Q&A

Got a question about what to cook or a question about camping with kids? Have a question about gear for camping? Got a question about where to go? We have done a lot of camping in southern Utah, Colorado, northern New Mexico and Southern Arizona.

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A: In the car we have a dvd player and a DS lite for our daughter. She also brings books to read or color in. Now that she is older we let her pack up a bin of toys/books that sit in the seat beside her. Our rule is no electronics out of the car. This is for mainly for two reasons, mainly. First, we didn't drive all the way out to the middle of nowhere so our child could be plugged in to a video player. Second, the dust will ruin all those fancy gadgets in no time. Once at the campsite it is amazing how sticks, rocks and pine cones become the best toys. We also bring shovels and buckets if we are going to be in the desert. It's like the beach without the water and humidity.

A: When our daughter was to big to pack, we had to really look at what we were going to hike. Everything was based on her ability and her pace. Patience is the key, and you have to be willing to turn around short of where you were trying to go. Making it fun and taking lots of breaks. You can also try playing a scavenger hunt game as you go. Keeping their mind off the hiking and on something else really seems to help. We also start going on walks with our daughter about 6 weeks before a trip. This gets her used to hiking about 3 miles. She also has her own pack with just a little water and maybe 2 snacks. Very light is the key, but she really likes the idea of having her own pack. As she has gotten older we have been adding more snacks and the map to her pack. Now that she is almost seven, she is ready for a little bit bigger pack with a few more things. Again, keeping it fun is really the key.

A: My niece that camps with us is also a picky eater. There are a few ways to address this. First you can make things they will eat and put their meals in a ziplock in the ice chest. Then just heat and serve. With my niece we would make things like Chicken Enchiladas and save some of the chicken for her to make plain chicken tacos. We were not willing to cook two separate meals. If we were going to be camping for severeal weeks, she might be eating a lot of Nutella sandwiches. If they are old enought to cook, then they could make and then clean up their own meals.