OT- Any camping tips for a 1st timer?

[polkadotsuitcase]

It seems like our gear followed a bell curve -- the first couple camp trips we didn't bring enough. Then for a while we brought everything but our house itself. Now we're back down to a streamlined version -- just some basic stuff and off we go. Granted, my kids have gotten older over these camping years, so that cuts down on "stuff you need."

I'd say take a good look at what you're packing and see if some stuff can pull double-duty -- can you make foil food packs ahead of time and ditch the pots 'n' pans? Or maybe even the camp stove itself, and just use the campfire? That kind of thing.

That said, with kids that young, I'd be sure to have enough things to keep them entertained. It seems like that was the biggest issue we had starting out camping -- you'd be trying to set up camp, clean stuff, organize, whatever, and the kids were at loose ends. Again, simple stuff worked for us -- balls, bug catchers, cheap plastic figures to build forts for, etc.

Have fun!

 

[eeyoregon]

My advice: Set up the tent at home at least once!

I took my two sons camping when they were little. Bought a new, bigger tent. We are 2 1/2 hours up into the mountains and I take the tent out of the box to set it up and it has a flaw. A BIG flaw = part of the roof was sewn to the floor! I fixed it as best I could but it reduced the tent size by half and it sure looked funny!!