Do you all have glowing childhood memories of camping as a child?

[handlemecarefully]

I ask really because my parents didn't take me camping (so I don't have rosy memories of my own), and whilst I reasonably enjoy camping as an adult - I am motivated to go more because I think it's fun for the children and I want them to look back on it fondly as something fun they did during their formative years.

We used to camp all the time - all over the West Country and also in France. The Renault 11 (or whichever version it was) was packed to gills with us three girls, mum and dad and our cats (yes, we even took the cats camping bizarrely - although obviously only in the UK).

We all loved it - going to the farm to get milk in the mornings, the loo tent with the wobbles, peter storm kagoules with the little metal badge, using all mum & dad's spare change in the amusement arcade at Lyme Regis in the pouring rain, endless interruptions in the middle of the night to help fix the tents, that lovely sound of lying in the sleeping bag, either wearing all our clothes or with them all lying on top of us, and listening to the rain on the canvas, no baths for days on end.

Nowadays we either camp (without hook-up but I tend to drink mainly red wine or whisky so don't worry about chilling anything) or take the camper (and then use hook-up otherwise we run the battery flat)

I used to love going camping as a kid...very fond memories of mum cooking breakfast on a little calor gas stove! Funniest memory though is waking up to find everyone trying to persuade a herd of cows to return to the adjoining field!

Borrowed a tent last year and went away for a few days with the kids. Was just as much fun as I remember!

Never went camping with my parents - my mum would NEVER stay in a tent.

Did go with the Guides. I guess it was fun, but my overriding memory is of having to make all sorts of furniture items out of sticks. My speciality was the washing up stand, complete with drainer. Why?! And I was always severely reprimanded for the state of my bedding roll!! I an not a natural when it comes to these things.

went camping all the time as a child mum,dad, sister, brother and dog all in a camper van and tent. we went all over France, Wales, Devon, Ireland so many great memories I could write a book ! Highly recomend it great way to make friends while on holiday with other children on the campsites. So many outdoor activities swimming, walking, cycling. Beats package holidays hands down. Free to do what you want when you want.

loving the image of Margo camping TG - i think that could be rather me, Jerry, as well.

Somewhat. Myc amping always done with Girly Guides or St johns cadets, and involced nasty toilet arrangements, but beyond that....

mind you, the loos and being freezing in ridge tents with a gap at the base are the predominant memories.

I loved camping when I was child, and mine love it now (only just restarted doing it though)

We're getting an electric hook up this year (next wednesday yay!) and I do feel like we're cheating a little bit, but after last year's very wet adventure I'd like the back up of a few less rustic appliances!

I remember camping in the back garden was fun. It hasn't caught on as much with LO yet though even though I was doing it at her age.

I've only ever been camping once, in France when I was about 14. I enjoyed that although have memories of soaking wet tents etc. I didn't like not being able to stand up in the tent.

I think I prefer staying in caravans to tents as you have proper beds & can stand up (although I guess you can get bigger tents).

However, the chances of OH wanting to go camping are very slim!

Cor- suferrmum and beckybra straps did you go to my guide camps! sound just teh same.
As mum was a guide leader I was going to guide camp from the age of 5. I'd done 3 big camps before I was even a brownie!looking back now, i think the washing up stands were fairly sensile, easier than crouching over a bucket or bowl on the floor., but my group had a stock of straight wood we took to camp every year to make them from so it was pretty easy.(some ones dad was a timber merchant IIRC).
Now days I'm more a light weight camper, looking at taking boy off in his bike trailer for an overnighter soon.

yep very rosy memories, probably all the more rosy because I'm desperate to go now and can't iyswim.

Yep I have loads of happy memories and I'm trying to make sure my kids have the same.

We've just got back from five days camping - they loved it, they made friends, rode their bikes, climbed trees, hid in bushes, investigated everyone else's tents, drank hot chocolate under the stars, laid on the floor looking for constellations with Daddy (who had had a few beers and was making them up!). Happy campers all round!