A family overnight outside is a great way to initiate the younger set to the joys of being in nature. From babies to teens, kids of all ages will find so many things to captivate them on a camping trip: a star-speckled sky, the distant call of an owl, a tiny bug working in the dirt. Camping can open their eyes and awaken their senses to their natural environment.

Practice Camping at Home

If your kids are outdoor newbies, pitch a tent in the backyard or even inside your home. Let them hang out in it and sleep in it so they become comfortable with a new sleeping environment. Try a family day outing at a close-to-home park. Spend a half day or so at a lakeshore or park and see how your kids react to the experience.

Find the Right Campsite

Pick campgrounds with amenities that suit your family's needs. Some campgrounds have ballfields, beaches or swimming areas, streams or rivers and playgrounds; others offer picnic tables, flushing toilets and hot showers. If it's your first time out, start small, stick close to home and choose more developed campgrounds with buckets of amenities. Work your way up to more remote or adventurous locations or longer trips. Ask other families for their favorite kid-friendly recommendations. Make trip planning a family affair. Ask kids for ideas of things to do or see at your destination. Take their input seriously.

Research Activities

Know what day hikes or other activities are available at your destination. Be ready with some potential ideas when the kids say: "I'm bored." More developed campgrounds have bulletin boards that map out easy nature trails. Can you rent a boat or is there room to ride bikes?

Organize Your Gear

Organize camping gear in totes for easy access when you get to camp. Use clear plastic bins or cardboard boxes to keep your kitchen supplies, tent, sleeping bags and other equipment in separate compartments. Anything that's kitchen related goes into one bin, box or bag; sleeping gear in another. You don't want to spend a lot of time rummaging through your stuff at camp, particularly if you roll into a campsite later than expected. Having items organized ahead of time also keeps you organized for the next trip.

Have a Positive Attitude

Be enthusiastic. Why should kids get excited about a family camping trip if you're not? The first rule of camping with kids? Be prepared to cope with inconvenience. Everything is in a different place. The bathroom is no longer down the hall; running water may or may not be available. Lead by example with an upbeat, can-do attitude and your kids will pick up on your vibe.

Think Safety

Once you get to a campsite, set ground rules for where your children can roam and talk about what they should do if they get lost. What are the boundaries? Are they allowed beyond the parking lot or near water? Are they allowed to wander into other people's campsites or to go to the bathroom by themselves? Give kids a whistle and teach them to blow it if they become separated from you. At night, make sure they have access to a flashlight or headlamp. Be aware of certain features at the campground that could be hazardous—a nearby road, a fast-moving stream, a steep bluff.

Allow Room to Grow

You're not going to create the perfect experience the first or even second time out. Take notes at the end of each trip to remind yourself what you should bring next time, what you can leave behind or how you might do things differently.