There is no doubt that camping is a fun adventure the entire family can enjoy, but camping can also be educational. Here, the team at Campark, Niagara Falls, Canada, shares some tips for making any camping trip an hands-on educational opportunity for learning, without screen time!
Choose a Family Friendly Campground
Step one of any camping adventure is choosing the right campground for your family. At Campark, Niagara Falls, Canada, you’ll find a family-owned-and-operated campground where the value of making family memories is understood and appreciated. Located only five kilometers (three miles) from the world-famous Niagara Falls, Campark offers plenty to see and do onsite and offsite among the areas many attractions. In the summer, Campark offers supervised children’s activities from Thursday through Sunday. In addition, families can enjoy musical hay wagon rides twice daily, weekly karaoke and dances every Saturday, and movies on Sunday night, providing kids and their families with ample opportunities to socialize. Campark delivers more fun with an outdoor heated pool, a large splash pad, a giant bouncy pillow, and two large playgrounds complete with treehouses and a Tube Playcentre. There is even a volleyball court. For a small fee, families can also enjoy mini-putt amid the lush gardens, waterfall, river, and pond, play laser tag, try to escape the Escape Room, or rent pedal bikes to explore the area.
Get the Kids Involved
As you plan the trip, get the children involved in the process of planning and managing the upcoming camping adventure. They can help by researching campgrounds, taking the budget for the trip into account, and deciding what supplies are needed. Once you arrive at the campground selected, have the kids help with camp set up and taking care of the campsite, RV, or cabin during your stay. They’ll learn much needed life skills and gain confidence to last a lifetime.
What About Wi-Fi?
Check with the campground you have chosen for Wi-Fi access (yes, it is provided at Campark). If there is no Wi-Fi, you may want to rent or purchase a mobile hotspot for online lessons, apps, and movies, as well as staying in touch with family and friends, and work if needed.
Online lessons and local apps are excellent options for outdoor learning. You’ll find everything from the study of trees, leaves, rocks, as well as local waterways, flowers, and wildlife. You can even find lessons about local history and folklore to enjoy. Apps can also provide addition learning opportunities, including activities and games to play while learning.
Visiting Local Attractions
Most campgrounds are located near natural or historic sites, museums and science centers, opening the door for learning opportunities galore. In and around Campark you will, of course, find Niagara Falls and all the majestic Falls have to offer in the way of learning. You can see all three of the famous Falls from the Canadian side – Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and The American Falls. You can also enjoy Journey Behind the Falls and Voyage to the Falls for an up close and personal view! At the Rainbow Bridge, you and your family can view all three Falls and stand in two countries at once, provided you have your passport or visa ready. Nearby, Queen Victoria Park lets families explore native flora, a rock garden, international plants and flowers, as well as historic sites and statues. Niagara Glen and Nature Centre will take the family into Niagara Gorge to view unique rock formations, fossils, the Carolinian Forest, and the Niagara Whirlpool. The Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory promises ooh and aahs galore as the family enters the giant glass conservatory full of tropical foliage, waterfalls, and, of course, butterflies!
Enjoy Your Time Together
Whether taking the time to read together, enjoying a walk, playing a game, or exploring the region, the goal is to spend time together while learning and making memories. Reading together in the evening as a family can even encourage the most reluctant readers to put in the effort. Finally, encourage your children to share all they learn with photos, videos, drawings, journaling, and scrapbooking – a great end to an educational camping adventure!