I had to learn the hard way that despite a life of outdoor adventures, some teens pull away from those activities and especially when those activities include a parent!

I was despairing that maybe I had failed in my goal of passing on a love of nature and related sports. Kids are now 16, 18, and 19. At Christmas, my siblings supplied the bulk of starter camping equipment for my 18yo son, and he (privately) said "I hate camping" when opening the presents...

Fast forward to February and same kid spent a night "camping" up near Duluth, and this week he set up the tent and has been sleeping in the yard. Tonight he and his buddies asked to take a canoe out. I dare not comment. Just made sure it was an RX boat, selected the paddles, and scrounged up a PFD for each of the FOUR boys (ahem, "young men").

So - to anyone else despairing, there is hope! But Shhhhhhh, if kiddo thinks I am happy about this it will be over before it takes root for good!

Good work mom, keep them going!

When I was coming out of Mudro last October a group of 4 teenage looking kids where heading out. Nice to see

Nice!!!!

What a sweet story.

Blatz: "When I was coming out of Mudro last October a group of 4 teenage looking kids where hiding out. Nice to see"

Funny! They had to work hard to get to that EP to "hide out" - thinking car and gas, etc.

I think the trick is to make it think it is their idea.....
The black hole of adolescence is always an interesting time....you hope they come out of the other side OK.

dr bob

Very nice.

BWPaddler: "

Blatz: "When I was coming out of Mudro last October a group of 4 teenage looking kids where hiding out. Nice to see"

Funny! They had to work hard to get to that EP to "hide out" - thinking car and gas, etc."

That's funny, need to check my work. Don't want to give teenagers a bad rep.

Good Job! Nothing better than seeing young people camping and canoeing.
I tried so hard with my two kids. My daughter was the typical suburban young woman, interested in anything other than outdoor things like canoeing. My son was always outside and played sports forever. Guess what, my daughter took to canoeing like a fish to water. My son, who I expected to love canoeing, told me after his second or third trip: "Dad, you just don't get it. I like electricity." Like a knife to my heart.
That was at least ten years ago.
This July my daughter, son in law and son are all going with me to the BW for our second "annual" trip. Can't tell you how much fun we all had last year.

GraniteCliffs: "Good Job! Nothing better than seeing young people camping and canoeing.
I tried so hard with my two kids. My daughter was the typical suburban young woman, interested in anything other than outdoor things like canoeing. My son was always outside and played sports forever. Guess what, my daughter took to canoeing like a fish to water. My son, who I expected to love canoeing, told me after his second or third trip: "Dad, you just don't get it. I like electricity." Like a knife to my heart.
That was at least ten years ago.
This July my daughter, son in law and son are all going with me to the BW for our second "annual" trip. Can't tell you how much fun we all had last year."

Hooray! Yes, the knives to the heart are killer... so I hold my tongue and watch and wait.

I remind myself often that while my parents instilled a love of nature/beauty/wonder into us (Wild Kingdom, National Geographic, plenty of State and National Parks trips ) we really never did anything "wilderness-like" growing up. Yet all four of us as adults gravitated towards outdoors lifestyles more intense than the adventures we had as a family.

DrBobDg: "I think the trick is to make it think it is their idea.....
The black hole of adolescence is always an interesting time....you hope they come out of the other side OK.


dr bob"

Maybe so, but I suck at those kind of mind games with teens or adults. Amen to hoping they come out the other side OK and relatively intact!