| I take my kids camping so they'll know the | | | | 6. Water Bottles |
| Big Dipper really exists. I take them camping | | | | |
| so they can hear real birds sing, not just | | | | I get the simple unbreakable Nalgene bottles |
| cuckoos. But once I get out there, I realize | | | | for my kids. However, these days, you can get |
| I am no professional entertainer, I need | | | | kid-sized hydration packs which can hold 4-6 |
| these camping "toys" to help me. All of them | | | | cups of water. It allows hand-free drinking, |
| fit into a kid's backpack. | | | | which is useful when you hands are occupied |
| | | | bicycling or carrying hiking poles. |
| 1. Camping Lantern | | | | |
| | | | 7. Binoculars |
| Kids just love carrying lanterns. For walking | | | | |
| to the bathroom, finding the perfect | | | | Binoculars are handy for camping, hiking, |
| marshmallow stick or just to get around camp | | | | bird watching and general nature study. For |
| after dark. Go with battery-operated lanterns | | | | kids, make sure the eye-cups are flexible and |
| because gas lanterns are hot, have a risk of | | | | comfortable and that it has a cord the kid |
| fire, and not safe to use inside a tent. | | | | can put over his neck so he won't lose it. |
| | | | You can pick one up in the camping section of |
| 2. Flashlight or, even better, Headlamps | | | | Target or Walmart. |
| | | | |
| Kids' flashlights come in bright and cheerful | | | | 8. Whistle (a LOUD one) |
| colors. Many have cords to avoid losing or | | | | |
| dropping the flashlight. My advice: get one | | | | This is a safety gear a kid should have at |
| for each kid. They're not expensive, usually | | | | all times in the wilderness. Find whistles |
| less than $10, and you spare yourself a lot | | | | that are light but extremely loud. Make sure |
| of quarrelling. If your budget allows, | | | | its around your kids neck when he goes |
| consider a headlamp. It brings vision of | | | | exploring, not stuffed at the bottom of his |
| brave cave explorers and Indiana Jones. | | | | pack. |
| | | | |
| 3. Bug Jar or Kit | | | | 9. Sunglasses |
| | | | |
| Open a child's eyes and curiosity to the | | | | Children may not be as interested as adults |
| critters around him. Coleman even has a tall, | | | | are in the fashion aspect of sunglasses. |
| cylindrical bug kit designed to safely hold | | | | However, they actually need it even more |
| fireflies. At night the fireflies turn it | | | | because |
| into a twinkling lantern. How magical is | | | | |
| that? | | | | 1) they spend more time outdoors in direct |
| | | | sunlight and |
| 4. Compass | | | | |
| | | | 2) they are more vulnerable to solar |
| Compass for kids should be rugged, with clear | | | | radiation since their eyes' protective |
| markings. Show a kid how to use a compass | | | | pigments are not fully developed. |
| with a map and he will learn a skill that's | | | | |
| handy not just for camping, but when he goes | | | | For kids sunglasses, look for polycarbonate |
| backpacking in Europe, or when he hikes up | | | | lenses. They are strong, durable and |
| the Himalayans. You can get a basic camping | | | | impact-resistant. Look for 98 percent or 100 |
| compass for $10 to $15. | | | | percent protection against both UVA and UVB |
| | | | rays. |
| 5. Star Finder | | | | |
| | | | There are glasses designed just for toddlers. |
| Stargazing is cooler than any video game. Due | | | | They have reversible frames - upside-down, |
| to the orbital motion of the earth, the sky | | | | downside-up doesn't matter; built-in |
| appears to rotate, so to be successful | | | | adjustable straps; and short, flexible sides |
| recognizing the constellations, you need to | | | | for comfort. My favorite place for kids and |
| know which stars are above the horizon at | | | | toddlers technical gear like this is |
| that time. | | | | |
| | | | 10. Backpack |
| A rotating star finder helps kids recognize | | | | |
| the constellations for any given time of the | | | | Finally, a backpack to tote all these fun |
| year. Just turn the dial to match the day of | | | | gear. You don't want them to keep bugging |
| the year. Make sure you get the star finder | | | | you, 'Dad, where is my ... Mom, where is |
| for your specific region in the world. For | | | | my..." Get a light fabric or nylon backpack |
| example, the star finder you use in the New | | | | with a simple zipper and a pocket or two. |
| York won't help you in Spain. If you are new | | | | Stay away from those heavy-duty canvas |
| to stargazing, check out a couple sites on | | | | backpacks with 12 pockets and all kinds of |
| the web by googling 'star gazing" | | | | straps and contraptions. They are too |
| | | | cumbersome for junior adventurous campers. |