Hi again.
It’s me.
Astrid.
Dog.
Tail-wagger.
Snack vacuum.
Certified expert in: chasing bugs, sleeping in tents, and staring deeply into your soul when you have food.
Today’s question is a big one. Like, "Where did the tennis ball go?" big.
Ready? Here it is:
“What is the best age for camp?”
HA.
You’re gonna love this answer.
Because the truth is...
ALL AGES.
Yup. I said what I said.
Now, let’s unpack that like a poorly packed cooler that someone forgot to zip.
Let’s Talk Puppies (aka Tiny Humans)
If you’re, like, 5 years old, camping is pure magic.
Everything is new.
Rocks are fascinating.
Sticks are thrilling.
Sleeping in a tent? An adventure. Not a hassle. Not a “my back hurts.” Just joy.
Little campers are like me at the dog park: loud, excited, occasionally sticky, and obsessed with s’mores.
Downsides?
Well, small kids need help with everything. Like unzipping a sleeping bag. Or not walking into poison ivy. Or figuring out that, no, raccoons do not want to be hugged.
But still—camping at a young age builds big memories. And possibly a healthy fear of mosquitoes.
Ages 8 to 12 – PRIME Camp Vibes
Listen, if I had to pick a best best age for camping?
Like, chef’s kiss, wagging tail, roll-in-the-mud-level best?
It’s 8 to 12 years old.
Here’s why:
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Kids at this age have endless energy. Which is great for hikes. Or starting campfires. Or playing flashlight tag so intensely that everyone forgets what time it is and the grownups just give up trying to enforce bedtime.
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They’re still super into being outside. Trees? Cool. Frogs? Awesome. Dirt? A gift from the heavens.
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They love being a little wild. No screens. No homework. Just pinecones, pancakes, and possibly making weapons out of twigs. (Harmless ones. Hopefully.)
Also, let’s be honest: this is the age where you can teach them stuff.
Like setting up tents. Cooking over a fire. Or how NOT to eat marshmallows still on fire. (Looking at you, Timmy.)
Teens: Sometimes Grumpy, Always Hungry
Ah yes.
Teenagers.
The creatures who once loved bugs and now just want to sleep till 11.
Camping with teens can go one of two ways:
-
They hate it. “There’s no Wi-Fi,” they groan. “It smells like trees,” they say. (Which, yes. It does. That’s the point.)
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They secretly love it. But they pretend not to. Because feelings are weird.
Here’s the trick:
Give teens jobs. Like fire-building, fishing, or navigating with a map (not their phone. A real map. The kind with folds. They will panic. It’s fun.)
Also: snacks. So many snacks. Enough food to feed a small army. Because teenage campers are bottomless pits in hoodies.
But when you catch a teen laughing by the fire, roasting a marshmallow, or telling a ghost story?
Yeah. That’s the good stuff.
That’s why you bring ‘em.
Grown-Ups: You Weirdly Love Camping More Now
Let’s talk about adult humans for a second.
hen you were young, camping was fun.
Now?
Camping is your escape plan.
No bills.
No emails.
No meetings that could’ve been a bark. I mean, a memo. I mean—whatever.
You go camping to relax, breathe fresh air, and remind yourself that you used to be a person who could sleep on the ground and not wake up feeling like you lost a fight with a bear.
Camping as an adult hits different.
You bring a real mattress now. Maybe a fancy cooler. Probably a hammock that costs more than your first car.
And guess what? That’s okay.
You’ve earned it, champ.
Also: adults tend to bring dogs.
Which means I get to come.
Which means this whole thing is 100% worth it.
Seniors Who Camp: My Personal Heroes
You ever seen a retired couple roll into a campground in a tricked-out RV, matching flannel shirts, and a dog named “Daisy” riding shotgun?
ICONIC.
Seniors who camp are the real MVPs. They’ve got patience, stories, and snacks. And usually backup snacks. And backup snacks for the backup snacks.
Some folks keep camping into their 70s, 80s, even 90s!
Because nature doesn’t check ID.
If you can sit by a fire, watch the stars, and sip something warm while I curl up next to you?
That’s camping.
That’s the dream.
So... What’s the Best Age?
Okay. Let’s stop chasing our tail and get to the real answer.
There’s no perfect age.
Camping is for:
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The kid who’s never seen a real bug before
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The teen who just wants to escape geometry
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The adult who needs a break from spreadsheets
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The grandparent who packs extra cookies for the dog (me)
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And even the dog who barks at falling pinecones and thinks tents are magic (still me)
The best age for camp is: whatever age you are when you say, “Let’s go.”
Bring curiosity.
Bring snacks.
Bring marshmallows.
Leave your ego, your Wi-Fi, and your fancy shoes behind.
Final Woof
You know who doesn’t care how old you are?
The trees.
The sky.
The wind.
Me.
If you want to camp, then camp.
Whether you’re five or ninety-five.
There’s a spot in the woods waiting for you.
And I’ll meet you there.
I’ll be the one digging a hole for no reason and smiling like it’s the best day ever.
Because it will be.
