| Author | |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: May 23 2011 at 8:32am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
We are planning a big camping trip out west for this summer and I thought I'd ask to see what sorts of fun camping things those of you that camp take with you. We've been camping since we got married 22 years ago so we have all the basics, but I'm just wondering if there is anything you have discovered to make the trip easier or just more fun. As we have added more children our gear has expanded too! We wont have room for anything overly large, but I'm just looking for ideas. I think it's fun to hear what other folks do when they camp. I'm open to tips too. One that I heard recently is to put a white vinyl tablecloth on the tent floor. It makes it brighter at night if a little person wakes up and it makes cleaning out the tent easier too.  to all you campers! 
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mamasue
Forum Pro
Joined: Nov 09 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 139
|
| Posted: May 23 2011 at 10:46am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Small rugs or carpet scraps for inside and outside of the tents doors. Many of them!
I always make sure I have a dustpan and broom for the tent. Hate camping without one.
Those are the two small things I always make sure I have. Small but simple. I will definitely be watching this thread- I live camping and am always looking for new tips
Suzette
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
SeaStar
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 16 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9068
|
| Posted: May 23 2011 at 11:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Ditto the broom and shovel. Essential.
We have an inflatable Coleman nightstand that can be a stool, a foot rest, a storage container (for your purse, to hide it) and also has a checkerboard top for playing checkers while camping. Very versatile little thing... I bought it on Amazon
__________________
Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: May 23 2011 at 11:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
LED flashlights.. little ones.. they can run all night if a child leaves them on inside a sleeping bag or under a pillow or in a shoe.. whatever.. and you're not constantly replacing batteries. 
Boys and Girls have their own tents. It makes mom much less crazy than having to step over and around kids' stuff in the big tent.. and gives us some inside space in the big tent if we need it for when it rains or whatnot. We set up a sunshade at the door of the big tent and the little tents somwhere around also opening toward the sunshade.. usually leaving one side mostly open but the kids tend to put the little tents at an angle rather than right up to the shade.. but it gives you a very nice veranda type space and with the tents to the sides.. it's also more protected from sun and wind and rain.
A book to read outloud can be very nice if you might have weather that occationally leaves you stuck under cover.
field guides can be nice so that you can look up plants and weather (we're so much more interested in weather when we're stuck out in it with only a tent for shelter ) and rocks and such. If you'll be in a specific area that field guids don't cover well some books that focus on the local plants and such might be better.
a book and chart for astronomy so you can find constellations etc.
And there's just something about having hot chocolate in the mornings.. a warm cup while everyone is wandering around waking up.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Grace&Chaos
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 07 2010
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1261
|
| Posted: May 23 2011 at 1:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
JodieLyn wrote:
| field guides can be nice so that you can look up plants and weather (we're so much more interested in weather when we're stuck out in it with only a tent for shelter ) and rocks and such. If you'll be in a specific area that field guids don't cover well some books that focus on the local plants and such might be better.. |
|
|
Along with their nature journals and some color pencils!! Mine have enjoyed this 
__________________
Blessings,
Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: May 24 2011 at 7:19am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for the great suggestions! Has anyone ever camped where there are bear alerts?  There are bear alerts at the National Park we are going to be at and they are suggestion bear safe coolers. Those things are around $400! We're hoping it's okay to keep our regular coolers in the van, covered.
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: May 24 2011 at 11:30am | IP Logged
|
|
|
some bears will go into a vehicle after stuff.. but I thought most places with bears and camping had a lock up available for you to put food into there.. not a cooler but like something you could put your cooler and other foods into.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: May 24 2011 at 12:27pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Jodie. I checked and they have, and require campers to use "bear boxes". Do you know how big they are? I'm wondering if a cooler would fit in them.
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
lapazfarm
Forum All-Star
Joined: July 21 2005
Location: Alaska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6082
|
| Posted: May 24 2011 at 12:46pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Becky Parker wrote:
| Thanks Jodie. I checked and they have, and require campers to use "bear boxes". Do you know how big they are? I'm wondering if a cooler would fit in them. |
|
|
Most of them are fairly large and you can fit a cooler in them. Otherwise keeping food in your car is usually safe.
The most important thing is to keep a clean camp and never, ever eat, prepare food, or store any food in your tent. Not even so much as a granola bar.
Also be aware that clothing, if food is spilled on it can attract bears. Make sure that kids clothing, especially, is changed before going to sleep and dirty clothes are packed into the car. Make sure to clean sticky hands and faces as well.
Here is a site with some good bear basics:Bear safety tips
All that being said, we have camped in bear country (both black and brown) for many years and have never had any trouble. Just use common sense and you should be fine.
__________________
Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: May 24 2011 at 1:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Theresa, I should have known you would know! Living in Alaska would probably make you a bear expert!
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Camping stuff
