Camping with Kids...Oh My!

Introduction

Just to clarify, the camping I’m talking about is “car camping”. If you are looking for the roughing it kind where you haul everything in a backpack and use a hatchet to blaze your trail, this is not it. “Car camping” involves packing everything you own (except for the TV and microwave) into your car and driving somewhere close to the wilderness that hopefully offers flush toilets. Sometimes the car is so full that we don’t have room for the tent and end up in a motel (flush toilets and a shower, now that is roughing it).

Getting the Kids Interested...

With our 3 and 5 year-old girls, we like to talk about what we are doing several weeks in advance before we actually do it. Camping is no exception. I check out books from the library about hiking, outdoors, bugs and nature. We talk about the things we will see, sleeping in a tent and camping etiquette. Of course we mention marshmallows and s’mores many times (this is probably the most important part of any kid’s camping trip).

If the kids are old enough, have them pack their own items. I read off the checklist and have them pick their clothes, shoes, books, etc. Of course, I review everything they back (they always think flip-flops and tutus need to be part of every trip) but it gets the kids more interested in the trip.

Things to Ponder...

• For your first time, find a camping spot that is not too far away (your
  neighbor’s yard perhaps?). You will forget the sleeping bags, the kids
  will fight, you will forget the cooler with food, the tarp has a hole,
  you will forget the suntan lotion, etc.
• Take a test-drive and setup the tent in the backyard (especially if you are borrowing from a friend).
• There is nothing better than finding the perfect “camping
  family”…that family that knows what they are doing and have kids that
  are similar ages. The kids will play and there are more adults to prep
  the camp and make meals.
• Pray for good weather. Nothing ruins a camping trip like a torrential
  downpour or a snow storm. Bring extra tarps to use as rain shields and
  make sure everyone has a rain jacket.
• If you are camping in early June or mid-September, there is a possibility of snow at higher elevations. Days can be warm but evenings can be frigid. Make sure you are prepared for the weather before you go.

Where to camp?

Figuring out where to camp in Colorado can be stressful. Some campgrounds start reservations on January 1, some start later in the year and then others don’t take reservations at all. Popular campgrounds fill up quickly especially during July 4th weekend.

Ground Rules...

Always establish basic ground rules before you go camping. I like to coach the kids to see if they can come up with some good ones on their own. A couple of rules we use:

• Always stay in eyesight of the campsite and mom and dad.
• Do not eat anything you find in the woods.
• Always stay on trails when hiking. Each child should carry their own backpack (stocked with jacket, water, snacks & whistle)
  
• Do not shake the neighbors tent and yell “bear”.
• Know how to identify and stay away from “poison ivy” and “poison oak”.
• No eating in the tent. There is enough wildlife around that leaving food in the tent or at the campsite is a big “no, no”. Store all food in the car.
• Respect nature. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
• Do not play hide-n-seek in the pit toilets (biggest nightmare is my child falling in).

Camping Checklist

After several camping trips and much tweaking, I finally perfected “the list”. Print it before each camping trip and check off the items as you pack them. Because I’m a nice person and I’ve suffered greatly on previous trips with the kids, I’m willing to share it with you (an optional donation to my Caribbean beach vacation that does not involve camping would greatly be appreciated…send me an email for details).

Designate an area in your home to keep all your camping supplies
together. This will help you stay organized and make it easier to pack
for the next camping trip. A successful camping trip takes lots of
planning so don’t wait until the last minute to pack. My checklist is for two girls aged 3 and 5. You may need to change this based on your family dynamics.

Camping Equipment
Tent (big enough for the family)
Tarp (one for each tent)
Extra Tarp (use as rain shield)
Adult Lawn Chairs
Children Lawn Chairs
Lantern
Flashlights (large & pocket for each child)
Head Lamp
Back Pack (one for each person)
Tool Bag (extra stakes, hammer, etc)
Hatchet
Picnic Blanket

Sleeping Gear
Pillows (one for each person)
Sleeping Bags (one for each person)
Self-Inflating Mattress/Therm-a-Rests (one for each person)
Sheets & Down Comforter (optional; if not using a sleeping bag)
Several Blankets

Supplies
Clothespins
Matches
Firewood/Kindling (maybe able to purchase at campground)
Twine/Rope
Twistees
Large Garbage Bags
Self-Sealing Baggies
Grocery Bags
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Tin Foil
Duct Tape
Bottled Water
Large Jug for Water

Personal Items
First Aid Kit (stocked with bandages & drugs; don’t forget children’s ibuprofen and diphenhydramine – Benadryl)
Sunscreen
Bug Spray
Vitamins
Toothbrushes & Paste
Shampoo
Soap & Wash Cloth
Dental Floss
Hairbrush
Barrettes/Hair Clips (only if you have girls)
Lotion/Cream
Hand Sanitizer/Wet Wipes
Towels
Portable Potty (for kids potty training)

Clothing
Rain Jackets
Fleece Jackets
Sun Glasses & Hats
Pants/Shorts
Shirts
Socks
Underwear (Pullups/Diapers)
PJs
Hiking Shoes
Winter Jackets (weather permitting)
Winter Hats & Gloves (weather permitting)
Long Underwear (weather permitting)

Misc.
Children Toys & Games
Art Supplies (crayons, markers, paper, etc)
Favorite Stuffed Animal
Reading Materials (books, magazines, newspaper)
Guidebooks (trail information, etc)
Camera
Map
Compass/GPS
Cards
Backpacks (one for each person)
Whistle

Cooking Gear
Cooler with Ice
Plates
Bowls
Cups
Silverware
Sharp Knife
Swiss Army Knife
Cutting Board
Portable Stove
Grill & Charcoal
Cooking Pots
Coffee Pot
Spatula
Dish Soap & Sponge
Large Dishpan
Dish Towels
Reusable Water Bottles/Sippy Cups (at least one for each person)
Large Storage Container(s) (keeps things dry and organized)

Basic Food – We bring these basics on every camping trip.
Cooking Oil
Butter
Coffee
Tea
Juice
Milk
Eggs
Bread
Jelly
Peanut Butter
Graham Crackers
Chocolate
Marshmallows
Trail Mix
Pretzels/Crackers
Granola Bars
Bananas
Apples
Beer
Wine

Plan the menu ahead of time and then purchase the foods needed for each meal. Some of my favorite things to cook are pancakes, breakfast
burritos, grilled chicken, baked potatoes, fajitas, beans and wieners and anything with rice-a-roni. If you are camping with another family, assign each family to specific meals and they purchase the ingredients needed.

Tips on sleeping better

Anyone who tells you they get great sleep camping is either lying or dead. However, there are a couple of things that have worked really well for our family and may help yours too.

• Use a tent within a tent. We have a large family tent which is slightly smaller than our house. We setup a small backpacking tent inside the larger tent and have the kids sleep inside. They stay warm since they are heating up a smaller space and sleep longer since the tent fly is dark.
• Use self-inflating mattresses. These are very comfortable, deflate to a relative small size and help keep you warm. They can be pricey but are well worth it. There are many brands but the most popular one is Therm-a-rest.
• Sleeping Bags. What seems to work well for our kids are the sleeping bags with cartoon characters on them that come with an inflatable mattress. In my opinion, the inflatable mattresses are crap (but if it works for your kids, use it). I replaced this with a short-sized self-inflating mattress that fits nicely inside the sleeping bag. The kids and the mattress stay in one place. I then throw another comforter on top of the kids so that they stay warm.
• Sleeping with the Ocean. It really is difficult to get peaceful sleep but we found that using a Sound Therapy System (it has 20 different soothing sounds plus a nightlight) helps. It may sound silly but it really helped on the last camping trip where the “White Noise” drowned out the religious group singing into the wee hours.