5 Valuable Lessons Kids (and Adults) Can Learn from Camping

Bonfires, hiking, fishing, and swimming are all fun activities to look forward to when camping as a family. Even beyond the fun and games, camping trips are a great way to embody some of life’s greatest lessons. No matter your age, there is always something to learn from some quality time in the great outdoors.

As a teaching tool and mental reset, camping helps our fast-paced lifestyles slow down and appreciate and reconnect with what really matters.

During your next camping trip, you and your kids can learn the following valuable lessons together:

Grow an Appreciation for the Environment

Stepping into nature and spending some time in the great outdoors can give people of any age a greater appreciation for the world around us. Whether you’re watching animals interact with their environment, observing plant life, or taking in the natural landscape, our planet is truly amazing, and there’s nothing that compares to putting yourself in the middle of the circle of life.

With a new appreciation for the environment, kids and adults alike will hopefully think more about recycling, protecting wildlife, and minimizing their carbon footprint in an eco-friendly home. When you know you’re sharing the planet with plants and animals depending on their environment to thrive, it’s easier to do your part. A camping trip can help develop a more concrete understanding of why it’s important to protect the environment.

Learn the value of teamwork

Teamwork is a must when you’re out in the woods on a camping trip. Your kids will have the chance to see you in action, and also see that many camping tasks require teamwork, starting with setting up a tent. From unfolding the entire tent, to attaching walls to stakes, having a partner makes the job so much easier — especially if you’ve invested in a large tent like an 8 person tent for the whole family!

Including your kids in the campsite setup will help them feel like an important player on your team. You’ll be communicating that you need them in order to succeed and have a good time — that everyone is important. They’ll also learn why cooperation is crucial for other tasks in life, too.

Tap into useful life skills

Preparedness and planning

A good camping trip actually starts before you leave for your campsite. Packing and planning will depend on the time of year you’re camping, the weather conditions, your location, and any activities you’d like to do during your trip. Other basics, like toiletries, bedding, flashlights, and first aid supplies should also be on the list. To help your kids gain a sense of ownership over their experience, help them make a list while packing, and help them pack efficiently. If you’ll be hiking to your campsite, packing light will be especially important.

Leadership

If you have a mix of older and younger kids on your camping trip, some may have an opportunity to develop basic leadership skills as well. Delegating roles when setting up your campsite, cooking meals, or cleaning up your site could be a useful leadership skill for your older kids. It’s also a great chance for them to learn how to lead by example — since everyone will need to pitch in for a successful trip. To help keep everything fun and relaxed, make sure to foster a low-pressure environment while also challenging them. 

Cooking and cleaning

One of the best parts about camping is that there are no drive-thrus, delivery services, or take out. Whether you’re using a dutch oven, a camping stove, or an open fire, the whole family will get a chance to cook and clean for themselves, or at least help out. “Tin foil dinners” are a great starting place for kids who haven’t spent much time in the kitchen yet. You just form a raw hamburger patty and put vegetables into tin foil. Then you place it on hot coals or above a fire while it cooks. You can teach your kids what cooked meat should look like and how to season their food for flavor. When it’s time to clean up, try forming an assembly line, washing, drying, and putting dishes away.

Hunting and fishing

If you enjoy hunting and fishing, a camping trip is the perfect opportunity to share your hobbies with your kids. From pond to plate, taking your kids along to catch fish, gut and clean them, store them, and later cook them, is a great way to foster respect for those who provide food for us every day. It’s also a great chance to teach your kids about the value of hard work and patience.

Appreciate everyday luxuries

After catching and cooking food in the woods over an open fire and cleaning your dishes by hand, sweet treats, take out, conventional ovens, and washing machines may seem luxurious — and that’s because they are! Air conditioning, WiFi, cell service, and electronics are also luxuries your family will appreciate when you return from your trip. Hopefully, there will be a greater appreciation for unplugging as well.

Camping reminds us that we generally live comfortable lives when it comes to modern technology. Even for adults, a camping trip can help reset a feeling of discontentment in our constant state of needing more in our consumer-driven world.

Realize what’s really important

Realizing what’s truly important is one of the greatest takeaways of a camping trip. Working together and spending uninterrupted time with one another can really give everyone in the family some perspective. On a clear night, our view of the stars makes everyday stresses seem smaller. Spend some time talking about what really matters to your family. Then, when you’re back home, you’ll know that everyone was able to learn more about each other and grow closer as a family.