Camping is more popular than ever. During the height of Covid, people turned to camping for vacations and even working remotely. Even though people are traveling freely again, many families are still choosing to camp rather than put themselves through the hassle of air travel. Camping is a great experience; being in nature and away from everyday stress is an excellent example of self-care. Children also benefit from spending time in nature, exploring and enjoying unstructured play time.
Preparation is Key
Whether you’re alone or taking the whole family, the secret to a successful camping trip is good planning. No one wants to be caught unprepared in the middle of nowhere (or in what feels like the middle of nowhere). But camping with kids requires special planning, and it depends on your family – how old are the kids? Has anyone in the family been camping before? What kind of experience are you looking for? Whether you’re camping in a tent or
an RV, the safety and convenience of a family campground is usually the best option for families with young children. They rent spaces for tents and RVs that typically include water connections or outdoor faucets, electrical hookups for RVs, conveniently located bathrooms with toilets and showers, picnic tables, playgrounds, and safe roads/areas for kids to ride bikes. Some campgrounds even have swimming pools and WiFi.
Once you’ve decided between tent camping or an RV, here is a list of camping essentials:
Make a reservation at the campground. They book up well in advance, so plan accordingly.
First Aid Kit – Because accidents happen.
Extra shoes - Whether you splash in the creeks and rivers, or get caught in the rain, it’s no fun to wear wet shoes all weekend.
Games – take family games to play in the evenings or you can make up games in the great outdoors.
Flashlights, lanterns, and/or headlamps - Three words: nighttime bathroom trips.
Trash bags – always bring more than you think you’ll need.
Folding chairs for sitting around the campfire. For extra convenience, a small collapsible table will give you a place to set your s’mores provisions, which everyone knows is the best camping food.
Towels – Again, bring more than you think you’ll need for showering, swimming, and unexpected rain.
Air Mattress, Pillows, and covers – If you’re tent camping, you'll definitely want (need) all of these items. Also consider taking a patch kit, in case the air mattress springs a leak. For RV camping, just bring pillows & covers for the RV beds.
SNACKS! Hiking, swimming, and generally being outdoors will make everyone much hungrier than normal. Avoid low blood sugar (and the hangries) by bringing plenty of snacks.
Campgrounds offer convenience and safety for RVs and tents. Many offer trails for hiking and biking.
Camping can be a great experience for the whole family, even if you’ve never done it before. Just take the time to make a plan that suits your family. And with all the cool camping gear available to make it more comfortable and convenient, it’s easier than ever to enjoy the great outdoors.
Kommentare