It's called the great outdoors for a reason, right? Imagine being with someone, a friend or partner, that can't handle a bug in a room, is unable to follow directions to put something together, or doesn't know what poison ivy looks like. Everyday tasks that should be done independently wouldn't be so easy. I like to know that a majority of the people I spend my time with have some basic knowledge of survival and common skills. What if we are in a group somewhere private such as the car or someone's house and one of us goes into a seizure or gets a severe cut. It is good to be a person that would know how to act in an emergency like that, secure the situation and have the urgency to get help quickly. Unfortunately, some people do not have those abilities to act in emergencies or think on their feet; in some cases they were never taught or never had to experience such things.
Many experiences allow kids to gain knowledge in bandage wrapping, making a fire or getting down and dirty. Experiences such as first aid training, vacations and school trips. But in my opinion, nothing is better for a child's well being then to take them camping as often and frequently as possible. Some reasons are as follows:
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1. Create, Control And Respect Fire. Fire is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a not-so-beautiful thing. Every camper is a low-key pyro and loves to watch the fire burn away and ambers float up into the sky. There is a connection that brings people around a fire; the warmth and glow brings up stories, discussions, memories and feelings. More than that though, it is to respect fires. It is very crucial for children to understand the hazards of fire and how it works. It is important to learn how to treat a wood fire versus a kitchen fire; it is helpful to learn ways to make fire burn faster or slower by the arrangement of the logs and most of all, how to successfully and completely put one out. By camping, a responsible understanding of fire is established, something everyone should already have.
2. Make Basic Foods. No, roasting marshmallows over a fire does not count as camp out cooking. Although it astonishes me the amount of people that cannot seem to toast a mallow for the life of them. Hot dogs on a stick, burgers and steaks on a grill, mac n' cheese in a pot and Taylor ham and eggs on the pan; that's the meal of camper champions. How nice is it to know a person who can handle themselves when it comes to the kitchen, even with limited ingredients they can still whip together something that isn't too shabby. Learning to be patient, measure items and flip flop successfully seem like silly skills but are necessary to the camping life.
3. Watch The Stars. With all the technology in the world all most kids do is look down. Look down at the screen, look down at their new cool shoes, look down on other kids. It is too easy to forget what beauties lay above the sky. Even most adults forget to look up at the stars at night. Not only are the shining planets light-years away stunning to see, the astronomical significance is a great skill to comprehend. Looking out for Mars, Jupiter, and Leo are just some of super special navigational tools. For example, if one can find the big dipper, the north star is close by, where the north star lays is right above the north pole, pointing north. Although this was more important for sailors and early civilizations more than now, it is great for kids to have an understanding of how stars are a huge function in the world, and to learn to sit back and appreciate the universe.
4. Learn About The Environment. In science we are taught about plants, ecosystems and Arbor Day, we are taught about how animals are in species and live in a food chain, even taught about how we once lived before clothes, homes and weapons. When camping, children can gain a real understanding of what we learned in the classroom. He or She can actually go in the creek and catch a frog, watch the tadpoles burst from spot to spot and look at the collection of eggs in the nest. They can see how the decaying of a tree means the nutrients get soaked up underneath it and allow other things to grow. They can see the big picture of how the environment works and flows, giving a better understanding of why it is so important to preserve and save the ecosystems.
5. Hands On Building. When you're an experienced camper, directions and diagrams can make you cringe. Between tents, oil lamps, grills and more, building and taking down never seems to end. When you're out in the woods, putting your tent together the right way is not a choice, its a mission. I cant even count how many times my dad and I had to take down a tent just to put in one missing piece we missed on step two. It teaches you how to see and look at things when building, being precise and smart, using common sense and imagination to put together something and have it pop up like a King's Castle. Along with tents, there is hands on learning when putting together fishing poles, packing away tarps, assembling lamps and flashlights and almost everything else you would bring camping.
6. First Aid Training. In being a lifeguard as well as a frequent camper, I cannot stress the importance of being first aid trained and CPR certified. The skills learned in the courses are universal to every person. And should also be introduced to children of age as well. Nothing is more important than learning how to act in situations. As said before, having the knowledge to hold someone's head and time out the seizure could change or save a person's life. Learning how to control and stop serious bleeding and even how to create a makeshift bandage or support stilts are all super important skills and should be common knowledge to everyone. In camping, many accidents can occur, being out in low populated or even desolate areas can be dangerous when emergencies occur. All it takes is a slip of a can opener or falling down a hill to wish you had been taught proper first aid training.
7. Understanding Animals. Some children do not witness many animals besides their own domesticated pets or animals in zoos behind bars. But what would it be like to actually see animals where they belong, in their own habitats. With that, it is important to understand that animals are wild and have natural instincts and characteristics. For example, swans and geese get very protective over their babies. They will hiss and perch their necks before chasing away any threats. A swan may not seem scary but when its chasing your kid across the park, I doubt they will invade the animals personal space next time. In another example, knowing the limits of animals is important too. One should never antagonize or tease the wildlife. Skunks spray, snakes bite and bears can attack. Children and adults should have respect for animals and their home wherever it may be.
8. Get Dirty. Kids these days don't seem to like getting dirty. It may seem like that, but I think it is more of the parents to blame. Let them track mud up the driveway, don't throw 80$ jeans on a kid who is going to the park and playing in the rain is refreshing, even for you. Superficial society allows people to get wrapped up in things; lean up against the tree, sit on the grass without a blanket, walk down the creek barefoot. It will not kill you I promise. Nothing in the great outdoors will kill you like the chemicals in diet soda, smog in the cities and cell waves in your Iphone. Getting dirty is one of the best things in the world, make sure young kids know how to roll down a big hill and climb a tree. We were born from dirt and mud, so make sure to embrace it.
9. Appreciate Nature. Nature is all around us, yet some people forget to notice it. The breeze on a hot day, the sand on the beach, even the sunsets in the sky. With all the business in life, sometimes nature goes unappreciated. Camping allows one to value the leaves dancing on the trees, providing shade on the campsite or the serene sounds of the waterfall nearby. There is a reason some of the best authors such as Henry David Thoreau hit inspiration after finding himself in the wilderness. The Seven Wonders of the World are called that for a reason, nature is breath taking and deserves to be adored.
10. Tough It Out. Being spoiled is a real disease. It is an illness that only thrives because caregivers let it. It is harmful to the child's present and surely their future. Learning to adapt and grow is one of the most important skills to teach a growing young adult. When camping, numerous times I was fed up with the bugs in my tent, burnt pieces on my hot dog and muggy sweaty days. Of course I wanted AC and Netflix but I learned to tough it out. To make the best of every situation and turn problems into solutions. Don't have a clothes rack? Find a string and create your own clothesline. Don't have a sink to brush your teeth? The forest ground would love the taste of mint. Don't have a store to buy bait? Start digging for worms. The solutions are endless once one learns to adapt.
11. Disconnect. This world is a madhouse. Cities, schools, violence, media; it is all a jumble of information, propaganda, money and messages. Nature is not out to sell you something you don't need. The trees are not going to give you foods that will ultimately hurt your body and the clear blue sky is not out to steal your money. The world loves you, and it is so important to learn to love it back. The outdoors are the most genuine places I know, and it is a place that all people should become familiar with. Kids most importantly because our world will soon be in their hands. They must learn how to detach from the superficial materialism, WiFi, phones, TVs, laptops, all of have become embedded in the culture. They must know how to breathe the fresh air and know that this is their world and it is their responsibility to take care of it. Disconnect from the scheme and focus on the one thing that has always been there for you, that has always had your best interest in mind, our beautiful planet.
Thank you Dad for all the camping trips, you taught me more than you'd ever imagined!
