Are you ready to go camping? We are!

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I love getting my daily email from All Pro Dad. All Pro Dad is a web site committed to helping men become better fathers. The daily email is always challenging and helps remind me of my priorities. They frequently have a Christian focus as well.

Friday's email was on Push Back. How we as fathers need to "push back against the sea of media messages that threaten to suck our kids in. One of the email suggestions was to get "unplugged". Tough to do in this day and age. I agree with their number one suggestion....camping. About the only way to get away from all of the media is to head to the mountains. The email links to a resources page for camping ideas, tips, and other links.

We are very fortunate, as a family, to live in Colorado. With Rocky Mountain National Park and the Roosevelt National Forest an hour or less away and the Snowy Range Mountains of Wyoming about 2 hours away, we have many appealing options.

The twins love the outdoors. They love fishing, hiking, camping, and most of all smores!! We started camping with them when they were about 2 1/2 years old. It was tough. Imagine a two year old at home and then add dirt, rocks, fire, and large bodies of water. We apparently didn't ruin them on the idea, as they still like to go. We get at least one trip in each summer as a family and more if we can. Sam and I go on a father/son trip with some of my buddies and their boys who are close to the same age. He looks forward to that and will start asking about it months before hand.

My suggestions for camping with kids. First, Keep It Simple! The simpler the better. Second, Lower or completely remove your expectations. The less you expect out of the trip the better. Your anger and frustration level goes waaay down if you aren't trying to meet a deadline, get a certain trail completely hiked, or trying to get out of camp at exactly 8 am to head to the lake. Third, Relax and let kids be kids. Boys like to pee on everything. Let them wizz on the trees, rocks, and chip munks. They'll be happy and you'll be laughing over the living, peeing, cherub fountains! Fourth and last, Food!!! Make food kids love. Hot dogs, burgers, smores, and snacks. You can be healthy, but bribery goes a long way with treats and candy. A good friend of of mine makes up games on hikes using candy as a reward. A little survival or nature trivia with a starburst for right answer keeps the kids going. He also uses starburst as reward for making certain "mile marks" on hikes.

Make these times fun and about your kids. They will love the time with you and remember it for years to come. I still recall camping trips with my dad and want my kids to have the same memories!

From Agnes Creek Hut Trip

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