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Outpost:  Tent Camping with Kids- Tips and Tricks  |
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dazed81
Farmgirl in Training
43 Posts
Meagan
Wyanet
IL
USA
43 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 7:31:14 PM
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I thought this might be interesting. We have a 3 year old and a just turned 2 year old. Our first camping trip with them was on the weekend my son turned 6 months old. He was breastfeeding and snuggly and it was a great experience, except it DID rain for an entire day :) But I have been camping with the two little ones for two years, and had camped as a girl scout (leader's daughter) for 10 years before camping as an adult. I have never stayed in a camper but once with a friend as a little girl.... and tent camping seems to be working for our budget as of now. I was thinking of posting some tips that I have discovered about camping with kids, and tent camping in general... and although they may be more modern than rustic or vintage, maybe they would help someone intimidated by the thought of camping with kids.
I would also love to hear thoughts and tips from you other moms out there, or veteran campers who might have camped with your kids years ago... anything I can learn and add to my list would be so helpful. If you give permission I may compile a list on a blog. I would certainly give credit to anyone who adds tips.... but I think it's a topic that would interest a lot of my readers. Anyone want to play? If so, I will get started on my list :)
Mamma to Ardyn Isabel (9-3-07) and Marek Owen (3-31-09)
An Original Farm Girl Transferred to a small town with marriage. 6 Buff Orpington Chicks and 14 year old "Boyd the Wonder Beagle"
You'll find us Blogging, Cloth Diapering, Breastfeeding, Sewing, Gardening, Crafting and Recycling.
www.adventuresineverydaylife.com |
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CMac
True Blue Farmgirl
1074 Posts
Connie
Ashland City
TN
USA
1074 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 8:02:32 PM
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My babies hated showers when they were little. When we car tent camped I always brought 2 big buckets. Filled them both with warm water. One for washing and one for rinsing. Just stand them up and wash them down in the bucket. No need to deal with the bath house although when it was chilly out we often did it in the shower stall.
Kids also need jobs. Makes them feel like they are participating in the experience. Gathering kindling for the fire was their favorite job.
This is a great idea Megan. I can't imagine not camping. I camp in a camper and backpack and sleep in shelters or a one person tent. I love them both for different reasons. There are so many tricks and tips that make camping fun and easy. I can't wait to see what folks have to say.
Connie
"I have three chairs in my house: one for solitude, two for friendship, three for company."
Author: Henry David Thoreau |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2011 : 9:48:31 PM
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I would say premake as much food as you can and what you don't premake, make simple. IE my dad always premade these meat foil packets for at least one night of our camping. We mainly had sandwiches for lunch, with fruit, or such. And dinner would be something easy on the grill, usually premade at home before we left and frozen, so it would stay cold in the cooler for as long as possible, and not go bad-like the meat packets went in the freezer a good week before we left, so they would be solidly frozen and we could have it about 3 or 4 days into the trip. (we went on long trips, and my first canoe/tent trip was when I was 1 week old!) One night was always wienie roast and s'mores-again easy and not a lot of work. If you are going around hiking and doing you don't want to be stuck cleaning and preparing etc for hours with kids, who are crying about being hungry.
Bring extra dry clothes for sure, kids will fall in a creek or get wet some where and be cold if you don't bring extras. Don't panic if a emergency happens try to just stay calm and figure out what to do, since you will be far away from help sometimes. I know once my little brother fell and got a rock lodged in his forehead, we were a good 4 hours from the nearest help we could of gotten him, so dad washed it out, left the rock in there and sewed it up himself (dad's a RN, and did have the correct sutures, etc for such in his emergency bag). 2 years later parents decided the rock needed to come out just in case he landed on his head in that area again and he was much more afraid to get it out then when it went in there! lol Poor baby brother! On that note, it may be also good to familiarize yourself where the nearest ranger station is, and such in case you can NOT handle the emergency yourself. I know we all were always taken to the ranger station and met the rangers at the beginning of all our trips, shown where the station was and how to get there. In case of a emergency, or say getting lost, etc, that's where we were go to. Having us kids know where it was and being familiar with the rangers I think was a good thing. One of the camp grounds (state park) that we stayed at dad would even make the rangers dinner at least once while we were there. (it was a small park they didn't see people much and I think they were single guys, I think they were happy to get a meal once in a while that wasn't a sandwich! lol)
Any way that's off the top of my head.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Outpost: Tent Camping with Kids- Tips and Tricks |
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Tent Camping with Kids- Tips and Tricks
