This is the seventh post in My Top 5 Summer Sanity Tips! Did you catch last week’s post on kids in the kitchen?
Camping is a summer tradition for many of us and a very popular outing during the summer months. Camping can be a wonderful family bonding experience and you can even turn it into an educational experience. Just think of all the possibilities – no power, cooking on the campfire, new bugs, plants, water safety and the list goes on.
Keep in mind camping can also be a very stressful experience if you are not properly prepared. Make sure your camping trips runs as smoothly as possible with the tips below.
5 Family Camping Trip Tips
Have an Emergency Kit
Nothing will ruin a camping trip faster than a sunburn, a cut or a bug bite. Be prepared by picking up an emergency kit before you leave on your camping trip. You can pick up an emergency kit for under $20 at a local pharmacy or online at [easyazon_link keywords=”emergency kit” locale=”US” tag=”reamom0b-20″]Amazon[/easyazon_link]! Make sure to have a flashlight and extra batteries in there!
Plan Your Menu
Before you even leave on your camping trip make sure you have a menu planned out. This isn't to say you have to stick to a strict menu while camping. The purpose of this menu is to ensure that you bring every food item you will need. If you are camping in a remote place, you don't want to wake up only to find you don't have eggs.
I like to take the egg whites that come in small cartons because it saves space and you don't need to be worries about breaking the eggs on the drive. Another little tip that I've learned is taco in a bag! I know it sounds different but if you cook up your favorite taco meat and season to your tasting, we love hamburger, and bring personal bags of taco ships and your families favorite taco toppings you can have a meal in a bag!! Do as much prep as you can before you leave, not only will it save you forgetting something but it will allow you to have free time to ENJOY the trip.
Make a List
Make a list of everything you need to bring on your camping trip. Before you leave on your camping adventure make sure everything is checked off. Some common camping items you should bring are:
- Cookware, plates and utensils
- Bedding
- Tent
- Hygiene Products
- Food and a cooler for the items that need to keep cool
- Water
- Sunblock
- Towels
- Swimsuits
- BBQ or outdoor grill
Bring Entertainment
Leave the electronics at home but still come prepared with other forms of entertainment. Depending on how long you will be on your camping trip the kids or adults could end up getting bored.
Come prepared with cards, coloring books, footballs, frisbee, sand toys, water toys and anything else you think your family will enjoy. I make sure to have a cribbage board in the mix because Cheyenne loves to play and it helps her practice her math skills. A few old card games from my childhood are always a favorite like remember and memory!
Research Your Camping Location
If you are going to a family favorite camping location you can skip this tip but it never hurts to see if there is anything going on in the local area like sports activities or maybe even a farmers market!
If you are going to a new camping location make sure to research the area first. If you are going camping with children you will want to make sure there are bathrooms nearby. You will also want to ensure the location has a swimmable beach! There is nothing worse than getting duck itch and being uncomfortable the rest of the trip, trust me I remember this happening as a kid. On that note remember to pack some table salt just in case you run into some leeches!
That pretty much sums up my family camping trip tips. As seventh post in the series of My Top 5 Summer Sanity Tips I hope in some way I’m helping you keep your sanity this summer! Keep an eye out for more fun articles to come all summer long! Remember to keep things simple because we need our sanity this summer to it should be about rest and relaxation. As a quick reminder my top 5 tips are:
- Have an Emergency Kit
- Plan Your Menu
- Make a List
- Bring Entertainment
- Research Your Camping Location
We love camping and taking trips as a family. What are you favorite memories?