Little Tent in the Big Woods

I camped with my son in utero. Camping is just in his nature, I suppose!
We recently came home from two back-to-back camping trips. At Maidstone State Park in Vermont, we woke, ate, slept by this glittering scene for five blissful, technology free days. Not a cell phone signal to be had!
My 17-month-old loved every dirty minute. He completely understood not to go near the fire! Phew!
Here he is totally chill as “Nonna” feeds him lunch. Someone must have told him this was vacation.
His favorite activity ALL day was to walk the path from the campfire to the lake, up and down. He maneuvered surprisingly well over the rocks and roots.
He also loved pushing his truck up and down the hill in the dirt. “Vroom! Vroom! Dump!” was heard all day from a certain head-to-toe dirty little boy!
Which is why, of course, this has-to-be-clean mama had to bath him nightly in his tub! I had to boil water for the bath each night. It felt very Laura Ingalls.
We took him for a bike ride… cutie pie fell ASLEEP in the trailer on the mile-long ride back from the beach on bumpy dirt roads. He sure knows how to wear himself out!
I think swim lessons paid off because he was so happy in the water!
Every day was a wonder to him. He loved being outside, collecting sticks and rocks. Throwing and dumping them. Playing with his cousins. He did not, however, like being in the tent at bedtime while the adults got to chat around the fire!
What age did you start camping with your children? Or if you don’t camp, tell me why not? (there are lots of reasons if I stop to think about them, but I try not to do that!!).