Teach me about camping...with kids
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Anonymous
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We may get roped into a couple camping trips next year since my son's friend is into scouts. I personally did not do any camping as a kid, and it will be likely my husband and my son going on these trips. However, I'm beginning to warm up to the idea. If you have any advice on any of the questions below, I would greatly appreciate it.
1) What's a good tent to get? I see instant tents (which supposedly sets up in 1-5 minutes) and other easy set up tents that may take 20min. I'm assuming with younger set, kids under 7 that investing in an instant tent might be a better idea? 2) what else do I need besides a tent? Tarp, sleeping bags, mattress? What's an essentials list? 3) Where should we go? I think our tent may get a few uses in our backyard, but I'm a little clueless as where's a nice, starter camp site to go to in the area. Ideally a place where there are restrooms handy! We're in VA. TIA! |
Anonymous
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There was just a good thread on this
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/562654.page |
Anonymous
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We are a family of campers. Our first outing as a family was when our first was about 6 weeks old.
We prefer the instant-easy set-up dome tent. We spent $100 12 years ago on a Eureka and it's going strong. We prefer the therma-rest mattresses to the large bed-style mattresses b/c we don't like that "i'm going to fall off the edge" feeling we get from the larger style. Yes the ground is hard and it can be cold. But we know it's only for a night or two and it's worth it. You can bring old blankets to put down under your bags. We like zip-together bags for us. We let the kids select their own bags. We bring our bed pillows. As our family grew, we simply bought another dome tent for the kids. We like a vestibule on the front of the tent to shelter our shoes in case of rain. We also like an old blanket or towel or throw rug for this space to wipe feet before entering tent. We like to read in the tent after dark so we all have flashlights/head lamps. And lots of batteries. And plenty of pillow material. We like to play games at the camp fire so we bring a lantern. We find it's fun when we forget to bring stuff because then we have to improvise. But remember - always put the fly on! ALWAYS! |
Anonymous
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You need a good tent, ,with an independent fly.
You need a tarp for underneath it. Imagine it will be pouring rain. You will need a way to cook food - I recommended freeze dried stuff; then all you need to do is boil water. Thus you will need some gear: a propane or butane cooking unit will do. You will need a medical kit, utility knife - think Swiss Army. Good hiking shoes - boots really. Bug spray. Will they camp next to the car or actually do hiking? Cause then you will need a backpack. Pads helps for better sleeping. Sleeping bags. Small amount of toiletries. Hats/a poncho Good luck! |
Anonymous
| Oh, since you have kids: spend money a new, good, hiking socks, and, buy an extra pair or two. Their comfort will make or break the trip. |
Anonymous
| Bring "camp shoes" to wear when you aren't hiking that are easy to slip on and off as you're going in and out the tent. Crocs for example. Hiking shoes are heavy to wear all day. |
Anonymous
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As a newbie looking for places to go, I'd suggest a KOA for the first time. Personally, I prefer state parks, but KOAs have great stores if you forget things and lots of things for kids to do. Before you spend a lot of money on camping stuff, you could also try renting a cabin in a campground or park.
We camp and hike a lot - we often travel to national parks out west and take camping vacations. I've never heard of hiking socks and have never had a camping trip or vacation ruined by not having them. I also rarely prepare for rain other than having a tarp on the ground. If it looks like rain, we typically cancel because much as I love my family, getting stuck under a tarp or in a tent for hours at a time in the rain is just not my idea of fun. And, I never use freeze dried food. It's pretty easy to pack and make the real thing. OK, so for our lists: tarp to put the tent on Tent - we bought a cheap but kind of big one from either Walmart or Kmart over a decade ago and it's still fine. We also have a Eureka small two-four person tent from pre-kids that's been around for at least three decades, but cost more than our cheap one. Definitely not worth the price We also have a tarp with poles to cover our picnic table - we don't always use it though some sort of lighting - we have a lantern cooking stove pots and a coffee press marshmallow roasting sticks - they are metal and cost about $2 at Target We also have a gizmo for making popcorn and grilled sandwiches over the fire - but, like I said, we camp a lot Plates, utensils, and cups, aluminum foil dishwashing stuff - liquid, sponges For inside the tent, we use air mattresses, which require an air compressor whatever blankets or sleeping bags and pillows you prefer Clothes, towels, hygiene supplies Games - Uno is a big favorite in our house. |
Anonymous
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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 |
Anonymous
You don't need freeze dried food. Just bring hotdogs and finger food, pancakes and pre-cooked sausage for breakfast. You can make Mac and cheese. It is nice to have a camp stove, but don't invest lots of money if you are not going to do it very long. Check out craigslist and see what you can buy used. Having a second tarp is useful in the rain. You can hike in tennis shoes of whatever the kids already have. You can use large garbage bags as rain coats if you have to. |
Anonymous
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there will always be Chinese carry out
just because you are camping, does not mean you cannot do take out We got our dd her own 2 man tent when she was 13. Best thing we ever did. She just got over needing to sleep in the same tent as mommy and daddy and loved the adventure |
Anonymous
I wish au liked camping. I suspect I might enjoy glancing if someone else arranged, packed and set everything up for me, but reading this thread just makes me feel tired 
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Anonymous
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Don't get overwhelmed. Don't need quite as much as some of the above pps have listed.
I have the Coleman instant tent - I think it was less than $200 and makes for easy set up, so worth it. (Newbie hint - all tents come with set up instructions in their carry bag, which you probably want to review and also watch the manufacturer's YouTube video before heading out the first time.) You can improvise pads and bedding with what you have. If you have an inflatable mattress, that would work for the parents and then you can bring yoga mats for the kids. (Yoga mats are great for extra insulation if you tend to get cold - just put in under your sleeping pad.) Also, comforters if you don't want to invest in sleeping bags. And pillows from your beds. Definitely some headlamps and lights. Look at Sierratradingpost.com for deals. For food, you can get away with not having a stove if you bring take out or sandwiches. Bring a package of hot dogs to cook over the fire, but then have sandwiches or whatever for back up. You can brew coffee and bring it with you to have cold the next morning. Croissants or bagels or cereal for breakfast. You'll probably need a cooler. Don't forget matches and newspaper for the fire. Most campgrounds will sell fire wood and starter. Also, most have a "camp host" who lives there for the season and would likely be glad to help you with questions or fire starting or lending matches if your forget. Have fun! |
Anonymous
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Thank you PPs for these lists. Reminds me why I would never want to camp!!! It all sounds awful to me!!
LOL-- but I am, admittedly, a princess. I like my vacations to be clean and dry. And full of actual buildings with restrooms and showers. I will pay extra for the cabin in the middle of nowhere. But I still need the cabin. Thank you for reminding me I don't want to camp (every now and again someone romantisizes the experience and makes me want to try it....lol, it sounds awful to me). |
Anonymous
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OP here, thanks for all the suggestions! I think my main concern is the mosquitos as my son gets giant welts whenever he gets bit (like 2-3" in diameter). But this give me a nice range of items to think about and adding to my own list.
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Anonymous
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Our family likes to camp and we do all of our cooking over the fire, no camp stove. We treat it like a big grill. Hamburgers, hot dogs, pot of mac n cheese. We also have a cast iron griddle that is great to use for pancakes and to grill pizzas on (premade crust, sauce and cheese plus any other topping) We then put a foil pan, like a turkey roaster, over the griddle to make an "oven".
We do not do full air mattresses but do have the thin self inflating pad for the adults. Our kids have never complained and just use their sleeping bag. Our next investment is going to be a screened in tent that goes over the picnic table. While camping this weekend we saw many families had these and helped with the bug issue while eating/playing games. Given your son's bug bite reaction this might be helpful for you too. Our favorite game to play in the tent is Apples to Apples. |