Your camping trips start to look a little different once your kids become teens or young adults. While the days of s’mores and charades may no longer be enough to keep the whole family entertained, that doesn’t mean that family camping trips have to end. Camping trips should be a getaway for all, so why not make it fun for the whole family? In fact, if done right, camping trips can be one of the easiest ways to reconnect with older kids who are busy balancing schedules, school, sports, and screen times. In this post, we’ll share our best tips and tricks for keeping your teens and young adults engaged, connected, and different ways to get them genuinely excited about camping again.
Before your camper hits the road, start the trip off strongly by letting them help plan your getaway. Your teen is more likely to be interested in an agenda they feel they added to, and were involved in. Whether they assist in planning something big like the campsite or trip activities, or even something smaller like the menu or playlist, this is a sure way to get your teenager excited about their next adventure. This not only gives them something to look forward to but makes sure there are activities planned around their interests.
Let them make their own space. Encourage your teen to personalize their area so they feel comfortable and excited to be there throughout the vacation. Whether it’s adding a few cozy pillows, displaying their favourite photos, or bringing along small touches from home to their space, it can make all the difference. Family trips can sometimes feel overwhelming for young adults, so giving them a sense of privacy and independence, without them having to ask for it, can help everyone enjoy a more relaxed and positive experience.
Now when the trip begins, don’t make the mistake of taking away their phone. For some young adults, camping may already feel isolating, or thought of as time taken away from hanging out with their friends. So, by giving them the option of still being “connected” to the outside world, your trip will already be off to the right start. Beyond this, encourage them to take lots of photos, or to use apps that can identify wildlife, or what star they happen to be gazing at. This way, they can still interact with the nature around them, and bonus, you will have lots of photos to remember your awesome trip by!
During your trip, take advantage of having another set of reliable hands by giving them meaningful responsibilities throughout the vacation. Assigning tasks not only lightens your load, but also helps teens feel trusted, capable, and included in the experience. Let your young adult act as the navigator during the drive, following GPS directions, or plan stops along the route. At the campsite, they can take charge of manning the fire, or preparing easy meals. If they enjoy music, hand over the control of the road-trip playlist and let them create a soundtrack for the coming adventure. This will not only encourage greater independence but will also build confidence through teamwork and shared memories.
Another key point is to give them their downtime. While camping fosters adventure and encourages exploration, teens and young adults alike do not like to be scheduled so tightly. Camping should be a restful reset, and giving them a chance to lay in a hammock or just plainly enjoy nature, will allow them to reconnect and remember why it is that they enjoy camping in the first place.
And lastly, when in doubt, whip out the games! Games such as cornhole, ladder toss, spikeball or any sort of card game such as cribbage or Uno are classics for a reason! They not only bring out the competitive edge in your teens, but can lead to a fun and exciting rivalry for the trip. You can even spice this up by adding incentives such as winner gets the first s’more, or picks the hike for the trip.
