Camping Prep 101: Make Your Trip A Success

Each year, Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of camping season for families all over the country!  Reservations for spots at our local state park open up in February and book up very fast!

Time to Camp

Camping with kids is a jam packed time full of play, food, and fun!  When starting out for the season, we recommend not venturing too far from home as you’re typically getting things all settled.

Camping Prep

Here is how I prep for several days of camping (especially with kids)!

Meal Plan –

The first step is figuing out how many of each meal you need to provide for while camping.  Plan a main dish for each meal and fill in around with sides.  Typically, a side like potato salad can be served at several different meals.  Don’t lock yourself into a hard schedule, but have a lose plan.

Also, make sure to plan snack foods, both healthy and fun splurges.  After long days of playing, our boys are always hungry!

Plan Outfits –

Planning outfits is key when camping with kids!  Having camped with young boys, I know how many outfits they can go through in one camping trip!  My recommendation is to pair a shirt, shorts, socks, and underwear together in neat little “packs” so the kids can grab easily and dress themself.  This makes it super easy for you as well to know how many outfits you have and need for the time you’re camping.   Place these into a tub or on shelves for ease!

As far as the others, make sure to count the pairs of undergarments, make sure everyone has swimsuits, sweatshirts, jeans (in case it gets cold), etc.

Make Lists –

I know this seems like a no-brainer, but I typically make at least 2 lists.  I make the list of items to get from the grocery store and I make a list of things that need to be taken from the house.  That list might include perishables that we don’t pack ahead of time in the camper, the dog dish, food for the dog, a lighter for starting fires, etc.  Again, it seems like an easy one, but does help make the final steps of leaving home much smoother.  We actually have a list started already from 2 weeks ago when we went camping!

Know Your Role –

 This is something that T and I have fallen into without even trying, but it works so well.  We both know what each other is taking care of without even really discussing it!  He takes care of filling the camper with water, loading the truck with fire wood, getting fishing poles, bikes, etc.  I’m responsible for clothes and food.  Then, the rest of it we work together on.  Similarly he hooks the camper to the truck, I lift the 4 corner jacks, same when we get to our site…we have a routine.  Find a routing that works well for your family and stick with it every time you camp.

Go Camping

While camping is never without hiccups, these four simple steps can help ensure that it goes smooth and with as few as hiccups as possible!  Have a great holiday weekend!