Hello. I was raised on a farm and had an active passion for outdoor stuff. I recently had some yard sales and since we were in a drought and no rain I had the sales back to back for a few days at a time. I put out so much it is a pain to put it all away and drag it out again the next day. I have fibromyalgia. So, I would cover it all with tarps and sleep in a dome tent near it all to watch for thieves. I live on a busy highway. I took a lantern out there with mosquito stuff in the oil. No mosquitoes anyway with no rain but left the lantern on low all night. If I had trouble sleeping I had a book and would read by turning the lantern up.

I too put my outdoor stuff on hold. I had 3 kids now grown. I now have 1 granddaughter. I hope to get her in the tent with me soon. It was not quite the same but close and the highway was not so busy late at night. My neighbors think I am nuts to stay out there. Afraid someone will kill me but if I was alone deep in the woods I would have wild animals to deal with. Same thing. Get some tents if you don't already have them and camp in your yard with your kids. Believe me they will like the adventure. Take a cook stove out there with pots and pans and camping dishes. Cook breakfast outside just like you would on a real camping trip. Tell stories and even roast marshmallows at night. I did that with my kids once when they were all still young and they had a blast. The only thing different was we could go inside to the bathroom. I kidded my son and told him I was going to use the bathroom in the yard and he thought I was really going to do it!

You can sort of let them get the feel for it and when they are just a bit older take them on a real hike and camping trip. It will create lots of memories. I have a fireplace in my home. Once when it was raining I spread out a blanket on the floor. Lit some candles (fat jar ones so they would not tip over) and we had an actual picnic indoors in front of the fireplace.

Take care and just use your imagination. The kids are better at it than grown-ups but they need influence to get them started. CC