I started taking my twin boys on drive in cabin based fishing trips in Canada when they were 2 years old. I did this every year until recently. They are now 23 and fishing fanatics. At about age 15 we took them on a one week canoe-camping-fishing trip. They were not too fond of the work involved, setting up camp, paddling everywhere, limited range restricting fishing opportunities. They have been with me on 3 recent Quetico trips. They still enjoy the fishing aspect the most, but now handle the canoe-camping much better than as teen agers.

I think if I would have started taking them canoe trips from about age 5 or so, gradually increasing their exposure as you suggest, I suspect they would now enjoy the canoe-camping aspect more than the do.

 I'm thinking the kid(s) will adjust faster than you and your wife will too a different approach to tripping
 After all, native people all over the world travel and live off the land with their young children.
 I think the proper age is when YOU can deal with what it takes for a safe and fun trip. Kids just want to have fun, they don't care where their having it
 Starting off them off young, making short trips before YOUR patience wears out or their bored will pay dividends down the road.
 My married friends who started their kids off as babies/toddlers on family car camping/backpacking trips, have kids who now take their kids as soon as possible.
 The ones I know who waited until their kids were 'older" found that they had developed other interests, like video games and other couch potato pursuits. They made such a fuss, it wasn't worth the hassle dragging them along  

I've started my 3 kids in Quetico when they were 11, and we did not do trivial routes.  Looking back it could have been younger & they would have been fine -- but it would have involved more work for me. 

I think that's what it comes down to -- for me it wasn't a guys fishing trip anymore - I fished, but the focus changed & you spend a lot of time helping your kids.  That said, the first trip with a kid was my best trip ever & I would not do it any other way!

So what's that mean for you?  Whatever age you decide is 'old enough' start with a trip that's not too aggressive & be very flexible!

-Tom

I started taking my kids when they were 9.  I agree with MK, the younger they are the more work it is for you.  More portaging, more fising fishing problems, more cooking, etc.  It is a different trip than what you are probably used to.  But it is all worth it, I figure when I am old and grey, he is going to have to pick up the slack for me.  My oldest is now 16 and he can hold his own and carry "big" packs or the canoe.  The next couple trips I plan on getting him more involved in navigating, camp and fishing spots location, camp setup, etc.

kypaddler wrote on Dec 5^th, 2009 at 5:10pm:


I like that.

I like the guy trip thing. My boys are men now, and quite a bit stronger the me, so our recent trips have been kind of a guy thing and family thing at the same time. I did a trip with just my wife this summer but haven't had the courage to do one with the wife AND the sons. I'll just say that I don't think it would be a "bonding" experience.