Fun things to do with the kids

[Roy_Lynne]

We are crossing country this summer with two grand kids and have plans to visit: Niagara, Presque Isles, Mississippi River, Badlands, Wind Caves, Rushmore, Yellowstone, etc. But there will be some long stretches where boredom will reign. One thing we thought about was having the boys join the Junior Ranger programs and working on the booklets. Has anyone done this? Also looking into geocaching as the eldest will have his first phone.
Anyone have any experience with either

[toedtoes]

stickdog wrote:
I'd be careful with the dinner contest, you could wind-up on a diet of pizza and hotdogs.

And that's bad???

[Roy_Lynne]

Love all your suggestions. Thank you so much. They are 8 and 11 and really good travelers

[SAR_Tracker]

definitely geocaching. fun, cheap, and easy to learn.

[Halmfamily]

I agree with Toedtoes, get the kids involved with setting up and breaking down camp, my kids loved this part. While on the road give them paper maps and teach them how to read them and let them plan stops along the way. Also, go onto websites of your destinations and order travelers guides, maps and books of the area and let the kids read them. State welcome centers are always fun for looking at all of the pamphlets and again giving then something engaging to read once on the road, my wife and I still do this ourselves.

Have fun and good luck, our first grandchild is due this week and cannot wait to take her on camping trips, starting this summer.

[stickdog]

I'd be careful with the dinner contest, you could wind-up on a diet of pizza and hotdogs.

[toedtoes]

Get them a couple inexpensive cameras and do scavenger hunts. At the end of the trip, they will have all those photos to remember with - even if the photos are less than perfect, the kids will have a blast taking them and finding different things.

Make daily contests and the winner gets to pick what's for dinner.

Also, give them daily chores with camp setup each day. Even if it's something like "tell me when the hitch pops off" - the sense of helping is a major high for kids. And make it a big thing that their help was needed and valuable afterwards.

[Merrykalia]

You don't say how old they are. That will make a huge difference in what kind of suggestions we can make.