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Family Camping Preparation
The kids are home and
the sun is finally out so many of us are heading
outdoors to sleep under the stars. Most men are
keen to just go and get there, but most women have
specific criteria that have to be met. Is there
running water, and flush toilets? Do we have
everything we need? Since this will be my first
year camping with my husband and toddlers I want to
be prepared. I’ve polled some experts that have
years of family camping experience and received some
real life tips that you won’t find on the internet.
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Have a list of
things to bring that you keep from year to
year. This makes packing much faster and
easier. Remember to add to your list anything
you wish you’d had when you get back. Remove
any items that you didn’t need.
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Packing clothes in
plastic storage bins is often easier than
suitcases or duffle bags. They stack great in a
car and at the campground, are waterproof and
easy to clean. To make things even easier, have
a different coloured bin for each family
member.
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Assign an
identifiable beach towel to each family member
that they must take care of while camping. Kids
are much less likely to leave their towel in the
dirt when they know it is the only one they have
to use at the beach.
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Keep meals simple.
The joy of camping is spending time together,
not spending time slaving over a camp stove and
a dish pan. Don’t feel that you have to bring
all of your food with you. Unless you are
camping in the back country, there are usually
stores within a close distance.
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Pack games and
activities for rainy weather and of course a big
tarp.
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Bikes are great for
kids at campgrounds and help fill the time when
you are preparing meals, and getting ready to go
to the beach.
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Campgrounds are very
dark at night, so headlamps are literally
handy. You have your hands free when trying to
find pajamas in the dark and when using the
dreaded outhouse. Glow sticks or bracelets make
the evenings fun and add just enough light
inside a tent or trailer to take away night-time
fears of the dark.
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When making s’mores,
buy the cookies that have chocolate on one
side. Roast the marshmallow and squish it
between two chocolate coated cookies (chocolate
side in) and enjoy. The thin layer of chocolate
melts almost instantly and is delicious.
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Relax and enjoy. Don’t worry
about schedules or kids getting dirty. That is
what makes camping so much fun
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