Camping with the family is a great way to escape the crowdy and busy city life and enjoy nature. It’s also a great option for those with an adventurous spirit to get spend some quality time with their kids. While camping with kids has some challenges, everything is easier with good planning. Plus, here’s a list of all the things you need to consider when preparing for your first family camping trip.
Choose a Front-country Camping Site
Start planning your family camping trip by deciding upon where you’ll go. Check for family-friendly/kids-friendly camping sites and reserve your spot.
If this is your first family camping trip, it’s best to go to a front-country camping site. These sites are close to civilization and have access to your vehicle, electricity, clean water, toilets, and even Wi-Fi.
Pack Only the Essentials
Camping can be stressful if you don’t know what to take with you. There is a lot of stuff you can pack, but going only for the essentials is the best way to do it.
Considering you’ve chosen a front-country camping site, you don’t have to worry a lot about cooking and hygiene since you have electricity and toilets within the site. Still, you need to pack some essentials, including:
- Tent – although you can sleep in your RV or van, you can still get a tent for a more unique experience. If you plan to sleep in a tent, don’t forget to bring a tarp, waterproof cover, warm sleeping bag, inflatable mattress, a mattress, and a sleeping pad.
- Foldable camping chairs and table.
- Lanterns and flashlights along with a smaller pack of batteries.
- First aid kit
- Lightweight rain ponchos for each family member
- Camping cooking set consisting of a large pot, skillet, cooking utensils, as well as plates and dining utensils for each family member.
- Water bottles and glasses
- Waterproof containers
- Cooler
- Trash bags
- Toilet paper
- Towels and paper towels
- Hand soap and sanitizer
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Medications if anyone uses
- Kids’ favorite your and activity gear like frisbees, cards, board games, and beach gear if you camp near a lake or a beach.
Plan the Meals for Each Day
To make sure you don’t take too much food, yet have everything you need, it’s best to plan the meals for each day of your camping trip. To save yourself from constantly cooking while camping, you can partially prepare some of the food at home, like cutting the veggies and marinating the meat, and store it in the cooler.
Assign Responsibilities
Make a list of responsibilities for each family member to stay organized during your trip. For example, one of you is responsible for cooking and filling bottles with fresh water and the other for clearing out the trash and gathering firewood.
Engage Your Kids in Nature Activities
Nature offers many surprises for the youngest and a camping trip is a right time for discovering them. Take your kids on a hike, teach them how to build a fire, and play treasure-hunting games.
Final Thoughts
Camping with the family is a unique experience. It’s time for making memories and enjoying nature. So, make sure you follow these tips for better organization and a less stressful trip.