One of the best ways to bond as a family is to go on a good old-fashioned camping trip. With good preparation and planning, spending a weekend outdoors with your family can be easy and affordable. Driving to a campsite allows you to bring much more than if you were backpacking, so you can take advantage of some of the luxuries of car-camping. Camping can be a great way to give children a sense of independence and accomplishment if you let them help with tasks around camp (safe ones of course!). Multi-family trips are great because children can often entertain themselves while adults enjoy each others’ company.
A 4 or 5 person tent and ground cloth for the whole family or depending on the age of your children, separate tents for kids and parents. A cook tent- It’s nice to have a shaded canopy for the heat of the day or if it rains. Eagles Nest Outfitters hammock - fun for relaxing at the campsite. Folding Table and chairs - camp stools or Crazy Creek chairs are good. Sleeping bags and sleeping pads- you will want one for each person; outdoor air mattresses are also an option for beginning campers. Camp pillows Headlamps- kids might be fine with a flashlight. Lantern- these are great if you don’t have a campfire. Check the regulations of your campsite before lighting any fires.
One of the most fun things about car camping is the kitchen gear you can bring in your car. Coleman makes a two-burner folding camp stove that won’t take up much space in the car, and you can cook anything you would make on your stove at home. Dutch ovens are also a wonderful utensil for camping. Camp Stove and Fuel Pots and Pans –what you have at home will work fine on larger stoves. If you are using a small backpacking stove, Blacklite makes cooking sets that work well. Stirring spoon, a spoon/fork/knife set for each person. Lexan makes these. Sporks will also work. Knife- a Leatherman or Columbia River Knife is needed for cutting vegetables, cheese, or meat. You never know what else you will use it for. Dishpan, biodegradable soap, scrubber (you can wash your dishes in a river or whatever water source is provided at the site). Be sure to let dishes dry all the way before using them again, otherwise you could be at risk of waterborne illness. Food- The sky is the limit when you are car camping. If there is a grill at the campsite you can even bring meat as long as you can keep it cool or can go to the grocery store during your trip. Pasta is always great for adults and children. Sandwich stuff for lunch, PB&J for kids. Pancakes can be made on the camp stove for breakfast. Oatmeal is always a good camp food. Spices- old film containers are great for salt and pepper, and a favorite seasoning or rub. Water Bottles- you can keep jugs of distilled water in the car and refill Nalgene water bottles from that. Packaged water bottles are discouraged because they create a lot of waste. You can bring other drinks or kool-aid packets for the kids. Be sure to keep them hydrated! Trash Bags- please be sure to Leave No Trace that you were there at the campsite. Take everything out with you. There is usually a dumpster outside most campgrounds. Ziploc Bags Cooler
Sunscreen Bug Spray Toothbrush/Toothpaste Camp Soap-Biodegradable Towels (packtowls dry quickly, and won’t smell mildewy on the ride home)
Everybody should wear synthetic clothes, t-shirts they don’t mind getting dirty, and good shoes for hiking. A pair of sandals, Chacos are great, and a pair of sneakers should work for each family member. In cooler weather, remember to layer, and bring clothes that are warmer than you think you will need. There is nothing worse than trying to sleep when you are too cold. In winter, something to cover your ears and hands, and warm socks are important. Sunglasses Hat-baseball for summer, beanie for winter Life is good makes cute hats and T-shirts for Moms, Dads, and kids. Underwear Socks Shoes Shorts/Pants and Shirts Light Fleece Sports bras for women Raingear
Bring travel games and books for the children, but there are also games you can play without bringing anything with you.
Classic charades is always fun for everyone. Mind games and puzzles are always good or even a deck of trivia cards or Brainteasers to keep kids thinking are good and don’t take up much space.
You can keep things like that for a surprise if they are good in the car or on a hike. Have kids look for specific things on a hike, such as finding birds with a bird book, or playing I spy.
Just be creative and keep them excited about the outdoors! It will make everyone’s trip a lot more enjoyable.
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