Big Red Canoe - Friends of the Boundary Waters podcast · Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness

Winter Camping with Kids

·59 min·3 clips

Anthony says he ordered a Snow Trekker hot tent before his wife had finished planning it.

Big Red Canoe begins with Dave Meyer framing the show as a Boundary Waters conversation and then bringing on Anthony Quill for a family camping discussion. Anthony is a father and aspiring adventurer. He and his wife, Kristen, have built a local outdoor life in Minnesota with their children, Henrik and Betty. The episode starts in cold weather, with hot drinks close at hand, and moves quickly toward what matters on a winter trip with kids. Anthony talks about the clothing system first. Windproof layers and waterproof pieces matter because the family expects snow, melt, and wet ground. He says the kids' clothing needs to be cheap enough to pack in multiples, so there is always another dry layer waiting. Wool socks come into the mix, sometimes borrowed from the adults. Boots are a bigger question. The family has tried several kinds, and the insulated Bog boots are the current favorite. Gloves matter because wet hands end a day fast. Hats matter for the same reason. For adults, the system is leaner. Anthony says he may wear one set of clothes for the whole trip, with a separate sleeping set kept dry. That choice saves weight and gives the kids more flexibility. The conversation stays honest about moisture. Adults see a slushy lake and think about cold feet. Kids see an invitation. Anthony says you cannot really stop them from wanting to jump in and explore, so the family has learned to accept that instead of fighting it all day. Dave keeps the conversation centered on practical family camping details. They also talk about what winter days look like once you stop trying to stay in the tent. The family is usually outside. Snowshoeing is part of the rhythm. Ice fishing gear has come along before. The episode keeps circling back to the same lesson. Winter camping with children is less about control than preparation. If the clothes, boots, and gloves are right, the family can leave room for the rest. The kids will still get wet. They will still want to play in the slush. The point is to be ready for that and keep going.

As heard by us

A practical family-camping conversation that stays grounded in snow, gear, and lived experience.

Big Red Canoe treats winter camping with kids as a matter of preparation, curiosity, and the way family trips change once the weather turns mean.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you need a sane winter-camping reset for kids, start here.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Big Red Canoe - Friends of the Boundary Waters podcast