Dottie's Question:

My family is developing a family-oriented campground in Missouri. Do you have any suggestions for things to include for our little guests? No video games please! We want to have some fun, simple nature programs/crafts other than the usual playground, swimming pool stuff. Something kids can do to learn about nature, camping, proper fire-building skills, bird/tree/flower ID, things like that. Any suggestions from you or your readers would be great! We are a camping/scouting family and we want to share our love for camping with others.

Dottie Shafer
Roanoke, Virginia

Alice's Answer:

	Alice Cary Alice introduced her oldest child, Will, to the outdoors at a very early age by climbing New Hampshire's Mt. Washington—in winter—while pregnant. And she and her family haven't stopped experiencing the joys of outdoor adventure, even with newborn twins. Meet Alice Answer Archive Family Forums

Sounds like a great campground you're developing. Here are a few suggestions that would be both fun and educational:

		A self-guided nature trail, with signs identifying various plants and trees.
		A list of outdoor activities in the area, such as hiking trails, bike routes, canoeing and float trip spots, etc.
		Handouts for each family listing local flora and fauna, perhaps with a checklist encouraging kids to spot these things.
		Similarly, a handout scavenger hunt, so kids can find or spot such things as clover, ferns, etc. You might reward successful hunters with a sticker or certificate.

You might also consider holding various talks and programs at the campground, such as a fire-building course or a nature craft workshop.

Junior Ranger Program

The National Park Service has a program at each National Park for kids. Young visitors get a handout with various activities related to the area-questions, things to draw, etc. Once children complete the handout (along with several requirements, such as attending a ranger talk), they take it to a ranger and get a patch saying they are official junior rangers for that park. My 6-year-old earned his Yellowstone patch this summer.

It's a superb program. If you are really ambitious, you could make your own junior ranger program. Check out www.nps.gov and search for"junior ranger program." You'll get links to programs in many parks so you can check out the details.

Hands-On Nature: Information and Activities for Exploring the Environment with Children, edited by Jenepher Lingelbach, Vermont Institute of Natural Science.

The Kids' Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities and Experiences, by Susan Milord, Williamson Publishing.

Let Nature Be the Teacher: Seasonal Natural History Activities for Parents and Other Educators to Share with Young Children, by Lucille N. Gertz, Habitat Institute for the Environment, Belmont, Massachusetts.

There are a fair number of super nature books out there-these are just the tip of the iceberg. You might want to build up a little nature lending library at the campground, or hand out a list of recommended books to families. Feel free to recommend my book, of course: A Parents' Guide to Hiking and Camping, published by W. W. Norton.

Hey, GORPERS, Help Dottie Out!

All you GORP family campers out there: What sort of activities have you enjoyed, or would you like to see at a family campground? Dottie needs your help, so give her some ideas on the GORP Family Forums.

Best, of luck, Dottie. Let us know what you do by checking in at the Family Forums.

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