Family Camping Tips
Family camping is lots of fun. It’s like swimming or bicycling - you have a great time while you’re doing it, but you can be exhausted by it. Camping also means different things for many different people. Some folks take a fully-loaded RV with a surround sound home theatre system into the woods and call it camping. I don’t think that should be considered “camping.” I think that should be called “cheating.” In order to get the most out of real camping, following are great family camping tips for less stress and more enjoyment.
Besides your tent, what you will need for a successful tent camping event is bedding, a water carrier, food, necessary medical supplies, fire making supplies (matches, lighter, etc) and a mobile phone. If you have your dog with you, then you need to carry his or her food and a water bowl. There are some dogs that don’t mind carrying a backpack, but don’t over pack it. Everything else is just wants and not needs.
You might consider a separate tent for your kids, especially if they are teenagers. Most children enjoy their own space when they get older.
Don’t Drink the Water
The most practical of camping tips is to not risk drinking from any questionable water source, no matter how nice it looks or smells. Camping trips really go downhill when vomiting or diarrhea is involved. If you are not certain of the source, either carry a water sterilizing pen (very light) or boil water for ten minutes before using. Out of all the camping tips, please remember this – water is more important than food in order to stay alive. Should the worst happens and you need to abandon your food to a hungry bear (for example), give up the food. The water is more important.
Clothing
Bring far less of the regular stuff (like shirts, shorts, pants) and far more of the unusual than you would expect. Don't forget raingear (raincoat and splash or waterproof pants) plenty of warm and cool stuff (including both a sunhat and warm hat).
Practice camping
Practice at least one night in the backyard (or basement, if you have a freestanding tent) before you go. At night you will want to be sure no little ones can get out of the tent. Bring some bedtime books and reproduce the bedtime ritual you have at home, including brushing teeth and going to the bathroom.
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