Going on a camping trip is a great way to explore the outdoors and spend more time with your family, not to mention the plethora of benefits your family can reap just by spending less time on screens and more time in nature. Camping can often feel like a chore, as you have to get yourself to the site, set up a tent, and make sure you pack everything you need. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated, or difficult, as long as you have sufficiently prepared in advance. If you can plan a trip and feel prepared, you will have an excellent time.
Camping can benefit the entire family. Being out in nature has been shown to boost your mental and physical wellbeing, and can significantly reduce boredom and screen time. It is a great way to take the family out of their usual environment and do something new and exciting. Camping can be done on any size budget, and there are endless possibilities. You can choose to go hiking, swimming and exploring the local area, or you can chill in your tents, cook food on the bbq and play games. It is an excellent way to bond with your family and spend quality time together, and that time will be much more personal and special as you are somewhere new, away from home. Camping is a great way to let kids run free, be themselves and worry less, especially if the school has been tough for them. Children need time to expend pent up energy, and camping is an ideal way to do that.
To get the most out of your camping trip and reap the benefits, you should prepare as much as possible. Here are some tips to help you get started and have the best time away from your family.
Make a plan
Making a plan is especially important if you like to leave things to the last minute or if you are going away with children. While spontaneous trips can be fun, they also come with a lot of risks. By making a solid plan that you can stick to, you will minimize those risks and make the trip much more enjoyable for everyone, and give you much less to worry about. You should start by planning where you are going to go, how long for, how you are going to get there, the food and all the essential items you need to bring for the journey, as well as the trip itself. Depending on the type of trip you have planned, you may also wish to create an itinerary of activities that you have planned. This step takes a little time and effort, but when the time arrives to go away, you will be pleased you have it.
The next step on the plan is to acquire all of the essential items you may need (a tent, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, food, etc) and write down the dates you are going to purchase them. Put these in your diary and make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare. Your camping trip is a time for you to enjoy, so if you can prepare in advance when the day comes, you can head off with less stress and more excitement. You can then plan the day of leaving, and include what time you are going to leave, what route you are going to take, what you need in the car with you and what can go in the boot, and the instructions to access the campsite.
Choose the right campsite
You must consider all the activities you want to do on the trip before you choose a campsite. Each campsite will have different rules, and some will allow parties, games and loud playing, whereas some are more reserved and impose curfews. Make sure you choose the right one to suit your needs. Some campsites also have a range of activities onsite for children to get involved in, such as rounders, tennis, swimming pools, farm animal visits, and much more.
You should also consider the amenities that are available on the campsite. Do you want to go wild camping, with no amenities, or would you prefer camping where you can shower, use a clean toilet, wash up your plates and utensils, etc?
Lastly, you want to make sure that if you are venturing out of the campsite to enjoy additional activities, they are accessible to you from your location. If they are too far away and you have to drive far to get there, it can completely take away from the experience and immersion of the trip. Try to find a campsite that is located close to your chosen activities, whether it is in the mountains ready to hike, or on the coastline so you can spend the day at the beach.
Unless it states otherwise, make sure you reserve a spot at your chosen campsite as early as possible, to avoid disappointment. This will mean that you can go ahead and make plans around the location. The last thing you want to do is make a plan, schedule appointments and get excited about a campsite, and leave the booking to last and not be able to get a spot. They will fill up extremely quickly, especially in the spring and summer.
Make sure you have all the essentials
The essentials are important to a successful, safe and enjoyable camping trip. If you go camping unprepared, it can quickly become stressful and ruined. REI is a great place to get all your camping needs. Here is a list of some of the basic equipment any family needs when going on holiday to a campsite:
– a tent big enough for everyone to sleep in and store your items
– sleeping bags with the appropriate rating to match the season and weather
– a camping bed, cot, mattress or something similar (the ground is uncomfortable)
– first aid kit (and one for pets too if you plan to bring them along with you)
– flashlights
– spare batteries
– cooking equipment (stove and fuel)
– places and utensils
– food
– water
– sunscreen
– waterproof and warm gear
– insect repellent
– cool box
– medication
– offline maps
You should make sure you are familiar with the campsite and local area, to ensure you bring everything they recommend, and equipment that will enable you to access freshwater (such as a water carrier). You should also consider the seasons. If you are going in summer, you may consider a fly net to cover your tent and a portable AC. If you are going in Winter, you may consider bringing more waterproof clothing, spare clothes, and a tarp to put under your tent to protect it.
Make sure you know how to use the equipment
If you have never put up a tent or cooked food on a bbq, or there has been a long period since you last went camping, it is a good idea to brush up on some basic camping skills before you head out. You can watch YouTube tutorials, speak to friends who have good camping knowledge, conduct a trial run in your garden or with your friends, or anything that will help you feel more prepared, both mentally and physically. It may seem easy, but you should not underestimate the time and effort it takes to put up a take, cook food on a small bbq or camping stove, and navigate the campsite, especially if the weather is not as you predicted. This will help you to worry less, and make the experience much more enjoyable for everyone on the trip. It will also ensure you can stay safe, sleep comfortably and eat well.
Camping can be great fun for the whole family. Make sure you fully prepare yourself, so you can make the most of the trip.
