If you've never taken the kids camping before, get them psyched with a trial run in your backyard. Set up a tent, bring out the sleeping bags, have a barbecue, play cards and look at the stars.

Thorough plans will put children at ease. Be sure to include them in the decision process. Before everyone wakes up in the morning, have an agenda ready. Whether you're hitting the trails at 7 a.m. or hanging around the campsite until noon, make sure everyone knows the plan. In case weather interferes with your itinerary, have a backup plan ready to go.

Kids may get nervous if they're not used to being outdoors, so distract them by enlisting their help with jobs such as gathering firewood, clearing rocks from the campsite or helping set up the tent.

Tell kids beforehand to stay put if they get lost. Each child should also wear a whistle around his neck to call for help. The universal distress signal is three blows to indicate "I'm lost" or "I need help."

Probably the biggest challenge when camping with kids is their fear of the dark. Hand out flashlights they can use to find their way around, or tie a rope between the two tents so they can use it as a guide to reach you in the middle of the night.