OT- Any camping tips for a 1st timer?

[MickeyMom2Boys]

We are going camping in a tent for the first time ever next weekend. Our boys are 2 & 5 and are very excited. I have no idea what to expect!! Can any one give me any advice? Things to take with us? Ideas for food? Things to do while we are there? etc, etc. We're going shopping this weekend to get whatever else we decide we need. So far, we have a tent, airbed, pump for airbed, sleeping bags, pillows, borrowing a portable propane grill, a picnic set, thermos cups for drinks, some games, sunblock, bug spray, a cooler, basin to wash dishes, dish soap & sponges, hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes, food & drinks. What am I missing? Tell me about your camping experiences!!

Thanks!!

 

[TinaLala]

Ok - take a breath!! I've camped in a tent my entire life and only recently we purchased a trailer, so I think I can help you out.

Food - go simple - hot dogs - maybe let the boys cook them over the fire using a LONG stick they found in the woods that you cut the bark off the ends into a point? You need to plan your meals ahead of time and plan on things not going perfectly. Burgers and dogs are always easiest - cooking and clean up. Remember the ketchup, chips and stuff. Think about doing things ahead of time like a pasta salad you can pull out of cooler filled with goodies - ham, olives, veggies - quick and easy! Don't forget the S'More stuff!! Jiffy Pop! Breakfast go simple with cereal. Remember the snack stuff -- put all the food into a TOTE and keep it INSIDE your car or tent - animals at night will find food!!

Entertainment - even if you're going somewhere where there's a pool or amusement park nearby, there's a lot of down time for kids. Think about bring bikes, coloring books, cars, board games, transformer guys. Go on a hike. Hit the $$ store and pick up bug catching kits or a magnifying glass so they can look at bugs. Crafts - Joanne's & Michaels have great foam kits that kids can make masks or houses.

Site - You didn't say a lantern or flashlights - maybe get each boy their own flashlight! Always keep a flashlight with you!! There maybe lots of bugs so see about getting those citronella candles or tiki things at Christmas Tree shop - if you don't like the idea of open flames then look into the bug lanterns that don't have flames.

-Broom - you're going to want to sweep out as much dirt out of the tent as possible. It builds up.

- Ponchos/rain coats - just in case

- first aid kit - just in case

- trash bags - hang up really really high each night so animals don't get into it or put in the car at night

- rope for a clothes hanger for wet stuff - you don't want that stuff in the tent - MOLD - if your campground allows them - check

- keep shoes outside of the tent because they tract more into the tent then you need.

- TARP & ROPE - if it rains really really bad! You'll want to strap this up on top of the tent at an angle so the water runs off behind the tent - before it rains.

- canopy - if you have one for the picnic area if it rains gives the kids a place to play besides inside the tent.

- Remember your big spoons, spatula, fry pan, pam, aluminum foil, ziplock bags, pot holder, water, ice, paper towels - put all this kitchen stuff into a tote. They make it easier keeping it organized.

- Bathroom stuff - a plastic cosmetic bag and big netted beach bag so you can carry stuff into the shower area from your site.

okay this is all I can think of right now. I hope it's not too much and doesn't put you over the edge! Camping can be stressful because kids want to do stuff and not hang out at the site so just have patience with them. Keeping the entertained will be important. Just remember it's a bonding moment that they will remember for ever!!

 

[poohfriend77]

I haven't been camping in many years, but if you're going to a campground with bathroom/shower facilities, pick a spot near but not right next to them. We thought we had a great spot right across from the bath house one time, but cars drove up all night (shining headlights, slamming doors, talking loudly) as people used the facilities.

I'd also recommend putting ALL the food in your car at night. You might not have bears or mountain lions in your area, but trust me... a couple raccoons tearing apart a box of groceries sounds just as scary at 2 a.m.

Hotdogs are marshmallows are a MUST of course, and pack a few things that need no preparation, just in case weather keeps you inside the tent. Have a great time! I'm sure your boys will love the adventure. I'd love to take my girls camping, but DH is a "city boy" and needs a little more convincing.

 

[taylor5]

I'll add a couple more. We camp in a tent a few times a year, but we are not back to nature campers. We bring plenty of conveniences!! If there is a nice paved area, bring the kids a bike or scooter, don't forget shoes for the shower. If your site has elec. hookup, bring an extension cord & a household fan - this might make your first trip a lot more bearable, esp. if you are not used to outside noises & also for the heat of the tent!

Also, if the area you are camping in has bears, please lock all food in your car at night & get rid of scraps, trash, etc. before bed each night. Most campgrounds have trash cans that are emptied regularly. We used to keep food in our tent too until this last time we went & were warned about bears being in the park & to not leave any food out.

My DH ALWAYS brings this huge ugly blue tarp & uses rope to tie it to trees in front of our tent & drapes it above & across our tent using plastic ties to make us shelter & extra tent protection if it rains. I hate it but it has been a lifesaver more than once.

We also bring a door mat for the front & inside of our tent. It helps cut down on dirt some (still bring a small broom & dustpan). We have a no shoes in tent policy no matter what.

Use the same Dis tip for your clothes - sort out kids outfits into ziplocs. You will be too busy doing other stuff to monitor their clothes & this prevents grubby hands digging through all the stuff!

Bring extra rope, WM has rope hammocks for $10, they also have retractable roasting sticks that have held up to countless trips, light sticks if the kids will be playing around dark, your own firewood if you can - the parks charge a fortune for it, first aid kit & meds, feminine supplies, change & laundry supplies if your campground has facilities (esp. if it rains early in the trip & things get wet), plastic zip ties - we use them for everything (you can link 2 or 3 together for that extra couple inches if something just isn't quite long enough)

Hope these help, like I said though, we are not back to nature campers so these ideas may not be very helpful to you.

ps - bring benadryl cream & meds for any allergic reactions (or to knock you out that first night when you can't sleep)

 

[3boymthr]

Poster #2s & 4 gave you a pretty comprehensive list but I'm going to add to it:

If camping in bear territory double check with the campground to make sure you don't have to have a bear safe container for your food. (Bears can, will and have torn the doors off of cars to get at food. )

A pocket knife to cut the rope. If it rains sometimes it won't come unknotted when it's still wet. Most campgrounds don't mind you putting it up but they get mad if you leave it behind.

Test your rope before you leave to make sure it will hold a knot and to make sure it won't stretch a ton when wet.

A hammer with nail puller ends or mallet with a pulling loop on handle. Many a time we have had to pound down hard to get those pesky tent pegs into the ground or need a little extra pulling power to get them out.

A canopy is easiest for set up but if you don't want to spend the money on it a tarp strung over the picnic table is also a good option if there are trees available.

A ROLL OF QUARTERS!!! While the numbers are dwindling many a campground in an area of low or expensive water supply will have a pay shower. Usually you get about 5 minutes for one quarter. But sometimes it's less time for more money. Also, if it rains you a quick trick to make you more comfortable at night for sleeping is to take your bedding and throw it in the dryer for about 10-15 minutes to drive the dampness out. Throw PJs in too. It's just more comfy.

If it's going to be cold at night make sure to bring an extra blanket to put between the sleeping bag and the air mattress. We discovered to our regret that the temperature of the air in the air matress is the same as the temperature outside (okay this was a duh moment but hey we were young). Well this means that you could be sleeping on top of 40 degree air It can make for a very cold and restless night. An extra thick blanket put under the sleeping bag provides insulation and absorbs any condensation from the air inside the air mattress.

Everyone wants to blow up their air mattress at the same time. Be prepared to wait if your pump is electric. We went somewhere recently where they had banned them in the bathrooms so be prepared to blow it up using your air. Also, don't blow it up so much that it won't fit through the door of the tent but make sure it is firm enough that when you lay on it you don't sink to the ground.

At least one large jug for water. A couple empty gallon milk or juice bottles work well. No need to spend money on a container. Sometimes you have to walk a long way to get it.

Unless you are camping at the beach take your shower at night right before you go to bed - there is actually more hot water and it's easier to get in to the shower. At the beach take your shower mid afternoon - right before supper.

Plan to have your kids get really really dirty. It's okay you're camping. We usually take them into the shower with us but sometimes we'll let them go all weekend without bathing.

Let the kids have at least $1 to get something at the camp store (see the above quarters). It's a vacation for them and they will want some sort of souvenir. Usually a popsicle will do it.

Bring bikes at the very least for your 5 yo. Sometimes it's a long long walk to the camp store. Also, my kids love to just ride around the campsites.

One final tip make sure that you don't leave anything resting against the side of the tent when you sleep or if you leave for the day. If it rains water will seep in right where your stuff rests against the side of the tent.

ETA - even if you plan on drinking bottled water you will still want the jugs for water because unless they have a dishwashing station you will need it for washing your dishes.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

These are some great tips! Lots of great ideas I hadn't thought about Thanks for all the help. My list is getting longer and longer

 

[irene_dsc]

I don't think I saw matches anywhere on the list...

Oh, and if you can find the little fire-starter blocks, they are great to get campfires going. Definitely review basic campfire safety with the kids ahead of time.

 

[3boymthr]

These are some great tips! Lots of great ideas I hadn't thought about Thanks for all the help. My list is getting longer and longer :rotfl:

Our list got to be ridiculous. Finally we just bought a few big tubs and duplicates of everything we were taking from the kitchen etc and now we just pull out the tubs, check to make sure nothing is missing or broken, and poof we're ready to go.

Oh, and don't forget to bring an extra bottle of propane for your gas stove/grill.

 

[taylor5]

don't forget a good book to read, tell DH to take the kids on a "hike" aka long walk to playground or pool & spend some glorious time by yourself in front of the fan propped up in your camping chair reading.

BTW I am a bug magnet & I hate all those gnats flying around in my face & I found another use for the fan - as long as it is blowing on me, the gnats disappear

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Be sure to set the tent up soon and seal the seams. Itcomes in a tube in the camping department. You want to run it along all the seams, LET IT DRY, then repack the tent.

(Known alot of people who curse at their tent when it rains... but they never sealed the seams! )

Have fun! I trust you're not going deep in the wilderness camping. If you forget anything, there'll likely be somewhere nearby to pick XYZ up

 

[Deffenm]

If you forgot something, don't worry there is always a Wal-mart close by. I used to stress so much that we would forget something but I learned real quick that there is always a Wal-Mart. Bring plenty of snacks and water. My kids eat non-stop when we are camping (because they never sit still) and they drink a lot of water. Check out the area where you are camping to see what free stuff they offer or things to do. My kids' favorite things to do are ride their bikes, play on playground, fish, water guns/balloons, swim, and buy things from the camp store (slushies, ice-cream treats). Have fun and don't worry if things don't go right, your camping who cares.

 

[Jdougherty]

Besides hotdogs you can do foil packets with Hamberger, potato's, oinions or anything you and your family like. It's fun to let kids pick what they want and they taste great! It's a girlscout favorite. I would also add PB&J and some bread to the grocery list. If your feeling froggy try a dutch oven and do a dumpcake.

Just google camp food or dutch oven recipes.

Items that I never leave home when camping or cooking out side my own house:

Clorex wipes
TinFoil
METAL spatuela
METAL spoon
METAL meat Fork
Container of seasoning (camping aisle at WM)
Matches
fire extinugher or jug of water
Oven mit

I keep all of this in a snap box next to the portable gas grill.

 

[taymacsmom]

Just remember, if you are taking a day trip away from your tent, to close all the windows. No matter what the sky looks like, a rain storm can creep up on a beautiful summer day. We made that mistake on a trip to Philadelphia, and had to spend the entire evening and night at a local laundromat drying our sleeping bags, pillows and clothes. Not fun. Most of all, remember to have a great time. We have been camping all of my kids lives and even as teenagers, they still love it. My husband and I so enjoy the uninterupted time with our daughters. None of the "electronics" from home, just games and food and fun and lots of talking and laughter. We are spending all of our "extra" money for Disney this summer so we are not going camping. I have to say, surprisingly, we are all a little disappointed.

 

[tinkermom23]

DH and I have been tent campers for about 20 years and we have been able to pare down what we thought were necessesities. We have 2 plastic bins that we keep things in and down't use our "good stuff" from home for camping. I have found most of it at garage sales like sheets, towels, & washcloths. We even have our camping pillows because I can always smell the campfire smoke in the pillows when we get back home and it bugs me.

A few things you might want to add:
extra hand/dish towels
washable tablecloth
extra ziploc baggies
a couple old rugs to put by the tent door
(we bring our shoes in at night because of the dew)

I also try to do as much of the food prep at home beforehand as possible. Last weekend we went camping and we had Kabobs for one meal. I cut up the meat and put in a ziploc with marinade and then froze it. When it was time to eat. it was still cold even being in the cooler for 24 hrs. I cut up veggies, fruit, anything I can ahead of time because it's not as easy when your camping without running water.

We have one cooler for food and one for beverages/snacks. The kids know they aren't to open the "food cooler" but they can help themsleves to the other cooler which has fruit, cheese sticks, baby carrots, juice boxes, .....

One thing we like is the camping pie iron? I don't know if that's what it's called but it's square and has a long handle and is in 2 parts. You put bread in it and a little apple pie filling, yummm! Or we make grilled cheese too. And we have made breakfast sandwiches using the english muffin bread but we cook the eggs first!

Oh, we always bring PNB and bread, just in case we get rained on and cannot cook outside! & extra money to go to McD's when it's been raining for 12 hours and we need to get out of the tent!

 

[bumbershoot]

Our list got to be ridiculous. Finally we just bought a few big tubs and duplicates of everything we were taking from the kitchen etc and now we just pull out the tubs, check to make sure nothing is missing or broken, and poof we're ready to go.

I've been trying to get that done too.

Be sure to set the tent up soon and seal the seams. Itcomes in a tube in the camping department. You want to run it along all the seams, LET IT DRY, then repack the tent.

Very good idea.

We still haven't sealed the seams, but our tent seems to have a magical seal around it b/c it hasn't leaked. I don't recommend assuming your tent has a magical seal, LOL. Seal it with the goop.



My main advice is...if you're going to cook using boiling water...it takes approximately 18,000 years for a pot of water to boil using a camp stove. Time your meal based on that.

 

[tinkermom23]

My main advice is...if you're going to cook using boiling water...it takes approximately 18,000 years for a pot of water to boil using a camp stove. Time your meal based on that.

truer words were never said!

 

[LadyShea]

If you drink coffee get a percolator. I use the campfire, myself, but you can use the propane stove. Packaged creamers and sweeteners are easier to pack.

We save packets of condiments from fast food places in a little coffee can, and use those instead of packing whole bottles of ketchup etc.

For some reason pita sandwiches have always been a camping staple, starting when I was a kid. I think because the pita bread takes up less room and doesn't get squished as badly. We stuff it with seasoned chicken (leftover roast chicken in a ziploc is easy peasy) or tuna and sprouts, but you could use anything.

Someone else mentioned it, but the starter log for a campfire is a must. If you plan to cook over the open fire, be sure to follow the guidelines, I think you need to let it burn an hour or so first. Many places will not let you gather firewood, and it can be expensive to buy onsite, so either buy or gather some good dry wood before you go. Instead of matches I usually use a long butane lighter thing (can't remember what it's called)

Have a blast!!

 

[3boymthr]

Here's more...

Remember to transfer anything in a paper carton to a plastic before putting in the cooler. Wet cardboard disintegrates after a couple of days. For example, if you plan on taking eggs with you buy the eggs which come in their own plastic container or one's that come in styrofoam instead of cardboard. The cardboard will disintegrate after a couple of days and there's nothing worse than crushed egg in your cooler water (triple ugh!). We found that the egg container that you buy from the camping department is a waste of time as sometimes even medium eggs won't fit if their irregular shaped and it's one more thing to store. Even if you buy margarine or butter in tubs to keep butter dry put it in double layer ziploc bags. For cheese put it in a butter tub or tupperware container and then in ziplocs - wet slimy cheese is nasty.

Don't pour out all the water when your ice melts. It's still really cold and will help keep the food as it molds around it better.

I skip the juice boxes and go with juice pouches as they hold up better in the cooler.

Make sure to budget at least $4/day for ice. More if you have more than 1 cooler.

 

[nettii]

When we used to tent camp I was always afraid my DS would get out while we were sleeping, so I would hook the zippers togther with a small carabeiner,this just gave me piece of mind so I could sleep. The caribieners are also great for hanging thing around in the tent. I also used to bring winter hats (we live in Michigan) and even in July there have been times we needed them while sleeping. have fun!Netttii

 

[DISNEYNV]

Air mattresses and bug spray! It's all you really need Oh and jiffypop popcorn! Love it