some thoughts on camping
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!
Comments
Oh I love this! I've been getting so many emails lately from readers asking for camping advice. I think I'll just point them here ;o)
Posted by: jessica | July 21, 2009 12:09 PM
Looks like a great time! And thank you for the list - we're planning on a camping trip with the kids (first time) later this summer.
Posted by: Casey | July 21, 2009 12:15 PM
We are campers. I love a good backpack trip, but that will have to wait awhile until MrO is big enough to join us. We took him 'car' camping over memorial day weekend and it was much easier then we expected (he hadn't started to crawl though...)
great tips- many of thest things we do as well.
Posted by: Vanessa | July 21, 2009 12:20 PM
These are great tips A. We haven't ever taken the girls camping before and I think it would be so much fun for us.
Posted by: rachel | July 21, 2009 12:33 PM
Ahh, camping. I recently took my husband on his first camping trip, after not going myself in, oh, maybe decades. I grew up camping in exactly the style you list here, and it brings me so much happiness in simplicity. I can't wait till we get to share it with our little one!
Posted by: Jesse | July 21, 2009 1:51 PM
Can I just go camping with you?
Posted by: Julie Alvarez | July 21, 2009 2:17 PM
It's been too long since we went camping! You have some great tips that I will keep in mind now that I have a little one.
And I really respect what you said about not compromising for the sake of convenience. Recently, someone brought us paper plates and plasticware to use when our baby was born, and I just felt like 'That's not me'. Even when I need a break, there are some things that are worth a little extra work.
Posted by: kayla_d | July 21, 2009 5:15 PM
This is a great list. We're big campers and I agree with everything you said. The rubbermaid bins especially. And the eating healthy. My children have sensitive tummies and it's so important pay close attention to that while away.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 21, 2009 5:27 PM
i love these tips! we love camping, but are still figuring out our style. in college i did a lot of very low-tech backpacking (i.e. there was usually no tent involved!) so i'm still getting used to this whole state park style camping. i love it, but it's still new to me. i never camped as a kid, so i hope we can get our groove going on and have a great camping routine all ready for someday when we have our own kids.
Posted by: julia | July 21, 2009 10:35 PM
We just started adding camping as a regular rotation to our summers a few years back and love it. We haven't hit Boundary Waters level yet (soon!)... I'm happy to see you have taken a four month old camping. We've started thinking about when we might have our own children, and I didn't want that to stop our annual trips!
Posted by: Molly | July 21, 2009 11:09 PM
This is great! I have wonderful memories of family camping trips growing up, and I'm looking forward to taking my daughter camping before too long :-) Many of your tips sound familiar - they're the sort of things my parents did but I obviously didn't pay much attention! Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: Anna | July 22, 2009 5:01 AM
this is great.
I like the beginning where you say "I think if you're not a camper, you're just not".
and I also like that you are ok with bringing a lot of stuff.
I need to get ok with that. we were minimal backpackers before kids, and car camping just doesn't have the same appeal to me. but the kids love it. I really need to find peace with bringing all the STUFF.
Posted by: martha | July 22, 2009 7:35 AM
These are beautiful pictures!
And thank you for sharing your tips! I'm going to link to this, because a couple of people asked me how we manage, and really, your tips are pretty much what I would say. And you already said it.
We rough it about as much as you do. Not very rough! But perfect for a family with little ones.
Posted by: Grace | July 22, 2009 1:38 PM
We are campers, too! I love these tips. In our family, vacation means junk food time (I don't want my kids to be the weirdos who don't know what cheetos or lucky charms are, but we never eat that stuff at home...vacations are the perfect time for that!) but other than that our camping styles are very similar. The one tip I didn't see that is important in our family is : Don't camp with a crawling child! Babies and steady toddlers are great, but I just never could handle the crawling child who puts every object from the campground into his mouth!
Posted by: Linn | July 22, 2009 4:54 PM
I found your blog from Grace's link and really enjoyed reading your post. My family always camped growing up and its something I can't wait to do with my kids someday.
Can you share some of your ideas for eating healthy while camping? Have you found some simple/easy to make meals that work well when outdoors?
Posted by: Katie | July 22, 2009 9:15 PM
Thanks for the inspiration. I haven't camped is so long. The years working for the market made it difficult to sneak away during the season. Now have no excuse. At our house, we are debating whether a pop-up camper counts as camping. Always been tent people (even backpackers), but I would love to make the jump up to a pop-up.
Posted by: Mercedes | July 23, 2009 7:22 AM
you make me want to go pack up right now....it's been too long.
Posted by: erin | July 23, 2009 10:19 AM
great tips, alicia! we're still figuring out just how to find something that works well for all of us... our backpacking expectations + three year old daughter have made for some no-so-relaxing trips. adventures, just the same, but in a different way than we've been looking for.
Posted by: cloth.paper.string | July 23, 2009 3:27 PM
Delurking to say yes! to car camping with kids (and tons of gear). We are in MO also and we LOVE Red Bluff Campground just outside of Steelville. Any reccommendations?
Posted by: jodielynn | July 24, 2009 7:30 PM
We go camping every year, even the year I had a toddler and was 8 months pregnant. (Never again for that one!)
We stay on raw land, not at a campground, so we have no running water or toilets.
I've found it easiest to cut up veggies and prepare ahead lots of no-cook meals, or things we can cook over a fire at the beach. The last thing I want to do is wash dishes while on "vacation." We eat on biodegradable paper plates, and we haul all our trash and recycling home for proper disposal.
I have a master packing list as well, and it is so nice to pull out of the driveway and know that I haven't forgotten anything.
Here's a peek at one of our camping trips:
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=3a9738b4f6f8ed304aea67&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
Ah, the memories made while camping!
Posted by: Heather in Washington State, USA | July 25, 2009 4:48 PM
Thx for this fab list! I haven't been camping since Brownies, but my husband has been wanting to go with our 4 kiddos very badly. With your list in hand I might succomb soon...ish...
Posted by: sUsAn | July 26, 2009 4:15 PM
we used to love camping, J and I, but have never done it w/ kids (unless you count the impromptu
"campouts" i host on the living room floor when the mood strikes me in summer... waking the kids out of a slumber once i am ready to go to bed myself, and dragging them downstairs to my make-believe campground, under the stars (which are out the window.)
they love that, but will love real camping better, and your entry as reignited that spark.
can't wait.
(and your lists and info will make the whole thing easier.)
kk
Posted by: Kim | July 29, 2009 8:25 PM
Just found your post and just went camping with our 1.5 year old. Not sure why we held off. We are back to camping! Great tips!
Posted by: Rebecca | July 29, 2009 9:44 PM
Hi. I have a blog at www.picturecamping.com where I feature people's posts about camping, and I would like to send my readers your way. Of course I would give you credit for quotes and would link back to your site.
Thanks for considering this,
Jean B. in SC
Posted by: Jean MW Beasley | August 5, 2009 4:55 AM
Some of the best times I ever had in my life were while camping as a child. Now That i'm 36 and have my own kids, it suddenly occured to me that I have never taken my children on a camping trip! Somehow amidst all the hustle & bustle of the last 8 years, it somehow slipped my mind that beyond the skyscrapers of the concrete jungle lie all therolling hills, beautiful oceans, lakes & mountain ranges that I was so lucky to have been able to observe as a young child.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up this Mayfly: some thoughts on camping page! It took me back to a much simpler time & made me realise that I need to get my kids to a place like this before they're all grown up!
Posted by: Hand selected kids products | April 20, 2010 7:37 AM
What wonderful tips for camping! I can't agree with you more. Camping is freedom from everyday life!
Posted by: campnow | November 10, 2010 9:51 PM