What do you take when you go camping?

[Faery-Wings]

I am going camping next week for 3 days. It is the first time I am taking my2 kids with me.:eek: I am trying to get a list of all the stuff I need to bring. I have the obvious: tent, tarp, chairs, stove, sunscreen, lantern...

I would love to hear from all of you experienced (or not so) campers. The last time I went camping, my son was a baby. That was easy. I stuck his bassinet on the side of the tent, next to our air matress and I was nursing, so I didn't need to pack food. Now I have a almost 3 yo and a 5 yo and a dog. Oh yeah, my hubby too.Can't forget him, he is the one who knows how to set up the tent. :)

So give me a list: What do you think I am forgetting? Or what do you wish you always had when you go camping, but you left it at home?

hey, I would love to hear some of your funny camping stories too!

BB and many thanks!

Chris

Chris

[Nyah*]

If anyone needs any assistance or helpful hints, I am a Girl Guide leader (or for International = Girl Scouts) we of course, go camping regularily...just email me
Nyah*

[MystyPines]

Chryssi!

Have a great time!

I have a list for car camping and and a list for backpacking camping, let me know and I will email it to you!

Have fun! :p

[Arduinna]

wow camping lists. Now where is that list???? What kind of camping are you doing? Are you camping in an improved site with water, bathroom, fire ring, ect? Or in dispersed camping in the National forest? I am assuming you are car camping and not backpacking with two small children?

Here is our usual list for dispersed (noncampsite) camping

toilet paper
shovel
chainsaw (for down wood)
ax
rope
2 stroke oil, gas
chain
tarps
tent
sleeping bags
pillows
clothes (for all possible weather conditions)
beach chairs
stove
pots pans ect
cutlery
water
food
napkins
first aid kit
cd's (for the drive)
travel ritual kit
ice chests
towels
personal care items (toothbrush, shampoo ect)
bucket

that's all I can think of off the top of my head,

Have a great time

[Loki]

Well I don't think you want to camp my way.
I carry everything on my back and usually rain or shine I sleep under the stars.
Reguardless of the weather I don't use a sleeping bag, if it is going to be cold I will take an extra blanket or two.
too keep the rain off I have a rubberized blanket to cover me with.:)
Camping is cool!

[Earth Walker]

Only my Cat understands me.
************************
There are only two times I feel stress.
Day :D and Night :D

[Amora]

Shampoo!!! Don't forget it! I always do...

[magicbabs]

BUG SPRAY!!!!

[Lavender]

The first and only time I went camping, I brought a electric frying pan and a coffee maker. It wasn't "real" camping...we were at a campsite with electricity & a cabana....

Everyone laughed but they all showed up for coffee each morning! :D :D :D

[Mariposa De La Luna]

Enough money for a room if necessary. We went for a short camping trip, years ago, on the weekend. It was only about 30 min from home and we neglected to look at the weather forcast! We got heavily rained on and the place was covered in water! We didn't even pack up. We just moved everything to the middle of our tent and went home soaked! We went back in the morning to dry out and pick up. I felt sorry for the people who were there from farther away but at least there was a porch at the bathrooms. It was raining that hard.

[magicbabs]

Car camping is the absolute BEST way to camp. The Heck with that hiking in for 4 days - no River for a bath no firepit....etc....

Roughing it to my family is staying at Motel 8. I do not take after the rest of my family. I like rivers with a campsite off the river....
Car within 1/2 mile to run to if Bears show up....

If you are camping near bears - hang your food up on a rope looped over a tree branch. Do not hang this near your tent-----they WILL step on your tent and your campsite....I know this from experience.

[Faery-Wings]

Originally posted by Wildchild
The first and only time I went camping, I brought a electric frying pan and a coffee maker. It wasn't "real" camping...we were at a campsite with electricity & a cabana....

Everyone laughed but they all showed up for coffee each morning! :D :D :D

he he he, I am camping with you! Coffeee!!!!!!!:D

And I would have forgotten toilet paper, although I am bringing a kids' porta-potty for my 2 1/2 yo dd. No trekking thorugh the woods in the middle of the night at a dead run for her to make it in time ;)


We are going to a site, water, no electricity. I hiked once at the Delaware water Gap, in November. It was 22 * in NYC, so I can't imagine how cold it was up the mountian. I do have pictures of it snowing however. So no Loki, that is not the way I camp LOL! :D

I am so hoping that the weather will be nice. I don't think it wil be fun if it rains with the kids, so I will be sure to bring my Visa (good idea SAHM!)

Thanks for the lists. I am sure I will be asking for good weather thoughts next week.

BB

Chris
:sunny:

[SpikesPet5150]

Yes, whatever you do, don't forget the bugspray... or the Marshmallows!!! :) I'd bring a book to read, or some fun games to play, in case the weather goes a little sour... so your little ones won't be bored! :) Have a great time, be safe!
~Bree
:elf:
P.S. I'll put in some good weather thoughts for ya!

[Arduinna]

ooooo I just thought of something. When my daughter was little I used to bring an inflatable pool. We would put river water in it, to warm up. She had a blast playing, and a great way to get her clean.

[Mairwen]

I always take along WetOnes .. You'll likely have them for the babies, anyway. ... However, in lieu of a shower, they're perfect!! :D

[reanna]

Can opener :)

[Mairwen]

HAMMER!! Did anyone mention a hammer??? :smash:

[Earth Walker]

Gasoline and matches....start fire Indian way...hehehe;) 8O


Only my cat understands me.
************************
There are only two times I feel stress.
Day :D and Night :D

[aquinnah]

Wow - that's the first camping list I've ever seen with "travel ritual kit" listed! Too cool. We're also going backpacking and car camping next week - I'll miss you guys. For kids, bring crafty stuff (arts and crafts, that is) for them to keep them busy - they can make things out of acorns and stones and stuff. A star map is good, too, for learning constellations.

[Andromeda]

I just went camping.....here is what we forgot :)

toliet paper...
Some kind of BBQ (fire ban so we couldn't have a fire)
Can opener! (must have!!!)
Bowls
soap for washing dishes.
Bug spray


Needless to say, we had to make a trip back to my boyfriends house to get all these things.

Have fun camping!!

Blessings
Andromeda

[Faery-Wings]

You all had great suggestions, Thanks everyone.
:D

I will write all of your suggestions down, and hopefully I won't forget anything after that.

BB

Chris

[Airyn]

I find that a pocket knife and lighter come in really handy. And don't forget the flashlights! Of course marshmallows go really well with chocolate and graham wafers - s'mores!!! Have an awesome trip!

[aquinnah]

We leave our little island for a week in the mountains today - thanks to this thread I'm well stocked, and have my travel ritual kit at the ready. See y'all next week!!!