Family camping adventures are the meat and potatoes of childhood memories; experiencing the wild life, getting dirty, campfire meals
and of course enjoying the classic camping delicacy, S'mores.
However, whether your an expert or amateur "outdoorsmom", preparing for
a get away in the woods can be daunting when it involves having your kids in tow. Should you stay in a tent, camper, cabin, yurt, state park, or rough it with no plumbing? What food should we bring? Will it be warm enough, or too hot? What should go in the First-Aide kit? The list of considerations goes on and on and just when you think you've thought of everything...
reality happens.
My kids love to remind me of the time I left behind the beautifully packed wooden kitchen box, which contained all of the utensils, except the cast iron pan and aluminum foil. That made for an interesting weekend
with tree-bark spoons and fried oatmeal cakes. Below is a list of tips I've acquired over the years. Most, I learned the hard way.

PREPARING FOR YOUR FAMILY CAMPING TRIP

Build your kids enthusiasm, by getting them involved in the planning from the very beginning; where to go, what to eat, what to pack etc.

Consider the activities your children enjoy; bicycling, hiking, canoeing, swimming, enjoying wildlife. Then select your location accordingly.
State and National park websites list the attributes and activates available at each park.

If it's your first time camping, consider a state park with running water,
  bathroom facilities and showers. This will keep the first trip positive and
  will encourage a more adventuresome trip in the future.

Select the activates that your family would enjoy together and bring
  or rent the proper supplies, such as kayaks and life vests, bicycles etc.

Practice setting up your tent. Involve the kids and let them play
  in the tent for a day.

First timers may want to have a backyard campout,
  before heading out into the woods.

Make a checklist. Even super mom forgets now and again.
  free checklist (link opens in a new window)

Bring a flashlight for every family member and a battery operated lantern 
  for each tent, if possible. NO propane lanterns in the tents!
   Use permanent markers and stickers to personalize the flashlights 
   together. Don't forget to bring plenty of batteries!
   *Glow sticks are fun also!

Keep the menu easy. Otherwise you'll spend most of your time
  cooking and doing dishes.
   Suggestions...
   Hot Dogs and Beans
   Bagels and peanut butter
   Peanut butter and jelly
   Bananas, apples and oranges
   Canned soup and stews
   Corn on the cob is delicious wrapped in aluminum foil
   and placed directly in the campfire coals.
   Don't forget the S'mores...marshmallows, graham crackers
   and chocolate bars.
   When camping with an infant, baby food in jars...this is much easier!

For more advanced and delicious recipes,
the internet is a fabulous resource for campsite cuisine.
Try CampRecipes.com (link opens in a new window)


Remember plenty of snacks. For some reason everyone gets hungry
   in the outdoors. Trail mix, cereal bars, string cheese, crackers and
   dried fruit are the perfect snack foods.

Make sure everyone gets a sleeping pad or at least rolled up blankets
to lay down before the sleeping bag is in place. A good night sleeps will keep everyone happy.

Purchase a First-Aide Kit and keep it with your camping supplies.
  This will save time later.

Purchase some second hand pots, pans plates etc.
  Pack all of your supplies in plastic tubs. When you return you just have to 
  clean-up and keep everything prepared for the next rip. Replace items like
  paper towels, garbage bags etc. right away to save time for the next trip.

Although I encourage environmentally friendly camping, the first time you
  may want use paper plates etc. Just until you get the hang of it.
  Eventually, you and the kids will be washing the dishes with sand by the
  river, just like the pros!

Remember the bug repellant and sunscreen...
  forgetting that can ruin a trip!

Show the kids what poison oak, ivy or sumac look like!

When camping with kids at the coast, or any sandy location,
  I prefer sites with showers. This keep sleeping bags and tents, sand free.

Pack a clothesline for hanging towels and wet items.
  Speaking of wet items...lay plastic tarps down under your tents.
Have a few to spare in case it rains. Even "water resistant" tents may leak.

Keep the first few camp trips short 3-4 nights.

Try to keep the travel time to a minimum and stop frequently.

Teach your children about safety and how to respect nature.

Learn and teach outdoor skills and outdoor ethics.
  If you aren't sure, ask a ranger.

Enlist the kids help with the camp chores. They love collecting firewood, filling water containers, hammering in tent stakes, camp cooking etc.

Make the camp chores extra fun -- have contests for gathering the most kindling, best camp cooking, most organized gear, fastest clean-up etc.

HAVE FUN - CREATE MEMORIES

Bring some glue, paper and scissors, for making nature collages.
 Write the date and location of the trip on the collage.

Sing good old-fashioned campfire songs. Keep the portable DVD players
  at home and practice your singing in the car. If you need to, buy a book  
  and CD to help-out. The Kids Campfire Book: Official Book of Campfire Fun

Search the sky for constellations.

Listen and identify night sounds.

At night in the tent, play flashlight tag. One person is "it". Everyone plays
  or sits down. "It" moves their flashlight quickly around the tent, while the
  other players use their flashlights to catch him.

Have a shadow puppet show in the tent.

Don't forget the special nighttime snacks

Bring a small box for collecting treasures like pinecones special stones etc.
  Be sure to follow park rules when collecting items to take home.

Bring a book to help identify animal prints and birds.
  Pack a deck of cards and/or small games like UNO, Mad Libs, checkers...
Provide children with their own disposable cameras.

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