Preparing to go on a weekend camping trip can be a hectic time. Ensuring that you bring everything you need is crucial. Here is a helpful guide to keep you on track and get you comfortably back home at the end of the trip.
First you must have adequate shelter. Choosing the best tent for your family is a task all of it’s own. Consider reviewing tent specifications and features, customer reviews, and types of tents online before heading out to buy. Once you find a tent that will fit your needs, ensure that you have all the necessary tent accessories. Tent accessories include stakes, a heavy duty tarp for using under your tent, battery powered fans, tent lights, gear hangers, and more. Many accessories are options, but extra stakes and a heavy duty tarp are a must. Make sure you have a hammer for putting the stakes into the ground.
Next you should have some sort of sleeping bed for each person on the trip. There are cots, air mattresses, and sleeping mats to choose from. If you prefer to sleep on the floor, then just get sleeping bags for each person. Remember to bring pillows. If using air mattresses remember to bring a pump.
Now that you have the shelter taken care of, bring utility items. Lanterns, flashlights, lantern fuel, batteries, utility knife, shovel, fire starters, firewood, and rope are a must. Your kitchen items should be included here as well. Grab plates, bowls, cups, flatware, pots, pans, cooking utensils, and napkins. If cooking over a camp fire, bring a grate to cook on. If using a camp stove test it before you leave and ensure you have extra fuel. Grab some paper towels, toilet paper, and some hand towels. Buy a hand crank can opener and bottle opener to keep with your camp gear so you always have them ready.
A good strategy to use is to store all items in large plastic bins with lids. This way you can always keep the camping gear in one place. This makes packing for the next trip a breeze. All you need to do is quickly run down the list ensuring that you have adequate amounts of everything. Another great thing about using plastic bins is that you can use the kitchen one as a sink to wash your dishes in. Don’t forget the dish soap.
For the campsite you will need trash bags, coolers with ice, chairs, a plastic tablecloth, a good first aid kit, and a camp radio with batteries. Bug spray and sunscreen are also great additions to your gear.
The food you should bring includes canned goods, hot dogs and hamburgers, eggs, chips, and anything quick. Bring buns, condiments, and sodas also. Make sure you bring enough food and consider the circumstances. If the family goes on a grueling hike they will be hungry when finished. Trail mixes are hearty and long lasting energy for camping.
Clothing should be chosen based on the weather conditions and be sure to bring rain gear. Towels, extra socks and underwear, and layers of clothing work best.
To enhance the experience for your family, bring along entertainment items to do at night. Musical instruments, cards, board games, and anything else you can think of will be fun for the whole family. If you camp near water, bring along fishing and swimming gear. Bring along a frisbee, football, horseshoes, corn-hole, and other fun items for daytime play. If Fido is coming along bring his food bowls, leash, dog bed, food, and a play toy.