If you're planning an outdoor adventure in 2023, cabin camping can provide the experience of "roughing it", while also providing creature comforts like a flushing toilet and a hot shower. Cabin camping is ideal for children, who might not be as comfortable forgoing amenities like running water or a normal bed.
Here are some activities to consider when planning a cabin camping trip with children.
Exploring
Camping is a great way to get children outdoors and away from screens and camping in a cabin can provide a fun and comfortable way to experience nature. To help children engage with nature, it can be helpful to nurture their sense of curiosity and adventure.
Some activities you and your kids can do include:
- Take a Hike: hiking from your cabin camping location can help your children feel like they aren't just staying in a hotel. When you walk through the woods or other natural landscape, study the local flora and fauna before your hike. As you walk, encourage your children to point out the plants and animals they see. You can also bring along a field guide to help identify what you see.
- Look Up: when it gets dark, head outside to look at the stars. Bring a star chart or download a star-gazing app to help identify constellations. This can be a fun way to help your child explore the cosmos and bask in the experience of being in a natural space.
- Geo Caching: geocaching is an outdoor treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world. Most cabin camping locations have geocached coordinates relatively close. To find more locations, check with the state or federal authority for the forest near your cabin.
Activities
To keep your children engaged, you need to organize activities that take advantage of your cabin camping location.
- Nature crafts: collect natural items like pinecones, acorns, and leaves to use in crafts. You can make things like bird feeders, wind chimes, or leaf rubbings.
- Outdoor cooking: Let the kids help plan and prepare meals over a campfire or camp stove. They can also learn how to make things like s'mores or foil-wrapped potatoes.
- Be Blessed: prepare a blessing-bag for the next camper group, with small treats and a note encouraging them to enjoy the outdoors and nature.
- Outdoor games: Bring outdoor games like frisbee, bocce ball, or cornhole to play with the family.
- Reading by flashlight: Bring books or comics to read by flashlight under the covers.
To learn more about cabin camping, reach out to a company that offers Hocking Hills cabins for rent.
