Teach me about camping...with kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tarp for under the tent
We like inflatable mattresses! Don't forget the pump with a car adaptor. Those backpacking pads are great - if you are backpacking. Otherwise go for comfort.
Tent w/rain fly (We have a gigantic Ozark Trail brand tent that sleeps 10 but no need for anything that big) Coleman, Northface are good brands...a backpacking tent is a good investment for a young person, they can use it for years, but we prefer to have our kids in the tent with us.
Don't forget the stakes! We keep our tent stakes in a sturdy zippered bag with a mallet to pount them in, hammer also works, and a small spade or hand trowel - if it rains you might need to dig a drainage ditch to keep water away from the floor

sleeping bag
pillow
personal water bottle
flashlight
bug spray, sun lotion
bath towel
plastic bag + tote or ditty bag for small soap, shampoo, bath wash cloth or pouf, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb/brush, roll of personal TP, small unbreakable mirror comes in handy, unbreakable cup
camp shoes (not heavy boots)
swimsuit
long sleeves & pants in case of evening bugginess
rain slicker or water resistant windbreaker
deck of cards
good book

For the camp
battery op LED lantern (1 is fine for cooking, card games, extra one for tent, piece of string to hang it with)
newspaper and dry kindling to ease fire starting
water jug/carrier (at least one gal)
campstove, fuel and matches
hot pads, pots and pans, spatula, serving spoon
metal tongs, tin foil, skewers
2 dish pans & small dish soap
2 hand towels
scrungy sponge
paper towels
paper or camp plates, cups, utensils
at least one sharp knife
a plastic table cloth and clips to hold it onto a picnic table salt & pepper, spices
cooler & ice
Plastic French press for coffee, or campstove percolator, or one of those filters that stands on your cup, or instant coffee!
Can opener

We keep all that stuff in rubbermaid bins that can load with the tent and air mattresses into the car and be toted to the site easily.

What we did was do a one night overnighter at a campground that had a good camp store and a diner in case we needed to bail on cooking or forgot anything.

If you are not at a group site that offers a covered picnic area, it's a good idea to bring pop-up shade to go over the table or an extra tarp that can be strung between trees do you can still sit outside if it rains

If you go to Assateague NP, there are a lot of mozzies around the cold showers, bring a spray bottle with a bit of dish soap and ammonia mixed with water to spray around the stall and knock them back. They hate the ammonia and it holds them off long enough for you to take a shower without getting totally eaten alive.

marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate
hot cocoa
oatmeal packets

Dude, you gotta try Assateague state park, the Maryland side. Newly renovated glorious bathrooms. With hot water. This is why I'll never do the national park.