Camping with Kids

Late July, the ideal camping spot: Overlooking an enormous lake, plenty of wooded beauty, and a soft sand platform for our tent. In absolute heaven… until the kids set a pile of wood too close to the fire pit and set light to dry brush, and I'd pulled about fifty cactus needles out of tiny legs and fingers. It can be a full-time job just keeping the kids clean, fed, and entertained on a camping trip without the hazards inherent to the outdoors.

There are plenty of good reasons to take your children camping, though. Kids can keep themselves amused for hours just running through the trees or spotting a squirrel. Beings of eternal wonder, they can find a thousand uses for water and sandy shores.

Given the chance, your children will come home with a better understanding of nature and wildlife. Even the smallest bug can be a source of endless amazement, and an opportunity for you to share something truly special with your youngsters that will remain with them for a lifetime.

The Basic Checklist

Take your preparation seriously and you will have a successful, comfortable camping trip of two or more nights. The minimum equipment needed is:

*Tent - Take your time to find something appropriate. I have found from cramped experience that the number on the packaging which says something like "Sleeps 4" is only a recommendation. Kids take up a lot of space, so make sure you give them room for it.

*Sleeping Bags - Once again, read the numbers. You should check the weather expected for the area you are going to camp and compare that against the rating on the sleeping bag packaging. It's often a good idea to bring a couple of blankets as well, just in case.

*Pillows - These aren't as essential as a tent and sleeping bag, of course, but if you want comfort, you're going to want a pillow.

*Cooking and Eating Utensils - Be practical when you choose your utensils. Enamel-coated cooking utensils will last a lifetime of camping trips, take nothing more than water to wash out during camp, and will not pollute the nature you're enjoying like plastic products will.

*Gas Cooking Equipment - Fires are great fun and much more eco-friendly, but aren't always permitted. It's best to play it safe and have a back-up plan.

*Flashlights and Extra Batteries - If you think you need one flashlight, plan on two. Several extra batteries are better than none, because it can be impossible to get the kids to shut the things off. (But mom, I'm making shadow puppets!)

*Cooler for Food and Drink - If you keep the ice in its bag, you also have ready-to-use ice for your drinks.

*Water Containers - Plan on at least one gallon of water per day for drinking by a family of 3, and another gallon for washing up the dishes and grubby hands.

The Tent

Space and comfort on a camping trip can't be underestimated. Even the most close-knit family will begin to feel the strain of exhaustion after a day at play, and being cramped in a tent that places you shoulder-to-shoulder won't help matters any.

The best tents for a family camping trip are the two-room kind. These tents allow you to set aside one area of the tent specifically for sleeping. By making that area off-limits for anything else, you can keep everything clean. The toys, clothes, and other must-haves can be stored in the other room and provide a break from too much sunshine or an unexpected rainy day.

The Food

To be a successful camp cook, you have to keep it simple. This will help you save space, reduce trash that has to be brought back home, and lets everyone spend more time enjoying their trip than trying to cook in an unfamiliar environment. A good meal plan might look something like this:

*Breakfast: Cereal (the single-serving boxes work great), milk and bread with jam.

*Lunch: Sandwiches, followed by fresh fruit.

*Dinner: Easy dishes like sausage, hamburgers, or stews work great. A family favorite is to bring roasting potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, and tin foil. Wet everything lightly with water, wrap in tin foil, and toss right into the fire pit. They will sit there and bubble for a couple of hours, coming out juicy and tender with no effort.

*Snacks: Everyone seems to eat more on camping trips, so preparing for the heightened appetite with things like granola bars, fruit and veggies is a good idea.

*Drinks: A family of 3 will generally go through a full gallon of water per day on a normal camping trip of 2 nights. If you plan on hiking, or will be gone for more than 2 nights, plan accordingly.

Health and First Aid

The biggest threat you will face is sunburn, so use plenty of sunscreen and pack hats for everyone. Next to that, remember the constant annoyance of mosquitoes and other biting insects by packing a small bottle of repellant and itch relief cream.

Never, ever leave home without a basic first aid kit packed with your tent. Keep the first aid kit handy for the scrapes and bruises, and make sure it is supplied in case something more dire does need attention.