Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: 3 and 5 year old first trip: screen tent or no?
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TomP |
I've paddled with a number of young children. If possible, moving the trip to mid July or later would be the best way to mitigate the bug risk. If you can't move your trip a bug net is a great idea. I have one that is designed to fit over two cots. We tie it up under our tarp. Then drop it only as necessary. I weights only a pound or two. |
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Grandma L |
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HayRiverDrifter |
If you do not bring the bug net, bring head nets, rubber gloves, and clothing that the bug cannot bite through. Another option is just put them to bed when the bugs come out. They will be plenty tuckered out by after supper. |
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Frenchy19 |
mastertangler: "I would consider it a must have in June with wee little ones. 2nd week in August not so much. Stated perfectly! |
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Grandma L |
By the way, MuddyFeet, if you need another adult to increase the adult:child ratio, I would love to go along. I also have a couple of screen tent options. Let me know if I can help. |
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FLATLINER |
mastertangler: "I would consider it a must have in June with wee little ones. 2nd week in August not so much. At their age and that time of year, very good advice. Is there any reason you can’t do late August/early September? |
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muddyfeet |
Then again, i've never used one and have gotten along just fine with permethrin/bug spray/etc. Thus is the nature of the woods- sometimes bugs are bad and sometimes they aren't. Also, kids tend to care less about nusience things than adults: especially when there's exciting paddle/camp/swim/explore things to do. For those that have used bug shelters, and those who have brought young kids: what do you think? |
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Blatz |
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Frenchy19 |
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carmike |
Not to steer this off-topic, but I was perusing the annual advertisement issue..er, I mean "Gear Guide" in Backpacker magazine yesterday, and there was an ad for a Thermacell that goes right on top of the butane canisters many of us use for our camp stoves. I might pick one up (or the old-fashioned one) in case a campsite isn't amenable to pitching a tarp (or if it's not windy and I'm feeling lazy, which I always do). |
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mastertangler |
If they get slammed they might not ever want to go again. There needs to be a "safe space"............besides, what kid doesn't like a fort? I know we always were trying to make one ;-) |
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BWPaddler |
I have had some kids more susceptible to bug bites than others - my oldest was about 8 when she lifted her hair to show me a neck COVERED in bites... oops. More dope and head nets! But in general at your kids ages, they would be content inside a tent too - esp if you have windows. So, I would skip it. |
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Michwall2 |
Just a thought that the screen may be more necessary than you might think. |
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Savage Voyageur |
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Thwarted |
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mastertangler |
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mschi772 |
If you bring it, and your kids mind the bugs, so you use it, but they do what BWPaddler's kids did...teachable moment about going in and out of the screen repeatedly and leaving its door open. I'm sure if you approach it right, you can teach them to be more responsible if they genuinely don't like the bugs inside the screen tent. If the lesson can't be learned, then you also just never have to bring the screen tent again. Basically, bring it now because you don't know if you'll need it or not. You might find that you need it, or you might find that you'll never need to bring it again, but you can't figure that out unless you bring it at least once. |
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johndku |
I agree with those who said , if possible, move your trip to July. Less bugs, blueberry possibilities later in the month, and water warm enough to swim, all good for the kids. Plus mornings should be 5-6 degrees warmer. |
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muddyfeet |
mschi772: "Basically, bring it now because you don't know if you'll need it or not. You might find that you need it, or you might find that you'll never need to bring it again, but you can't figure that out unless you bring it at least once." That's pretty good logic. mastertangler: "After considerable thought I have reversed myself. We have enough kids lacking grit in this day and age. Heck why not remove some clothing as well? Toss them out of the tent nice and early in the morn. Toughen 'em up a little......after all, it can be a cold hard world. 20 years from now they will be thanking you and you can both have a good laugh..........'yea dad remember when we went canoeing? There was hardly a place on my body which didn't have a welt' " This is the larger everyday question, isn't it. There's a scale ranging from "overprotective helicopter parent" to "unsupervised free-range kids". We probably lean more towards the free-range side: keeping aware of safety issues (real safety- drowning/serious injury/burns/etc) but at the same time encouraging the kids to explore and try things for themselves and fail- and learn how to recover and figure it out. That's the real life skill. Nobody can say for sure how exactly things should be done or how specific kids should be raised, but I think there is a real danger today of well-meaning adults 'parenting' kids to the point of self-helplessness. carmike: "My daughter just turned four weeks old, and for her first present I bought her a Bugout shelter (ok, maybe it was for me, too :). I plan to bring it on our trips because I really, really hope she has a good time and I do" Congrats on the baby! The adventure is ahead of you! BWPaddler: "I vote NO. I've only taken a screen tent once and I had four teens with me. None of them could manage to plan their time to be inside or outside the screen tent and the door just kept going open-closed-open-closed, etc. and rendered the tent worthless after a short time." This is funny. And a good point! GrandmaL: "We would take along an old tent with mostly screen for the tent body, not put on the fly and use it as a "play house" for them. Nice for quite time, reading and general play when base camping. Put the fly on and they had a nap spot." Good to hear, Lori! This trip is difficult for me as it will involve a HUGE family dome tent we have used for car camping, all the kids' stuff, and will in no way be lightweight or efficient :) This trip is the challenge of introducing both boys to a place we love and spending time as a family.... and it may involve adding a new canoe to the fleet! |
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TominMpls |
If you have the space, I think a bug net is a good idea. It also gives you a space to contain them in if you need to, which is worth something. But you may not use it, and I think you're right that bugs bother kids less. |