Can We Talk About Camping?

Ali...how fun!

The best tent ever is the KODIAK CANVAS! Easy to set up, roomy, best design for packing/repacking. Heavy - so not a hiker tent. We have camped for many many years and with 3 children, have experienced our share of tents and what works and what doesn't.
THIS IS THE BEST INVESTMENT WE HAVE MADE! with our camping equipment. With 5 of us in there on our own air mattresses and plenty of space for stuff.

Got to run to work, but I'll try to give you some suggestions later on food...we are dutch oven lovers!

Here a few suggestions:
1. I would also bring the 2-man tent as a space for the kids to play in when they need to be out of the weather.
2. Baby powder is great for getting sand off little feet and bodies.
3. A hand washing station like this http://www.bdgsc.org/news/handwashing.aspx .

We're all about the meal sharing. When going with a group seems like there are always too many chips and not enough breakfast in my opinion! We split up the families and number of meals needed. We usually end up making one breakfast and one dinner which is great - lots of work two times, then play the rest of the time!

Blimey ! so many great suggestions already !
We always do the glow stcks thing as my smallest son hates the dark., For the showers - Crocs definitely, or flip flops if not, I usually get the boys to wear their crocs.
Keep all your supplies boxed, for ease of finding them and also so that bugs, grass, sand, dirt doesn't get in the contents. I tend to use really useful boxes.
Meal sharing is great too - We do one big evening meal each per family, a cooked breakfast in the mornings and then everyman for themselves at lunch time, usually snack style crusty bread, cheese, chips and fruit.

Hope you have a grand time

Hi Ali! We just bought two Regal Creek Tents on sale at Kmart. The tent has two rooms plus a screened in front porch area. They sleep 8 but we got two so the older kids would have their own. We're going the mountains/beach this summer and can't wait to try out our tents!
Have fun!

Poppy

A torch for each child!

Here our camping traditions for us:
* Handwashing Station - Use an empty bleach jug for a handwashing station. Wash it out well. Tie a rope around the handle to suspend it from a tree. Two inches from the bottom, pierce a whole in the jug that will hold a golf tee. Tie a bar of soap in a nylon stocking to the handle about 16 inches long. Now hang it or place it on a stump. Unscrew the lid slightly and pull out the golf tee... you have "running" water!! Tighten the lid and replace the golf tee to "turn off".
* Make Darn Goods - Tube biscuits cut up in quarters. Fry in hot oil and toss in a baggy of cinnamon and sugar.... They are delicous hot from the camping stove.
*Camping Oven for cookies, brownies or dumpcake-
Pack dry goods in a copypaper box... that has the inside covered with heavy duty foil. Bring 4 empty tin cans (I use tomato paste) and a cookie rack that fits inside the box. Place a sheet of foil on the ground. Top with charcoal broquets (each one is 25 degrees so 350 degrees=10 broquets) Light them. When they are turning gray/white place the cans on the foil so the rack balances on top with the broquets in the middle. Place what your cooking on the rack. Turn the foil lined copy paper box over the top to enclose your "oven". Use a rock at the end to prop it up 1 inch. Cook as directed and have a few extra broquets to add in to the oven if you cook more then 40 minutes. The kids can't believe you have an "oven".
*Everything you leave out at night will be damp.. so use the totes recommend or always place things in the car at night and bring out each morning. Oilcloth table clothes are a must to keep things clean, both under and over the table. Have silverware in a basket that is always on the table and accessible. Bring Plastic cups that double as vases... as you will get many "bouquets" from your children.
*When camping with a large group for a week, consider buying a small chest freezer (opens up like a cooler) Freeze all your meals one week ahead. Load it from the bottom is the last day.... top is the first. If don't need electricity for days to keep it cold... Pack it in a truck or trailer and bring it too your campsite.
*Chairs... everyone needs their own special chair around the campsite.
*Tents - are a no shoe zone. So have tubs/box to put in dirty shoes. Which means you need a rug at the tent door for taking off shoes... which can be shaken out. Get a hanging lamp for inside the tent. Consider a screen structure that can go over your picnic table or a fold out small table that can be place inside the tent for times when the bugs... are too much for both big and little people. Cutters/Avon lotion won't be enough protection, so isolation does the trick.
Have a fabulous time making memories with great plans and a little dirt!

An A to Z scavenger hunt on the beach or in the forest is a fun activity.
My boys are grown up now but we made good memories camping with them. I did some of the meal prep at home. Such as frying the bacon, browning the taco meat, chopping, etc. We did a lot of meal sharing and it was fun.

WOW all these comments are great, I love reading them and found some new ideas for us too. Ali, I posted early this morning and had to come back to give you more ideas. Really everyone covered a lot of them here, way to go campers. Some other ideas:
1. along with a camera for each kid to use whenever they wanted. They love to come home and make books out of their pictures.
2. I gave them each a sheet of things to look for, if they find it then we mark it off. They also make a graph of how many tents/rvs we see from our tent then another one from across the way. I give them all a new coloring book, book to read, journal, crayons and this keeps them busy when we have to get cooking/packing up/down done.
3. my kids started not liking sleeping bags so we take a extra comforter from home and they use their favorite blankets to cover up with and the little blanket is good for the morning chill too. My kids move a lot when they sleep, think that's why sleeping bags don't work.
4. We always have a practice run the week before. Setting up the tent and cooking outside in the backyard is fun and if there's any problems with anything you have time to fix it or buy a new one.
5. All these food ideas are great, especially the pie cookers. We also use one small coolor for all drinks then the big one is for all the food. Make sure to keep these in the shade.
6. We don't let our kids bring electronics from home, the woods, trails, pool, play ground is all we need.
7. Don't forget any favorite stuffed toy they might sleep with or their fave clothes/pj's from home. Anything they need for comfort. We learned that lesson the hard way.
8. Just have to agree on making all your food up at home, chopping, peeling, anything to make it easier at campsite.

You guys will have so much fun and so many precious memories. Good luck you have a lot of good tips here.
p.s. depending on how far your driving, my kids wear their bathing suits because that's the first thing they want to do as soon as the tent is up.

Hi Ali,
we love camping so much - I got lots of great camping gear at Costco. We got a tent that had a great storage area, an electric lantern, and sleeping bags. We also got a coleman stove that has a griddle - perfect for doing pancakes! On my wish list this year is a camp kitchen and coffee maker. You will have so much fun!

We camp all the time with three boys, currently 8, 5 and 1. Just got back from Memorial Day trip.
for the kiddos, I normally pack: lots of bubbles, a small container of assorted legos, sidewalk chalk, a few hotwheels, a scavenger hunt sheet (a piece of paper with clip art images of leaves, flowers, crickets, tents, fire - things they can see on a nature walk and they circle the pic with a crayon to complete the sheet - great for those who can't read), paper and crayons for leaf rubbings, another nature walk with a brown lunch bag to collect things to later examine with a kids magifine glass, sometimes we do crafts with the found objects (only if we are not in a national/state park and I explain the difference). We also allow one movie a day in the van - I don't like the idea of them using technology while camping but it works great in the evening as we are prepping and cooking supper and they are tired and need a break.

Don't forget their pillows! That's big for my boys.
Have fun.

A great campfire treat is choco-banana melts. Information found here: http://familyfun.go.com/magazine/familyfun-magazine-archive/familyfun-june-2011/choco-banana-melt-1015740/
They aren't too messy either.

Oh how I love to camp, but to be honest, I don't like all the dirt. My boys could wear the same outfit for the whole stay. I have to let go of some of my NEED for cleanliness.

But what works for me (with my need to keep things clean)...

Rug outside the tent, chair for sitting on too, that way they can take off their shoes/socks/dirty pants before entering the tent.
I bring a broom to sweep it and keep it semi-dirt free.
I like to bring a couple of dishpan type of buckets (the kind you can set in your sink at home). I may use one for washing feet before bed. Another I will use for washing hands and face, since the bathroom might not be so close to my campsite. I bring a stack of washcloths.
I'll warm up some water on the stove/fire to use for washing.
I bring a large bucket with handle for bringing water to the campsite.

And a comfy air mattress from Costco. Layer some blankets to sleep on too!

Wow, I guess I'm a high maintenance camper :)

Can't wait to hear all about your trip!

Have fun! I love camping! I go camping all the time and things I always forget are: Garbage bags, soap, scrubbers, oven mitts, nail clippers and pens. These things are all useful and easily forgotten.

Also very useful: tent stake hammer (plastic from REI) and tiny broom and dustpan (to clean the tent). The people we camp with are always borrowing these things from us!

The best and easiest meals for us have been baked potatoes and kabob. Baked potatoes are easy, just wash and wrap with foil beforehand and then bring the toppings in the cooler...sour cream, green onions, cheese. We cook some bacon and heat some chili and everyone loves this meal! We also make some kabobs. Cut steak and marinate beforehand with some lime juice and spices, bring some skewers, onions and peppers, and cook over the fire. Fun to make and take pictures of. :)

So excited for you. Camping is so fun to scrapbook as well. ;)

Hubby and I haven't been camping in a couple years. I grew up doing what I call "cadillac camping." My grandparents had an RV. So when hubby and I decided to do tent camping, I insisted we splurge on a HUGE tent. I wanted to be able to stand up straight in the middle. I can. BUt it's only a one-room tent. It's a Coleman though.

Camping as a kid, we did rural PA type stuff....we piled into the car just before dusk and drove around on dirt roads "deer spotting". That's where you have a spotlight plugged into a cigarette lighter in the car, and my Dad would shine that out the window into the fields at dusk or after dark, spotting the deer. We'd count how many we could find. SOmetimes it was hundreds. WE often ended with ice cream.

Get lidded plastic containers for your supplies to keep them dry and bear/raccoon free. (I assume there are bear out your way.) The kids could do things like learning about the trees or plants or nature. I remember it being impressed upon me on hikes not to step on sticks and be as quiet as possible as we moved through the woods, to see as much wildlife as possible. Again...my dad is a rural PA guy whoe grew up hunting. This was info he passed on to his kids. I'll pass this onto my baby....after she learns to walk and talk.

Our family goes on a float trip with friends each year and I am in charge of breakfast. I always make breakfast burritos ahead of time to be heated over the campfire. A quick rundown:

I mix sausage, green+red peppers in scrambled eggs (I make some eggs+sausage without peppers for little taste buds:). Make enough eggs to have about 2-3 tablespoons of egg mixture per burrito...I make about a dozen eggs for ~15 burritos...a little secret, to keep the eggs moist, add about 2 oz cream cheese to egg mixture while cooking.

I use whole what flour tortillas, but any flour tortilla will do. layer shredded cheese (cheddar or monterey jack) eggs and then fold in sides and roll up burrito style. Wrap with foil and then put several in gallon ziplocks to be stored in your cooler. I make these several days in advance and keep in the fridge, they also freeze well.

Warm the burritos in foil over indirect heat on your grill or campfire for 15-20 mins and enjoy with salsa. This is a great compact but hardy breakfast...serve with fruit of choice.

Have a great time camping! We invested in some cots and let me tell you, it was the best camping investment we ever made :)

We started tent camping when we had 2 children ages 3 and 1 years. We then expanded to 3 children and have camped numerous times over the summers, both for 1-2 weeks at a time and weekends. They are now college age and we still camp in tents! My go to book? Family Camping Made Simple. Fabulous info. http://tinyurl.com/43ewk5x
A couple of pointers:
1. LLBean tent. Worth it's weight in gold and customer service is FABULOUS.
2. Keep tent clean! (for Mom's sanity) This means a strict NO SHOES policy for tent and always, always keeping zipper of tent closed, as there is nothing worse than bugs in the tent while you are sleeping. A rubbermaid box and a small bathroom sized rug right outside the door for shoes is perfect.
3. Comfortable mattresses for parents. We used air mattresses and still sleep great and we are in our 50's now! Make sure you have appropriate sleeping bags..we camp in the mountains in May and it get's below freezing, so 20 degree rated bags (LLBEAN!) are a must.
4.I put outfits together for the kids in ziploc bags...underwear, socks, shirt, pants/shorts. They only had to grab one bag to get dressed. Depending on how cool it is during the day, have them wear an old tshirt or sweatshirt on top of this outfit around the camp. It keeps the outfit clean if you go anywhere..just pull off top layer.
5.Flashlights for everyone is a must. Bring LOTS of extra batteries. Reading in the tent by flashlight before bed, snuggled in a sleeping bag is a pleasure everyone should experience.
6. We also had a strict no electronic equipment policy. No TV, no video gaming,no laptops etc. Easy when you camp only at campgrounds with no electricity! haha. Makes the kids explore the awesomeness of the outdoors. When they became teenagers we relaxed it a bit and let them bring their iPods.
7.Build a fire everyday and cook supper over it. The best part about camping in my mind.
8. Be prepared for rain, both mentally and physically. No where to head for fun if it rains..shopping, museums, movies, etc. Bring either rain wear, or be prepared with extra socks, sneakers, and clothes. A screen house with a tarp over it to gather from the rain makes a rain storm romantic in a way. We lit our gas lantern and played games in the evening when it rained and then RAN to the bathrooms and RAN back to the tents for bed.
9. Shower the kids RIGHT BEFORE BED. Shower, brush teeth, into tent. They get relaxed and sleepy after their shower, sleeping bags stay clean, pajamas stay clean enough to wear for a few nights.
10. Bring extra towels. You will need more than you think. I would roll up towels and place as many as I could fit into a small laundry basket.
11.Bring LARGE STURDY trash bags..use for dirty laundry, trash, and in a pinch, a rain poncho.
12. BABY WIPES. Lots of them. Perfect for washing hands at the campsite.
13. Buy a coffee percolator like this one: http://tinyurl.com/3k3jtme Trust me. Coffee has NEVER tasted as good as this in the morning made in one of these.
14. Tie bells (buy large ones at the craft store and string them together) and pin them to your toddlers shirt. You always know where they are!!
15. Have fun. I LOVE LOVE LOVE camping with my kids. I look forward to it every year as summer comes. Know the things that bother you, and try to manage that. For me, it's having a clean tent (no bugs, minimum dirt, clean sleeping bags, etc) and I am a HAPPY CAMPER!!!

I have three suggestions that make my camping experiences more enjoyable...

1. Rubbermaid tubs. I store everything related in one tub (dry goods in one, snacks in another, dishes another, etc.). The tubs allow me to easily find what I am looking for (the clear ones), they stack nicely in the back of our SUV, they keep out any critters or rain. I stack them where I need them...dishes + food tubs by the picnic table, games tub outside the tent, snacks tub by the lounge chairs, etc.

2. A small futon mattress for sleeping! We got tired of dealing with deflated air-mattresses and feeling the bumps through the hiking mats. We had a small IKEA futon and I just slipped the mattress inside a duvet cover to protect it. We are able to lay it flat in the bottom of our SUV (curled up the sides a bit) and then we stack all our gear (Rubbermaid tubs) on top of it! It sure feels good to get a decent sleep so that we are ready to play another day!

3. A beach umbrella for shade either at the campsite or beside the water is a must!

Enjoy!

Just chiming in to recommend www.koa.com for a ton of great recipes and tips. My only other recommendation? Make a list of what you think you need and then judiciously cut it. I always haul along way more "stuff" than gets used. :) And we love our tent...but I have no idea what brand it is anymore. it was pretty inexpensive, but large and has a room dividers so it can be 1, 2, or 3 rooms in various configurations. It's done well here in the Black Hills where our nights are always chilly, even in July/August. I can send more info from home tonight if you're still looking.

Crack eggs into a sealable container for the cooler, rather than the bound to get wet and mushy paper egg container.

We bring lots of kid paint - Paint rocks (X and O - tic tac toe and leave for the next camper to find) Paint lady bugs on rocks (again, leave for in unsuspected places after play.) Go on a scavenger hunt for leaves. Paint leaves and print on paper or muslin and make camp banners)

Find a scavenger hunt game on the internet that you photograph the items found. Print them out at home for a memory book. my kiddos love to take the point and shoot doing this and it keeps them occupied while takeing a hike.