Where the Wild Kids Are: Ages 13 and Up
AMC Outdoors, June 1999
For some reason, most of us associate "teenager" with "surly." If your child's attitude isn't too far off from this description, don't take it personally. Instead, change the game plan a bit. Maybe your teenage son would feel better if he could bring a friend or two on the backpacking trip you have planned for the summer. One of the great things about teenagers is that they require little in terms of hands-on parenting, so an extra one or two generally won't be a hassle.
There are myriad teen programs available these days, including AMC's Teen Wilderness Adventure, that make great opportunities for young adults to learn a new skill, like rock climbing or snowshoeing. These programs teach cooperation and leadership and independence—essential qualities for outdoor treks. And, speaking of independence, when to let your children head off on their own will be a highly personal decision, based on their abilities and outdoors smarts, and your own comfort level. "Our kids (ranging in age from 10 to 18) go out fishing as a group sometimes. My wife and I believe there needs to be parental supervision though, so we check on them all the time," says Scholl.
The best part of this age? A teenager is almost an adult, and you'll find that you can have amazing conversations over a campfire late at night, perhaps discussing the latest politics or maybe just whether or not platform sneakers are an attractive fashion statement. Whatever you choose to talk about, don't forget to sit back and watch your child take off with the skills and love for the outdoors you've instilled in her.
"Bringing a child outside takes a lot of teamwork," says Jessica Day, director of AMC's Youth Opportunities Program, which teaches youth workers how to introduce the outdoors to their charges. "A lot of kids have never seen a frog or slept on the ground before. But once they have, they can apply that experience and feeling of achievement to other aspects of their lives."
"My love of the outdoors was instilled by my parents and I am now passing this on to my children. I have found that if you make it fun, they will come. What greater gift than the love of nature can I give my kids?" asks Ondrasik. "They are more confident of themselves outside, they can create what they need to survive, they are learning what they can eat and what they cannot. These are life skills they will never forget."
Wild Kids Intro, Ages 0 to 2 | Ages 3 to 5 | Ages 6 to 8 | Ages 9 to 12 | Ages 13 and Up
