GETTING STARTED

Getting started doesn't require a big effort. Borrow or rent what you need from a company like REI (www.rei.com) or Eastern Mountain Sports (www.ems.com). If sleeping on the ground isn't your thing, try a pop-up camper. According to Kevin Broom of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, rentals start at just $35 a day. (Visit Go RVing (www.gorving.com) to find a dealer near you.)

At some campsites, including Yosemite and private campgrounds, you can rent a platform tent or rustic cabin so that you don't have to pitch your own.

There are plenty of options too for those who want the experience the outdoors without the work. Everyone from the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org/outings) to REI (www.rei.com/adventures) to Backroads (www.backroads.com) to the Appalachian Mountain Club (www.outdoors.org) offer a variety of well-priced organized camping trips and activities designed for families (even with young children) led by those experienced in introducing kids to the outdoors. For example, one of the weeklong Sierra Club trips costs just $1,500 for a family of four and even includes a component of social service -- working on a Colorado trail near Aspen.

A growing number of efforts are designed to encourage families to get outdoors. One is the website www.grandparents.com is asking grandparents to collectively spend 1 million hours outside with their grandkids this summer (www.grandparents.com/play). For each hour, they'll make a donation for each hour logged to KaBOOM, a nonprofit organization trying to put a playground within walking distance of every child in America.

Even the federal government is getting into the act. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has just announced the creation of the Office of Youth in Natural Resources to coordinate present and future youth initiatives, including a 21st century Youth Conservation Corps.

However you decide to go and wherever you are -- a national or state park, or private campground -- rest assured there would be plenty to entertain the kids. Many campgrounds these days are more like resorts with organized activities (ready to tie dye some T-shirts?), swimming pools, staff ready to help novice campers and friendly neighbors all too happy to share a cup of coffee or beer. ''This is where people go and feel good,'' says KOA's Rogers. Campgrounds are so safe, he says, that parents feel comfortable allowing older kids to tool around on their own.

Still, it's important to be mindful of safety, especially when camping with young children says Kari Cobb, a ranger at Yosemite National Park in California, who has reunited many kids with ''lost'' parents. Tag team to make sure one adult always has their eyes peeled on young children. Give each one a whistle and explain when you hike, you need to stay with a buddy, stay on the trail, and if you get lost, stay put and ''hug a tree,'' until you are found.

No, camping isn't as carefree as going to a resort. It may rain. And you'll probably use that first-aid kit more than once. But that's a small price to pay for the chance to experience nature through your child's eyes, says Ada Smalls, the mom of two young campers, and a naturalist manager at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (www.aspennature.org).

Got the bug repellent?

Join the discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. In order to post comments, you must be a registered user of MiamiHerald.com. Your username will show along with the comments you post. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

     Showing: Oldest first Newest first Most-recommended first Least-recommended first

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@