I love to be outside, alone or with my family. I am a huge fan of unstructured time outside to wander and play and explore. But sometimes you need to be ready with some activities to encourage your little ones, or to give you time to get a meal cooked, or to tide you over through an unexpected rainshower. Here is a list of some activities you can do around the campsite with your kids. I would love to hear any other ideas you have.

I have linked through to articles or items that might help you. Check them out.

Make

• Journals
• Make a map of the area
• Take pictures
  • Bring a disposable for each person
  • Digital cameras
• Make a video
• Glue, markers, tape and paper to make collages
• Clay to make sculptures
• Crayons and paper to make rubbings
• Clay or dough to make pressings
• Spore prints 
• Collection of many many great crafty ideas in and about nature from Crafty Crow
• Plaster of paris tracks
• Play binoculars out of toilet paper rolls

Play

• Shadow puppets. Here is a great activity from GiversLog that could be adapted for inside the tent 
• Flashlight tag
• Games- 
  • Sports games: badmitton (with or without the net), paddle ball, horseshoes
  • Board games: Scrabble, Boggle, Pass the Pigs, Jacks (travel versions are great for camping)
• Great game bag you can make seen here and originally blogged here 
• Fun games and outdoor gear to buy 
• Find your tree: one person is blindfolded, spun around and lead to a tree (within eyesite of the starting point) and told “this is your tree”. They can feel, smell, and get to know the tree. They are then brought to the starting point. Take off blindfold and see if you can find your tree again.
• Listening game- close eyes and see how many sounds you can hear
• Nature bingo
• Alphabet nature hunt
• Memory game: collect objects, place on table, have them look then take away and see if can recreate what went where on the table
• Card games: Old Maid, Go Fish, Cribbage, War, Poker
• Make your own puzzles and printables 
• Here is a great site for tons of games played in camps- some would work great for family camping trips too

Do

• Sing camping songs
• Tell camp stories
• Attend Ranger Talks at campground
• Theme hikes

• Color walk
• Sound Walk
• Flashlight hike
• Tracks search- especially fun in fresh snow

• Scavenger hunts

• • For fun
  • To get to know the area you are camping in (increase your safety)
  • Pick up garbage
• Collect special things
  • Talk about what is appropriate to collect and what isn’t
  • This is a great idea to use an egg carton or ice tray to do a color nature collection
• Bring books to help identify animals and plants you find Mammals,  tracks, amphibians and reptiles, birds (western and eastern) Many other great ones listed in our amazon store.
• Check out the constellations
  • Print out free sky map 
  • Print out constellation patterns 
  • Other great ideas collected on Crafty Crow  
• Bikes and helmets can be fun at camgrounds
• Learn some survival skills
• Bring swimming stuff for streams or many campgrounds have pools.
• Bucket and shovel for beach, or digging holes or making rivers of mud
• Geocaching
• Magnifying glass makes searching for things fun
• Learn to make knots
• Bubbles
• Marshmallow shooter
• Teach kids about plants you can eat. It is fun to forage for food. Be clear that they shouldn’t eat things when not with you
• Coloring books
• Waterproof notebooks can be fun for taking notes in the rain

Cook

• Cook meals over the campfire or on sticks
• Get ice cream maker to roll around while talking at campsite
• Make popcorn over the fire
• Make your own food cooking devices

Some Tips for Camping with Kids:  I have included a lot of links through to other articles or to items I think will be useful to you. So check them out.

 Get excited

• Perhaps the most important thing you can do to get your kids to have a good time camping is to get excited yourself. Hype it up. Talk about how great it is going to be and how much you are looking forward to it. Your enthusiasm will be contagious. (Of course too much enthusiasm might turn off those pesky teenagers but you run the risk of that anyway so go nuts!) Kids want to be a part of the fun and if they see that you are having fun chances are they will too.

Try it out

• Try a backyard or even living room camp out first. Set up the tent, roll out the sleeping bags, set out your flashlights. Spend an evening either inside your living room camp without the tv or lights on or in your backyard. Turn on a white noise machine with some cricket noises. Tell ghost stories. Play games. Eat some camping type food. It may feel silly but it will accomplish a few things: you can test out your equipment and make sure it all works and you know how to set up the tent. Your kids will see how it all works and get a feel for where they will be sleeping and how it will be. Plus it is fun!
• Go on day trips to nature so a whole camping trip won’t feel so overwhelming. Visit nature centers, zoos, parks, the beach. Go fishing. Go hiking. Jump in a creek.
• Practice camping with a doll or stuffed animal. Set up a blanket tent for your doll. Use some of your real camping equipment or get one of these really cute toy sets. 

Prepare your kids for the new experiences

• Practice setting up the tent. (You will want to do this anyway. You don’t want to spend the first hour at the campsite struggling with your tent. This will not instill confidence in your kids or set you off on the path to fun.)
• Use your flashlight or headlamp. Try using the flashlight instead of a light at night to find the bathroom. This can be a source of anxiety for kids. Talk about where the bathroom will be at the campground and what they will do when they have to go to the bathroom in the night.
• Sleep in their sleeping bag in their bed to test it out.
• Talk about the sounds they will hear at night in nature- frogs, insects, coyote howls.
• Talk about what animals they might see during the day or at night. Look through field guides and other books. Mammals,  tracks, amphibians and reptiles, birds (western and eastern)
• Read some books about camping and talk about the experiences in the books. There are some beautiful and informative camping and survival books and many of your kids’ favorite characters have their own camping books including Curious George, The Critters, Maisy, and  Cailou. I love this author and illustrator too.  

Teach about respect for nature and how to be safe.

Have age appropriate discussions with your children before you go and throughout your trip.

• Talk before you go about what behavior is acceptable in nature and what behavior is not okay. Talk about the importance of staying on trails both for their safety and for the safety of the wildlife. Discuss how far they will be allowed to explore around the campground itself.
• Teach them how to use a compass and a map. 
• Make sure they know what plants to avoid look like such as poison ivy, poison oak  and stinging nettles.  Talk about what to do if come into contact with them. Bring along anti itch medicine and anti poison ivy/oak washes.
• Talk about fire safety and what kind of behavior is acceptable around the fire. Talk about whether or not they will be involved in helping to build and/or stoke the fire. Kids love fire and love to be involved. Help to avoid a meltdown by discussing beforehand how much they will be allowed to be involved with adding wood to the fire.
• Discuss how to avoid and what to do if come across a dangerous animal like a bear , mountain lion or rattlesnake . 
• Teach basic first aid. Show them where the first aid kit is and how to use it (if age appropriate).
• Teach kids how to look for ticks.  
• Teach them how to pay attention to where they are going when exploring. As you are walking around teach about landmarks, positions of the sun, where water is heard etc. Show them where you are on a map. Talk them through how you pay attention to your surroundings.
• Teach your children what to do if lost- hug a tree. 
• Take a digital picture of your child at the beginning of your trip or each day so that you have a recent photo to show authorities if needed
• Give every child a whistle. It is easier to hear at a distance than a child’s voice

Get your kids involved in the planning

• Where to go
  • Get out the maps and photos and have them help you chose where to go.
• What to eat
  • Who doesn’t love to dream of what you are going to eat. At least if you are cold or tired you can still look forward to those s’mores you know are coming. Eating is a big part of everyone’s day and being involved in the planning for the food helps kids feel like they are a part of the event. 
  • Have some flexibility. Be creative. You are camping. This is your chance to eat hot dogs and oatmeal for breakfast if that is what the kids decide. You can always plan something more civilized for yourself. 
• What activities you will do when you get there
• What to pack
  • Have them help make a list, then let them pack from the list. Of course, double check what they have packed.
  • I love this idea of a visual packing list seen here originally blogged here available in pdf format as a way to get even the youngest kid to help packing. (Can you tell I hate packing.)

Set yourself up for success

• Be reasonable in your expectations. You don’t want to turn your family off to camping with a difficult experience at first. Ease into that ten day long backpacking trip in the wilderness that is eight hours away. Yes, you might have a romantic ideal of getting way out in nature with your family, teaching them to really rough it, and there is no reason you can’t eventually do that. But keep in mind your reasons for going camping. And remember they can be accomplished car camping an hour from your house too. And once everyone has the camping bug there will be no stopping them. 
• Make your first trips out short and close to home. Chose a family-friendly campground. Go somewhere with bathrooms, even showers, and picnic tables. Consider super family-friendly campgrounds that even have playgrounds or pools. 
• Have some car games ready for the travel. Love all the games at MomsMinivan. 
• Choose your site carefully so you can relax at camp. Think about hazards around campsite. For example, you might not want to be next to a rushing stream if you are camping with young kids or you will never get any rest for fear they will fall in the water. 
• Be reasonable when planning day hikes. Be prepared to carry kids if they get too tired.
• Keep organized at campsite. Teach kids to return gear to where it belongs. This can save your sanity. 
• Make notes for yourself about what you need to bring next time, replenish, do again, do differently.

Good planning on your part can make all the difference

• Make sure your equipment works. Know how to set up your tent, use your stove, set up your lantern. Test it out. Make sure you have the right fuel, batteries, extra bulbs/mantles. 
• Have all the equipment you need to make your trip a success:
  • Flashlight or headlamp for each person
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellant for bodies and/or for the campsite
  • Enough snacks and water for everyone
  • The right clothing for everyone. Remember kids get colder and hotter faster than adults. Bring lots of layers.
  • Make sure the bed is comfortable and warm
• Use a checklist to make packing and repacking easier
• Bring a First Aid Kit 
• Use common sense planning tips.  Have the directions. Bring maps for the area. Tell people where you are going. Have the correct passes for the area. Bring some cash.
• We keep our camping gear ready to go. When we get home we clean up and replenish our gear so we are ready to take off.

Plan activites 

• For daytime
• For nighttime around campfire
• For foul weather or extreme boredom (some boredom is good though- it can inspire some great plans)
• Bring an emergency special toy you can bust out if need to.

Be flexible

• Have down time too. Don’t plan every moment. Part of the fun of being outside is the lazy time in between spent staring at the sky or just laying in the grass.
• Go with what you find. Abandon that hike if you find a great line of ants to investigate. 
• Follow their whims
• If/when something goes wrong-laugh. If the rain has got you down bust out that scrabble game.

Get dirty. I love this book i love dirt! Be inspired, even by the title

• Plan ahead with dirty clothes and camp clothes and shoes that remain clean(ish) for both you and your kids
• Pack each day’s clothes in a ziploc. After you undress put back in the ziploc. Keeps dirty away from clean in your bag.
• Bring extra clothes and shoes.

Make everything a game or contest

You know how well it can work at home- even better when camping. 

• Who can collect the most: firewood, pinecones, rocks to mark campsite
• Who can be the fastest at: setting up the tent, unrolling the sleeping bag, getting water
• Chores that can be a drag at home suddenly seem more fun (for a bit) when camping. Many a non-dishwashing kid can be persuaded to wash dishes out of a tub when camping. Take advantage of this. 

Make clear rules

• Before you go discuss what will happen and what is expected of them
• When get to camp make clear where the boundaries are and where and when they are allowed to explore. I love the idea of making glow in the dark rocks seen here  and originally blogged here to mark the campsite boundaries. Be sure to make them at home and take them home with you. Or bring string to mark a trail or circle that kids are allowed to be within.
• Teach about the rules of campsites- noise level, dog ettiquette etc.
• Teach about No Trace Camping

Tips for Camping with an infant.  

Cooking

• Plan easy meals so you don’t spend all your time cooking and cleaning
• Cook meals over campfire or on sticks are big hits with kids (and easy cleanup for parents).
• Bring treats

Empower your kids

• Let them lead the hike
• Let them choose the food
• Take a picture of the fish they catch, no matter how big it is. Then fry that fish up and eat it.
• Thank them for their help. Tell them you are proud of them

Most important:

Be with your kids. Be present. Leave behind your cell phone and computer. Immerse yourself in the moment and in their excitement. Be enthusiastic. Make the memories for you and your kids. This is that time you are going to look back on and smile!

In some ways camping with an infant is easier than camping with children. Here are some tips. I have added some links to articles or items that might help you. Check them out.

• Use a carrier. They allow you to hold baby while doing other things. This keeps your hands free, baby cleaner and safer. There are so many out there but my favorites are Ergo, New Native Sling and Moby Wrap. I could not live without my carriers both at camp and at home. My daughter now rides in the Ergo on my back and can until she is around 3 or 4.
• Once they can sit up well a hiking backpack is great for longer hikes. I love our Kelty pack with its detachable day pack, changing pad and sun canopy. Our daughter loves it. And it keeps everyone cooler than the carriers for a long hot hike. 
• If using formula bring enough bottled water to make your formula. Don’t rely on finding it. Or buy canned formula that doesn’t use water.
• Bring sunscreen designed for babies and hats and clothing to keep out of sun. Here is a website listing toxicity of sunscreens.
• Bring enough warm clothes and blankets. Remember babies get colder and hotter faster than adults so bring layers.
• Can buy milk in containers that don’t need to be refrigerated. Usually found for school lunches.
• Portion out baby cereal in ziplocs.
• Bring small jars of baby food. Can freeze smaller portions of food that will thaw as you go in the cooler. 
• Bring baby wipes to wipe off toys dropped on ground
• Co-sleep safely or use a pack-n-play or travel bed 
• Dispose of diapers safely and cleanly. If backpacking or if using cloth might want to keep dirty diapers in bear proof container when in bear country.
• Bring pack-n-play for containing little one when you are cooking or otherwise occupied. 
• Be aware of animals in area including mountain lions. 
• Take your normal precautions. Never leave baby alone, watch for choking hazards. 

Have fun and enjoy introducing your little one to all the sites and sounds that you love. What a gift.

This is a pretty exciting day here for our website. We’ve just finished adding our “Local Stuff” section to the campgrounds.

What does this mean? Well, when you are browsing campgrounds, you can see what’s nearby. How many times have you needed to get gas? …food or ice or beer? …replacement camping item? While, this new addition is in its early stages, it seems to work pretty good.

Take a look… here, I’ll even provide you with a quick link to one of the campgrounds for you: http://www.findmycampground.com/Camping/Washington/Carson/Paradise-Creek

So, while you’re checking that out… Do us a favor.  Think about what else you might like to be listed locally to your camping spot.  If it’s any good, I’ll probably add it and give you some credit here in my blog!

If you think this website is valuable, why not invite some of your friends?  The more people we have giving their feedback, the better we’ll be able to make this!

Thanks Everyone!

Bob

I never used to carry an emergency or a first aid kit. Bad Bad Bad hiker! I went for years barely carrying water, but never without my binoculars and a bagful of field guides. Thank goodness nothing bad ever happened to me.

Times have changed though. After having our daughter we realized that we needed to be much safer both when we were with her and when we were not. So off we went to the store to put together our first aid and emergency kits. It is overwhelming how many types there are out there.

You can make your own or buy them. And you can customize them a myriad of ways.  The key is to make it useful and to carry it and not to forget to refill it when you use something. Your kit does you no good sitting at home so carry it. Make a little one for your day pack and a bigger one for your car. Think about emergencies and plan ahead. We hope you will never need it but we hope you have it if you do.

Here’s one example of a good First Aid / Emergency Kit from Altrec:

Atwater Carey Backpacker First Aid Kit

The Atwater Carey Backpacker First Aid Kit has enough supplies to treat most field injuries and stop major bleeding. Content features include adhesive gauze tape, trauma dressing, moleskin, antibiotic ointment, wound closures and backcountry first aid instructions.

These lists are not comprehensive. There is no substitute for planning ahead and using your common sense. And don’t forget common sense precautions when planning your trip.

Small First Aid/ Emergency Kit for Hiking and Day trips

Buy or make your own. Keep in a waterproof container. Don’t forget to replenish things as you use them. Again this is not a comprehensive list. Please use planning and common sense when engaging in activities.

I keep the following in a quart size ziploc in our daypack: Adventure Medical Kit Pocket Medic, Adventure Medical Kits SOL Survival Pack,  and Petzel E-lite emergency headlamp, and a multitool.

The Pocket Medic includes:

• Butterfly closures (2)
• Adhesive bandages (6)
• 2 x 2 Sterile dressing (2)
• Sting relief pad
• Double antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes (3)
• Moleskin
• Motrin (4)
• Safety Pins 92)
• Tweezers

To this kit I have added

• Antihistamine
• Allergy medication
• Personal medication
• Personal information: Names, allergies, medication taken, emergency contacts

The SOL Survival Kit includes:

• Compass
• Mini rescue flash signal mirror
• Whistle
• Waterproof and windproof survival matches
• Tinder
• Survival blanket
• Fishing kit
• Duct tape

Our emergency headlamp is a  Petzl E+Lite headlamp. It has a battery that when held in the lock position will not corrode for 10 years. It includes flashing SOS signaling and regular headlamp light. It also has a whistle.

We also keep a multitool in our kit.

First Aid Kit

We keep a larger First Aid Kit in the car or back at camp.

This is not a comprehensive list. You can modify it to fit your situation. Make sure it is usable. Keep in a waterproof container. Good idea to have a comprehensive kit with you as well as an emergency kit that is portable and can be taken with you when hiking or on day trips. Make sure to refill the things that you use when you get home. Please use common sense and planning.

• Personal information including contact people clearly marked somewhere.
• Personal medications (take extra)
• Bandages
  • Different size band-aids
  • Finger band-aid
  • Triangular bandage
  • Roll bandages
  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Ace bandage
  • Butterfly closures
• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic cream
• Cotton swabs
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Tweezers
• Medicines
  • Antacids
  • Aspirin/ Ibuprofen/ Tylenol/ Naproxin
  • Sinus medication
  • Allergy medication
  • Eye drops
  • Ipecac
• Moleskin (for blisters)
• Scissors
• Sunscreen
• Sunburn lotion
• Burn ointment
• Bee sting kit
• Snake bite kit
• Poison ivy cream/cleansers
• Bug repellant
• Hot/cold packs
• Notepad and pen
• Latex gloves
• Sterile compress
• Splinting materials
• Coins for phone calls
• Feminine products
• Antibiotic soap
• Thermometer
• Small bottle of water
• First aid manual

Other things that I keep around for those times when you need them.

• Repair kit for tent/ air mattress
• Safety pins
• Small sewing kit
• Duct tape (can be used as bandage, to make splints, to repair things around camp.)
• Tissues
• Batteries

And of course you need:

• “Emergency” chocolate- you just never know when this will come in handy

As always we welcome your feedback. If we have forgotten something please let us know.

We have created the following camping checklist to ease your planning. It is by no means a comprehensive list so feel free to add to or take away as needed. Please use common sense and safety in your planning and packing.

The list is separated into three categories: Bare Minimum, Middle Ground, and Home Away from Home. There are many repeats as you scroll down as each list includes the previous one.

The list is available and customizable on each campground page on our website. You can customize it to your liking (delete things you won’t be needing, add days for food plan) and then print it out with the directions and local attractions when you make your reservation.

At the end you will find additional lists for Small First Aid/ Emergency Kit, and a larger First Aid Kit.

We have also included a list of dog items if you are bringing a dog.

Happy planning and happy camping!

Bare Mininum

General

• Maps
• Directions
• Reservation information
• Passes for the area (Wilderness Pass/ Adventure Pass etc.)
• Identification
• Money including some cash
• Cell phone (Do not rely on cell phone to get you out of situations. Be prepared with maps and survival plans.)
  • charged battery and/or extra battery and/or solar charger
• Make sure someone knows where you are going. Give details of where you are going and when you are coming back. Give directions including possible alternative routes you may take. Provide someone with cell numbers, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers just in case.

Around Camp

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Ground cloth
• Rain fly
• Flashlight/ Headlamp
  • Batteries
  • Extra bulb
• Water bottle/ Canteen
• Water purification tablets/ filter
• Emergency and First Aid Kits

Small First Aid/ Emergency Kit for Hiking and Day trips

Buy or make your own. Keep in a waterproof container. Don’t forget to replenish things as you use them. Again this is not a comprehensive list. Please use planning and common sense when engaging in activities.

• Butterfly closures (2)
• Adhesive bandages (6)
• 2 x 2 Sterile dressing (2)
• Sting relief pad
• Double antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes (3)
• Moleskin
• Motrin (4)
• Safety Pins (2)
• Tweezers

• Compass
• Mini rescue flash signal mirror
• Whistle
• Waterproof and windproof survival matches
• Tinder
• Survival blanket
• Fishing kit
• Duct tape
• Multi tool
• Emergency food such as extra granola bars and/or jerky

Cooking

• Stove
• Fuel
• Pot with lid
• Matches/ Lighter in waterproof container (even if are waterproof themselves)
• Cooking utensils
  • Hot pad/ gripper for pot
• Silverware
  • spork or spoon per person is bare minimum
• Dishes
  • Bowl or plate per person (unless willing to share cooking container to eat out of)
• Dish soap (biodegradable)
• Garbage bag (carry out all your trash)
• Small shovel

Food Plan

Day

Breakfast    

Lunch        

Dinner        

Snacks        

Clothes

• Hiking shoes/ boots
• Pants
• Shirts
• Underwear
• Socks
• Hat
• Jacket
• Foul weather gear (Rain gear, long underwear etc. Look at weather forcast. Think about evening too)

Personal

• Medication (take extra)
• Sun protection
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
• Tooth brush and tooth paste (biodegradable)

Middle Ground

General

• Maps
• Directions
• Reservation information
• Passes for the area (Wilderness Pass/ Adventure Pass etc.)
• Identification
• Money including some cash
• Cell phone (Do not rely on cell phone to get you out of situations. Be prepared with maps and survival plans.)
  • charged battery and/or extra battery and/or solar charger
• Make sure someone knows where you are going. Give details of where you are going and when you are coming back. Give directions including possible alternative routes you may take. Provide someone with cell numbers, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers just in case.

Around Camp

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Ground cloth
• Rain fly
• Flashlight/ Headlamp
  • Batteries
  • Extra bulb
• Water bottle/ Canteen
• Water purification tablets/ filter
• Emergency and First Aid Kits
• Small shovel
• Cooler
  • Ice or ice packs
• Fire stuff
  • Kindling
  • Wood
  • Fire starters
• Camp chairs/ stools
• Blanket
• Extra stakes for tent
• Pillow
• Sleeping pad
• Axe
• Batteries (think about all your devices)
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • other  
• Lantern (wind up or propane or battery)
  • Fuel
  • Mantles
  • Batteries
• Day pack/ Hip pack
• Large water container (We bring a 5 gallon container of water)
• Quarters (Many campgrounds have showers and most need quarters and most will have no machines or change)
• Camera/ Video camera
  • Batteries
  • Film
  • Waterproof container
• Entertainment
  • Cards
  • Games (scrabble, cribbage board, boggle)
  • Sports equipment (golf, badminton, horseshoes, boce ball)
  • Books/ magazines

Small First Aid/ Emergency Kit for Hiking and Day trips

Buy or make your own. Keep in a waterproof container. Don’t forget to replenish things as you use them. Again this is not a comprehensive list. Please use planning and common sense when engaging in activities.

• Butterfly closures (2)
• Adhesive bandages (6)
• 2 x 2 Sterile dressing (2)
• Sting relief pad
• Double antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes (3)
• Moleskin
• Motrin (4)
• Safety Pins (2)
• Tweezers

• Compass
• Mini rescue flash signal mirror
• Whistle
• Waterproof and windproof survival matches
• Tinder
• Survival blanket
• Fishing kit
• Duct tape
• Multi tool
• Emergency food such as extra granola bars and/or jerky

Cooking

• Stove
• Fuel
• Pots with lids
• Matches/ Lighter in waterproof container (even if are waterproof themselves)
• Cooking utensils
  • Hot pad/ gripper for pot
  • Spatula
  • Stirring spoon
• Silverware
  • spork or spoon per person is bare minimum
  • Forks, knives, spoons
  • Sharp knife for chopping
• Dishes
  • Bowl or plate per person (unless willing to share cooking container to eat out of)
  • Bowls
  • Plates
  • Mugs
• Can and bottle opener
• Ziploc bags
• Paper towels
• Heavy duty aluminum foil
• Sponge/ scrubbing pad (We keep ours in a ziploc)
• Skewers/ grill forks
• Dish towel
• Dish soap (biodegradable)
• Garbage bag (carry out all your trash)
• Extra bags (We carry extra grocery bags which come in handy for many things: garbage, last day or extra dirty dishes, dirty or muddy clothes)

Food

Along with the food we bring for the trip we keep some things always handy in our camping gear in small waterproof containers including:

• Cooking oil/ Pam spray
• Condiments
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Hot sauce
  • Maple syrup
• Spices
  • Salt and pepper
  • Italian seasoning
  • Cayenne or taco seasoning
• Sugar
• Dry milk
• Popcorn
• S’mores fixings: chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallow
• Emergency food such as extra granola bars and jerky

Food Plan

Day  

Breakfast  

Lunch      

Dinner      

Snacks      

Clothes

• Hiking shoes/ boots
• Sandals
• Pants
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Shirts
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sleeping clothes
• Hat
• Jacket
• Foul weather gear (Rain gear, long underwear etc. Look at weather forcast. Think about evening too)

Personal

• Medication (take extra)
• Sun protection
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
• Tooth brush and tooth paste (biodegradable)
• Feminine products
  • Garbage bags to carry out or dispose of properly
• Deodorant
• Soap in plastic container or ziploc
• Comb/ brush
• Toilet paper
• Baby wipes (can stand in place of shower or hand washing)
• Towel

Home Away From Home

General

• Maps
• Directions
• Reservation information
• Passes for the area (Wilderness Pass/ Adventure Pass etc.)
• Identification
• Money including some cash
• Cell phone (Do not rely on cell phone to get you out of situations. Be prepared with maps and survival plans.)
  • charged battery and/or extra battery and/or solar charger
• GPS (Do not rely on for survival. Be prepared with maps and survival plans)
• Make sure someone knows where you are going. Give details of where you are going and when you are coming back. Give directions including possible alternative routes you may take. Provide someone with cell numbers, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers just in case.

Around Camp

• Tent
• Sleeping bag
• Ground cloth
• Rain fly
• Flashlight/ Headlamp
  • Batteries
  • Extra bulb
• Water bottle/ Canteen
• Water purification tablets/ filter
• Emergency and First Aid Kits
• Small shovel
• Cooler
  • Ice or ice packs
• Fire stuff
  • Kindling
  • Wood
  • Fire starters
  • Tools (We love our Firehawk)
• Camp chairs/ stools
• Blanket
• Bedding
• Extra stakes for tent
• Pillow
• Sleeping pad/ cot
• Air mattress
  • air pump
• Axe
• Batteries (think about all your devices)
  • AA
  • AAA
  • C
  • other
• Lantern (wind up or propane or battery)
  • Fuel
  • Mantles
  • Batteries
• Day pack/ Hip pack
• Large water container (We bring a 5 gallon container of water)
• Quarters (Many campgrounds have showers and most need quarters and most will have no machines or change)
• Camera/ Video camera
  • Batteries
  • Film
  • Waterproof container
• Entertainment
  • Cards
  • Games (scrabble, cribbage board, boggle)
  • Sports equipment (golf, badminton, horseshoes, boce ball)
  • Books/ magazines
• 2-way radio/ Walkie talkie
• Radio (Wind-up or batteries)
• Musical instrument and song books
• Bike and helmet
• Travel alarm clock (Catch that meteor shower or that early bird)
• Hammock
• Work gloves
• Lantern pole or hanger
• Fishing gear
  • license
  • bait
• BBQ grill
• Tablecloth with clips
• Folding table
• Solar shower
• Shade tarp (We use collapsable 10×10 canopy or bring poles, and rope and a tarp to make own)
• Mallet/ hammer
• Mat for tent entrance
• Dust pan and brush
• Binoculars
• Laundry equipment
  • Plug for sink
  • Laundry soap
  • Line or rope and clothespins
• Bungi cords/ straps
• Misc. tools (including screwdriver or hammer)

Small First Aid/ Emergency Kit for Hiking and Day trips

Buy or make your own. Keep in a waterproof container. Don’t forget to replenish things as you use them. Again this is not a comprehensive list. Please use planning and common sense when engaging in activities.

• Butterfly closures (2)
• Adhesive bandages (6)
• 2 x 2 Sterile dressing (2)
• Sting relief pad
• Double antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes (3)
• Moleskin
• Motrin (4)
• Safety Pins 92)
• Tweezers

• Compass
• Mini rescue flash signal mirror
• Whistle
• Waterproof and windproof survival matches
• Tinder
• Survival blanket
• Fishing kit
• Duct tape
• Multi tool
• Emergency food such as extra granola bars and/or jerky

Cooking

• Stove
• Fuel
• Pots with lids
• Matches/ Lighter in waterproof container (even if are waterproof themselves)
• Cooking utensils
  • Hot pad/ gripper for pot
  • Spatula
  • Stirring spoon
  • Tongs
• Silverware
  • spork or spoon per person is bare minimum
  • Forks, knives, spoons
  • Sharp knife for chopping
• Dishes
  • Bowl or plate per person (unless willing to share cooking container to eat out of)
  • Bowls
  • Plates
  • Mugs
• Can and bottle opener
• Wine opener
• Ziploc bags
• Paper towels
• Heavy duty aluminum foil
• Sponge/ scrubbing pad (We keep ours in a ziploc)
• Skewers/ grill forks
• Dish towel
• Dish soap (biodegradable)
• Garbage bag (carry out all your trash)
• Extra bags (We carry extra grocery bags which come in handy for many things: garbage, last day or extra dirty dishes, dirty or muddy clothes)
• Rags (cleaning outside of pans)
• Thermos
• Tub for washing dishes
• Cutting board
• Dutch oven
• Pie iron
• Camp/ solar oven
• Napkins
• Percolator/ coffee maker/ espresso maker
• Griddle
• Plastic water/ wine cups

Food

Along with the food we bring for the trip we keep some things always handy in our camping gear in small waterproof containers including:

• Cooking oil/ Pam spray
• Condiments
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Hot sauce
  • Maple syrup
• Spices
  • Salt and pepper
  • Italian seasoning
  • Cayenne or taco seasoning
• Sugar
• Dry milk
• Popcorn
• S’mores fixings: chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallow
• Emergency food such as extra granola bars and jerky

Food Plan

Day  

Breakfast    

Lunch        

Dinner      

Snacks     

Clothes

• Hiking shoes/ boots
• Sandals
• Camp shoes
• Shower shoes/ flip flops
• Pants
• Jeans
• Shorts
• Shirts
• Underwear
• Socks
  • Tent socks
• Sleeping clothes
• Hat
• Jacket
• Foul weather gear (Rain gear, long underwear etc. Look at weather forcast. Think about evening too)
• Towel
• Laundry bag

Personal

• Medication (take extra)
• Sun protection
  • Hat
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
• Tooth brush and tooth paste (biodegradable)
• Feminine products
  • Garbage bags to carry out or dispose of properly
• Deodorant
• Soap in plastic container or ziploc
• Comb/ brush
• Toilet paper
• Baby wipes (can stand in place of shower or hand washing)
• Bug repellant

First Aid Kits

Small First Aid/ Emergency Kit for Hiking and Day trips

Buy or make your own. Keep in a waterproof container. Don’t forget to replenish things as you use them. Again this is not a comprehensive list. Please use planning and common sense when engaging in activities.

I keep the following in a quart size ziploc in our daypack: Adventure Medical Kit Pocket Medic, Adventure Medical Kits SOL Survival Pack,  and Petzel E-lite emergency headlamp, and a multitool.

The Pocket Medic includes:

• Butterfly closures (2)
• Adhesive bandages (6)
• 2 x 2 Sterile dressing (2)
• Sting relief pad
• Double antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic towelettes (3)
• Moleskin
• Motrin (4)
• Safety Pins 92)
• Tweezers

To this kit I have added

• Antihistamine
• Allergy medication
• Personal medication
• Personal information: Names, allergies, medication taken, emergency contacts

The SOL Survival Kit includes:

• Compass
• Mini rescue flash signal mirror
• Whistle
• Waterproof and windproof survival matches
• Tinder
• Survival blanket
• Fishing kit
• Duct tape

Our emergency headlamp is a  Petzl E+Lite headlamp. It has a battery that when held in the lock position will not corrode for 10 years. It includes flashing SOS signaling and regular headlamp light. It also has a whistle.

We also keep a multitool in our kit.

First Aid Kit

We keep a larger First Aid Kit in the car or back at camp.

This is not a comprehensive list. You can modify it to fit your situation. Make sure it is usable. Keep in a waterproof container. Good idea to have a comprehensive kit with you as well as an emergency kit that is portable and can be taken with you when hiking or on day trips. Make sure to refill the things that you use when you get home. Please use common sense and planning.

• Personal information including contact people clearly marked somewhere.
• Personal medications (take extra)
• Bandages
  • Different size band-aids
  • Finger band-aid
  • Triangular bandage
  • Roll bandages
  • Sterile gauze pads
  • Ace bandage
  • Butterfly closures
• Adhesive tape
• Antiseptic wipes
• Antibiotic cream
• Cotton swabs
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Tweezers
• Medicines
  • Antacids
  • Aspirin/ Ibuprofen/ Tylenol/ Naproxin
  • Sinus medication
  • Allergy medication
  • Eye drops
  • Ipecac
• Moleskin (for blisters)
• Scissors
• Sunscreen
• Sunburn lotion
• Burn ointment
• Bee sting kit
• Snake bite kit
• Poison ivy cream/cleansers
• Bug repellant
• Hot/cold packs
• Notepad and pen
• Latex gloves
• Sterile compress
• Splinting materials
• Coins for phone calls
• Feminine products
• Antibiotic soap
• Thermometer
• Small bottle of water
• First aid manual

Other things that I keep around for those times when you need them.

• Small mirror
• Emergency blanket
• Whistle
• Repair kit for tent/ air mattress
• Safety pins
• Small sewing kit
• Duct tape (can be used as bandage, to make splints, to repair things around camp.)
• Tissues
• Batteries

Gear for Dog

Before you bring your dog along make sure that the area you are going allows dogs. There are some areas that allow dogs in the campground but not in the surrounding area. Keep this in mind. Also check if there are any additional passes or fees needed.  Make sure your dog is always with a collar and tags including your identification numbers.

• Food (bring extra)
• Think about extra water for dog (don’t just assume the dog will drink out of streams etc.)
• Device for getting water to dog while hiking (collapsible bowl, squeeze bottle)
• Water and food bowls
• Leash (dogs should be leashed at all times for the protection of wildlife and themselves)
• Shelter/ Bed
• Pads to protect dog’s feet (if hiking in hot or rocky area)
• Stake and line (never leave dog unattended at campsite)

We are always interested in your feedback. If you feel like we are missing something or something is mislabeled please let us know. Thanks!

Sometimes you just want to get out. You want to just get in your car and go off for a hike or a camping trip. It is fun. And I know I have done it before. No planning, just going. And suddenly you are out and realizing that if you got hurt it would be really bad. Does anyone even know I am here? Where is the nearest way out? It is getting dark, do I even have a flashlight?

Here are a couple things to keep in mind before you go out. Bring a first aid and emergency kit. Bring a map. Bring enough water, a snack. And tell someone where you are going. These little things take a little planning but mean a lot. This is by no means an exhaustive list. Common sense and safety are your biggest allies so use them.

Here are some things to bring with you and to keep in mind:

• Maps- street and topographic
  • Seriously, have you read Into the Wild? If that poor kid had brought a topographic map we would get to hear all about his next big adventure.
• Directions
  • Photocopy the pages out of your book if you don’t want to carry the whole thing. Or print them off the internet.
• Reservation information
• Passes for the area (Wilderness Pass/ Adventure Pass etc.)
• Identification
  • Photo ID
  • Card detailing your medications and allergies if appropriate
  • Emergency contact information
• First Aid and Emergency Kit
• Extra water and food
• Money including some cash
  • Change for phone call
• Cell phone (Do not rely on cell phone to get you out of situations. Be prepared with maps and survival plans.)
  • charged battery and/or extra battery and/or solar charger
• GPS (Do not rely on for survival. Be prepared with maps and survival plans)
• Make sure someone knows where you are going. 
  • Give details of where you are going and when you are coming back. 
  • Give directions including possible alternative routes you may take. 
  • Provide someone with cell numbers, vehicle descriptions, license plate numbers just in case.
  • Join the modern age and Facebook it or Twitter it.

Here is a small list of tips we have found that work for us when we are cooking while camping:

• Use ice packs instead of ice.
  • It saves a last minute trip to the store to get ice (a detail we always seemed to forget), they can be reused and best of all when it melts you don’t have to worry about the water getting in and infecting your food.
• Prepare much of your food at home
  • Pre-cut what you can
  • Pre-measure ingredients for recipes
    • Mix dry ingredients together in a plastic bag
    • Bring along only how much you need (bring 1 C milk in a container so don’t have to worry about leftovers)
  • Pre-cook or par cook what you can
    • We always pre-cook bacon at home so don’t have to deal with the grease at the campsite
    • Par-bake potatoes, cool and wrap in foil then stick in the fire to finish cooking
  • Freeze meat in marinade at home. It will thaw as you are out there and you don’t have to worry about it going bad.
• Bring along extra spices and condiments. It can save a flavorless meal or help a charred one.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Ketchup and mustard
  • Maple syrup
  • Sugar and brown sugar
  • Hot sauce (a life saver many a time)
  • Italian seasoning
  • Taco seasoning or cayenne
  • Dry milk
• Bring along a treat
  • Nothing can save a cold or tiring day like a secret stash of a candy bar pulling out fixings for a s’more
• Have something warm to drink
  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Hot chocolate (make your own mix)
  • Containers of premade Chai tea or Rice Milk eggnog to heat up
  • Cider
• Use the fire
  • Cooking with the fire can ease prep and clean up if you use foil packets, skewers and/or grills. No pots and pans to clean up. Just throw away your foil or wipe off the skewer and you are done
  • Be prepared, though, with rags for clean up if you are going to put your pots directly on the fire or on the grill over the fire. The outsides get charred.
• Eat your most perishable items first.
  • Veggis and meat go bad first. Eat those before that spaghetti.
• Instant coffee and granola bars are your friend.
  • Especially when you are trying to get an early start on the day and get out hiking. I love a good camping breakfast to linger over but sometimes something fast is great so you can get out and get some miles on those shoes.
• Bring extra grocery bag for last day’s dishes
  • We wash our dishes as we go, of course, but on the last day we just dump the dishes into a grocery bag and take them home to wash them. They are going in the dishwasher at the end of the trip anyway so why not save yourself one time of heating up water to wash them off.
• Limit the amount of things that need to boil- especially for a long time
  • It may seem like spaghetti is a great thing to cook when camping but over the years we have finally realized the pitfalls of waiting FOR EVER for water to boil, and reboil and cook pasta. There are many easier things to make.
  • This is especially true when you are at any altitude.

We have a beautiful, giant Irish Wolfhound/ Poodle mix named Willow. We love her dearly and love to bring her with us camping and hiking. However, it is important to understand the effect dogs have on the environment and to be respectful of regulations regarding leash use and noise levels.

Effects of dogs on wildlife include:

• Direct predation: Killing wildlife
• Indirect predation: Even if a dog doesn’t catch an animal, chasing it can cause the animal to expend many calories which it needs to survive leaving it vulnerable to predation by other animals or the natural elements. This is especially dangerous for pregnant, newborn or elderly animals.
• Changing resources: Drinking water, muddying streams or changing water flow, digging or destroying plants
• Disease transmission: both to the wildlife and to the dogs and owners
• Noise pollution
• Nitrogen deposits from poop
• Scent marking
• Transfer of poison oak to owners or visitors
• Changing how others view their experience. Especially if a dog is off leash and jumping or barking either at wildlife or at other visitors. Or if people do not clean up after their dog and its waste. It can change how people view their time spent outside.

Again, I want to state that we are dog lovers. And enjoy bringing our dog into nature with us. We work hard to be aware of our impact and our effect on others. When people do not obey regulations or are disrespectful it ruins it for everyone, people are disgruntled and dogs are banned from areas. We believe if we remain respectful dog owners we make it easier for everyone to enjoy nature, make it easier on the wildlife, and ultimately make it a better experience for everyone.

Gear for Dog

Before you bring your dog along make sure that the area you are going allows dogs. There are some areas that allow dogs in the campground but not in the surrounding area. Keep this in mind. Also check if there are any additional passes or fees needed.  Make sure your dog is always with a collar and tags including your identification numbers.

• Food (bring extra)
• Think about extra water for dog (don’t just assume that they are going to drink from a stream etc.)
• Device to give dog water while hiking (collapsible bowl, squeeze water bottle)
• Water and food bowls
• Leash (dogs should be leashed at all times for the protection of wildlife and themselves)
• Shelter/ Bed
• Pads to protect dog’s feet (if hiking in hot or rocky area)
• Stake and line (never leave dog unattended at campsite)

So, you want to go camping.  If you’ve been camping before then you probably know what pitfalls to avoid, what to prepare ahead of time, your favorite campgrounds, etc….

What if you’re new or somewhat new to camping?  How do you find a campground?  What equipment should you bring?  What pitfalls should you avoid?  What do you need to prepare for ahead of time?  There can be a lot of questions which may steer a lot of people away from camping… but really, it’s not that difficult.

There are many ways to find campgrounds for sure.  I always suggest asking friends or family who have been camping.  It’s the easiest way to get a good recommendation.  Of course, if none of them go camping or the ones that do, don’t go anywhere you’d like to go…. then you’re left with some other resources.  The Internet can certainly be useful, but difficult sometimes.   Just try googling “Find Campgrounds near Rancho Dominguez“.  You’ll see some good and some random results.

When searching online for campgrounds, I tend to recommend finding a website focused specifically on campgrounds as there are a lot of websites which just mix information together with no real value.  It’s also really beneficial to find campground websites which provide some photos, a description, the activities available there, what hikes might be available, the weather forecast, local stores, local gas stations, local attractions, maps, reviews, etc.  I know… I know… it’s a tall order for sure, but think about it.  You would like to know more about the campground before making a reservation, right?  Plus, knowing what facilities are local are important for sure… We all need gas for our cars or RVs.  Plus, if it’s going to rain, heck that’d be great to know!  There are probably only a handful of these sites available on the Internet.

In my next article, I’ll write about what equipment to bring.  This does depend on who you are, the environment you’ll be in, the weather, your style of camping, and your budget.

Camping can be really fun and a great way to re-energize oneself…

——————–

Bob Grant

FindMyCampground.com