Good morning! We are back from our camping trip, and everything is washed and put away. My son says no one in the world loves camping as much as he does. This may be true. He took his first camping trip when he was four months old. It is our vacation of choice, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts on camping today.
I think if you're not a camper, you're just not. You can't force it. You have to be okay with the possibility of ticks and spiders galore and the occasional snake. For those of us who love to camp, there is just nothing like it. Are you a camper? Would you like to find out?
First, I think you have to consider to what level of "roughing it" you're willing to go. We were never backpackers, but my husband and I have always camped. We used to rough it a lot more- a little tent, a couple of sleeping bags, a lantern and the camp stove. That was plenty. But two children later, we pack up tons of gear. And we're fine with that.
We have a big Coleman three room tent. Tip #1: Invest in a quality tent and take care of it. We made it through a couple of decent thunderstorms this time with very minimal leakage. We take air mattresses (Tip #2: Air mattresses make all the difference) with real sheets, a canopy for over the table (so in the rain we can eat and play cards), a three burner propane camp stove, a camp box filled with kitchen necessities, the list goes on and on. and on.
Tip #3: If you're going to camp a lot- keep your gear packed up. We have several Rubbermaid tubs we keep it in. After the trip we clean, sort, repack and stack it all in the basement in the tubs. These are what we call our camp boxes.
Tip #4: Be prepared. Make a list and do all your thinking at home, so you don't have to worry while you're there. You can click HERE to download a pdf of our list for ideas. Our camp boxes are where we keep our dishes, cooking pots, silverware and knives, cups, tea towels, dish scrubbers, cutting board, matches, camp hammock, plastic tablecloth, clothesline, etc. You'll have to make that list based on your preferences. And of course this list doesn't include personal clothing items.
Another thing to think about is where you want to camp. Water is a must for us. We love rivers and streams, but a lake will do, and we swim a lot. Showers are another must. We can skip a day or two, but then we crave a good shower. We usually camp in state, national, or corp of engineer parks. You can find the whole gamut of places out there from hike-in sites to private campgrounds with pools- just do a little research.
Tip #5: Let the kids pack some toys- buckets and shovels, a few art supplies, books, and maybe a few little tent toys- but not too many. They will go from whining that they're bored, to digging in dirt and building elaborate caterpillar castles in a day or two. It's a most important transformation- and my favorite.
Tip #6: Eat healthy while you're there. Your stomach will thank you.
Tip #7: But take treats. We always take those tiny boxes of sugary cereal and s'more fixings. To me special treats like that make for good memories.
Tip #8: Clean up and pack up your food really well at night. Animals can be aggressive (and smart!) when it comes to finding a snack.
Tip #9: Take Benadryl (adult and kid) with you. You may not need it, but it's there just in case someone has a nasty reaction to something (bug, sting, food, etc.) and you need a little time to get into town for medical treatment.
Tip #10: Don't sacrifice your principles for the sake of convenience. We wash our dishes and save our recyclables. It's a pain, but so worth it.
Tip #11: Relax. Don't plan too much. For us the best part of camping is the absolute absence of schedule. Eat when you're hungry, play when you're bored, nap when you're tired, stay up late and watch for shooting stars, wake up early and fish if you want. Ahhhhh...
I hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know If you want to borrow anything to give it a go. ; )
Happy Camping!
