When camping with children, what activities are best? There are the old standbys of hiking, fishing, swimming and canoeing. For parents, these activities can be as useful as Badge Clips. But what about the times between the activities? There are times when your child is waiting for a meal to be served. There are times after dinner, when there is insufficient time or go on daylight to major camping activity. And there are times when their children need a break from "regular" camping activities. Regardless of when they are used, these activities will ensure that there is never a dull moment for their children during the next family camping trip:

1. Making a success of parodies. Children love being in the limelight, camping skits give them a chance to do his best imitation of Shakespeare around the campfire. You can find several camp skit scripts online. Make sure you rehearse the skits with their children. A child can even serve as a narrator, to make the most dramatic sketch. When your children do the skit for you, make sure each one of them is ready for you. In addition, older children can help younger children, particularly with the lines.

2. Mother Nature up close and personal. A Children's Nature Viewfinder Coleman makes an excellent tool to allow the youngest to explore their world. Within the campground, you can examine the soil, plants, sticks, stones and insects in the area. They can investigate the grain on the picnic table, and count that contains approx. You then can teach your child about about how you can help estimate the age of a tree.

3. North by northeast. First, all children should learn where North is on the compass. Ask them to choose an object that is directly north, south, east and west. An elected leader then shouts a of the four directions. Then, children must race to the object that is in that particular direction. The child who plays ultimate object is removed from the game. After a few rounds of the game, you can add intercardinal points (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest). Then add a new subject in each of the four sites, to be more difficult.

4. Make an impression. Drawing and coloring activities for kids excellent, and this activity allows them to cultivate their artistic skills. Along with her clear vinyl plate clips, be sure to pack some blank sheets of paper and colored pencils or a pack of crayons. In the camp, have your child collect objects with textures, such as leaves, bark and stones. Children should gently rub the pencil or crayon on the image, which allows an image magically appear in the paper. Put a label on each image to remember what it is, by whom, and where he or she did.

5. Beyond marshmallows. With this activity, children are not cooking with a campfire. You can eat the fire itself! Bring a paper plate, fork, spoon and cup of clear water for each child. The ingredients should include coconut (grated), licorice, pretzel sticks, raisins, and red hots candy. Plaque is the campfire site, spoon is a spade, fork is a rake, and the cup is a bucket of water. Meanwhile, the raisins are the ring of fire, coconut is the tinder (for starting the fire), firewood should be represented by pretzel sticks, and a pinch of red hots means the fire of coals.

Family camping trips can be about more than hiking. Use of some activities fun camping can be as effective as the practice of Mylar Badge Clips. Camping happy family!

for more information on Badge Clips go to http://www.compucardinc.com

Equaleyes @ The Gorge General Campground (post Phish 8/7)