GoCampingAmerica.com | Posted July 2nd,
    2015

               

    Smells Like Teen
    Spirit

               

    Happy Camper Blog

             

             
               
                  Summer family vacations
    can be a little challenging when you have teenagers who dread being separated
    from their friends and their technology. No fear, we’ve compiled a list of
    some of the best ways to get teens excited about camping with their family,
    batteries not included.

    Activties

    • Hone survival skills – From building a fire with eyeglasses and
      water bottles, to making smoke signals or guarding against unwanted wildlife,
      teenagers are sure to find the excitement (and practicality) in these skills.
    •  

    • Look to the heavens –
      Bring an astronomy book (or download an app, if you have a signal) to make
      the most of your stargazing adventure. If your family is really into
      astronomy, then time your trip around a major event like the Perseid meteor
      shower (Aug. 12).
    •  

    • Deal out fun – There are
      hundreds of games to play with a simple deck of cards from the classic, yet
      competitive, game of war to the memory-busting concentration. For the older
      crowd, bring some poker chips to make your games more interesting. Why not
      wager on who has to make breakfast the next morning?
    • Give ’em space – Just because you’re surrounded by tons of
      activity options doesn’t mean that you have to be on-the-go 24/7. A mid-day
      break is often a good idea to let everyone refuel and relax, especially teens
      who need “me time.”

    Camp
  Cooking

    Meals

    • Mix up your menu – Plan meals that teens wouldn’t expect to make
      around a campfire. With a little creativity, you can enjoy campfire burritos
      or pizzas, grilled potato “boats,” apple pies on a stick, and more.
    • Christen a new camp chef – Breakfast and dessert offer great and
      simple options for any teen to cook something savory for the family. If they
      are up to the challenge, have the teens do the grocery shopping as well. 
    • Get creative with s’mores – S’mores are a staple of any camping
      trip. Encourage teenagers to create their own take on this classic dessert by
      including fruits, cookies, peanut butter or other tempting goodies.

    Technology

    • Have the tech talk – Let your teens bring their devices, just be
      sure to set some ground rules regarding when and where they can and cannot
      use them. 
    • Set a good example – If you ask your teenagers to leave their
      cell phones behind, then you should do the same.