First-time camper? Start close to home

You envision a blissful campout with your family in the mountains or on a remote lake where the fish are hitting.

But if you are a first-timer, don't drag your family there this weekend.

Newcomers to camping and outdoor living need a gradual introduction that should probably start in your own backyard, according to camping experts.

Start with backyard cookouts. Learn how to build fires, roast marshmallows and cook over the coals. When you've done those things often enough that you and your family find them enjoyable and relaxing, try cooking at area parks.

The next step is to get comfortable sleeping in a tent — again, in your own backyard. You will get used to hearing bugs, birds and breezes. And if someone is having a bad night, you have the security of your house nearby.

Once you are ready for a family campout, visit the place first, said Jeff Rawlinson, who works in outdoor education for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

“Go out to an area where you might camp for a day trip,” Rawlinson said. “Go fishing or hiking and find a couple campsites where you might like to camp.”

If you're still apprehensive, sign up for a camping program that involves families or invite another family to go with you, Rawlinson said.

“You feel more safe and comfortable when you have others with you,” he said. “There is not a right way or a wrong way to camp. You learn more the more you do it.”

Deb Gochenour of Missouri Valley, Iowa, is so sold on camping that she tells the truly queasy to try pitching a tent in their living room or basement to try it out. She volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America, organizing Cub Scout camping programs for the Mid-America Council.

“I believe camping creates bonds and memories that last forever,” Gochenour said. “When you're outside, one-on-one, parents and kids are creating lasting memories. I think families need to get away and spend quality time with their kids.”

Contact the writer:

444-1052, jane.palmer@owh.com

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