So next week I am planning on taking my son on his first real overnight camp out. He is 8 years ok but he is also autistic. He is higher functioning but in the past too easily triggered by too many things to really trust him on such an adventure. We will be spending the night at Eisenhower state park. It’s about an hour from our home and we will be Jones by a buddy from work and his ten year old son. Should be a great weekend I hope. For any of you with an autistic child or who know one well, you know it’s just a bit of a crap shoot. But a day fishing, a campfire and cook out and a night in a tent under the stars is always a good weekend in my book so we are both excited. Hopefully we have a good story to share when we get back. In anticipation of the trip we have been doing a little practicing fishing. The last time I tried this I lost a decent little pole down a river when he got distracted and chucked it. We are doing much better now and he actually caught his first fish a little blue gill in a pond near our house. So we are off to a good start. I also made him a wooden knife inspired by my esee 3 so he can practice with it and become a little familiar with a knife and carry something around like dad. I have a little more work to do on it but it’s not too bad from some wood scraps in my work shop.
I remember taking my son out when he was young. He's 30 now, haha. They grow fast man, get out and have a good time. The wooden knife is cool.
Fantastic! While the outdoors can be stimuli overload, there are plenty of opportunities for focused activities. Have fun.
Good for you dad, I work with several autistic kids at church so I know it could pose several challenges, but I am sure he will do just fine with you there to help him through it. Please keep us posted on the trip.
Well the first overnight camp out is in the books I will certainly call it a success My sons penguin pall came along for the ride I failed at getting a lot of pictures as I was handsome with a lot of the activities But my son and my buddies son did a little bow drill work and got some good smoke on the hearth board but just not enough to get a good ember I think that bow drill was the best thing around to tire them out to go to sleep! We did a little fishing. Nothing was biting but fun non the less. Had to do a Little Rock climbing to get down to the water it was a gorgeous day Had the big kodiak canvas tent for the four of us which was a palace and some hammocks to chill in Roasted some hot dogs over the fire So old fashion RnR at the fire And a good ole pop tart for breakfast on the way out Definitely a good first trip Nothing to spectacular about most campsites like this that could pass for nice parking lots. But it made for a really good trial run. With autism you just don’t know sometimes what will trigger him. The fact is the only issues we had were going into Walmart on the way to get some chocolate for s’mores (and honestly I wouldn’t blame most average adults for being triggered by Walmart in general) and a little break down at the water when he refused to let me help him cast his own rod and he started flailing it around like a medevil weapon ( and again I bet a lot of 8 year olds have done that in frustration). So again I’m calling this a big win and hopefully the first step in a lot more outings!
this is AWESOME! Penguins and fishing rods and fishing! on a side note, @ny700 , feel free to pm me re autism spectrum questions etc....I'm an Aspie on the higher side of the spectrum......not sure if i can help at all, but feel free to contact me.
My first one is 8 months old now. I'm definitely looking forward to getting out in the woods with him. I was thinking about making him an esee knife from wood similar to that one you did. My grandfather made me some wooden knives like that when I was a kid, I still have one of them.
