Camping with Teenagers: 5 survival tips for parents
When children are little, camping is one big adventure.
Every campsite offers new places to build a fort; find new bugs to proudly bring back to camp for show and tell; trees and boulders to climb; new friends to meet.
That time when your child is young, goes in a heartbeat.
Some days may not feel like it, but now looking back on our years with camping with our small children, I realise how fast that time went. It’s even more evident to me, as my oldest child has turned into a teenager.
Camping with teenagers means thinking a little differently.
What they once loved, is now not cool. An overnight camping trip was once a treat. Now it’s a punishment because it takes them away from Playstation and online chats with friends.
Sound familiar? Then you may be experiencing this or possibly on the cusp of this new phase in your child’s life.
How can you go camping with a teenager?
What tips will make it more enjoyable for them AND for you?
We have sought advice from those who have gone bravely before us, and lived to tell the tale, and put together 5 tips to surviving a camp trip with teenagers.
Every campsite offers new places to build a fort; find new bugs to proudly bring back to camp for show and tell; trees and boulders to climb; new friends to meet.
That time when your child is young, goes in a heartbeat.
Some days may not feel like it, but now looking back on our years with camping with our small children, I realise how fast that time went. It’s even more evident to me, as my oldest child has turned into a teenager.
Camping with teenagers means thinking a little differently.
What they once loved, is now not cool. An overnight camping trip was once a treat. Now it’s a punishment because it takes them away from Playstation and online chats with friends.
Sound familiar? Then you may be experiencing this or possibly on the cusp of this new phase in your child’s life.
How can you go camping with a teenager?
What tips will make it more enjoyable for them AND for you?
We have sought advice from those who have gone bravely before us, and lived to tell the tale, and put together 5 tips to surviving a camp trip with teenagers.
Tip 1: Choose your destination wisely
As mentioned, a simple night camping in the bush may not be enough to hold a teenager’s interest anymore. The activities they loved as a child are not appealing anymore, so your destination needs to hold something that ideally interests them – as well as you.
Sometimes, the final destination isn’t going to be your child’s choice – and acceptance that they can’t get their own way every time is a life skill they need to learn – but if a choice is available on camping locations, it might help!
What to look for in a camping location?
Think about campsites where there are activities that appeal – and I’m not talking jumping pillows – but activities that could interest them. It may be fishing, hiking, beaches, or some water sport (weather and equipment permitting).
Ideally you want there to be something to do at the camp spot, and it’s not just about the scenery.
Not a lot of activities around the campsite? - then look what is nearby to help out with boredom. It might mean driving to another spot near your camp to do such activities. You don't want it to be a mega roadtrip in itself, but having these options should be considered.
FYI: I love beautiful scenery when I go camping, but kids just don’t seem to appreciate it as much, and can’t seem to get to enthralled by it. Just saying “sit back and soak up the view” is not going to thrill teenagers.
Sometimes, the final destination isn’t going to be your child’s choice – and acceptance that they can’t get their own way every time is a life skill they need to learn – but if a choice is available on camping locations, it might help!
What to look for in a camping location?
Think about campsites where there are activities that appeal – and I’m not talking jumping pillows – but activities that could interest them. It may be fishing, hiking, beaches, or some water sport (weather and equipment permitting).
Ideally you want there to be something to do at the camp spot, and it’s not just about the scenery.
Not a lot of activities around the campsite? - then look what is nearby to help out with boredom. It might mean driving to another spot near your camp to do such activities. You don't want it to be a mega roadtrip in itself, but having these options should be considered.
FYI: I love beautiful scenery when I go camping, but kids just don’t seem to appreciate it as much, and can’t seem to get to enthralled by it. Just saying “sit back and soak up the view” is not going to thrill teenagers.
Tip 2: Technology - don't ban it totally
They way kids connect these days is via technology and its part of their lives. It would be really easy to make the announcement “no gadgets” allowed, but I think balance is more important.
Set limits on times when they can use it – it might be that you allow in the morning whilst getting ready for the day ahead and at night in the tent, or just a certain amount of hours per day. We have used the rule, no gadgets after breakfast and before dinner – so basically, in daylight hours.
This doesn’t mean that they have to be online chatting or checking social media during that time they do have access (as they might not have any data allowance anyway) but it might just be playing a game on their device or listening to music.
Finding that balance is going to be trial and error. You don’t want the children to spend their whole trip looking at as screen, but you don’t want to spend the whole trip with an angry and resentful child either.
Work out your guidelines, together, at home, before the trip. It does help if they have a say in it, and the rules aren’t thrust upon them in the middle of nowhere.
If you are saying NO to technology at night, when it can be more difficult to entertain everyone, especially if its cold and miserable outside, then some age appropriate card games, or board games might be a good idea to have brought on the trip. The idea to play them may get shot down in flames by teenagers, but it may also be appreciated as a way to do something besides sit around. It can be a great way to bring the family together.
Set limits on times when they can use it – it might be that you allow in the morning whilst getting ready for the day ahead and at night in the tent, or just a certain amount of hours per day. We have used the rule, no gadgets after breakfast and before dinner – so basically, in daylight hours.
This doesn’t mean that they have to be online chatting or checking social media during that time they do have access (as they might not have any data allowance anyway) but it might just be playing a game on their device or listening to music.
Finding that balance is going to be trial and error. You don’t want the children to spend their whole trip looking at as screen, but you don’t want to spend the whole trip with an angry and resentful child either.
Work out your guidelines, together, at home, before the trip. It does help if they have a say in it, and the rules aren’t thrust upon them in the middle of nowhere.
If you are saying NO to technology at night, when it can be more difficult to entertain everyone, especially if its cold and miserable outside, then some age appropriate card games, or board games might be a good idea to have brought on the trip. The idea to play them may get shot down in flames by teenagers, but it may also be appreciated as a way to do something besides sit around. It can be a great way to bring the family together.
Tip 3: Bring a friend
This can be a good idea …..depending on the friend.
Having someone else around to do activities with, go exploring, and just hang out with can make a trip a lot more interesting for the teenagers, especially if where you are going will be isolated or low chances of having friends their own age already there.
Your child’s friend choice could be crucial to the camping experience though.
You don’t want a friend who is going to be negative about everything – like no bathrooms nearby, bugs, food, shelter….you name it. Or who thinks that your family camping is lame. That sort of negativity will not only drive the parents nuts, but could mean that your teenager is very self conscious about the whole trip and how they themselves will be perceived by their friend, and possibly mimic their friends point of view. Then you have more than one complaining teenager.
Find a friend who wants to camp.
Maybe its someone who wants to go, but their own family has never done it. A friend who is keen for an adventure and keen to spend time with your whole family. Someone who wants to join in. Best chances is to have a friend along that you, the parents, know fairly well too. It’s just easier if everyone feels comfortable to be around each other, and there is mutual respect.
If the friend has already been a keen camper with their own family, at least they know what to expect on a trip in terms of conditions of camping, expectations of what needs to be done around camp etc.
You can’t always pick who your child is friends with, but you can choose who comes along on your trip with you, so help your teenager make the choice that is best for all of you. Another child who has similar values to yours. It will make it less stressful.
If you are not sure about bringing another child along with you (and it is a big responsibility for you), you might want to try a short trip as a test run. If it all goes wrong, you are not too far from home.
Having someone else around to do activities with, go exploring, and just hang out with can make a trip a lot more interesting for the teenagers, especially if where you are going will be isolated or low chances of having friends their own age already there.
Your child’s friend choice could be crucial to the camping experience though.
You don’t want a friend who is going to be negative about everything – like no bathrooms nearby, bugs, food, shelter….you name it. Or who thinks that your family camping is lame. That sort of negativity will not only drive the parents nuts, but could mean that your teenager is very self conscious about the whole trip and how they themselves will be perceived by their friend, and possibly mimic their friends point of view. Then you have more than one complaining teenager.
Find a friend who wants to camp.
Maybe its someone who wants to go, but their own family has never done it. A friend who is keen for an adventure and keen to spend time with your whole family. Someone who wants to join in. Best chances is to have a friend along that you, the parents, know fairly well too. It’s just easier if everyone feels comfortable to be around each other, and there is mutual respect.
If the friend has already been a keen camper with their own family, at least they know what to expect on a trip in terms of conditions of camping, expectations of what needs to be done around camp etc.
You can’t always pick who your child is friends with, but you can choose who comes along on your trip with you, so help your teenager make the choice that is best for all of you. Another child who has similar values to yours. It will make it less stressful.
If you are not sure about bringing another child along with you (and it is a big responsibility for you), you might want to try a short trip as a test run. If it all goes wrong, you are not too far from home.
Tip 4: Give some responsibility
This tip can be a bit hit 'n' miss.
Teenagers think they are adults, want to be treated like adults, yet their behaviour may not always be adult-like. When camping, you can encourage them to take on some of the responsibilities you have had to deal with in past camping trips.
The level of responsibility you give your child will vary depending on an individuals capabilities and maturity.
Level of enthusiasm for these responsibilities will also vary greatly
Some teenagers may embrace it.
Others will view it as work that keeps them from doing as little as possible.
We now get our teenager to set up their own tent, and everything they need in it, plus be responsible for taking it all down, and packing up. I am sure he would prefer us to do it, but bad luck.
Helping with cooking - via the campstove or campfires.
Setting up campfires from the very initial gathering of tinder, through to keeping the fire going.
Meal preparation - especially if its their fave camping food, can actually make them want to help or do it alone.
If there is a store nearby, and you need supplies send them to get the supplies, and maybe with enough extra money to buy a small item for themselves (yes, its bribery, but it works).
See how you go with this tip! It's worth a shot.
Teenagers think they are adults, want to be treated like adults, yet their behaviour may not always be adult-like. When camping, you can encourage them to take on some of the responsibilities you have had to deal with in past camping trips.
The level of responsibility you give your child will vary depending on an individuals capabilities and maturity.
Level of enthusiasm for these responsibilities will also vary greatly
Some teenagers may embrace it.
Others will view it as work that keeps them from doing as little as possible.
We now get our teenager to set up their own tent, and everything they need in it, plus be responsible for taking it all down, and packing up. I am sure he would prefer us to do it, but bad luck.
Helping with cooking - via the campstove or campfires.
Setting up campfires from the very initial gathering of tinder, through to keeping the fire going.
Meal preparation - especially if its their fave camping food, can actually make them want to help or do it alone.
If there is a store nearby, and you need supplies send them to get the supplies, and maybe with enough extra money to buy a small item for themselves (yes, its bribery, but it works).
See how you go with this tip! It's worth a shot.
Tip 5: Alone time
Being with the family the whole time of the camping trip is not ideal for many teenagers. They want space. They want to be able to stay up later than their siblings if they want to. Make a mess of their area and not have someone asking for them to clean it up. Basically, they want to pretend they are back home in their bedroom!
That's why if you are tent camping, having the teenager have their own space - might be with a hammock, tent or swag - but it's their space and its not right next to you.
In a camper trailer or caravan, you can still bring along a separate space for the teenagers to spread out and relax away from you too.
This will provide a refuge for them, where they can retreat when all this family bonding gets too much, or if a mood swing hits.
Teenagers love to sleep. So being in their own space means they can sleep in, with less likely interruptions to their beauty sleep. It means you can get up and do what you want around camp without fear of having an overtired, grumpy teenager complaining that they were all woken up too early.
If your teen is inclined to love taking selfies, you could get them involved with making a Selfie a competition - with this Selfie Scavenger Hunt. It's amazing how sometimes they will join in when you least expect them to!
Spending time together is important and getting them away from their everyday lives is a great way to do this.
By being outdoors, getting active with them, will help encourage positive lifestyle behaviour. As they get older, common interests may be few and far between (for a while) - let camping, be one of the shared interests you have with your teenager. It's going to have some ups and downs, but hopefully the above tips will help make camping life a little easier - for everyone in the family.
By being outdoors, getting active with them, will help encourage positive lifestyle behaviour. As they get older, common interests may be few and far between (for a while) - let camping, be one of the shared interests you have with your teenager. It's going to have some ups and downs, but hopefully the above tips will help make camping life a little easier - for everyone in the family.
Further reading: Why take your kids camping? 5 reasons