Camping with the Grandkids

[steve dunham]

We are planning a summer camping trip . We will be taking 4 of our Grandchildren along with us . Many of the public campgrounds are already starting to fill up so we need to get our site reserved.
Thus my question " Has any one camped at Perrot State Park near Galesville Wi. or Whitewater State Park near Altura Mn ?" We are concerned about finding thing that will keep our Grandkids occupied / entertained besides staring at their cell phone.
Any reviews or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank You

[gbaglo]

Ages? Gender?

[steve dunham]

1) Audrey age =9
2) Olivia age = 13
3) Katie age = 14 going on 25
4) Sam age =16

SO 1 boy and 3 girls ( 3 teenagers !!!)

[Oldtimer]

We’ll be praying for you lol

[gbaglo]

Lots of luck.

[Jim Bennett]

You'll be fine, and everyone will have fun. I like to let kids be kids, BUT when I say what must be, it will be.

I have no clue on the park, but gave it a quick look and it seems quite nice. Always stuff to do. I bet the kids would love an hour or two a day away from the grandparents to do their own thing.

[KarenH]

I don't know anything about the area but just looking at Google Maps of Perrot shows me lots and lots of trails within the park and a national wildlife refuge and several waterways nearby. Kayaking? Swimming?

From Trip Advisor (top ten things to do near Perrot): https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g60336-d143690-Perrot_State_Park-Trempealeau_Wisconsin.html

And from the Wisconsin DNR: Perrot Recreation - Wisconsin DNR

[War Eagle]

Steve, Do you know anyone associated with Scouting (Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts) who could give you a list of typical forestry/wilderness badging-type activities? Or someone whose been a counselor at a summer camp who could give you a list of educational/fun summer-camp like activities that these age groups enjoy? Other than that, bicycles, binoculars, compasses, trail maps they could study before arriving, fishing poles if allowed, lists of typical wildlife to look for (day and night), small ledger/diary to record their activities/events, etc. If there is flowing water, take along some gold panning equipment for the heck of it. If an area that Native Americans inhabited, books they can read and use as a reference to identify any artifacts they might find. You could make a sheet pre-listing all the various birds and wildlife typical of the region and give each child a copy they can check off as they see and identify one. You could even make it into a BINGO type game. And for evenings, flashlights to explore for nocturnal critters (snipe hunting!), fire pit for smores, constellation map for the region and time of year, and lots of ghost stories. Do any of those sound feasible and maybe fun for the kids?

[h2owmn]

Are they sibs? Cousins? Depending on that, they may want more or less time with their own bro/sis. Headlamps that also go red for evening/preserving night vision are good. Don't forget helmets if bikes are along. All of them are old enough to participate in an early discussion about how we all get along in a small space together. Better that they come up with ideas rather than you guys having to make and enforce rules.

[Marry]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

We are planning a summer camping trip . We will be taking 4 of our Grandchildren along with us . Many of the public campgrounds are already starting to fill up so we need to get our site reserved.
We are concerned about finding thing that will keep our Grandkids occupied / entertained besides staring at their cell phone.
Any reviews or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank You

Try find a campground without cell phone service!
They might grumble at first, but later love you for it! And you never have to tell, or yell, "put your phone aside" , which will give you peace of mind.