thinblueline wrote on Mar 1^st, 2011 at 3:14pm:


I know it's been said before in this thread, but I think the key is to get the kids out there earlier than later, before it becomes "uncool" to be dirty, while they'll still do almost anything you ask, and before they get hooked on all the distractions of our day.

I started taking my daughter when she was six.  (See picture.)   The other key, IMO, is to let them bring friends, especially during the teen years. Friends are EVERYTHING during those crazy years.  So my daughter always brought a pal with her.  Worked out great.  Now she's 22 and still loves to go with me.

But it's still a crap shoot.  My 31 year-old son, who I started taking when he was little, never really caught the fever.  When he was in his teens, he started going to the BWCA with  group of his H.S. buddies.  I was fine with that, figuring he'd come back some day.  Some day hasn't happened yet!  Now that he's married, I guess it might happen when he has little ones...if I stay healthy long enough! 

Most important, IMO, don't force them!  Quickest way to get resentment and backlash.  It's gotta be fun.  Think about letting them bring pals along, and lower your expectations...keep it short and simple. 

FWIW.

prouboy

It's getting tougher to introduce outdoor activities to kids in general, and national surveys show the trend.  This bodes poorly for future support of preserving wildlands and open spaces in the US.

There are SO MANY distractions for kids these days, and most folks live in urban/suburban areas where access to nature is sporadic, at best.  I see it in with my own relatives.

I have two teenaged boys, and they get to go on two or three canoe trips a year with me, but it's my older boy that has really gotten into the tripping mode.  I took him to Quetico last summer for a quick, 8-day paddle, which covered about 100 miles of water.  He ate it up, and became a portage machine, despite initial complaints about the trails being tougher than those in the BWCA.

Both boys are under the obligation of taking me canoe tripping when I get old.

I hope that everyone who loves wild places and has the opportunity to introduce kids to the joys of nature -- whether it be hunting, fishing, canoe tripping, or whatever--
takes the time to do so.

I have an 8 year old great-niece with a burning desire for outdoor adventure. It started 5 years ago when we would go outside to turn over rocks to find bugs and worms. A month ago we dug out a quin-shee [snow cave] and it was my idea to get the camp stove and fix some hot chocolate, it was her idea to sleep out there. I am not sure what ignited her outdoor desires but do know I need to keep her fires stoked without smothering them. She talks of the day when she will be steering the canoe and taking me out on the river.

We had no children but always had youth around. I canoed in BWCA with two families for a number of years. They brought the girls and boys and the whole trip was catered to the kids. We would drive up at night so the kids never knew how long the drive was. Coolers with food they were used to so no suffering with food they did not like. Three portages to the same campsite each year for a while. The payoff came when the kids reached 10-12 and yearned for what lay beyond. One child did try it for a while and decided to stay home but the others still return.

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Dude, I want your life when I'm older (i.e. have grandkids).

"Not a bad life" indeed.

If every father and grandfather took such an interest, our crime rate, dropout rate, illegal drug use rate, welfare rate, etc. etc. would be sharply reduced.

-- kypaddler

Was already planning to be there, with my son.  Look for a really dinged up old Dagger Caper, blue, being hauled around by a spry 70 year old and his 40 year old son, both of us in the 5'9" range, and introduce yourself, MM. Pray for warm weather, or better yet, no wind.  The water will be pretty cold this time of year; would prefer not to have to contend with a below-freezing chill factor also.
   Poor canoeists down in Florida--don't know what it means to have a real spring fling--the ice is gone; figure out where you put the insulated paddle gloves!  Time to be on the water again!

"Bought me a whitewater canoe last week and joined up with a group of folks who want to explore Colorado rivers by canoe."

so Mountain, in case you haven't heard

bring that new boat out on the 19th of March- S Platte Evans to Kersey - annual multi-club group trip - anywhere from a dozen to 65 boats show up, depending on the weather

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That was not my reasoning.  One is more likely to engage in an activity one is comfortable with.  Thta does not mean kids growing up in the outdoors will love it when they get older.  And it does not mean kids who had no exposure to the outdoors will hate it as adults.

But be it camping, ballet, art, reading, or whatever, exposing that activty to a child makes it more likely they will also have an interest later in life (provided they are not FORCED into the activity -- boy did I hate dance lessons!!!).

When my boy scout troop went on their annual camping trip and I had an appendectomy instead, when it was over my Dad decided, for the first time in his life, he would take me on a backpacking trip.  It was a disaster because neither of us knew what we were doing.  But it hooked me.  I had my own 3 kids backpacking, with their own little adjustable kid packs by when they were 4, 5, and 6.  Also fishing.  Also did a week's houseboat trip with them at Lake of the Woods, and my oldest turned out to be exuberant going after the walleyes.  Later, I took them on a canoe one-nighter; unfortunately my daughter fell in totally at the shoreline getting out of the boat.  Now they are in their 30s.  Daughter wants no part of the outdoors.  Oldest is a technical climber and fisherman and cyclist and hiker.  Youngest is a camping/hiking fanatic and involves his kids too.  Took two of my grandsons on a two-night canoe trip about a year and a half ago at ages 5 and 6.  They had a magnificent time.  And I suspect we'll be doing it a lot more if my back and legs will give me a few more years.  My son, stepson, and son-in-law are all excited about a tripe we're planning this summer to the Q for the 4 of us.  I'm stoked.  I used to go hiking backpacking regularly and only occasional canoeing.  But as the bones get creakier, the canoe is easier than the feet.  Bought me a whitewater canoe last week and joined up with a group of folks who want to explore Colorado rivers by canoe.  I think I've been blessed with a natural enthusiasm for all sorts of diverse activities, and there's enough variety so that all the kids and all the grandkids share some interest or other.  And I make sure that's nourished.  Once a year, near their birthday, I have a one-on-one date with each of them, doing something that they like.  Pro sporting events, camping, horseback riding, museum, concerts, theater, and quite a few others.  These are some of the best times, and I don't go along reluctantly, I have a blast doing the things they like; and then most of them are eager to put up with me on a hike or in a canoe.  Not a bad life for an old man.

My kids are 9 and 11 and have grown up at the end of the Gunflint Trail.  My son fishes from the dock all day long and loves to go camping, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and boating while my daughter never wants to. 
Sometimes I drag her along and she whines and complains but other times she enjoys herself. Even if she is crabby or won't talk to me at least she isn't sitting in front of a computer or watching television and she can't stay mad forever.  The wilderness is a wonderful place for kids whether they realize it or not.
I love to take my solo trips too, or paddle and camp with just my husband.  When I get back from a trip I'm always a better parent and am more relaxed and appreciative of things. 
There's only going to be so many years I can paddle with them, so if I have to force them to come along with me a few times then I will.

Happy PAddling!

Thank-you all very much for your replies. I thoroughly enjoyed them!