Kids Activities at State Parks

We have lots of water toys, floats, kayaks and an island for them to play on. They ride their bikes and fish. My son also plays basketball and they usually make friends for the week. I also let them bring a friend on our shorter trips.
A fun game we play is walkie talkie tag. We use GMRS radios, everyone goes and hides, entire campground is the playing field. The hiders then give clues to their whereabouts. The kids are also require to carry the radios at all times when they are away from camp.
If they get bored I make them walk the dogs and that usually puts a stop to that.

many kids don't want to entertain themselves these days. they want to be entertained. they don't want to go exploring..they are used to the world coming to them via tv or ipad, etc. swimming is one thing they still like to do, but they don't want to do anything on their own.

If you can, pickup a copy of an old (or new) Boy Scout Handbook. The handbook has lots of information about the outdoors, plant identification, animal tracks & scat, rope/knot tying, astronomy, first aid, outdoor games and more. Even though I'm in my sixties I still carry one in our RV....it has come in handy when Nieces and Nephews visit. I refer to it often for plant, bird and astronomy....

I know it gets tiring keeping up with kids, but I think you're extremely lucky that your kids want to be OUTSIDE and PLAYING rather than watching movies.

Now, having said that :), here are some options:

1. pine cone, log decorating - bring glue, glitter, etc. and have the kids collect moss, etc. and then they can sit at the picnic table decorating.

2. photography - get them each a cheap digital camera and let them at it. Give them assignments like "take a photo of wood" and encourage them to use their imagination (a twig, tree, bench, sign, etc. could all meet the category wood). P&S digital cameras are great for macro photography, so encourage them to take photos of mini flowers in the grass or bugs, etc.

3. scavenger hunt - make a list of natural items that can be found around and in a campsite and have them search for them.

4. let the kids plan and make a campfire meal. There are tons of recipes out there (not just hot dogs and beans anymore). You can start this before the trip and let them help identify the ingredients, etc. The night of the meal, let them do the preparations and everything.

5. get them to help in the set up and daily chores.

6. enjoy this time with them. Soon enough they'll be not wanting you around at all and you'll be missing the days of watching them play in the lake.

the bear II wrote:
If you can, pickup a copy of an old (or new) Boy Scout Handbook. The handbook has lots of information about the outdoors, plant identification, animal tracks & scat, rope/knot tying, astronomy, first aid, outdoor games and more. Even though I'm in my sixties I still carry one in our RV....it has come in handy when Nieces and Nephews visit. I refer to it often for plant, bird and astronomy....

And these can easily be done as a family.

TexasShadow wrote:
many kids don't want to entertain themselves these days. they want to be entertained. they don't want to go exploring..they are used to the world coming to them via tv or ipad, etc. swimming is one thing they still like to do, but they don't want to do anything on their own.

It doesn't sound like this is the problem here. It seems more that the kids want to go explore and swim in the lake and the parents aren't comfortable sending them off on their own. Meaning, the parents have to go along for the hikes and swimming all day long.

With 2 4-year olds, I wouldn't be comfortable letting them go off on their own to swim in lake, but I like the idea of the walkie talkies and letting them explore around the campground.

toedtoes wrote:
I know it gets tiring keeping up with kids, but I think you're extremely lucky that your kids want to be OUTSIDE and PLAYING rather than watching movies.

Now, having said that :), here are some options:

1. pine cone, log decorating - bring glue, glitter, etc. and have the kids collect moss, etc. and then they can sit at the picnic table decorating.

2. photography - get them each a cheap digital camera and let them at it. Give them assignments like "take a photo of wood" and encourage them to use their imagination (a twig, tree, bench, sign, etc. could all meet the category wood). P&S digital cameras are great for macro photography, so encourage them to take photos of mini flowers in the grass or bugs, etc.

3. scavenger hunt - make a list of natural items that can be found around and in a campsite and have them search for them.

4. let the kids plan and make a campfire meal. There are tons of recipes out there (not just hot dogs and beans anymore). You can start this before the trip and let them help identify the ingredients, etc. The night of the meal, let them do the preparations and everything.

5. get them to help in the set up and daily chores.

6. enjoy this time with them. Soon enough they'll be not wanting you around at all and you'll be missing the days of watching them play in the lake.

Excellent ideas. Some state parks have programs just for the children. Check them out. Also, all national parks have ranger programs for the children.

We've volunteered in many public parks and what we didn't like was using chalk on the paved streets. First, the kids are in the street - in possible traffic. Second, this is a form of graffiti and is unsightly. One of our duties was to wash down the chalk stuff every night. It would be easy to bring along a large size chalk board which could be slipped in easily in any cubby hole.

One thing that we do on top of the walkie-talkie is make each child carry a whistle. Accomplishes two things; 1) If they get lost in the woods and the batteries die or they are out of range with walkie- talkie 2) to be used in case any emergency should happen.

Doug

Halmfamily wrote:

A fun game we play is walkie talkie tag. We use GMRS radios, everyone goes and hides, entire campground is the playing field. The hiders then give clues to their whereabouts. The kids are also require to carry the radios at all times when they are away from camp.

Great idea! Never heard of or considered that one.

Doug

2gypsies wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
I know it gets tiring keeping up with kids, but I think you're extremely lucky that your kids want to be OUTSIDE and PLAYING rather than watching movies.

Now, having said that :), here are some options:

1. pine cone, log decorating - bring glue, glitter, etc. and have the kids collect moss, etc. and then they can sit at the picnic table decorating.

2. photography - get them each a cheap digital camera and let them at it. Give them assignments like "take a photo of wood" and encourage them to use their imagination (a twig, tree, bench, sign, etc. could all meet the category wood). P&S digital cameras are great for macro photography, so encourage them to take photos of mini flowers in the grass or bugs, etc.

3. scavenger hunt - make a list of natural items that can be found around and in a campsite and have them search for them.

4. let the kids plan and make a campfire meal. There are tons of recipes out there (not just hot dogs and beans anymore). You can start this before the trip and let them help identify the ingredients, etc. The night of the meal, let them do the preparations and everything.

5. get them to help in the set up and daily chores.

6. enjoy this time with them. Soon enough they'll be not wanting you around at all and you'll be missing the days of watching them play in the lake.

Excellent ideas. Some state parks have programs just for the children. Check them out. Also, all national parks have ranger programs for the children.

We've volunteered in many public parks and what we didn't like was using chalk on the paved streets. First, the kids are in the street - in possible traffic. Second, this is a form of graffiti and is unsightly. One of our duties was to wash down the chalk stuff every night. It would be easy to bring along a large size chalk board which could be slipped in easily in any cubby hole.

Thank you, I was just about to be the devils advocate on that one.