water a plant, or pull a flower out by its roots.

It provides different stimulation. Nature may seem less stimulating than your son's violent video game, but in reality, it activates more senses-you can see, hear, smell, and touch outdoor environments. "As the young spend less and less of their lives in natural surroundings, their senses narrow," Louv warns, "and this reduces the richness of human experience."

It gets kids moving. Most ways of interacting with nature involve more exercise than sitting on the couch. Your kid doesn't have to be joining the local soccer team or riding a bike through the park-even a walk will get her blood pumping. Not only is exercise good for kids' bodies, but it seems to make them more focused, which is especially beneficial for kids with ADHD.

It makes them think. Louv says that nature creates a unique sense of wonder for kids that no other environment can provide. The phenomena that occur naturally in backyards and parks everyday make kids ask questions about the earth and the life that it supports.

It reduces stress and fatigue. According to the Attention Restoration Theory, urban environments require what's called directed attention, which forces us to ignore distractions and exhausts our brains. In natural environments, we practice an effortless type of attention known as soft fascination that creates feelings of pleasure, not fatigue.

So while screen time is the easier, more popular choice, it's important to set aside time for outdoor play. For fun, stimulating activities you and your kids can do in nature, see Ideas for Getting Your Kids into Nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can learning about nature be useful?

Why should kids play outside?

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Why Kids Need to Spend Time in Nature - Child Mind Institute

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They may prefer to stick to their screens, but here's why getting children outdoors matters - spending time in nature for mental health.

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9 Scientifically Backed Reasons Why Camping Is Good For You

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9 Scientifically Backed Reasons Why Camping Is Good For You

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Camping is such a great experience! But why? It's hard to explain it to someone who doesn't enjoy the outdoors. Dealing with heat, bugs, physical exertion, lack of WiFi, etc., isn't very appealing to many folks.

Is camping actually good for us? Multiple studies conclude that nature and outdoor experiences improve our emotional and physical health, by providing opportunities for good exercise, and by improving focus, self-esteem, and general happiness, while reducing depression, anxiety, anger, and other negative feelings. Camping promotes all of these benefits through outdoor activities.

If you need to help someone find a reason to go camping, perhaps you can use one of these reasons in this article. I too wondered this question if camping is good for us (and why), and I like to find scientific evidence to understand things. So I've compiled the research for you so you can convince your unbelieving teenager to go camping! 🙂
By the way, as an Amazon Associate, I earn when buying qualified products through links on my site.

1. Nature Improves Self-Perceived General Health

2. Time Spent In Forests Reduces Blood Pressure

3. Being Around Nature Improves Focus

4. Time Spent In Nature Can Prevent Depression

5. Being Outdoors Reduces Stress

6. Outdoor Exercise Improves Self-esteem

7. Being Connected to Nature Could Help You Be More Happy

8. Dramatic Scenery Improves Mood More Than Plain Scenery

9. Outdoor Activities Are Great Exercise

1. Nature Improves Self-Perceived General Health

Data are scarce on whether exercising in nature vs. exercising in a gym brings better physical results.

However, even if there isn't a lot of evidence showing an advantage to exercising outdoors as opposed to exercising indoors, there are plenty of results showing a significant positive emotional difference from spending time outside, according to this study published in The Environmental Science Journal in 2011.

An aggregate study from BMC Public Health found improvement in energy, anxiety, anger, depression or sadness while finding inconclusive results with physical benefits.

In another study from the Environment International journal, participants self-reported higher general and mental health who had more access to parks and nature areas ~900 feet from their residence than those who did not.

Perception is reality. Whether we lose weight, or gain muscle, or improve our heart strength, being around nature improves our perception of our well-being.

How Camping Helps Your General Health

While camping you are not just in sight of nature, but you are outside experiencing it. A safe assumption is that immersive exposure to nature brings the same if not even more intense benefits of being around nature shown in these studies.

In addition, one huge benefit of camping is that usually where there's camping, there's hiking, and other outdoor activities. All of these activities are fantastic exercise. Checkout the chart below to see the calories burned for different outdoor activities commonly accessible from many campgrounds.

You can wake up, and without having to drive for hours, you can go on a hike and get the benefit of exercise while also getting the emotional benefits of being in nature. Thus improving your general health.

2. Time Spent In Forests Reduces Blood Pressure

Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing, or experiencing a forest environment) is a common health restorative practice in Japan and China. Practicing Shinrin-Yoku simply involves being surrounded by nature and the forest for a period of time.

Although there are lots of studies with inconclusive results regarding physical exercise indoors vs outdoors, a meta-analysis of Shinrin-Yoku participants found that just being out in the forest reduces blood pressure.

How Camping Can Help You Practice Shinrin-Yoku

Even if you are camping at a campground, which is most typical of car campers, you may see others around the campground, but you are also going to see many more trees, other plants, and natural features like rivers and lakes.

Beautiful forest moss immediately next to a campground in the Peel Forest in New Zealand

Usually campgrounds are near locations where there are good reasons to come and explore. Forests, lakes, rivers, canyons, and coastlines all have campgrounds because that's where, us humans, want to go. Camping unlocks the door to the forest!

3. Being Around Nature Improves Focus

One of the leading theories about the connection between our ability to focus and nature is "Attention Restoration Theory" (ART). To summarize the theory, many urban features (buildings, cars, billboards) grab our attention and require intense focus, while nature features can gain our attention, but they do not require intense focus.

Because we are so busy focusing on urban features that demand our attention, our mind is not able to relax and focus on the problems in our lives or that are in our heads.

Our direct attention, it turns out, is a inner-resource according to further ART studies. Just like any resource, we can run out of our inner-resource if we constantly are exposed to things that require our direct attention.

Focus and the Inner-Resource

The basis for ART is related to this study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Participants were given a challenge requiring self-discipline, and then were asked to solve a problem. The people who did not have to perform the challenge were more patient and persistent with the problem-solving portion.

The study's conclusion was that unconnected tasks all draw on an inner-resource that can be depleted as we use it during our day.

ART builds on this theory by suggesting that high-distraction things drain us, and that we can restore this inner-resource if we surround ourselves with nature, which doesn't demand as much attention but is still pleasing to our minds.

When we disconnect from high-distraction things such as household tasks, jobs, news, social media, etc., and surround ourselves with nature, then our minds have space to think.

Thus, the key to maintaining this inner-resource is to simplify.

How Camping Improves Focus

Camping is not just being around nature, like in a city park. Rather,you're immersed in nature.

When you're camping, you wake up and can instantly see the sky, the clouds, the woods, or even the ocean. Because all of these environments are interesting yet don't demand our attention, our minds can focus in on the problems we're experiencing (or not, if we choose not to) in our lives.

Camping without WiFi or cellular signals has an additional benefit, because we won't receive notifications, another consumer of our direct attention. Our brains can wake up from the burden of having so much to think about.

Not all camping trips are relaxing and healing, though. Let's talk about how to help our camping trip be more successful.

How To Simplify While Camping

There is no right way to go camping, necessarily, but there are more stressful ways to camp.

Bustling out the door on a Friday night, getting to your campsite late at night, eating and pitching your tent in darkness, and then leaving a few hours after you wake up in the morning doesn't make for a "simple" experience.

A well-planned trip approached with a flexible attitude with plenty of down-time can absolutely simplify and reduce the demands on your attention. When all you have for your plans for the day are a hike and a swim, and if you are prepared, then your trip will be a success and you'll get that benefit of some extra mental energy for solving the problems you may have going on in your life.

Even if you don't have a lot of extra time to spare, it's possible to have a great camping trip even if you are staying for one night. See my article for some simple tips to help you have a great time even if you're camping for a short time.

4. Time Spent In Nature Can Prevent Depression

Depression is very complex, and it isn't always straightforward what causes depression in some than others. One link to depression, however, that is documented, is "rumination." Rumination is when we dwell on our emotions and thoughts excessively, which can lead us into a negative downward spiral.

An amazing study about being in nature and rumination and sadness showed that those who walked through a route with nature vs. an urban route ruminated less, and the portion of our brains that show activity when we are sad were less active.

Being in nature helped the study participants to overthink less about their emotions! An incredible find.

Another Shinrin-Yoku study showed that depression was reduced for those who spent a day in a forest. Something about the ambiance of nature helps us feel better and to not get wrapped up in our own thoughts.

How Camping Helps Us Ruminate Less

On the surface, camping helps us ruminate less (which means that we are less likely to experience depressive episodes) because we are in nature while we're camping, and nature has a calming effect as we've noted in the above studies.

Additionally, however, when you're camping, you have more physical actions you have to perform than you do normally. You typically don't have a fridge stocked full of food ready to eat and you can't just spend a couple hours watching TV, and then jump into bed. Your bedding needs preparation, your food needs preparation, and in general, there's more walking and busyness to just live.

With these important but non-critical demands, it can help our thoughts move away from negative thought spirals and instead focus on current experiences.

5. Being Outdoors Reduces Stress

Stress is a gateway to many other emotional problems. Finding ways to reduce stress will help in all aspects of emotional health.

Many of the studies mentioned already talk about reduction in stress, but another study observed a significantly reduced stress response in participants who spent time in a forest. Amazingly, participants only spent two hours within a forest to see these effects, which is consistent with other studies in this article.

How Camping Can Reduce Stress

As mentioned, camping can be more or less stressful, depending on your preparation and experience. Your first-time camping may not be as stress-free as later excursions. You can always offset first-camping stress by going with a more experienced group that can help with cooking and other aspects of camping.

Also, pro-tip, make sure to bring a hammock. Every time we've set up the hammock and have had the time to use it, a hammock is an excellent de-stresser.

6. Outdoor Exercise Improves Self-esteem

Another study published from the university at Essex shows that self-esteem improved for all age groups for those who exercised outside, with effects strongest for the youngest participants, and those with mental illnesses.

These data are an exciting prospect for many who may be struggling with emotional and mental difficulties.

How Camping Improves Self-esteem

The study from Essex focused on exercise (ranging from low to high intensity) in green (natural scenery) and in blue spaces (water, such as lakes, rivers, or oceans). The mere presence of nature made an impact on self-esteem.

Many campsites are in or adjacent to forests, or in view of water, so camping works really well for creating opportunities to experience green or blue spaces.

Aside from that, competence is a huge help to self-esteem. According to Dr. Nicole Beurkens,

A strong sense of personal competence is necessary for children to persevere in the face of challenges, to step out of their comfort zones, and have positive self-esteem.
Competence: The Key to Improving Self-Esteem, Reducing Resistance, Instilling Responsibility, and Promoting a Positive Mood in Children

Camping has abundant sources of manageable challenges. A list of tasks that range in complexity are here:

Carrying things from one place to another: Not glamorous, but a huge part of car camping where kids can be a great help with.

Tying knots: I'm in my 30's at the time of writing this article, and I get a huge satisfaction from learning and tying knots. You'd think I'd be too old to get a kick out tying knots, but it's very satisfying to find the right knot for the job and tying it successfully. Tying a truckers hitch makes you feel like you know what you're doing.

Cooking over a campfire: Cooking over a campfire ranges in difficulty from roasting marshmallows to dutch oven peach cobbler, to a stir fry and more. It's more difficult cooking over an open fire than on a range in your kitchen, but it's very satisfying and makes you feel very capable.

Identifying nature: Knowing the difference between an oak and an ash tree, or between poison ivy and ... not poison ivy, is an important outdoor skill that brings a huge feeling of competence (especially when you get to show it off to your friends)

Setting up a tent or a hammock: Some tents are easier to set up than others, but you always feel good when you can do it (especially without help or instructions).

This is just a few of the tasks that you'll run into while camping. They are great, and manageable challenges that make you feel proficient and competent, even as you're learning. This is true of adults, and children. If you want to improve your child's self-esteem (or your own), set up some camping reservations for a few weekends in the next couple months.

7. Being Connected to Nature Could Help You Be More Happy

A thorough study from Carleton University that analyzes data from multiple other studies (a meta-study) considers much of what research is available out there about the correlation between connection to nature and happiness.

As the study mentions, there are multiple types of happiness. The stronger a person reports a connection to nature, the stronger their feelings of vitality (feeling of well-being, and liveliness), positive affect (positive initial reactions) and life satisfaction.

The conclusion from the study was that the link between the connection to nature and happiness was significant. People are more likely to be happy if they have a higher connection to nature.

How Camping Can Make You More Happy

As you can expect, none of these studies are perfect, and it's impossible to know if spending time outdoors is the solution for everyone's problems. What the data shows is that there is a correlation between time spent in nature with happiness, and that's about as good as we will have.

Camping isn't a one and done kind of deal-you have to experience it often to get the benefits so you are less concerned about the process and able to be more attentive to the scenery and the experience.

When you're camping, you are learning, exploring, experiencing, and simplifying.

I can chip in with my own life experiences here: Some of my favorite experiences of my life have been camping, hiking, swimming, and exploring. Camping-both wilderness and car camping-has given me experiences that I love to reminisce about! Not only is the nature on this planet beautiful and memorable, but the human connections I've felt as I've wandered the planet with friends and family are some of the deepest and important to me.

A two-night camping trip at the base of Enchanted Rock, TX

Me and my wife have spent many a short weekend camping at nearby state parks, and even if we only have a few hours of unstructured time away from home, I often feel rejuvenated and energized, and able to live life a little more richly.

So let's go camping!

8. Dramatic Scenery Improves Mood More Than Plain Scenery

A very interesting study from the University of Groningen compared mood surveys from individuals who saw plain nature (such as a garden, or a city park), to dramatic nature views (such as gigantic waterfalls, the grand canyon, or mountains). The study showed that more dramatic pictures had a more positive impact on mood than the plainer pictures of nature.

How Camping Helps You See Dramatic Scenery

City parks are amazing, but when you're camping, you have the opportunity to submerse yourself in nature and see more than what you'd see in a city park.

A short personal experience: We visited a State Natural Area that is only a 45 minute drive from our house, and in the morning, we took our camp chairs to a field that was next to our campsite.

Enjoying the spring morning calm

Even though it wasn't comparable to the Grand Canyon-the field was gorgeous with wildflowers, and the wind swept along the grass calmly. It felt invigorating to just be there to watch and listen.

Camping gives the opportunity to find views more dramatic and awe-inspiring than what you could find in a typical suburban backyard.

The truly breathtaking views are often deep in wilderness areas and are difficult to get to. Setting out for a location where you can make a base camp and subsequently exploring and seeing the sights is a great experience.

9. Outdoor Activities Are Great Exercise

As with any exercise, care should be taken to only participate in stuff that you are capable and qualified to do. The following chart has data available from FitWatch.com.

All calorie amounts assume 60 minutes of activity:

How Camping Helps You Get Fit

Camping itself is low on the calorie burn list above, but usually hiking trails are usually available close by, which is an awesome exercise. Many campgrounds have water features for kayaking, and some have or are close to rock walls for climbing.

If you are wilderness camping then you may be riding horseback, or backpacking. Many of these activities are within reach if you go out of your way to go camping in the right places.

Conclusion

Camping is awesome! Even though there are a lot of good reasons to go, it's hard to get out sometimes. Here are a couple of suggestions to make camping happen.

Buy reservations in advance: I find the easiest way to make camping happen is to buy the camping reservations now for trips in the future (even months ahead), so you can plan accordingly as time goes on. If it's on the calendar, it's easier to make it happen!

Buy a pass, (if possible): It's easier to balk at a camping trip because you have to pay entrance fees. If you are getting serious about making camping more a part of your life, if many of your parks are owned by the state government, buy a state parks pass, or a national parks pass so you can increase the obligation to go slightly and remove some excuses.

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9 Scientifically Backed Reasons Why Camping Is Good For You | Decide Outside

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Camping is such a great experience! But why? It's hard to explain it to someone who doesn't enjoy the outdoors. Dealing with heat, bugs, physical exertion, lack of WiFi, etc., isn't very appealing to many folks. Is camping actually good for us?

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6 important reasons why camping is good for you

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6 important reasons why camping is good for you

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6 important reasons why camping is good for you | BIG4

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Here are six solid reasons why camping is good for your health from BIG4 Holiday Parks. Book on BIG4.com.au for the best price guaranteed.

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LeManna/Shutterstock

There are two kinds of people in this world - those who love camping and those who prefer room service. I like a little bit of both. (Glamping, anyone?) Camping on the beach and falling asleep to the sound of the ocean is basically heaven, but so is laying in a king-size bed (that isn't yours), ordering some delicious food up to your room, and watching a movie. But camping can have some serious benefits for kids and families. If you're planning on a camping trip this summer, you'll want to know all the ways camping affects your kid's brain. It turns out all those tents and marshmallows could set them up for adult success.

Adina Mahalli, MSW, a mental health expert and family care professional at Maple Holistics, and Dan Warren, Human Development Research Specialist with the Boy Scouts of America, explain to Romper how camping really benefits kids, emotionally and psychologically. Think about it - camping is all about being able to survive out in the elements. What better way to show your kids how awesome they are by giving them the skills they need to succeed out in the wilderness? Camping also brings people together to create bonding experiences, and gives your child a sense of community and belonging. Not to mention those lifelong memories that they will fondly (or not so fondly) reflect back on for years to come.

What Parents Are Talking About - Delivered Straight To Your Inbox

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Camping Affects Your Kid's Brain In Some Big Ways

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There are two kinds of people in this world - those who love camping and those who prefer room service. I like a little bit of both. (Glamping, anyone?) Camping on the beach and falling asleep to the sound of the ocean is basically heaven, but so is...

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CHILDREN WHO GO CAMPING ARE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER AND DO BETTER AT SCHOOL

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CHILDREN WHO GO CAMPING ARE HEALTHIER, HAPPIER AND DO BETTER AT SCHOOL