Camping: A Mini Unit
Learning outdoors is wonderful whether you are using the Charlotte Mason approach to education or not. And camping is an easy way to implement this approach. Below are some ideas for incorporating planning and preparation skills around the topic of camping.
1. Help plan and carry out a camping trip to a cabin, tent unit, or cottage for at least two nights. Plan when and how to go, what to take and wear, what to do, what permissions are needed. Know something about the site and what is provided there. Help plan how to pay for the camping trip.
2. Before you go, make a schedule for activities, meals, free time, bedtime, setting up and closing camp. Make a chart that gives each person in your group/family a chance at different camp jobs.
3. Plan well-balanced meals that fit your budget, including at least one meal cooked over an open fire or charcoal fire. Help shop for, pack, carry, store, prepare, and serve the food. Help clean up after a meal, suing sanitary and ecological dishwashing and garbage disposal methods.
4. Help make lists of equipment to take with you to camp. Help pack and carry the equipment and supplies.
5. Make something for your own or group use at camp.
6. Know how to use the buddy system and make a plan to use it while camping. Talk about safety and courtesy when camping.
7. Look for ways in which plants and animals help each other and places where the environment has been upset.
8. Learn to recognize plants and animals on the campsite that may be harmful and know what to do about them.
9. Make and/or take aids, such as a camera, sketch pad or notebook, dip net, waterscope, star map, compass, or nature guide to help you find your way, to make discoveries, and to record what you discover at camp.
10. Be alert for eco-action. Consider the environment as you use water and fire, hike, pitch tents, do crafts, play games, cook, and keep clean. Do an outdoor good turn by eliminating litter, erosion, or other human-caused problems.
11. Take a tour or hike to points of interests within the camping area.
12. Learn a skill to use at future camping events, such as pitching a tent, orienteering, knots, backpacking, purifying water, or cooking in a way that is new to you.
13. Leave the site in good condition, unpack and store equipment properly, return borrowed items, and write thank-you notes to those that helped make the trip possible and/or to the rangers at the campsite.
14. Make a list of camping tips to share with new campers and to help you the next time.
15. Write down what you discovered about yourself and the out-of-doors and what you hope to do when you go camping again.
Bonus: Here is a fun page of camping recipes you can try at camp or at home!
Camping Recipes - from HomeschoolingBOYS.com
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