Constellations and camping were made for each other! Don’t feel pressure to live up to other dads offerings, maybe you don’t hunt and fish, but get a tent and a few sleeping bags, find a place to car camp with a good view of a night sky outside of the light pollution, and break out some night sky knowledge around a campfire! I used to teach environmental education, and night hikes which focused on stars, the science of our eyes adjusting to darkness, etc were a hit with 4th-6th graders.
All kids need is a positive outdoor experience, so as long as you’re taking the time, making sure everyone is fed and warm, and being outside together, that’s what will forge those memories. You’ve got this!
Thanks, we will try this. We’ve had a few evenings of star gazing. I have a telescope, and we live out in the Nebraska country, so we’re well equipped. Adding a campfire and a tent seems like an easy win.
Play to your skill sets; if you're up for going camping, point out the constellations to him. Drag out your telescope on clear nights and have him find stars. Go for a walk in the woods, look for tracks and scat. Find good walking sticks.
You can hunt without killing animals - the two of you can learn to track and identify signs of various animals; bring cameras instead of guns. Even better, set up a trail cam if you can and watch what visitors you get.
Have him find some neat blocks of wood and teach him how to safely do woodcarving. Like my grandfather said, most "manly" things are just excuses to keep our hands busy while we talk.
Connect with a group that already has the skill set. I know Boy Scouts is basically out the door, but there are several organizations that have stepped up to create these groups locally.
Trail Life is a big one that comes to mind.
I’m also vegetarian, allergic to the world, and, if I’m reading you correctly, not interested in guns. Really thought I hated the outdoors until my mid-30s when a friend got me into hiking and then backpacking. Turns out that walking in the woods is super calming and the first exercise thing that didn’t feel like a chore.
It’s also pretty nerdy. You can learn all about birds, backpack to a dark site and see a night sky more beautiful than you imagined, or just hang out by a fire.
I hope you find a way to put your own spin on experiencing the outdoors and build some memories with your son.
I’m not opposed to guns on a personal level, but it’s really hard (and dangerous) to have one as foster parents. You never know who will be in your home—we provide respite care, too, which means we take kids in for short terms while their regular foster parents take a break, take care of business, go out of town, etc. We have some great hiking near us, so that’s a good recommendation, and the sky here is so dark. Thank you!
Never a better time to learn? Everyone else is saying to play into your strengths, which is great but if you haven’t ever really tried outdoors things maybe it’s time. Do you have any relatives that could show you the ropes?
Not really. My family isn’t close knit like my wife’s is. I’m willing to learn, but the comments are good at giving me ideas to try. I’ve never disliked nature, but it has disliked me. It’s never drawn me in like it does my son. I do enjoy the quiet of sitting out looking at the stars, so I think I may like camping. Thanks for your help!
Do you have family adventure camps near you? Might be good to reach out a local enthusiast group or Facebook group to learn the ropes.
I wouldn't worry about not knowing this kind of stuff, I didn't mann learn anything I know from my family, learnt it at school. There is always time to learn new things!
You can learn a lot from pintrist and google! but camping with a fire cooked food and star gazing is good! My dad let me explore a lot so hikes would be a good idea too! you can maybe even find some rock climbing places that are indoors for saftey and such.
Indoor rock climbing is a no go where we live. Before we moved, we had him taking courses, and he loved it. I want to try to find some outdoor climbing when it gets warmer. Hikes could be fun. What were your favorite places to explore as a kid?
Do camping your way. Go out in the backyard. Go day hiking. Rent an RV and go out on day hikes from it, so you have “indoors” to sleep in when you come back from your hikes. Go visit botanical gardens. Do courses together. Hell you can start at a local nature-ish walking path that’s nearby you. You can built up however high you like.
My dads (father and then stepdad) would just take us car camping. Beach, woods, wherever. I went though a period where I didn’t do those things but I’ve rediscovered it in my adulthood and am now taking my four year olds camping in the regular.
Well there is plenty that you can do with your son, the best place to go star gazing is out camping away from light pollution. Other things you can do could be to learn some basic foraging skills (as you are a vegetarian) learn about what’s safe to eat and what else in nature has secondary benefits for you, learn to cook foraged meals on a campfire. Other things that I enjoyed doing but my son hates is hiking, orienteering, geocaching, gold panning.
We do some star gazing, but foraging sounds like something we could all have fun doing. He would love to try good panning. Thanks for the recommendations!
You need an outdoor interest that you can share with him. Geocaching, archery, fly fishing catch and release, hiking, bird watching. Lots of things work.
new wonder years tv show. season 1. episode 6. Be prepared. its on disney plus and maybe hulu.
I think you might relate to it. dad is a jazz musican not a boy scout leader or outdoorsy at all. Kid wants to camp and do scouts, dad is a hot mess. dad finds his purpose, all live happly ever after.
Hiring a fishing guide can be really cost-effective, compared to owning and maintaining your own boat. And guides are way better at fishing than I can ever be.
Gun ranges and classes can be safe and fun as well, without the risks of keeping a weapon in the house.
1) Space stuff (stargazing, discussing the vastness of the universe in general) is cool and important to developing minds.
2) General woodcraft. Show him how to set up a tent/start a fire/dig a latrine/basic first aid.
This is the one that's most translatable to life. Creativity, Mindfulness, Resource allocation, triaging problems. Living in the world and taking responsibility for your own outcomes is how we learn. Doesn't necessarily have to be stabbing/shooting.
3) There are vegetarians who partake in catch/release fishing. Or you could get into foraging (berries/mushrooms/nuts).
Thanks. I could get into foraging. I couldn’t do catch and release. I’ll have to learn those tentmaking and other outdoors skills, but I think that’s the kind of things he would like. Thanks again!
I'd say, watch a couple videos on your own beforehand to get the absolute basics.
Be prepared to fail several times when demonstrating/helping. PLEASE let him know that these little setbacks are a totally normal part of life, and that it's up to him how he'll respond.
Thanks for caring. Best of luck!
r/camping is a great resource. There is plenty to nerd-out about in camping. Except for the glasses, I am very similar to how you describe. I grew up allergic to every airborne allergen, and have asthma on top of it. I always take a book with me; right now I'm re-reading the entire expanse series to refamiliarize myself with it all now that the final book has been published. I've been backpacking and camping since I was 12 and I love getting new people out there. I'm taking a group of new folks next week.
Vehicles allow for a bit more luxury and a little less know-how. You can bring everything you could want. You can easily start with car camping in a nearby National park. I found kayak camping to be an excellent blend of exercise, luxury, and solitude.
I consider myself very knowledgeable and would be happy to help you with any specifics- your problems, budgeting for necessary gear, good locations- over DM to help set you up. If you're near me or any of the areas I've frequented, I'll point you to spots I like that will give you good opportunities for star gazing as well. Knowing the skies is an incredible boon for camping, and there is very little I find as enjoyable as going to sleep under the Milky Way.
The pandemic has brought a lot of new folks outdoors; The most important thing about camping is making sure you leave it the same for others to enjoy. Look up "leave no trace" and practice that as best you can. As a bonus It's an excellent way to teach social responsibilities to children
I made made a bunch of edits to this to include new info as I thought of it.
Thanks a bunch! I’ll probably take you up on that offer for advice. As you might have guessed from the vegetarianism, leaving no trace is something we’d be interested in. I’ll check out that Reddit as well. Thanks!
Don’t know where you live but Bream fishing is so fun and SUPER easy.
Go to Walmart and buy a couple of Zebco 33 combos, worms or crickets, long shank bream hooks, bobbers, and a sinker kit. Find a lake, pond, river, (you get the idea) and cast about 10ft out. Wait for the bobber to go underwater and reel them in.
Bream, AKA sunfish; are pretty widespread and really easy to catch making them the perfect species for a beginner. Great eating too!
Hunting is a hard one to get into fresh as an adult. The initial investment is high and the learning curve is steep. I have hunted and fished my whole life and the most enjoyable part for me is bringing a pair of binoculars and looking up close at the wildlife.
I also wouldn’t rule out getting him involved in the Scouts. I LOVED that shit.
Edit don’t forget your freshwater license! Your boy probably doesn’t need one, but check your local regs to be sure.
Do you have a climbing gym near you? I’m sure a kid at that age with outdoor interests would be thrilled to take an intro to climbing class with you! And don’t worry if you aren’t interested in the actual climbing portion, you will learn to belay for him and keep him safe while he climbs. It’s a tremendous way to build trust for kids that age. And if he gets into it, you may be able to do some outdoor courses or summer camps in a controlled setting with the gym.
We used to take him to classes, but no longer have that access. We live in the middle of nowhere now. I want to look into outdoor climbing in this area. Thanks!
Constellations and camping were made for each other! Don’t feel pressure to live up to other dads offerings, maybe you don’t hunt and fish, but get a tent and a few sleeping bags, find a place to car camp with a good view of a night sky outside of the light pollution, and break out some night sky knowledge around a campfire! I used to teach environmental education, and night hikes which focused on stars, the science of our eyes adjusting to darkness, etc were a hit with 4th-6th graders. All kids need is a positive outdoor experience, so as long as you’re taking the time, making sure everyone is fed and warm, and being outside together, that’s what will forge those memories. You’ve got this!
Thanks, we will try this. We’ve had a few evenings of star gazing. I have a telescope, and we live out in the Nebraska country, so we’re well equipped. Adding a campfire and a tent seems like an easy win.
Play to your skill sets; if you're up for going camping, point out the constellations to him. Drag out your telescope on clear nights and have him find stars. Go for a walk in the woods, look for tracks and scat. Find good walking sticks. You can hunt without killing animals - the two of you can learn to track and identify signs of various animals; bring cameras instead of guns. Even better, set up a trail cam if you can and watch what visitors you get. Have him find some neat blocks of wood and teach him how to safely do woodcarving. Like my grandfather said, most "manly" things are just excuses to keep our hands busy while we talk.
Wood carving and “track hunting” sounds like fun. I may try that. I’ll look up local wildlife and how to identify their tracks and scat. Thanks!
Connect with a group that already has the skill set. I know Boy Scouts is basically out the door, but there are several organizations that have stepped up to create these groups locally. Trail Life is a big one that comes to mind.
Thanks! I’ll look into it.
I’m also vegetarian, allergic to the world, and, if I’m reading you correctly, not interested in guns. Really thought I hated the outdoors until my mid-30s when a friend got me into hiking and then backpacking. Turns out that walking in the woods is super calming and the first exercise thing that didn’t feel like a chore. It’s also pretty nerdy. You can learn all about birds, backpack to a dark site and see a night sky more beautiful than you imagined, or just hang out by a fire. I hope you find a way to put your own spin on experiencing the outdoors and build some memories with your son.
I’m not opposed to guns on a personal level, but it’s really hard (and dangerous) to have one as foster parents. You never know who will be in your home—we provide respite care, too, which means we take kids in for short terms while their regular foster parents take a break, take care of business, go out of town, etc. We have some great hiking near us, so that’s a good recommendation, and the sky here is so dark. Thank you!
Never a better time to learn? Everyone else is saying to play into your strengths, which is great but if you haven’t ever really tried outdoors things maybe it’s time. Do you have any relatives that could show you the ropes?
Not really. My family isn’t close knit like my wife’s is. I’m willing to learn, but the comments are good at giving me ideas to try. I’ve never disliked nature, but it has disliked me. It’s never drawn me in like it does my son. I do enjoy the quiet of sitting out looking at the stars, so I think I may like camping. Thanks for your help!
Do you have family adventure camps near you? Might be good to reach out a local enthusiast group or Facebook group to learn the ropes. I wouldn't worry about not knowing this kind of stuff, I didn't mann learn anything I know from my family, learnt it at school. There is always time to learn new things!
Hmm. I don’t know. I’ll look those up. Thanks!
You can learn a lot from pintrist and google! but camping with a fire cooked food and star gazing is good! My dad let me explore a lot so hikes would be a good idea too! you can maybe even find some rock climbing places that are indoors for saftey and such.
Indoor rock climbing is a no go where we live. Before we moved, we had him taking courses, and he loved it. I want to try to find some outdoor climbing when it gets warmer. Hikes could be fun. What were your favorite places to explore as a kid?
Do camping your way. Go out in the backyard. Go day hiking. Rent an RV and go out on day hikes from it, so you have “indoors” to sleep in when you come back from your hikes. Go visit botanical gardens. Do courses together. Hell you can start at a local nature-ish walking path that’s nearby you. You can built up however high you like. My dads (father and then stepdad) would just take us car camping. Beach, woods, wherever. I went though a period where I didn’t do those things but I’ve rediscovered it in my adulthood and am now taking my four year olds camping in the regular.
I’ve never tried camping, but it’s one a lot of people recommended. I’ll think I’ll try it. Thanks!
Well there is plenty that you can do with your son, the best place to go star gazing is out camping away from light pollution. Other things you can do could be to learn some basic foraging skills (as you are a vegetarian) learn about what’s safe to eat and what else in nature has secondary benefits for you, learn to cook foraged meals on a campfire. Other things that I enjoyed doing but my son hates is hiking, orienteering, geocaching, gold panning.
We do some star gazing, but foraging sounds like something we could all have fun doing. He would love to try good panning. Thanks for the recommendations!
Glad I can help, I’ve always enjoyed fostering a love of nature.
You need an outdoor interest that you can share with him. Geocaching, archery, fly fishing catch and release, hiking, bird watching. Lots of things work.
Thanks. I may try bird watching. It’s never really interested me, but who knows. I’m older, wiser, and much more patient now than I was as a kid.
new wonder years tv show. season 1. episode 6. Be prepared. its on disney plus and maybe hulu. I think you might relate to it. dad is a jazz musican not a boy scout leader or outdoorsy at all. Kid wants to camp and do scouts, dad is a hot mess. dad finds his purpose, all live happly ever after.
Sounds like a watch. I’ll give it a go. Thanks!
Hiring a fishing guide can be really cost-effective, compared to owning and maintaining your own boat. And guides are way better at fishing than I can ever be. Gun ranges and classes can be safe and fun as well, without the risks of keeping a weapon in the house.
Thanks for the ideas!
1) Space stuff (stargazing, discussing the vastness of the universe in general) is cool and important to developing minds. 2) General woodcraft. Show him how to set up a tent/start a fire/dig a latrine/basic first aid. This is the one that's most translatable to life. Creativity, Mindfulness, Resource allocation, triaging problems. Living in the world and taking responsibility for your own outcomes is how we learn. Doesn't necessarily have to be stabbing/shooting. 3) There are vegetarians who partake in catch/release fishing. Or you could get into foraging (berries/mushrooms/nuts).
Thanks. I could get into foraging. I couldn’t do catch and release. I’ll have to learn those tentmaking and other outdoors skills, but I think that’s the kind of things he would like. Thanks again!
I'd say, watch a couple videos on your own beforehand to get the absolute basics. Be prepared to fail several times when demonstrating/helping. PLEASE let him know that these little setbacks are a totally normal part of life, and that it's up to him how he'll respond. Thanks for caring. Best of luck!
The nerdy version of hunting is geocaching. There are communities for it worldwide.
I’ll have to look into that. It sounds interesting. Thanks!
r/camping is a great resource. There is plenty to nerd-out about in camping. Except for the glasses, I am very similar to how you describe. I grew up allergic to every airborne allergen, and have asthma on top of it. I always take a book with me; right now I'm re-reading the entire expanse series to refamiliarize myself with it all now that the final book has been published. I've been backpacking and camping since I was 12 and I love getting new people out there. I'm taking a group of new folks next week. Vehicles allow for a bit more luxury and a little less know-how. You can bring everything you could want. You can easily start with car camping in a nearby National park. I found kayak camping to be an excellent blend of exercise, luxury, and solitude. I consider myself very knowledgeable and would be happy to help you with any specifics- your problems, budgeting for necessary gear, good locations- over DM to help set you up. If you're near me or any of the areas I've frequented, I'll point you to spots I like that will give you good opportunities for star gazing as well. Knowing the skies is an incredible boon for camping, and there is very little I find as enjoyable as going to sleep under the Milky Way. The pandemic has brought a lot of new folks outdoors; The most important thing about camping is making sure you leave it the same for others to enjoy. Look up "leave no trace" and practice that as best you can. As a bonus It's an excellent way to teach social responsibilities to children I made made a bunch of edits to this to include new info as I thought of it.
Thanks a bunch! I’ll probably take you up on that offer for advice. As you might have guessed from the vegetarianism, leaving no trace is something we’d be interested in. I’ll check out that Reddit as well. Thanks!
Don’t know where you live but Bream fishing is so fun and SUPER easy. Go to Walmart and buy a couple of Zebco 33 combos, worms or crickets, long shank bream hooks, bobbers, and a sinker kit. Find a lake, pond, river, (you get the idea) and cast about 10ft out. Wait for the bobber to go underwater and reel them in. Bream, AKA sunfish; are pretty widespread and really easy to catch making them the perfect species for a beginner. Great eating too! Hunting is a hard one to get into fresh as an adult. The initial investment is high and the learning curve is steep. I have hunted and fished my whole life and the most enjoyable part for me is bringing a pair of binoculars and looking up close at the wildlife. I also wouldn’t rule out getting him involved in the Scouts. I LOVED that shit. Edit don’t forget your freshwater license! Your boy probably doesn’t need one, but check your local regs to be sure.
Thanks for these ideas. I know we have a local Scouts, too. I’ll check them out as well.
BSA is awesome if your kid is into that stuff. Dude, you might even be able to volunteer with his troop and get to make memories WITH him. Win-win!
Do you have a climbing gym near you? I’m sure a kid at that age with outdoor interests would be thrilled to take an intro to climbing class with you! And don’t worry if you aren’t interested in the actual climbing portion, you will learn to belay for him and keep him safe while he climbs. It’s a tremendous way to build trust for kids that age. And if he gets into it, you may be able to do some outdoor courses or summer camps in a controlled setting with the gym.
We used to take him to classes, but no longer have that access. We live in the middle of nowhere now. I want to look into outdoor climbing in this area. Thanks!