DW and I are going to give my 6 and 9 nephew and niece "camping" as their Christmas present. We just bought our dream house so funds are a little tight. My sister said the kids will LOVE it. Plus it will be a quiet weekend for my sister and BIL if I take 1 or maybe both of them camping. I think it would be better to take them camping one at a time so that each experience is their own. Plus with DW, my 2 year old son and a dog, I don't think I want the adults outnumbered by the kids.
I was thinking of getting a map of the park, a picture of the camper, just write off some certificate on the computer, etc. I would like for them to have a "present" on Christmas but they won't be getting the actual present until the spring time.
Have you ever given "camping" as a present? or do you have any ideas on how to present the present (is that correct?)
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
Sounds like a great idea! Giving them a certificate that they can "redeem" along with the campground map and a pic of the camper should really go over well.
Our grandson (will turn 3 in May) always looks forward to go to "Papa's camper house" for a weekend. He's been camping with us since he was about 8 weeks old. Should be interesting in the spring since he hasn't seen the new camper house.
John
We're doing a similar thing, DS2 wants a guitar for Christmas ... but how do you give a gift like that, which should really be bought based on his hand size and type of guitar (electric, acoustic) and still maintain the surprise factor... So we are going to give him a card with a picture of each type and a certificate, after Christmas I'll take him to a couple music stores so he can pick the one he wants ..
Hmmmm, good ideas. I am starting to picture a box with a $1 flashlight from Harbor Freight, a picture of the camper, and a certificate.
DW and I talked at dinner. She thinks we can easily handle the 2 kids plus our son....wait to see THAT story on the Monday after :crazydance: . I was thinking of taking my nephew to the season opener in March, just him and I. But, if the weather is too chilly, then I'll do it solo and we'll take both my nephew and niece somewhere in April.
Now we'll have to figure out where and what to do in April that can interest a 6 and 9 year old.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
If they're reasonably well behaved kids, you and your wife shouldn't gain too many gray hairs taking both along with your son. They'll probably be so excited to be camping that they'll listen ... and might even be somewhat helpful.
Years ago we took my sister-in-law's three kids camping along with our son, who was probably around 10-12. Her kids were younger. They'd come up from Florida each summer to visit their dad and grandparents and we'd usually take them off grandpa's hands for a weekend. Camping was something they didn't get a chance to do at home and they were great. Or, as great as three young kids could be!
Go for it!
John
Here's a couple other ideas I came up with .. You could buy them a couple of small items, like those "shake" flashlights, a camping teddy bear (if they are young enough to still sleep with one), other small "camping" items .. wrap them in a box and also include a couple of certificates for camping, 3 comes to mind (but is up to you and your wife), give them one for spring (so maybe get them one of those emergency rain coats too), another for certificate summer (maybe also wrap a small shovel add bucket for the beach, or pool noodle for the pool) and give them another certificate for the fall (maybe wrap them up a cheap pair(s) of kids binoculars ) ...
Now this depends on how many times your planning to go camping to begin with... But these trips with the niece and nephew, don't have to be to far off cg's .. something local would even do ...
Well, I "gave" camping as a gift to my 9yo niece and 6yo nephew. Thanks for all of the suggestions.
DW printed out a certificate and I bought 2 small flashlights. I put the certificate and flashlight in a small box wrapped with their name on it. Then I put the first wrapped box in a larger one, but change the name of who it was for :hah: . Then that box was in another box and again the names were switched. They had to open 5 boxes to get to their present, each time their names were switched :lmao: They loved it and they had the flashlight to play with.
They basically immediately requested that they each go solo.....I'm fine with that, more camping for me. I think I will take my 6yo nephew with me to the Season Opener in March at French Creek SP in PA. DW and DS will not be with me so it will be just DN (dear nephew) and me. Now We need to figure out where we will take my Niece (guess DN doesn't work well for dear nephew when it can apply to dear niece as well) Maybe we will try the West Chester KOA if the have a BOGO or maybe we will look into Spring Gulch. in April or May.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
My MIL to be gave me a Camping Journal. 🙂
[img width=640 height=488]http://stillblondeafteralltheseyears.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Camping-Journal-Journals-Unlimited.jpg[/img]
Each page includes some great information about your camping trip including ideal sites for future trips, people I met and much more.
Matt, You are the most awesome uncle ever. What you have done for your nephew will stay with him for the rest of his life He looked like he was enjoying the cooking and the food the best 🙂 I will be 50 this year and I remember every one of the camping trips that my dad took me on when I was a youngster. Its one of the reasons I take my kids out camping as often as we can. Hats off to you sir!
Thanks. My nephew loved the trip. I just realized, I did not put up video of them opening the "present" at Christmas. I will have to add that to my niece's video. She and I just went camping this past weekend and I figured I should hurry up and finish my nephews video before I worked on hers. I will add video of the opening of the present to hers. I plan on giving each of them a DVD so they can watch it 20 years from now.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
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