Camping: Fun for the Whole Family

The smell of the pines, the sound of the wind blowing gently in the hot summer night, the smell of hotdogs roasting on the open fire. What could make for a more enjoyable outing than this? Yes, you guessed it, all of the above refers to camping. In a tent, an RV, a sleeping bag on the bare ground under the stars, or in your station wagon, the experience is substantially similar.

The key to successful camping, especially where children are involved, is advance planning, and plenty of it! At least three weeks prior to your outing, make sure to go through your check list and set aside the basic essentials you’ll need for the trip: your tent, food supply, kitchenware, camp stove, coolers, can openers, compass, matches, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, pillows, cots, ropes, and flashlights.

Two weeks prior, round up all other discretionary essentials such as charcoal briquettes, bottled water, fishing poles, sunblock, sunglasses, toothbrushes, towels, umbrellas, rain ponchos, trash bags and anything else that will materially improve the quality of your stay. The objective here is not to pack as though you are staying at a five star resort, but to make the experience as pleasurable as possible by including some minimal ‘creature comforts.

Be sure to pack appropriate attire as well. There’s nothing that can put a damper on a trip faster than realizing when temperatures reach a low of 40 degrees that all you've brought are flimsy cotton T shirts and beach shorts! Before heading out, you’ll also want to find out what restrictions apply at the campground you’ve selected. For instance, it may be strictly forbidden to bring pets along and, one of the best things about family camping is that you’ll get to spend some uninterrupted time with other members.