What did you do when teenagers no longer want to camp?

Our kids are young so we have a a while, but it wasn't too lng ago I was younger. I for one ALWAYS enjoyed camping and would go anytime the opportunity presented itself. My brother and I were always excited to go, and my parents took us across much of our great country. I was in Jr High when my parents divoriced, my mom did not continue camping but my dad did so he would take us on trips and we were always ready to go. Once I got my driver licence and a car, I started tent camping on my own, occasionally meeting my dad someplace. My brother did the same. I never stopped camping, and even in my busiest years I always did a couple trips a year.

We have always camped with the kids. Tents for the most part. They grew up in the great outdoors. When the girls got married, they introduced their husbands to camping. Now that we have the toyhauler, we have grandkids telling us which bed is theirs when they come camping with grandpa and grandma. We alternate days. One kid day then one adult day. We get them involved in camp set up. Give them a map and show them where you are and whereby are going. Let them plot the route.

I began running around in my underwear a lot more.

Bumpyroad wrote:
I rejoiced.
bumpy

Me too, Hallelujah

I rejoiced.
bumpy

Started in a tent when our now 31 year old daughter was 6 weeks old! By the time our 23 year old son was born we had a TT. We went on weekends, week long, and even month long averaging 45 - 50 nights a year. We had dirt bikes and jet skis, but also hiked and other fun stuff. The kids NEVER didn't want to go! In fact now that we are fulltiming they still camp with us. Next Thursday my daughter, son-in-law, and new granddaughter are driving 250 miles to camp with us for a long weekend. Our son who works with the youth group at a church said he just assumed all kids got to go camping all the time, that is until he started working with the youth group. :-)
I guess what I am saying is to start them young, make it a fun FAMILY adventure and they will not depart from it!
Brian

"Here's $300 bucks; C ya! Hope it lasts two weeks.

We have always taken big family vacations and when my boys were still at home, they always went with us and never complained no matter what the destination or their age. We lived in a 28 ft FW with 3 teenage sons when we built our house. That was our first camper and it was purchased from a friend to live in during construction. After living in such a small space for 4 months with 5 people, 2 dogs, a cat and a cockatiel...none of us were interested in camping anymore so we sold the FW. It wasn't until all the kids left home that DH and I decided to get another camper. I tent camped with my family as a kid and regret we didn't do much of those type of vacations with my boys. Now that we have a bigger, much nicer FW than the one we lived in, my boys all want to go with us. They are all in their 20's. Our big vacations have become so much simpler yet more fun (my opinion) just going camping.

My parents made us go period. It's not like you can leave a 13 and 16 year old home alone anyway. Not safely anyway and if you don't want to get to personally know DCF!

Back then I kicked and moaned the whole time but today I am very thankful they made me go. They WILL find something to do and meet kids their own age. IMHO they don't have a say so at that age.

Our 17 year old did not want to go on our week long trip this year so we gave him a choice. Either go with us or stay with the grandparents for the week. He chose the grandparents.

Our 15 year old was happy to go with us. We had a better time this way than a crabby teenager who did not want to be there.

Paul