Camping should be an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and to introduce the kids to the wild in a comprehensive, exciting, and adventurous way. Whether it is dry camping, which is parking anywhere without or limited facilities (also known as Boondocking) or you’d prefer to be at one with nature, experiencing camping with the family could help bring everyone together, as well as make new memories. However, it’s not often that simple. Kids aren’t going to understand all of the appeals of the trip is fraught with difficulties. So, we’re going to look at how you make sure the trip stays fun and doesn’t become a litany of complaints instead.
Pick a place worth going
Choosing the park or location that you go to is a big one. Picking a place with great scenery and lots of trails and areas of interest is a good starting point. But you also have to think about how ready your kids are to “rough it” and pick the appropriate camping site as well. If they’re entirely unused to camping and staying out in the wild, then having the first trip in a place that provides more amenities. This is especially important for kids who aren’t used to behaving responsibly and safely in the wild.
Overpacking is much preferable than leaving something behind
Long before you set out, it’s a good idea to visit a few different online tips for what to bring with you and create your own checklist. This includes clothes for every kind of weather, meaning hot, cold, and waterproof clothing for those unexpected showers. Make sure everyone has their own toiletries bag for their toothbrush, insect repellant, and soap. If you don’t pack everything you need, then it might seem like a minor problem but it will very quickly become a rather major episode.
BBQ grilled meat and beef
Don’t make dinner a disaster
So long as they’re kept warm and dry when possible, kids can be hardy. The one thing that can immediately sour a trip, however, is when they’re not able to enjoy their food. If you haven’t been camping much personally, then don’t expect to rely entirely on the BBQ and fire for cooking. Consider choosing a campsite where food is more readily available. Or prepare some food for the first night in advance and use Thermo Boutique lunch boxes to keep it warm and fresh. Make sure all food that isn’t being eaten immediately is kept sealed up tight. Cooked food left lingering can attract more wildlife than you want, it if doesn’t get soaked by rain or get a bad taste from the forest air getting in.
Expect boredom
You aren’t going to be adventuring through the wild for the whole trip. You’re going to have some downtime, especially at night. If you don’t plan for it, you will be dealing with some very bored, whiny kids. Having some games prepared is all well and good. But you can also bring things like a Nancy B.’s Science Club MoonScope that can keep them curious about nature by them some fantastic views of the night sky.
If you get your first family camping trip right, it can easily become a tradition that will create warm memories for everyone for years to come. Get it wrong, however, and you might not get a second chance to convince them.
