How to Prepare for Your First Family Camping Adventure

Hello World!  Welcome Friends! Camping is one of the funnest things you can do as a family. It’s even better if you live in a city or a suburb. Being one with nature has so many benefits, you can unplug from your devices, breathe in the fresh air, and have your chance at seeing some wildlife! If you’re getting ready to take your kid camping but don’t know where to start, then you came to the right place! Are you worried about what you’ll need to bring? What can you do to ensure the greatest possible outcome? Camping can get a little daunting, especially if you’re doing the old fashion tent and sleeping bag. You’re guaranteed to have a good time as long as you prepare for everything that you need for this little nature getaway. Here are some tips to prepare for your first camping trip!

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Finding the Right Campsite

Your campsite is going to be a major factor in how your camping trip will be. While it may sound absurd, it’s the truth! If you’re not an experienced camper then you’re going to want to stay in a well-established campground or at least a national park. You’re going to want to stay at a camping area that isn’t too far out of the way. Meaning no long hikes, no hard-to-reach areas, but somewhere that has flushing toilets, running water, and can be easily accessible in case of an emergency.

You Need a Reservation

For most states, you’re going to have to have a reservation for camping. This has always been enforced but now it’s gotten a lot more strict due to the COVID pandemic and the littering problem many parks have had to face over the last year. You’ll usually need to book a reservation one year in advance if you’re reserving to camp in a national park. Other parks such as state parks or standard campgrounds do not require reservations, however, it does mean that it’s a first-come-first-serve basis to everyone who arrives early enough. Your best bet is to always make a reservation because if you don’t have a good spot or a spot at all, you can risk having a bad camping trip.

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Create a Packing List

When it comes to camping, you’re most likely going to need to pack much more than you would if you were going on a weekend getaway or vacation. For starters, you are going to be bringing your accommodation with you, whether that’s a traditional tent, an RV, or even a tent that you can attach to the back of your SUV (you can learn more here about how exactly these tents work), so that will certainly help you figure out how much you will realistically be able to bring with you. Since you’ll be out in the wild for a few days, many camping areas do not provide showers, toilets, cafeterias, or anything else.You’re usually going to be on your own having to provide yourself with shelter, food, protection, warmth, EcoGear FX, water, and everything else.

Some of the absolute essentials you must pack are:

• Tent
• Tent kit
• Batteries
• Food
• Can opener
• First aid kit
• Toiletries
• Wet wipes
• Towels
• Sleeping bags
• Pillows
• Extra Blankets
• Soap
• Knife
• Utensils
• Plates
• Firestarter
• Insect Repellent
• Lighting
• Bottles

In case of an emergency, make sure you have a way to call for help. Always carry around a communication device like a compact citizens band radio (CB radio) that doesn’t need a mobile reception to work. Consider investing in a satellite navigation device too to help you find your way if you get lost in the middle of nowhere. There is a large collection of CB radio brands to choose from. These gadgets are lifesavers for many campers.

Be Prepared for Rain

Just because the forecast states the weather is going to be good doesn’t automatically guarantee that it will be. Nothing ruins a family fun adventure more than rain does.  You’ll want to be sure to prepare for rain, even if the forecast states otherwise. It’s super important to pack some rain gear such as waterproof shoes, tent protection, and more. Even if your tent is made from a tarp or a thick plastic material doesn’t mean that you’ll stay dry. Some tents are not fully sealed everywhere, especially on the sides of the wall.  It’s very important when tent shopping, that you look into a water-resistant tent.

In the case of rain, that could also mean that you’re unable to have a fire for food. So it’s ideal to pack some food that doesn’t need to be cooked so that it can be eaten in case of rainy weather.  Rain is inevitable, especially when you’re out camping. It’s best to be prepared so your family doesn’t get wet, hungry, or bored. Because this can completely ruin a camping trip.

Pack Healthy Foods

When it comes to camping, it’s going to be tempting to pack nothing but canned beans, sausages, and marshmallows. While yes, those are camping staples, you should also pack other foods too. Granola bars, rice crackers, baby carrots, peanut butter, and celery sticks are more on the healthy side. Eating nothing but junk food is going to make you and your family feel uncomfortable and tired. Many families will pack cooking supplies such as a cast iron dutch oven specifically meant for camping. Then you can make classic camping recipes such as cowboy beans or a meaty stew. You’ll also want to make sure that everyone stays hydrated, so bring a thermos to keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks cold.

While packing soda may be tempting, you’re better off having jugs and canteens filled with water. This way, if the water is a bit warm or room temperature, it’s not going to taste bad as soda would.  Many camping shops sell water filters on the off chance you need to drink water out in nature. In some areas there are springs, but you can’t exactly guarantee that. So just be sure to check in advance and bring lots of water.

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Practice Setting up your Tent

You should set up your tent a couple of times before camping. This will ensure that you know how to put it together and you also know how to take it down. Being unable to properly pitch the tent at the beginning of your camping trip can lead to a negative start. So by already knowing to set it up in advance, it takes a lot of the stress away and you can have your camping spot set up in no time.

Do you Plan to Bring Pets?

One question to ask yourself if you have a furry family member is whether or not they’ll be joining in. You’ll first want to check in advance to see if the camping ground you’re going to is pet-friendly. If you haven’t selected a camping spot yet, then selecting a pet-friendly ( mainly dog) camping ground will make things a lot easier. Usually, you just need to pay a small fee for bringing your pet and nothing more. Some campgrounds will only allow pets in certain areas, meaning that if you’re wanting to go swimming, there’s a chance that your pet isn’t allowed to join. This is something small to think about when preparing for your big family camping trip.

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Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world!  Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!

Toodles,