It was summer, but the early morning temperature in the campground dropped to 38 degrees.

It wasn't a time to be in a cotton hoodie and flip-flops and trying to start a campfire with damp wood and no kindling.

Mom was cold. Poor dad. He had taken his wife and daughters camping and didn't anticipate cold temperatures, even in summer. That's the way it is at higher elevations in the Intermountain West.

PACKED UP

The California family packed their tent and gear before 8 a.m. and headed out of the park.

Camping is fun if you are prepared. It isn't that difficult, but you need some decent equipment and clothing.

I thought everything was cool the night before. The family was enjoying a campfire and dad was pointing to the stars. The youngsters were having a blast.

Although the day and evening temperatures had been mild, they dropped at night. Usually, 5 to 7 a.m. is the coldest part of the morning and the best time to stay in your sleeping bag reading a book and sipping hot chocolate or coffee. Sometimes it's best to wait until the sun hits the tent before you crawl out of your sleeping bag.

A HARD LESSON

Anyway, the California family was unprepared for camping in the mountains. Been there and done that. I remember one of my first camping trips with the kids at Boiling Springs, north of Crouch.

It rained and got cold. The kids were chilled and everything was damp, including sleeping bags, clothing, the Labrador retriever and the leaky tent. At least the Lab was happy.

I ended up folding up the whole tent with sleeping bags, clothing and everything else in it, and throwing the whole bundle in the Volkswagen bus for a 2 a.m. ride down the Middle Fork of the Payette River Road back to Boise.

It wasn't fun, but it was a lesson learned the hard way. Thankfully, the kids still wanted to go camping, and they still camp as adults with their own kids.

I felt sorry for the family at the campground and hope they don't give up camping.

CAMPING TIPS

Here are some tips for camping in the mountains with kids and making it an enjoyable life-long activity:

- Make sure they have decent sleeping bags. It's no fun shivering all night. A summer-weight sleeping bag doesn't cut it. Start with at least a sleeping bag rated for 30 degrees. A 20- to 25-degree bag is even better.

Make sure the sleeping bag snugly fits the kid. You don't want a lot of empty space in the sleeping bag that can trap cold air.

- Get everyone a good sleeping pad for comfort, but also for insulation against the cold of the ground.

- Face it, even in summer, you and the kids will want to wear long johns or running tights under your clothing in the evening or morning hours.

- This can't be repeated enough: Wear layered clothing. The long johns, synthetic fabric insulating layers and an outer shell for rain and wind is the basic uniform for Idaho no matter what season. Have the wool socks close by. You can wear them with sandals.

You can wear shorts and a T-shirt while driving to the campground, or playing around during the day, but be prepared to layer up at night and in the morning.

Don't laugh, but you might need a warm hat and gloves, too.

- Keep your warm clothing in the tent, not in the car where you have to go get it in 30-degree temperatures.

- Take books, games and puzzles that kids can play with in the morning in their sleeping bags.

- Make sure your gas stove is operating properly and will fire up on a cold morning.

- Have hot chocolate and hot cereal ready to go as soon as the kids get out of bed. Don't make them wait for breakfast.

- Have high-energy snacks around to keep everyone happy.

- Some kids and adults are a little shy about rustic outhouses. You might try the first campout at a state park where the facilities are a little more upper class. The hot showers at a state park will also be a hit for first timers.

- Know how to set up your tent in advance. If dad and mom are trying to get the tent up and it's a giant puzzle, dinner will be delayed, kids will be hungry, dinner may be in the dark, and everybody will be frustrated.

- Remember some kind of fire starter, and you may want bring a small bundle of firewood because it can be hard to find at popular campgrounds.

- Consider renting a yurt or cabin at a state park for your first camping adventure with the kids. It's a good way to learn the ropes, but still be warm.

- If there are any other parents out there with tips to share with readers, e-mail them to me.

Pete Zimowksy: 377-6445