The North Face

Sep 26 | Role Models in LA :: Inspiring parents and kids to get outdoors.

By The North Face

Having had the good fortune to grow up in family that put a premium on spending quality time in the outdoors, activities such as camping, hiking and fishing were common and felt as easy and natural as riding a bike does to most kids.   Thinking about some of these great outdoor experiences I had as a kid  increased my excitement and curiosity about the trip I was about to embark on:  Traveling to the heart of south Los Angeles with my daughter Elise (5), to attend the REI and The North Face sponsored Role Models event, whose primary purpose is inspiring parents and kids to get outdoors.

 

Los Angeles greeted us with clear skies and warm temperatures and while the almost 100 degree weather felt a little stifling, I realized this is fairly typical summer weather in Los Angeles and one of the elements kids and parents face when getting outdoors in this region.  Arriving at the destination of the event, Kenneth Hahn State Park, provided the first of several pleasant surprises.  After entering the 401 acre park located just south of LA in Baldwin Hills, I was amazed how almost none of the city was visible and this definitely helped create an experience of being in the outdoors and away from civilization.

 

We received a very friendly and welcoming greeting as we entered the event and Elise quickly became excited as she saw all the tents, camping equipment, info stations and craft tables set up amongst the trees.  As the primary purpose of this Role Model event is to encourage inner city  kids to explore the outdoors, a wide range of activities were offered that would promote a fun experience while being outdoors.  Activities ranged from making and decorating a visor, building a sun catcher to learning how to set up a tent and exploring all the cooking equipment and utensils normally used when camping.

 

Most of the kids started with an activity that was in their comfort zone, like decorating a visor or making a sun catcher, then as the kids felt more comfortable in their surroundings, more outdoor focused activities began.  Talks by REI employee’s running the event ranged from wildlife you might see in the outdoors, to sun protection, to preserving and protecting the outdoors during outdoor adventures.  Conveniently the event was right next to some of the great trails running thru the park, and it was great to see the kids excitement while exploring the trails and hearing shrieks when lizards darted out in front of them.

 

Then came what turned out to be the highlight of the day for Elise and I, along with many of the kids and parents.  An REI expert gave everyone an introductory explanation of geocaching, provided us with a GPS , or as Elise later called it “a phone that helps you find stuff”, and turned us loose to search for treasures hidden throughout the park.  Who would guess that finding a container of beads or a pouch filled with post cards could be so much fun.  After finding all nine of the treasures, we took a break and feasted on some amazing tacos from a local caterer brought in for the event.

 

Elise and I also  spent time talking with Juan Martinez, who represents The North Face as an ambassador for Outdoor Exploration and was the featured The North Face representative for this event.  Juan shared his experiences growing up in South Central LA, where opportunities to explore and understand the wonder of the outdoors didn’t really exist.  Juan was able to spend time as a young adult in the Grand Teton of Montana which fostered a deep appreciation for the outdoors and lead to embarking on his current journey.  As The North Face Ambassador for Outdoor exploration and leader for the Children & Nature Networks Leaders Initiative, Juan now spends his time encouraging kids all over the country to explore and appreciate the outdoors.

 

Interacting  with Juan, it’s clear how much passion he has for promoting the outdoors, and to be reaching inner city kids in the area where he grew up and still lives made this event that much more special.  As Elise and I were traveling home after our Los Angeles adventure, it really struck me what a valuable resource people like Juan and companies like REI are in areas where getting outdoors doesn’t come naturally or easily, and what great adventures can be had even in the middle of a huge city.

 

-Paul Brown

 

GET OUTDOORS. Take Someone With You.

Role Models is about sharing your passion for the outdoors with others.  Make a pledge to help inspire the next generation of explorers and you could win the latest gear from The North Face

TAKE THE PLEDGE HERE

 

 

 

Aug 22 | TNF Role Model Mark Synnott on how he shares his passion for exploration with his "next generation"

By The North Face

Take The North Face Role Models pledge to share your passion for the outdoors with others and you could be entered to win a Travelocity Trip to the Bay Area to meet athletes from The North Face team! apps.facebook.com/tnfrolemodels

When it comes to traveling, things have always been a little unbalanced in our family. While I seem to go on one trip after another, year after year, my wife Lauren is always left at home to watch after the kids and pets. So I’ve always felt deeply indebted to Lauren, because without her, I never could have gone after my dreams of grand climbing adventure.  In a way, she’s been a team member of every first ascent I’ve done. But as I am passionate about mountains, so is Lauren about animal welfare. She has a degree in wildlife biology and has always had a tremendous gift for taking care of animals. Somehow, the chief of police in our tiny town of Jackson, NH (population 800) recognized Lauren’s passion and recently hired her to be our animal control officer. It is truly her dream job, and it’s exciting to finally see her so fully engaged with her passion.

 

As it turns out, being an animal control officer is serious business, involving, among other things, regular encounters with rabid animals. So as part of her training for the new job, Lauren has been attending various certification courses and conferences. In July, she left for a five-day conference at the University of New Hampshire, and so for probably the first time since we had Will 13 years ago, I was left in charge of all three kids for the next five days.

 

For sure, there were many people who were worried for the children’s welfare, most especially Lauren -- but I had a plan. Not long after Lauren pulled out, I had the three kids -- Will (13), Matt (10) and Lilla (6) --  loaded up in the Suburban with camping gear, bikes, fishing poles, and climbing gear. Destination: the coast of Maine. I’ve always felt drawn to the Maine coast, probably because I spent a lot of summers there when I was a kid. One of my dreams has always been to have some kind of a getaway on the ocean, and so in 2004 we purchased a piece of land in a small fishing village (pop. 1200) called Steuben. Steuben is further downeast than Bar Harbor and the Acadia region and so has almost no tourist activity. It’s a place where you can experience what I call the “real” Maine - where everyone is involved, to one degree or another, with making a living on the water.

 

For the past eight years we’ve been building a small house and this spring we put up the drywall and painted the walls. The kids have been part of every stage in the Steuben project’s evolution, from camping in a giant bug tent on the raw land, to our 1986 33’ travel trailer that I parked in our driveway for six years, to finally an almost done house. To be honest, the kids don’t always relish their trips to Steuben, mainly on account of the drive, which is close to five hours.

 

As could be expected, they usually complain that there’s nothing to do once we get there, and there’s always a group freak out when it really sinks in that there’s no Wi-Fi, no cell, and not even a TV. To help ease the pain of being disconnected from their electronic devices, I did break down and buy them a trampoline. We spent the first two days and nights of our trip hanging out at our place and exploring Steuben and the surrounding area. The coastline in this part of Maine is amazingly beautiful with long peninsulas separated by all shapes and sizes of bays, inlets and islands. Our property borders a 40-acre organic farm, and the owner allowed us to create a trail down to a small cove off Dyer Bay. We can walk five minutes down a beautiful footpath and we’re at the shore. I usually keep a kayak or a skiff down there and we’ve also got a mooring where I used to keep our sailboat. Steuben is home to the famous Petit Manaan lighthouse and wildlife refuge, where we hiked out to a remote beach and dug up some clams that made for a great dinner.  

 

On day three we packed up and headed for Acadia national park, which is about an hour away by car, but only 20 miles due west as the crow flies. Will had been texting with one of his school friends who also happened to be on vacation in Acadia, and so we met them at Long Pond for an afternoon swim. That night we camped on the banks Somes Sound, one of the only fjords in the country. The campground is the site of an old quarry where you can paddle boats and fish. They also have a pool and a seaside dock where we caught tons of mackerel. After dinner we roasted smores – which I think might be the real reason the kids like camping so much. That night I bent the “no screens” rule in the tent, and let them watch the old Planet of the Apes movie on my computer.

 

In the morning I rallied everyone early because today was the main event of the trip, a rock climbing excursion at the south wall of Mt. Champlain. I had invited our friends from Jackson and my climbing buddy from Steuben, Shaun Pinkham. Shaun is one of Acadia’s pioneering climbers with many first ascents to his name and some very colorful stories from back in Acadia’s glory days.  The great thing about Shaun is that he just loves being out at the crag and is as happy to help a little kid have their first climbing experience, as he is to get on the rock himself.  Shaun and I were lucky to find the south wall’s central slabs, a popular beginner area, totally wide open.

 

As a so- called pro climber and long time mountain guide, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if my kids climb too. The answer, to people’s surprise, has always been “no.” I did get Will out climbing a fair bit when he was young, and in fact had him doing multi-pitch routes at age 4. But I probably pushed him too hard, and by 4 ½ he was already burned out. Because of climbing’s inherent danger, I felt it was important that I let the kids decide themselves if they wanted to be climbers, so I adopted a hands-off policy: if they wanted to climb they would have to ask. The only problem was that they never asked, and so I really never took them climbing. Finally, I realized that climbing would be a good experience for them, whether they realized it or not.

 

All of the kids, seven of them from ages 6 to 15, did multiple laps on the two routes we set up, and they had Shaun and I belaying like crazy to keep them all satisfied. I have to admit I felt some strange emotions while belaying my own children, part dread that I’d somehow messed something up and part joy to be sharing an experience that has meant so much to me and essentially shaped the course of my life. When it was all done and we were driving back to the campground in the car, my son Will said something like: “You know, I’d always thought climbing was something I didn't like, but actually it’s really fun.” We are already making plans to get out again.

 

That night back at camp we caught some mackerel down at the dock and we kept one and put it in our cooler to use as bait for catching some stripers. We fried up some haddock for dinner and the kids roasted smores again over the fire. The next morning I had the kids up at 7am because it was our last day, and I wanted to climb Acadia Mountain before the long drive home. The hike to the top is only about 1.5 miles, but it seems like a long way when you’re with a six year old. Every time we passed a turn in the trail and another section unveiled itself above us, I’d tell the kids, “just a little ways more.” Even I was surprised by home many times I had to use that line before we finally emerged onto open rock slabs on the summit.

 

One look at the view and everyone knew instantly that it had been well worth the effort. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it must be one the most dramatic panoramas on the east coast.  We gazed down the length of Somes Sound, past the exclusive communities of Northeast and Southwest Harbor and the outlying Cranberry Islands to the stunning immensity of the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. I was especially proud of Lilla, as it was her first “summit,” but surely not her last. The hike down was a breeze in comparison, and I’m pretty sure the ride back didn’t feel too bad after climbing a mountain and packing as much fun as we possibly could into five days. Now that we’re back home, the kids keep asking me when we can go camping again. The only bummer about the whole experience was that Lauren wasn’t along to enjoy it with us. The kids our calling the Maine trip the highlight of their summer, but the truth is that no one had more fun than good old dad.

~ Mark Synnott

 

 

Aug 17 | Ryan Hudson TNF Brand Ambassador and fills us in on how role models have shaped his life's path

By The North Face

 

They call me Ryan Hudson, I'm 24 yrs young. Born and raised in San Diego, CA. The youngest of 5 and homeless my entire childhood. I spent a good portion of my eary life in and out of shelters and on the streets. When my family would find a home we would be in neighborhoods riddled with gang and drug activity. Being that young you don't quite notice things are bad, to you, things are as normal as it gets. That is how I led my life until the age of 14. The older I got the more I began to notice how we had been living and it devestated me to know that my family and I were so far in a hole it would take triple the effort to get out, so I did just that. I found a place for homeless and runaway teens called The Toussaint Academy where I was able to explore many of my interests. I got into many creative things; music, graphic design, writing, capoeira and others. None of those activities gave me the feeling of liberation I was looking for, and then I met Chris Rutgers.

 
Chris began a non-profit organization called Outdoor Outreach. Where he vowed to try and make positive lasting changes in the lives of the at risk through comprehensive outdoor programming. He came to the shelter and offered to take a group of us kids up to Big Bear Mountain where he introduced us to snowboarding. This is where my current life came to a complete halt and launched a serious 180. Chris then gave me an opportunity to work with him, introducing other kids to the outdoors and activities they could fall in love with. He became my boss, then my friend. Throughout the years he became my role model. The way he gave kids the chance to chage their life. He gave them opportunities to take a chance with the outdoors and take back the positive energy they felt to their friends and families. Once my snowbaording took off he became my agent, knowing what was best for me and how to go about being involved in the industry. Today he is still all those things and more. Without him, many of us at Outdoor Outreach would not be where we are or who we are today.
 
Everyone deserves a role model in their life. Even though they may not know it, a role model exists in their life today. A role model is someone who inspires you, someone who motivates you or opens your eyes and introduces you to new, positive experiences. A role model could be a friend, a parent, sibling, relative, or someone who we have never met, like a celebrity, athlete, or a musician. For most of us, our role models are within our community and it is up to us to surround ourselves with the right people. They are the ones who open doors and change lives based on their actions and words. Even you can be a role model by opening your arms and sharing your passion with someone in your life. Without role models I don't think anyone would be who they are today, especially me. We are the driving force of the communities we come from and have a responsibility to give back as much as we can in any way we can. Being a role model is the first step to turning someones life right-side-up. So get out there and change a life for the better. 

Take the role models pledge here and win great outdoor gear from The North Face. 

Aug 09 | Todd Spaletto, president of The North Face announces the entire The North Face family to take the Role Models pledge

By The North Face

Todd Spaletto, President The North Face

If you’re a fan of The North Face on Facebook, you might have seen the Role Models Pledge, which we launched earlier this summer. I’m excited about this project because at the heart of our company our mission is to inspire a global movement of Outdoor Exploration. Role Models asks you to get outside this summer -- and take someone with you. Sure we make great outdoor gear, apparel and footwear, but our goal is to take it a step further and provide the resources and the opportunities for more people to push their personal limits in the outdoors, especially those who might not know how.

 While you’re taking the Role Models pledge this summer and sharing your knowledge of the outdoors with friends and family, we at The North Face have also committed to getting 100% of our employees to become Role Models. Where would any of us be without a mentor to spark our passion for exploration? Getting outside fuels us. It inspires us to do our jobs better and to live our lives fuller. There is no better time than the present to pay it forward.

I, Todd Spaletto, pledge to be a Role Model. I will take my kids camping in the Tahoe wilderness this summer.

 

Take The North Face Role Models pledge to share your passion for the outdoors with others and you could be entered to win a Travelocity Trip to the Bay Area to meet athletes from The North Face team! apps.facebook.com/tnfrolemodels

Thanks!

Todd

*TNF employees excited to post their pledge

Aug 02 | Rock Climber and TNF Role Model Heidi Wirtz on Taking Kids climbing outdoors and "bringing out some smiles"

By The North Face

 

Take The North Face Role Models pledge to share your passion for the outdoors with others and you could be entered to win a Travelocity Trip to the Bay Area to meet athletes from The North Face team! apps.facebook.com/tnfrolemodels

I have always  loved working with kids. I have had jobs as camp counselor, rock climbing guiding, substitute teaching and was on my way to becoming a school teacher.

My passions however led me in a different direction completely as hiking, being out in nature and climbing began to take over my life in my early 20s. I got so immersed into my climbing passion that I soon dropped from normal society, moving into my Toyota pick up truck and living on the road as much as possible in order to get my climbing fix. I soon found myself sponsored by various climbing companies, hanging from big walls, frozen water falls and boulders throughout the globe while my love for working with kids began to move further and further out of my sight. Not that I didn’t love my new life full of adventure and travel, but I still had that desire to get back to bringing smiles to kids faces.

 

Eventually my desire to work with kids began to wiggle back into my life, first manifesting into starting a non profit, which helps bring education to underserved girls and women in remote areas of the world. This organization named Girls Education International (www.girlsed.org)  was my way of giving back to the communities that I have visited throughout the world as well as helping to give kids the opportunities that they deserve in life through education.

 

My newest endeavor, which is to share my passion for outdoor rock climbing with kids, has just started to come together this summer.

I partnered with Big City Mountaineers, an organization that is taking kids into the out of doors on backpacking adventures, along with Colorado Mountain Club, who helps to get kids out climbing. We got a grant from The Explore Fund and have now taken two groups of inner city kids out climbing in the Golden/Boulder area. It was so amazing to see these kids take on to climbing. At first some seemed especially tentative about all of it…the climbing, belaying, being in the dirt…but soon even the most skeptical kid had a smile on their face. That was enough payment for me! We have more trips coming up in late Summer/Fall, psyched to see more smiling faces soon!

I feel that climbing can be very transformational. I have seen a number of climbers throughout my years that have come from either rough families, drug problems or just low self esteem. Climbing seems to have…shall I say “saved” these people from there struggles in life and learn to rise above any challenging situation. Therefore I feel like bringing these kids outside onto real rock, where things are not so easy…sometimes it’s dirty, or cold, or hot, or challenging, or scary…by tackling these difficulties in a safe environment these kids will learn that they can overcome any obstacles in life…that they are awesome, strong and capable.

 

Jul 25 | Mike Wardian on promoting the next generation of role models

By The North Face

Hey Everyone,
 
I don't know if you caught this but The North Face is doing a cool program called "Role Models" on Facebook. The idea is, you sign up and pledge to get outside and take some friends, family, loved ones, and even people you don't know. 

Here's the link so you can take the pledge too: https://www.facebook.com/thenorthface?sk=app_441308789221860
 
I love the idea and already took a few pledges (running a race with the boys, going on a hike with the guys, camping in the back yard) but the one I wanted to talk about today was to take the kids "bouldering".  I use the term "bouldering" very loosely so please forgive me as I know that real bouldering is super hardcore and I have be lucky enough to meet some of really tough The North Face athletes (http://www.thenorthfacejournal.com/bouldering-in-the-mediteranean/) that do this big time and they are amazing so that when I say our guys, Pierce (6 years old) & Grant (3.5 years old) are "bouldering" it might be a stretch but it was really neat to watch them navigate the woods, get to the "boulder" and then climb it and see how really excited they were.

 
It was so empowering to share the experience with them and watch the grow and become more confident with each and every trip.

 
I even did a few trips up the "boulder" so they could see how to do it, where to grab and what to look out for.
 
I love that my wife Jennifer and I can share the outdoors with the boys and I hope that someday they will look back and think that we were "Role Models" and inspired them to never settle or stop exploring their worlds.  I want them to have limitless opportunities and have the skills to tackle life challenges as they arise.
 
I look at my parents and how they tried to instill in me a desire to push the boundaries of what I was comfortable.  I think of other Role Models like my boss, Keith Powell, he showed me that there is no substitute for hard work and no matter how successful you have become, or think you have become, that it is important to do your absolute best every time and on every project big or small.
 
Again, I hope this small pledge to get the boys "bouldering", will have a lasting influence on them and perhaps shape their future but if it only leads them to become more comfortable and confidient in nature then that works too and I suspect it will build on itself as things tend to.
 
Hope you are well and look forward to hearing what pledges you might take (hit me up on Facebook or Twitter) and look forward to perhaps seeing you out there.
 
Cheers,
Michael Wardian

 

Jul 04 | A perspective from the Children and Nature Network :: "Seek and Be A Role Model"

By The North Face

Take the pledge: https://www.facebook.com/thenorthface?sk=app_441308789221860

There in the middle of the Washington, D.C., Convention Center, in front of 12,000 of my peers, the heat from the spotlight took me back to a summer day in South Central L.A. when I stood under the sun selling nieve (a water-based ice treat) out of our backyard. This was one of the many ways that our family pushed to meet the bills. I knew that every dollar I sold would make a difference, so I shouted as loudly as I could about how the cool nieve, in lemon and grape flavors, would satisfy your thirst. Nine years later I experienced that same feeling of joy and passion as I stood behind the podium to introduce Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. I could feel a thirst within my generation and I began to speak as loudly as I could.

Albert Einstein said “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” One thing that I know for certain is that even within such varied fields as science, business, and community work, those in leadership positions often have a strong connection to the outdoors. Nothing can surpass the sense of unity and curiosity shared by those who gather to venture into the realm of nature -- where imagination is beyond logic and logic is beyond imagination.

A legacy is built by role models, who provide inspiration in their words, partnered by actions. We all have a thirst to find role models; the flipside of that comes when we move to become thirsty to be a role model. I was extremely fortunate to have a role model in Martin LeBlanc, the longtime National Youth Director for the Sierra Club and Children & Nature Network Founding Member, who I met as a recent high school graduate nine years ago and who has mentored me nearly every step of the way in my work to empower individuals and youth to connect children with nature. Now, the Natural Leaders Network is taking our voice and building a legacy upon that handed to us as we empower communities to find solutions to Nature-Deficit Disorder and build strong, young and diverse role models. Through The North Face’s Role Models Campaign we have the chance to become role models to those seeking that sweet nectar of inspiration. Get up, get out, have fun! 

Juan Martinez is the Children & Nature Network's Director of Leadership Development and the Natural Leaders Network, as well as Let's G.O.! (Get Outside) co-chair. He is the recipient of numerous national awards and honors, including National Geographic Emerging Explorer. Juan introduced Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar at Powershift in Washington, D.C., and attended the White House National Forum on Clean Energy Economy. As a leader of C&NN's Natural Leaders Initiative, he inspires young people internationally to become leaders in the children and nature movement. Juan also serves as The North Face Ambassador and Youth Coordinator for Sierra Club's Building Bridges to the Outdoors.

Jun 22 | Get Outside. Take Someone With You!

By The North Face

The North Face today challenged people across the country to get outside, and take someone with them.  Launching today on The North Face Facebook page and TheNorthFace.com, Role Models is an online pledge where people commit to taking someone outdoors this summer, helping to start a global movement of outdoor exploration. 

 “If you’ve never had anyone show you how to tie a safe figure eight knot for climbing, set up a tent, or even understand how much water you need for an overnighter, getting outside for the first time can be daunting,” said Ann Krcik director of Outdoor Exploration for The North Face.  “Our goal with Role Models is to empower all of those outdoor enthusiasts to share their passion and their knowledge to create a new generation of explorers.  Think about who taught you an appreciation for the outdoors, then pay it forward.”

By taking the Role Models pledge and sharing photos, you’ll be entered to win The North Face gear that will help you get outdoors more often. The North Face will also be donating $1 per pledge (up to $10,000) to the Children & Nature Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting Nature Deficit Disorder.

“We teach our kids manners, to be kind to others – always leading by example. We have a responsibility to be Role Models for them in the outdoors as well, because if they don’t learn a passion for exploration or an appreciation for the world’s wild places from us, who will they learn it from?” said Kit DesLauriers, world-renowned skier and mother of two. 

 For more information and to pledge to be a Role Model, visit apps.facebook.com/tnfrolemodels or www.thenorthface.com/rolemodels.

 

Jun 20 | ROLE MODELS :: TNF Athlete MIKE WARDIAN tips for the Active parent

By Athlete Parents

Visit www.thenorthface.com/rolemodels to find a Role Models clinic near you!

1) Bring Snacks--even if you just feed your kids, they are going to get hungry being outside and having snacks (cereal, pretzels, cheese sticks, fruit, etc...) & drinks (water/milk, etc..) will make the run better for everyone

 

2) Bring extra clothes, the kids are going to be sitting for the most part and that means they are going to be cold (if spring, fall, winter) so having blankets and extra gloves, hats, will be a must.

 

3) I suggest bringing a cell phone (with camera), just in case anything happens you can always get in touch with someone and snap a neat picture of the kids and you somewhere cool.

 

4) I would suggest having some some toys (small stuff you don't mind losing-not you child's favorite action figure, etc...) so you can something to provide depending on the length of the run.

 

5) Try to remember diapers, wipes, just in case....

 

6) Sunscreen and a hat (warm and/or baseball-depending on season) to block sun

 

7) It is also nice to have some small books/magazines, so they can view and ask questions

 

8) It is also nice to have a plan/goal with the kids so you can "share" the experience, saying that we are going to run to the "this location", look for it.

 

9) Think of games to play with the kids, I like "I Spy", such a great game and interesting what they find.

 

10) Don't be afraid to make deals with the kids, such as I will run now and we can stop at the playground for you guys/girls to play at the end of the run or we can run the last 1 mile together back to the house.

Jun 13 | Role Models :: TNF Athlete Hilaree O'neill Tips for the Active Parent

By Athlete Parents

 Visit www.thenorthface.com/rolemodels to find a Role Models clinic near you!

In the last two years our family has spent a lot of time on the road, camping and just being outside. Below, I’ve assembled my five tips for maintaining sanity while family camping.  Our children are still fairly young, 2 and 4, so keep that in mind as you read.

1)  Keep it simple.

This is something I aspire to be good at but have yet to achieve.  I am always trying to do too many things in one trip and it’s very easy to get bogged down.

 

 

2) Don’t have an agenda.

 It’s still difficult for me to let go of doing the things I would normally do while camping pre-kids. Hike ten miles before setting up a tent. Go climbing all day. Camp in the snow and ski tour all day. With young children you must have low expectations on the activity front. Scale everything back a few notches and focus on what your kids find exciting. Remember, if you can keep it fun and not tie yourself to a schedule, you’re more likely to have kids that love camping.

 

3) Pack well.

This is key for driving. I am one of those people that really doesn’t like to stop. If I can be uber-organized on the front end with snacks and toys, books and blankets, I stop less. Also, the more organized we are with all our camping gear the easier it is to pack the car and to set up camp when we arrive.

 

4)Loosen up.

Obviously, when family camping it’s impossible to maintain the same routine and rules as with day to day living at home. For me, the point of camping is to let the kids get dirty. They get to eat a lot of things they don’t get at home. They can go to bed a little later than usual. I find it makes the whole experience a bit of a luxury for the kids and easier for mom and dad.

 

5) Bring ear plugs.

Camping can be tight quarters. Not only with our own kids, but we camp a lot with other families with young kids and it can get really noisy in the middle of the night. Ear plugs are my saviors.