When you are not swimming, fishing, hiking, biking or boating...When you're not cooking, eating or sleeping at your campsite..what are some games you can enjoy at your campsite?
Depending upon how much room you have at your site, here are some great options:
Bocce Ball (or lawn bowling) - This game is similar to shuffleboard. One person tosses the yellow or white ball (the Palino ball). This is now the target. The other players then take turns to get their colored balls to be the closest to the yellow ball.
Ladderball (or Hillbilly Golf) -From a predetermined distance, 2 players or teams toss the golf ball ropes towards the ladder. Depending on what level the rope lands on determines the number of points received. For those with limited space, you can get just 1 ladder.
Corn Hole (or bag toss) - From a predetermined distance, 2 players or teams toss the bean bags or corn bags towards the hole on the opposite side. You score points by your bag going through the hole or landing on the box. This game is generally larger, and unless you had extra room, like a truck or a camper, you might find it too big for camping. Again, you can just buy one target instead of two.
Washer Toss - Similar to corn hole, but with a smaller target and smaller throwing objects. This one would travel easier for those with limited space.
Kan Jam - 2 teams or players take turns throwing the Frisbee towards the can. The teammate on the other side should hit the Frisbee so that it lands inside the can. The cans fold down flat making them easy to travel.
Volleyball - 2 teams or players take turns hitting the ball over the net. Many sets also come with Badmitton rackets.
Of course my boys just bring a football to play catch, or possibly an impromptu game with friends they make in the campground. They also grab their ball gloves and a baseball for the same purpose. You could also bring just a Frisbee for throwing at the campsite or at the beach. If you are near sand, you might be sure to have sand castle tools with you.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
What do I look for in a campground?
There are so many campgrounds to choose from. How do you know if it's a good campground or if it will meet your needs? Most generally, we camp at our State Parks. We live in Indiana and out of the 30 State Parks and Reservoirs, we have camped at 11 of them so far. (Our goal is to visit them all before the boys are grown and out of the house. We try to camp at at least 1 new one every year.) We have found that the State funded campgrounds have more to do than a private campground might. Since we are in Indiana, I will link to the best campgrounds we have found so far. Just know that every state has great state parks to choose from.
If you have a boat, like to fish or enjoy lake beaches, you might be sure to find a campground with water within the park. Fishing is usually better at a river rather than a reservoir. However, you will find beaches at a reservoir and more boating opportunities. We don't have a boat - but might occasionally take or rent a canoe. But we have a son that loves to swim at the beaches, so we enjoy both.
The best State Park we have found for fishing and swimming is Patoka Lake State Park in southern Indiana. We went when the boys were pretty young, so we need to visit there again. I notice there is a disc golf course there. (I don't think that was there before.) I remember we did a fitness trail that the boys really enjoyed and the fishing was good when we were there.
If you like hiking and/or biking, there are many parks that offer numerous hiking trails, including mountain bike trails. Look for a state park that has many trails to choose from at different difficulty levels. If you have young children, or children still in a stroller, you will want to look for trails that are easier. If you are the adventurous type, or have adventurous children, you might look for the more rugged trails.
Potato Creek State Park in northern Indiana (near South Bend) is a great park for trails. Even in the winter time, they have cross country ski trails. There are a few bike trails also. Even if you'd rather walk a road, there are so many loops in this campground, that you can get plenty of walking or biking exercise without really getting off a paved road.
If you like educational trips, you might look for Interpretive Centers or good Nature Centers. Many campgrounds provide programs throughout the year. If you are flexible in your dates, you might plan around one of these programs.
For example, Spring Mill State Park has an annual Gus Grissom Day in the middle of July. We visited there a few years ago. They have special programs all day and the local Stargazers club comes in with their telescopes to allow you too view stars, sun spots and other objects in space. Another great example of an educational trip, is to visit Mounds State Park near Anderson. Within their park, they have Indian Mounds that were built circa 160 BC by the Woodland Indians. They have a wonderful Interpretive Center at the head of that particular trail to explain what you will see at the mounds site and artifacts that were found within the mounds.
If you have a boat, like to fish or enjoy lake beaches, you might be sure to find a campground with water within the park. Fishing is usually better at a river rather than a reservoir. However, you will find beaches at a reservoir and more boating opportunities. We don't have a boat - but might occasionally take or rent a canoe. But we have a son that loves to swim at the beaches, so we enjoy both.
The best State Park we have found for fishing and swimming is Patoka Lake State Park in southern Indiana. We went when the boys were pretty young, so we need to visit there again. I notice there is a disc golf course there. (I don't think that was there before.) I remember we did a fitness trail that the boys really enjoyed and the fishing was good when we were there.
If you like hiking and/or biking, there are many parks that offer numerous hiking trails, including mountain bike trails. Look for a state park that has many trails to choose from at different difficulty levels. If you have young children, or children still in a stroller, you will want to look for trails that are easier. If you are the adventurous type, or have adventurous children, you might look for the more rugged trails.
Potato Creek State Park in northern Indiana (near South Bend) is a great park for trails. Even in the winter time, they have cross country ski trails. There are a few bike trails also. Even if you'd rather walk a road, there are so many loops in this campground, that you can get plenty of walking or biking exercise without really getting off a paved road.
If you like educational trips, you might look for Interpretive Centers or good Nature Centers. Many campgrounds provide programs throughout the year. If you are flexible in your dates, you might plan around one of these programs.
For example, Spring Mill State Park has an annual Gus Grissom Day in the middle of July. We visited there a few years ago. They have special programs all day and the local Stargazers club comes in with their telescopes to allow you too view stars, sun spots and other objects in space. Another great example of an educational trip, is to visit Mounds State Park near Anderson. Within their park, they have Indian Mounds that were built circa 160 BC by the Woodland Indians. They have a wonderful Interpretive Center at the head of that particular trail to explain what you will see at the mounds site and artifacts that were found within the mounds.
Monday, July 22, 2013
A week of meals
We are getting ready to go on a week long camping trip to our local church campground for Family Camp. We will be using electricity all weekend - electric skillet, electric griddle, crockpot, etc...
I wanted to share with you my meal plan along with some recipes. I can't guarantee that we will stick entirely to this plan. It allows for changes due to activities that are going on at the camp and meals that we may decide to just purchase at the campground. But it will give you an idea how we do our meals for this type of setting. These meals are much different than what we plan if we are at a state park on our own without a set schedule to keep (like church services and family activities we have during Family Camp.)
Monday
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs
Smokey links
Toast
Lunch
Hot dogs
Baked Beans
Raw veggies
Supper
Pizza in a crockpot
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (or substitute 1/2 lb. for Italian Sausage) (I prebrowned)
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
1 - 15oz can tomato sauce
1 jar (14 oz) pizza sauce
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
3 cups spiral pasta, cooked and drained (I precooked)
2 pkg. (3 1/2 oz each) sliced pepperoni
2 cups (8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Brown the beef, gr. pepper, and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Stir in the tomato sauce, pizza sauce and tomato paste. In a 5qt. slow cooker, layer the pasta, beef mixture, pepperoni and cheese. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through.
* I make my own sauces with veggies already included, so instead of taking all those sauces, I'm just taking a jar of my own sauce. I also have to cut this recipe in half because I don't have a 5 qt. slow cooker in the camper and we don't have room for lots of leftovers anyway.
Tuesday
Breakfast
Pancakes
Fruit (oranges, apples, grapes)
Lunch
Chicken/tuna salad
Hot veggies (corn or green beans are easy)
Supper
Crockpot smoked sausage, green beans, onion and potatoes
I do the potatoes and onion in some water first for a few hours, then add the canned green beans and smoked sausage about an hour before serving.
Wednesday
Breakfast
Muffins
Cereal
Fruit
Lunch
Bean and rice tortillas
*I premake the bean and rice mixture and warm it up at the campground
1 cup brown rice (cooked)
2 cans of black beans
1 cup of corn
1 can of diced tomatoes (with green chiles if you like)
1 Tbsp. chili powder
Put in tortillas and add cheese before rolling up.
Supper
Hamburgers on the grill
Chips
Raw veggies
Corn on the cob
Thursday
Breakfast
Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Toast
Lunch
BBQ chicken sandwiches
* This is from a meal I made last week and I froze the leftover for sandwiches later
4 chicken breast
1 bottle bbq sauce
1/4 cups brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
Put all in a crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours, or until chicken falls apart
(We served it on rice the first time we had it.)
Supper
Beef Nacho Casserole
1 lb. ground beef (I pre-browned)
1 1/2 cups chunky salsa
1 (10 oz) can corn, drained (I use what we freeze from the garden)
3/4 cup Miracle Whip (or sour cream - we will use mayo since that's what we'll already have in the camper for chicken salad sandwiches)
1 tsp. chili powder
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
2 cups Colby cheese
Place ground beef in a skillet until browned; drain. Stir in salsa, corn, mayo and chili powder.
The recipe calls for you to layer this with chips and cheese and bake in an oven. Since we don't have an oven, I will put cheese on top in the electric skillet. Then we will serve this mixture over crushed tortilla chips.
Friday
Breakfast
Pancakes
smokey links
fruit
Lunch
Leftovers or lunch meat sandwiches
Supper
Beef stew in the crockpot
Cubed beef
potatoes
carrots (I pre-chopped)
onion
spices (to taste)
Cook on high for 4 hours. Mix 1 cup water with 1 Tbsp. flour in a small saucepan until thickened. Add to the crockpot and let cook for 1 hour more.
Other than the ingredients we need for the meals, we always take:
peanut butter
honey
bread
lots of fresh and canned fruit
almonds
cheese chunks and slices
pretzels
granola bars
cookies
plenty to drink (water bottles and pop cans - which we don't normally buy, so it's a special treat for the kids)
drink mixes (and we have a 1 qt. drink container in the camper to mix lemonade or tea)
popcorn (and an air popper)
condiments
I keep the meat, eggs, milk and cheese products in the refrigerator. Then meal type stuff until it's full. We keep a cooler outside the camper with fruit and drinks - things that don't have to stay super cold and it's okay if the container gets wet as the ice melts.
I wanted to share with you my meal plan along with some recipes. I can't guarantee that we will stick entirely to this plan. It allows for changes due to activities that are going on at the camp and meals that we may decide to just purchase at the campground. But it will give you an idea how we do our meals for this type of setting. These meals are much different than what we plan if we are at a state park on our own without a set schedule to keep (like church services and family activities we have during Family Camp.)
Monday
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs
Smokey links
Toast
Lunch
Hot dogs
Baked Beans
Raw veggies
Supper
Pizza in a crockpot
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef (or substitute 1/2 lb. for Italian Sausage) (I prebrowned)
1 med. green pepper, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
1 - 15oz can tomato sauce
1 jar (14 oz) pizza sauce
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
3 cups spiral pasta, cooked and drained (I precooked)
2 pkg. (3 1/2 oz each) sliced pepperoni
2 cups (8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese
Brown the beef, gr. pepper, and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Stir in the tomato sauce, pizza sauce and tomato paste. In a 5qt. slow cooker, layer the pasta, beef mixture, pepperoni and cheese. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until heated through.
* I make my own sauces with veggies already included, so instead of taking all those sauces, I'm just taking a jar of my own sauce. I also have to cut this recipe in half because I don't have a 5 qt. slow cooker in the camper and we don't have room for lots of leftovers anyway.
Tuesday
Breakfast
Pancakes
Fruit (oranges, apples, grapes)
Lunch
Chicken/tuna salad
Hot veggies (corn or green beans are easy)
Supper
Crockpot smoked sausage, green beans, onion and potatoes
I do the potatoes and onion in some water first for a few hours, then add the canned green beans and smoked sausage about an hour before serving.
Wednesday
Breakfast
Muffins
Cereal
Fruit
Lunch
Bean and rice tortillas
*I premake the bean and rice mixture and warm it up at the campground
1 cup brown rice (cooked)
2 cans of black beans
1 cup of corn
1 can of diced tomatoes (with green chiles if you like)
1 Tbsp. chili powder
Put in tortillas and add cheese before rolling up.
Supper
Hamburgers on the grill
Chips
Raw veggies
Corn on the cob
Thursday
Breakfast
Scrambled eggs
Bacon
Toast
Lunch
BBQ chicken sandwiches
* This is from a meal I made last week and I froze the leftover for sandwiches later
4 chicken breast
1 bottle bbq sauce
1/4 cups brown sugar
1 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce
Put all in a crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours, or until chicken falls apart
(We served it on rice the first time we had it.)
Supper
Beef Nacho Casserole
1 lb. ground beef (I pre-browned)
1 1/2 cups chunky salsa
1 (10 oz) can corn, drained (I use what we freeze from the garden)
3/4 cup Miracle Whip (or sour cream - we will use mayo since that's what we'll already have in the camper for chicken salad sandwiches)
1 tsp. chili powder
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
2 cups Colby cheese
Place ground beef in a skillet until browned; drain. Stir in salsa, corn, mayo and chili powder.
The recipe calls for you to layer this with chips and cheese and bake in an oven. Since we don't have an oven, I will put cheese on top in the electric skillet. Then we will serve this mixture over crushed tortilla chips.
Friday
Breakfast
Pancakes
smokey links
fruit
Lunch
Leftovers or lunch meat sandwiches
Supper
Beef stew in the crockpot
Cubed beef
potatoes
carrots (I pre-chopped)
onion
spices (to taste)
Cook on high for 4 hours. Mix 1 cup water with 1 Tbsp. flour in a small saucepan until thickened. Add to the crockpot and let cook for 1 hour more.
Other than the ingredients we need for the meals, we always take:
peanut butter
honey
bread
lots of fresh and canned fruit
almonds
cheese chunks and slices
pretzels
granola bars
cookies
plenty to drink (water bottles and pop cans - which we don't normally buy, so it's a special treat for the kids)
drink mixes (and we have a 1 qt. drink container in the camper to mix lemonade or tea)
popcorn (and an air popper)
condiments
I keep the meat, eggs, milk and cheese products in the refrigerator. Then meal type stuff until it's full. We keep a cooler outside the camper with fruit and drinks - things that don't have to stay super cold and it's okay if the container gets wet as the ice melts.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Free Kindle Book on Amazon
To go along with my post on Hobo Packets, I noticed this free book at Amazon for Kindle. I don't know how long it will be free, so grab it quickly!
Hobo Packets
Generally when someone thinks of cooking outside, one thinks of hot dogs and burgers, chips, raw veggies and fruit. Hobo packets are also a popular meal to cook over the fire - hamburger, potatoes, carrots and onion. But there can be so much more to hobo packets!
Step 1: Prepare the foil
Cut 18 inch square sheets of foil.
Step 2: Choose your meat
Chicken - cut boneless, skinless breasts into 1/2 inch wide strips or use thighs. Season with salt and pepper.
Kielbasa - Cut kielbasa or other smoked sausage into 4 inch long pieces and halve them lengthwise.
Hamburger - Make 4 inch wide patties and season with salt and pepper
Shrimp - Shell the shrimp and season with salt and pepper
Cubed steak - Just make sure it's tenderized well
Pork chops
Step 3: Toss in some extras
Beans
Vegetables - peppers, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, onion, cauliflower, mushrooms, garlic
Fruit - apples, grapes, tomatoes
Nuts
Cheese
Step 4: Add some zip
Parsley pump up - 2 Tbsp. parsley, zest of 1 lemon, 1 clove garlic, minced
Asian Fusion - 2 Tbsp. minced cilantro, zest of 1 orange, 1 1/2 tsp. grated peeled ginger, 1 tsp. sliced green onion tops or chives
Tex-Mex - 3 Tbsp. minced cilantro, 2 Tbsp. minced chipotle chile, 1 Tbsp. sliced green onion, 1 clove garlic, minced
Vinegar splash - 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper
Ponzu Power - 2 Tbsp. ponzu (a Japanese sauce), 1 tsp. minced ginger, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. sesame oil, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, salt and pepper
Mustard Madness - 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, salt and pepper
BBQ sauce
Ranch seasoning
Step 5: Seal, label and grill the packets
Make a campfire, or heat a grill on high. Select your choice of ingredients and put them on one side of the foil. Fold over the foil and roll up the edges to seal in juices. Roll the foil as close to the food as possible. Use a permanent marker to label the packets. Lay the packets on the grill, on the coals of the campfire, or on the grate over a campfire flame. Cook until the meat is cooked through - about 7 minutes per side. Carefully remove them from the fire with fire resistant gloves.
Some varieties:
Oktoberfest
Kielbasa, butter beans, carrots, summer squash, Mustard Madness
Mediterranean Coast
Chicken breast, red potato, broccoli, red onion, feta, Vinegar Splash, Parsley Pump-up
South of the Border
hamburger, black beans, red onion, zucchini, grape tomatoes, corn, Pepper Jack cheese, Tex-Mex
Off to Asia
shrimp, red bell pepper, asparagus, pineapple, sliced almonds, Asian Fusion, Ponzu Power
BBQ Pork
pork chops, BBQ sauce, green beans, potatoes, onion
Hamburger
Mix into the hamburger meat the following:
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
(Most of these recipes came from Family Fun)
Step 1: Prepare the foil
Cut 18 inch square sheets of foil.
Step 2: Choose your meat
Chicken - cut boneless, skinless breasts into 1/2 inch wide strips or use thighs. Season with salt and pepper.
Kielbasa - Cut kielbasa or other smoked sausage into 4 inch long pieces and halve them lengthwise.
Hamburger - Make 4 inch wide patties and season with salt and pepper
Shrimp - Shell the shrimp and season with salt and pepper
Cubed steak - Just make sure it's tenderized well
Pork chops
Step 3: Toss in some extras
Beans
Vegetables - peppers, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, onion, cauliflower, mushrooms, garlic
Fruit - apples, grapes, tomatoes
Nuts
Cheese
Step 4: Add some zip
Parsley pump up - 2 Tbsp. parsley, zest of 1 lemon, 1 clove garlic, minced
Asian Fusion - 2 Tbsp. minced cilantro, zest of 1 orange, 1 1/2 tsp. grated peeled ginger, 1 tsp. sliced green onion tops or chives
Tex-Mex - 3 Tbsp. minced cilantro, 2 Tbsp. minced chipotle chile, 1 Tbsp. sliced green onion, 1 clove garlic, minced
Vinegar splash - 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, 1 clove garlic, minced, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt and pepper
Ponzu Power - 2 Tbsp. ponzu (a Japanese sauce), 1 tsp. minced ginger, 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. sesame oil, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, salt and pepper
Mustard Madness - 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard, 2 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, salt and pepper
BBQ sauce
Ranch seasoning
Step 5: Seal, label and grill the packets
Make a campfire, or heat a grill on high. Select your choice of ingredients and put them on one side of the foil. Fold over the foil and roll up the edges to seal in juices. Roll the foil as close to the food as possible. Use a permanent marker to label the packets. Lay the packets on the grill, on the coals of the campfire, or on the grate over a campfire flame. Cook until the meat is cooked through - about 7 minutes per side. Carefully remove them from the fire with fire resistant gloves.
Oktoberfest
Kielbasa, butter beans, carrots, summer squash, Mustard Madness
Mediterranean Coast
Chicken breast, red potato, broccoli, red onion, feta, Vinegar Splash, Parsley Pump-up
South of the Border
hamburger, black beans, red onion, zucchini, grape tomatoes, corn, Pepper Jack cheese, Tex-Mex
Off to Asia
shrimp, red bell pepper, asparagus, pineapple, sliced almonds, Asian Fusion, Ponzu Power
BBQ Pork
pork chops, BBQ sauce, green beans, potatoes, onion
Hamburger
Mix into the hamburger meat the following:
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
(Most of these recipes came from Family Fun)
Monday, July 15, 2013
Our upgrade from tent camping
Last year, we purchased a used tent camper (pop up camper). It needed lots of work (and still does.) It was worth it to me to purchase one slightly damaged and put work into it than spend the extra for a "nicer" one. Honestly, for the price we paid, we got a pretty good shell. The canvas is still usable and doesn't leak, nor does the top leak - anymore :)
Benefits of owning a camper:
bed - not sleeping on the ground
more weather proof
electricity
more storage
more room
refrigerator
A/C - it really comes in handy during those super hot/humid days
couch/table to sit and play games when it's raining or dark (otherwise we use the picnic table)
less time spent in set up
Drawbacks:
more maintenance
higher costs
While I'm happy with my tent camper, I'm ready for the next upgrade. :)
Benefits of owning a camper:
bed - not sleeping on the ground
more weather proof
electricity
more storage
more room
refrigerator
A/C - it really comes in handy during those super hot/humid days
couch/table to sit and play games when it's raining or dark (otherwise we use the picnic table)
less time spent in set up
Drawbacks:
more maintenance
higher costs
While I'm happy with my tent camper, I'm ready for the next upgrade. :)
Friday, July 12, 2013
Essential Camping Equipment
Obviously there are different types of camping - primitive, semi-primitive (electricity only), and modern (for campers - water/electric hookup, sometimes with sewer). We have camped at all stages, and I have to say I prefer water/electric hookup - even while tent camping. It's much more convenient to have electricity for cooking than cooking over the fire for every meal. And it's much more convenient to have water at your campsite than carrying water from the nearest spout or restroom.
So here's my Necessity List:
tent
rubber mallet
sleeping bags/bed rolls/pillows
lantern (battery or propane)-FYI - propane lanterns are generally brighter, unless you get an LED battery operated lantern. However, if you have children, just be aware that the propane lanterns get hot.
a good cooler - the larger and more insulated, the better. A good cooler can keep a bag of ice frozen in hot
weather for a couple of days.
cookware -For over the fire cooking, you will want roasting sticks, a cast iron pot (or other fire safe pot) and aluminum foil. Many campgrounds have the grills to swing over the fire pit. You can cook meat over the
fire that way, but I wouldn't without first covering the grill with foil.
eating utensils-You can buy paper everything and plasticware, but it gets expensive after a while. We ended up buying plastic plates, cups and silverware for everyone.
wash basin(s) and dish soap- Even if you opt for paper plates and cups, you will need to wash dishes sometime. I have 2 basins. One for washing and the other for rinsing. I purchased a small, travel size dish soap for camping only. We just refill it when it's empty.
kitchen utensils - can opener, sharp knife, spatula
silicone hot pad glove or other fire resistant glove
dish towels/washrags- I would go to the dollar store and purchase a package of the cheapest ones you can find. You'll be amazed how fast you go through them! Between wiping the picnic tables, doing dishes and other odd jobs - you can never have too many!
firestarter/newspaper - for the campfires
napkins/paper towel
trashbags - some campgrounds give you one trashbag upon entering, but not all do, so be prepared. (Also,
be prepared to put it in your car or tie it up high on a tree limb overnight, or the unwelcome critters will
find it and make a huge mess)
first aid kit - Trust me!
bug spray - Again, trust me. Just get one to keep with your camping equipment so you'll always have one.
Optionals:
propane stove and small propane tanks - It's so much easier to cook pancakes and eggs over a stove than figuring how to do it over the fire. We also heat up baked beans on the stove while burgers are grilling
over the fire. Get just a propane stove or you can get a full kitchen!
skillet and saucepan
Rubbermaid tubs - We finally ended up buying 2 containers to keep all our camping stuff in - one for kitchen stuff only, the other for air mattresses, sheets, and bath towels. We ended up using some older bath
towels from the house to leave with our camping stuff so we wouldn't have to remember to pack them for
each trip. The same goes for sheets.
plastic baggies - for left overs
recycled containers or collapsible containers - for left overs
tablecloth for the picnic table at the campsite
rugs - I always use one outside the tent and another just inside the door
flashlights and extra batteries - for the night time trips to the bathroom
air mattresses and battery operated pump or one that plugs into a lighter outlet in your vehicle
clothesline/clothespins - Some campgrounds do not allow you to tie clothesline up on their trees. In that
case, you can clip towels to the poles on your tent, or lay them over your vehicle to dry
dining canopy
There are many to choose from: dining canopy
tools - We bought an extra screwdriver, hammer and pliers
If you are camping at a site with electricity:
extension cord
small heater/fan
radio
crockpot or other electric applicances- for easy meals
small lamp - to see inside the tent better
You can find many helpful camping tools here at Amazon:
camping gear
So here's my Necessity List:
tent
rubber mallet
sleeping bags/bed rolls/pillows
lantern (battery or propane)-FYI - propane lanterns are generally brighter, unless you get an LED battery operated lantern. However, if you have children, just be aware that the propane lanterns get hot.
a good cooler - the larger and more insulated, the better. A good cooler can keep a bag of ice frozen in hot
weather for a couple of days.
cookware -For over the fire cooking, you will want roasting sticks, a cast iron pot (or other fire safe pot) and aluminum foil. Many campgrounds have the grills to swing over the fire pit. You can cook meat over the
fire that way, but I wouldn't without first covering the grill with foil.
eating utensils-You can buy paper everything and plasticware, but it gets expensive after a while. We ended up buying plastic plates, cups and silverware for everyone.
wash basin(s) and dish soap- Even if you opt for paper plates and cups, you will need to wash dishes sometime. I have 2 basins. One for washing and the other for rinsing. I purchased a small, travel size dish soap for camping only. We just refill it when it's empty.
kitchen utensils - can opener, sharp knife, spatula
silicone hot pad glove or other fire resistant glove
dish towels/washrags- I would go to the dollar store and purchase a package of the cheapest ones you can find. You'll be amazed how fast you go through them! Between wiping the picnic tables, doing dishes and other odd jobs - you can never have too many!
firestarter/newspaper - for the campfires
napkins/paper towel
trashbags - some campgrounds give you one trashbag upon entering, but not all do, so be prepared. (Also,
be prepared to put it in your car or tie it up high on a tree limb overnight, or the unwelcome critters will
find it and make a huge mess)
first aid kit - Trust me!
bug spray - Again, trust me. Just get one to keep with your camping equipment so you'll always have one.
Optionals:
propane stove and small propane tanks - It's so much easier to cook pancakes and eggs over a stove than figuring how to do it over the fire. We also heat up baked beans on the stove while burgers are grilling
over the fire. Get just a propane stove or you can get a full kitchen!
skillet and saucepan
Rubbermaid tubs - We finally ended up buying 2 containers to keep all our camping stuff in - one for kitchen stuff only, the other for air mattresses, sheets, and bath towels. We ended up using some older bath
towels from the house to leave with our camping stuff so we wouldn't have to remember to pack them for
each trip. The same goes for sheets.
plastic baggies - for left overs
recycled containers or collapsible containers - for left overs
tablecloth for the picnic table at the campsite
rugs - I always use one outside the tent and another just inside the door
flashlights and extra batteries - for the night time trips to the bathroom
air mattresses and battery operated pump or one that plugs into a lighter outlet in your vehicle
clothesline/clothespins - Some campgrounds do not allow you to tie clothesline up on their trees. In that
case, you can clip towels to the poles on your tent, or lay them over your vehicle to dry
dining canopy
There are many to choose from: dining canopy
tools - We bought an extra screwdriver, hammer and pliers
If you are camping at a site with electricity:
extension cord
small heater/fan
radio
crockpot or other electric applicances- for easy meals
small lamp - to see inside the tent better
You can find many helpful camping tools here at Amazon:
camping gear
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tent Camping - A Beginner's Journey
Our first tent was a 4-5 person dome tent. We slept in sleeping bags on the ground. We were young! (The toddler in the picture is our now 14 year old son!)
But there are many more tents to choose from.
After purchasing several more tents...
...we ended up with a 10 person cabin tent.
What to look for when purchasing a tent:
1. Standing room. Our first tent, my husband couldn't stand up straight in any of it. Our second tent, he could only stand up straight in the middle. Our last tent gives him plenty of standing room throughout.
2. Room not only for the people in your family, but also for the luggage. Unless you plan to keep your suitcases and bags in the trunk of your car, plan to have enough room for your suitcases in the tent with you.
3. Sleeping room. As we got older, we realized sleeping on the ground was uncomfortable. We quickly graduated to air mattresses. However, in our second tent, there was no walking room once we inflated 2 air mattresses (with an area to the side for luggage.)
4. Ease of assembly. The dome tents are fairly easy to get up. The cabin tent is a little more complicated, although I won't say hard. The steel poles are much more sturdy than the flexible ones of a dome tent and they are color coded for easier assembly. I would just say, make sure to pitch your tent in your backyard before you go on an actual trip to be sure you know how it goes up and reduce some frustration.
5. Do you need/want a screened in room? We had one in the second tent pictured, and I have to say, we rarely used it. There really wasn't a ton of room in there. Now, if you are bringing a pet along to kennel, it might serve your purpose much better. We kept our cooler in there at night to protect it from critters. It was also nice to have when it rained for leaving muddy shoes outside the living space without leaving them out in the open.
6. Layout. Our last tent has a closet in the back. Yes, you read that right. There are pockets and shelves in a separate zippered area in the back. This area comes in very handy for reducing the number of suitcases and dirty clothes laying around the living area. It also became a nice changing room for me, since I'm surrounded by boys! There is also an optional wall we can put up to have a covered "porch" area. We only used it when we camped without the kids because that left little room for the air mattresses.
7. Price. Obviously you want to get the best for your money. If you aren't in a hurry to purchase a tent, you might look at the end of the season (August-September) when stores begin to clearance outdoor equipment out. Shop around. Look online. Make a list of what features you definitely want. I know there are some tents out there that have electricity now.
This tent is very similar to what we have:
And this one has additional bells and whistles (like electricity and a hinged door):
This tent is very similar to what we have:
And this one has additional bells and whistles (like electricity and a hinged door):
But there are many more tents
to choose from.Why camp?
Bugs...rain...sleeping on the ground...mosquitoes...no air conditioning...
Doesn't sound like much fun.
Family togetherness...nature...exercise...cheaper way to vacation...meeting new people...
Sound a little better?
Growing up, our family camped some. I hated it. Period. I hated sleeping on the ground. I hated being stuck in a tent when it rained. I hated the bugs.
After I got married and we began our family, I realized that camping is a cheaper way to vacation and see many things. Of course it has gotten better as our boys have gotten older. We didn't camp for many nights at a time when they were younger - and we didn't venture too far from home.
Getting away from the house, the TV, the Wi-Fi, etc. brings about more family togetherness. We play games, we bike, we hike, we fish, and we just sit around the campfire and TALK!
As this blog continues, I hope to help make your camping experience a little easier with little tips we have learned over time. And for those fellow homeschoolers, we have counted many school days on camping trips! I hope you will continue to visit and share this blog with your camping friends.
Doesn't sound like much fun.
Family togetherness...nature...exercise...cheaper way to vacation...meeting new people...
Sound a little better?
Growing up, our family camped some. I hated it. Period. I hated sleeping on the ground. I hated being stuck in a tent when it rained. I hated the bugs.
After I got married and we began our family, I realized that camping is a cheaper way to vacation and see many things. Of course it has gotten better as our boys have gotten older. We didn't camp for many nights at a time when they were younger - and we didn't venture too far from home.
Getting away from the house, the TV, the Wi-Fi, etc. brings about more family togetherness. We play games, we bike, we hike, we fish, and we just sit around the campfire and TALK!
As this blog continues, I hope to help make your camping experience a little easier with little tips we have learned over time. And for those fellow homeschoolers, we have counted many school days on camping trips! I hope you will continue to visit and share this blog with your camping friends.
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