Item Detail

A complete introductory guide to making family camping safe and fun, this book's topics include equipment, age-appropriate activities, trailside family meals, safety, and practical advice to make family camping a joy for all. 50 photos. Line drawings.

Scores of books have been written about family camping, but recent technological advances in equipment, the growing influence of environmental and lifestyle concerns, and the greatly increased pressures on national parks all make the topic worth continued attention. Gordon is an experienced camper, a Sierra Club outings leader, and the father of twins. He skillfully mixes personal anecdotes with current research on equipment and methods for tent and car camping, backpacking, canoeing, and biking. He provides numerous recipes, advocates involving the children in all aspects of the adventure, discusses child safety and etiquette, and stresses planning, organization of gear, and low-impact behavior. Steven Boga's Camping and Backpacking with Children (Stackpole, 1995) has more detail on games, wildlife, and medical advice but a less personal approach. Both are fine introductions to camping for all ages. Gordon especially makes the prospect of family camping appealing and assures parents of its safety and potential value for the whole family. Recommended for public libraries everywhere.?Roland C. Person, Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information.