There are some items and tips to follow, however, that can sure make your camping trip much more enjoyable and memorable if you plan ahead. Here are the most essential items we recommend for creating an epic adventure your kids are sure to remember:
1) Tent
Of course the main concern should be where you’ll be laying your head for a few days or weeks, however long you plan to rough it with the kiddos. Maybe you’ve got a pop-up and they’ve got the tent? However you arrange it, be sure that your tent is built for the number of bodies you plan to put in it. Find one with durable material and rigid construction, an extra rain fly might not be a bad idea either. You can even go an extra step and buy a waterproof sealant in a bottle to add after assembly.
Here’s a tip from experience – get one with a sealed entryway, a zip up/down area before the zipper entrance to the main room in the tent. This gives you a good place to take off the shoes before entering the tent and most of all, keeps the mosquitos out of your living area. You might still want to take an old doormat to set outside.
2) Sleeping bags and blankets
Of course you’ll need sleeping bags and pillows, choose your sleeping bag based on the coldest temperature at night. Then add a few more degrees to account for fluctuation so that you are prepared for an unusually cold evening. A mummy sleeping bag is great for cold weather, although you should choose the sleeping bag most appropriate for the season.
Don’t forget any special blankets or pillows your kids are attached to, that can make for a stressful night if their security blanket is left home alone.
3) Flashlights, lanterns and headlamps
Don’t forget to pack the right lighting, headlamps are great for collecting kindling and managing a fire hands free. Kids love playing with flashlights and they’re a prerequisite for a good ghost story.
4) First aid kit, hygiene and bug spray
Hopefully you won’t need any band-aids, but you’d better be prepared if you do. Pack a basic first aid kit with anti-bacterial hand wipes and don’t forget the toothbrushes. Please don’t forget your favorite bug spray of choice, many organic remedies exist that work pretty well too as long as you are protected from pesky mosquitoes.
5) Entertainment
One of the best parts about camping is no electricity, no Wi-Fi and no phones. Show your kids how to have fun without these things and keep them busy with things like:
- Volleyballs and soccer balls
- Telescope
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass or bug collecting kit
- Bags to collect rocks, leaves or nature
- Board games, cards or dice
- Sidewalk chalk, if there’s any concrete around
- Books, coloring books and crayons
6) A good cooler, plenty of food and water
Coolers have come a long way since the old $20 Rubbermaids, a nice roto-molded cooler will keep your ice cold for up to 10 days. Now that’s living. Don’t forget enough nutrition, kids often get hungrier when they are running around all day. Plan to pack more water than what you think you’ll need, that’s a necessity you don’t want to run out of.
7) Good camping chairs
What good is camping if you can’t sit around the fire? Make sure everyone has a place to sit and enjoy the firelight and warmth on a nice evening under the stars. Choose a good camping chair that fits your needs, foldable, packable for taking on hikes, sturdy material and easy to set up.
With the right preparation, your camping trip is going to go down in history as the best ever, every year. Keep making memories and congrats to you for getting your young ones outside in nature.
Cascade Mountain Tech offers a wide selection of camping and hiking gear with easy setup for parents and the durability to take the abuse of children. We offer many trekking poles for the avid hikers, plenty of comfortable chairs and stadium seats so everyone has a spot and the best coolers on the market. Contact us with any questions and here’s to wishing you many happy trails.
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