Taking a clue (ok, half a clue) from my own Mom who plans things to the nth degree and months in advance, I'm gathering materials, making lists and doing research in preparation for our family's first-ever camping trip!
We'll be leaving at the end of the month and staying for three nights. I am super excited! Our campsite is practically on the beach, there are a lot of walking trails, and tons of digging, collecting and exploring to do. But I'm also nervous. Not only will this be my first time camping with children, this will be my first camping trip as an adult. I'm not the planner my Mom is... its just not in my nature to know what we will be doing a week from Thursday at 10:50 am. Growing up, I never had to schedule things... I did mention that my Mom is a pro at that, right? I'm so desperately afraid that I'm going to fail in some major way (ok, who forgot to pack the toilet paper?).
To keep my fears at bay, I'm writing lists, finding all kinds of awesome information online about camping with kids (like here, and here), and talking to the girls about it. A lot.
Despite all the emphasis I've put on how far this trip is in the future, and this
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| A count-down to camping.... Xs until we reach the * (Yes, this is what passes for art in our house... hey, I did my best!) |
Punkin' Pie still thinks that we are on our way to go camping every time we walk out the door. She's super excited! And, thankfully, its contagious. I almost wish we were going camping every time we leave the house.
The List:
tent
sleeping bags
pillows (what? we're girls)
stove
lantern
TP (see? had to put it on the list so I don't forget it)
wood
clothes (worthy of rolling around in mud puddles)
swim suits
Treasure Bags (al la Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule)
sand toys
food (don't forget the s'mores!)
drinks (and ice for cool drinks-n-stuff)
And that's where I get stuck. It just seems way. too. short. Help! What am I missing? Got any tips for camping with kids? I can't wait to read your comments!
5 comments:
We just went camping, so, in no particular order:
ground cloth/tarp for under tent
sunscreen
lightweight shirts to keep sun off (critical if someone gets sunburned)
towels
a hand towel for drying hands/faces/etc. after brushing teeth and before sunscreen
anything the girls want to sleep with (we let ours each choose one stuffed animal to bring)
pajamas (two pairs for girls just in case)
toothbrushes
soap
hand sanitizer (I'm not a fan of this in general, but it can be handy when camping)
flashlight (a headlamp is great for taking two girls potty in the night - both hands are free; I have a little petzl one that has a red filter so I can use it and still have night vision)
batteries for flashlight/lantern/etc.
sleeping pads for under sleeping bags (for warmth + comfort)
fuel for stove (and lantern, if not electric)
band aids
moleskin if anyone might get a blister (i.e. lots of hiking)
bactine or other antiseptic+analgesic spray for owies
children's benadryl
children's ibuprofen
insect repellent (we took the Repel Plant Based lemon eucalyptus oil, which uses lemon eucalyptus oil instead of deet or other chemicals and really really works!)
long pants and jackets for cold mornings/nights
dishes (plates, bowls, flatware)
cups that can safely hold hot beverages
pots and pans for cooking (don't forget griddle if you plan to make pancakes)
sharp knife for food prep
small cutting board (or plate you can cut on)
can opener
scissors (optional but handy; I have a swiss army knife with scissors, screwdriv
er, etc. that I bring)
dish soap
large pot or tub to wash dishes in
water bottles
coffee (if anyone considers this a necessity)
tea (ditto)hot chocolate
rope and clothesline for drying wet things
binocularsstar chart (if you want to try and id constellations)crayonsjournals (I just fold some paper in half and staple and make the girls a journal to draw pictures of our trip if they want)
two pairs of shoes/sandals for everyone
sun hatswarm hats and gloves if it will be coldsocks and underweardiapers for anyone who needs them in day or night
car cell phone charger
earplugs (for surprise noisy neighbors or campground next to train tracks)eye mask (if you are like me and are irretrievably awake with daylight)
camera (fully charged or with extra batteries)
whisk broom for cleaning tent before you pack it upball or frisbee to play withkite
trash bag to hold wet swimsuits etc. when you leave
trash bags for trash
a bunch of extra ziploc bags (they have many uses)
rubber band or two (ditto)
a bit of duct tape (to fix anything)
baby wipes (to clean anything), including hands and faces just before bed)
other stuff:
- we put the bags with our clothes around Kiera's sleeping pad so she wouldn't squirm off of it. it's not 100%, but it helps.
- we put a tarp outside the tent to have a place to sit and put on shoes etc. we have a no shoes in the tent rule. we also put a towel just inside the tent which works amazingly well at cutting down on people tracking dirt, sand, etc. into the tent. you can just shake it out every day or two as needed.
- in the morning, put flashlights near the door to the tent someplace easy to find, so that when it gets dark, you don't have to try to rummage through a dark tent to find them
- when you go to bed, make sure you have easy-to-put-on shoes by the door and your jacket and flashlight in easy reach for when that little voice says 'mommy, I need to go potty!' in the middle of the night
(Sorry for the many comments; it was complaining that my comment was too long. Imagine that! :)
Thank you so much! I feel so much better already! :D
earplugs (for surprise noisy neighbors or campground next to train tracks)eye mask (if you are like me and are irretrievably awake with daylight)
camera (fully charged or with extra batteries)
whisk broom for cleaning tent before you pack it upball or frisbee to play withkite
trash bag to hold wet swimsuits etc. when you leave
trash bags for trash
a bunch of extra ziploc bags (they have many uses)
rubber band or two (ditto)
a bit of duct tape (to fix anything)
baby wipes (to clean anything), including hands and faces just before bed)
other stuff:
- we put the bags with our clothes around Kiera's sleeping pad so she wouldn't squirm off of it. it's not 100%, but it helps.
- we put a tarp outside the tent to have a place to sit and put on shoes etc. we have a no shoes in the tent rule. we also put a towel just inside the tent which works amazingly well at cutting down on people tracking dirt, sand, etc. into the tent. you can just shake it out every day or two as needed.
- in the morning, put flashlights near the door to the tent someplace easy to find, so that when it gets dark, you don't have to try to rummage through a dark tent to find them
- when you go to bed, make sure you have easy-to-put-on shoes by the door and your jacket and flashlight in easy reach for when that little voice says 'mommy, I need to go potty!' in the middle of the night
(Sorry for the many comments; it was complaining that my comment was too long. Imagine that! :)
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