Our son is 11 1/2...got into the TT thing when he was four...did it based on my memories of how much we enjoyed our family's Shasta trailer (remember those???) when I was growing up...It's been tremendous...we've been all around Texas and into Oklahoma...two dozen state parks, with repeat trips to most...and RV resorts...and county parks...and commercial operations...and 'other govt agency' parks....we go somewhere maybe 6-10 times a year...used to hear, 'Daddy, when are we going to the trailer again???'He's now 11 1/2...and, in most ways, still a little boy...but, for how much longer?In the experience of those who've RV'ed as their children came up, at what age did the child lose interest/think it's not 'cool' any more to go camping with the parents/get too busy to go camping? And, any ideas on how to keep him interested? I know every situation is different...just trying to hear from others re. general experiences and ideas

This fall was our first taste of too busy to camp. Our older boy is 13 and in 8th grade. He got into marching band and we didn’t camp from mid August to November. Not cool. Now we did go to Florida in August and we went out in nov for a few days. We plan on a spring break trip and few trip a this summer but times are changing. Not really sure how much longer we have camping.

Last year, my grandson 17 yrs old spent 8 days camping with me. The 19 yr old, just did a couple of day trips to the campground, but he had work and camping, elsewhere with friends. Ken

We camped when I was a kid but once I became a teenager I became more tuned into girls, friends, sports, etc. and didn't want to go on any more trips.

When they got their drivers license they no longer cared to camping with us. But now that they are parents themselves, they want their kids to go with us. Imagine that!

When our oldest hit High School we camped and ATV'd a lot but I knew the days were numbered. By the time they were both in high school we sold the ATVs and bought a boat. Camping changed to us following both boys Marching Band in the fall and then Drum Corps in the summer. One is now out of College and other in college, we still camp a couple times a year and they both enjoy the break from everything. But now my wife and I take trips just the two of us, and we still follow the Drum Corps. It may not always be camping by a stream but we get out and enjoy our RV still. This past Thanksgiving we asked the boys if they wanted to camp, both of them were eager to go. :) My recommendation is don't force it as they get older, go with the flow. Invite their friends along and make sure they get something out of it too. They will come back.

How much longer will we get to enjoy camping with our son?

jerseyjim
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
When they hit puberty, you get dumber and dumber. Then around 19-20 you start getting smart again.

Our 3 sons "left" our camping experience when they were around 16. Old enough to be without us for weekends, for instance. However, if we were going to, say, a NASCAR race, they wanted to come. Luckily, there were no problems leaving then home for...weekends.

So now....on their own with their own families, one son has his own TT. Another likes cabins. The third...his idea of camping is turning off the a/c at the Holiday Inn.
gbopp
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
jerseyjim wrote:
When they hit puberty, you get dumber and dumber. Then around 19-20 you start getting smart again.

Amen....
wowens79
Explorer III
Jan 16, 2018
My daughter is 16, and for her 16th birthday she wanted us to take her and some friends camping. She has also asked for a repeat for her 17th birthday.

My son is 14, and still enjoys it, but not as much as my daughter. I think some of it just depends on their personality.

We also use the camper for going to lacrosse tournaments.
winger999
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
My "kids" (they are now 30,28, and 23) never tired of camping. Of course there were the typical teenager issues, but they never told us they didn't want to go. In fact, they still go with us when they can to our favorite campground.

What I think helped was getting them their own tents. Not very big, but big enough to get away from the pesky parents. They would sleep in their own tents and come in the camper if the weather was too cold or wet.

Don't give up hope! My now grown kids camp with their families.
Jebby14
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
I never stopped. I camped with my family up until I bought my own camper and now I continue to camp (still try to go to family camps as well).We are going this june with a large number of extended family memebers current numbers around 30 expect to hit 40. slowed down a bit in college and when I started working because vacation was limited but never stopped. don't plan to. My daughter cried when I put the camper away for winter and we play campfire at home regularly.
azdryheat
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
Y-Guy wrote:
When our oldest hit High School we camped and ATV'd a lot but I knew the days were numbered. By the time they were both in high school we sold the ATVs and bought a boat. Camping changed to us following both boys Marching Band in the fall and then Drum Corps in the summer. One is now out of College and other in college, we still camp a couple times a year and they both enjoy the break from everything. But now my wife and I take trips just the two of us, and we still follow the Drum Corps. It may not always be camping by a stream but we get out and enjoy our RV still. This past Thanksgiving we asked the boys if they wanted to camp, both of them were eager to go. :)

My recommendation is don't force it as they get older, go with the flow. Invite their friends along and make sure they get something out of it too. They will come back.
Happy to see Drum Corps mentioned here. As a teen it was a major part of my life: Velvet Knights and Anaheim Kingsmen (and alumni corp in 2007). When I made my above post I completely spaced out the Drum Corps life, which was all consuming during those teen years. There was no time to camp. Actually we kind of were camping - in high school gyms while on tour across the country.

Today we look for excuses to camp. We've been known to steal our granddaughters away from their parents and take them camping.
Tvov
Explorer II
Jan 16, 2018
As with many (most, it seems) others, when the kids hit high school / 16 years old other things as part of normal growing up interfere.

Our daughter got a little tired of camping probably when she was around 14. Son still wants to camp with us at 23 years old, but it is hard to schedule.

When our kids were younger (pre-teen), we went to a lot of resort campgrounds with pools and activities, and also campgrounds near touristy areas. As they got older, we more and more started going to limited hook up or no hook up campgrounds and did a lot of hiking and bicycling. Seemed to work well with the kids.

That has been our experience!
Merrykalia
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
Our girls are 13 and 10, but our son is grown and gone. He camped with us up until he left for college, but would come back for weekend trips here and there. Our girls started camping at 3 months and so far, they like to help plan all of our trips. If it seems there will be nothing for them to do, they will take a friend with them to add some fun. It's always enjoyable for the girls to take novice campers with them. They get to teach them lots of things, like how to make s'mores, build a good fire, identify constellations, etc.

We try to find campgrounds/resorts that have things for for them to do and we also have a couple of tandem kayaks that we use if there is water around.
Steeljag
Explorer
Jan 16, 2018
I would agree around the age of 15 ! Then it’s about “where” you will be camping for their interest !
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jan 16, 2018
Don't look at the hourglass. Don't look at the hourglass.

Just enjoy it as long as he does. And don't force him if he doesn't.