I live in a big city, but this wasn’t always so. I grew up far enough from the nearest metropolis that it was hardly worth heading into town without packing an overnight bag. My son lives with the opposite experience; we now pack our bags to trade streetlights for the moon.
Our campouts are constrained by my work schedule, and as much as we enjoy sleeping under the stars, rain can be a party-pooper. Which means whenever we’re able to head for the hills, we hit the ground running. There's so much fun to be had in the wild open spaces of the world, and so little time! As a result, I tend to think of camping less as a vacation activity and more like an intensive study on the subject of life, the universe and everything.
Smart camping demands a certain skill set, and while the specific applications of those skills vary according to the environment you camp in, the basics are universal: Clean water, appropriate shelter, safe food, and first aid. Because our family is atheist and proudly LGBTQ, joining the Boy Scouts isn't an option for my son. Fortunately, I actually lived outdoors -- including sleeping, bathing and toileting -- during parts of my childhood, so my camping skills are formidable. I can certainly teach my son the basics.
Igniting, fueling and extinguishing fire are rites of passage. To practice these with a mentor and later to perform them solo ... is a big deal for kids. It demonstrates to themselves and to others that they have achieved a measure of independence, and also that they can be trusted with a measure of public responsibility. Other camping skills likewise signal that a person is grown and thoughtful enough to behave sensibly when left to their own devices.
Done right, camping teaches pro-social behavior; self-care and environmental stewardship are my favorites, but there are many others. It's also a budget-friendly activity, and one that naturally lends itself to fond memories of shared adventures. To say nothing of the prime photo ops.
