Toddler Camping 101

Dear Toddler Buddies,

Have you ever been camping? You need to ask your parents if you can come with us sometime. We just got back from a fun trip, and want to go again soon. Can you come with us?

Here are some instructions:

First, you need to put up a tent. I got to help my daddy put ours up. It is like a big puzzle. Once it is up, you can dance around like a crazy girl inside it.

Make sure you camp in a really pretty spot, because your daddy will take you for a little hike. Don't forget to hold on tight to his hand.
Spend some quiet time gazing out at the lake. You can see the water rippling and listen to birds chirping. Sometimes you can point out jumping fish.

Watch out, because the mammarazi even shows up in the woods.
When it is time to start the fire, you can try to catch the smoke in your hands.
(FYI: Fun, but not productive.)

You can have some serious fun investigating things with a magnifying glass, running in an out of your tent 1,000 times giggling, checking your surroundings for ants and chewing on your glow stick.

Your daddy makes dinner, and (as always) acts silly.
One of the yummiest parts is roasting marshmallows and making smores.

If you have a really cool daddy like mine, he'll read you stories with his head lamp.

One of the main reasons that you go camping is that you get to see this gorgeous sight when you wake up.

While you are still waking up, you can blow bubbles from your camping chair.

My mommy was so happy that I did such a great job camping. She and daddy said I earned a camping medal...or was it a badge?

Your favorite books sound even better when you camp.

You can't forget to take a few crazy pictures.

It is really fun to throw pine cones into the water.

While your daddy is packing up the tent, you see if your mommy will do some leaf prints with your jumbo crayons.

Before heading home, you can't help but hit the "beach".

You wade in slowly at first to get used to the water.

Before you know it, you have broken out in a big, goofy smile, and...

your daddy is throwing you in the air!

At some point, you slow down and take a moment to think about the fun you had. The big tent, the marshmallows, the stories by headlamp, the rock collecting and the simple fun of it all.

Alas, your first camping trip does have to come to an end. Before you even make it to the car though, you are already recounting big tails about your very first camping adventure. You may be tired, dirty and have tons of bumps, scrapes and scratches, but the memories are all worth it.

Much camping love,

Your Little Buddy