Getting Ready for a Family Camping Trip

This summer we had such busy schedules in our family we couldn't commit to taking a week off to rent a cottage or plan a summer get away. With two grandparents downsizing to condos,  a family reunion (which we ended up missing), a new business start-up, job relocations and our home's never ending renovations our family was just too busy to add anything else!

Yummiest hot dogs ever! 

We decided the thing to do was book a couple of long weekend camping trips with some good friends. This proved much harder than anticipated as the Provincial Parks in Ontario book up so fast! Forget trying to get an electrical site or a spot close to the beach, we were lucky to be able to book one close to our friends at all! That was in February when we started our planning for the July trip! Did you know you need to book your ON Parks camp sites 5 months in advance?! We were shocked, however we persevered through the booking process and scored some great spots. 

Anyway now that the camping trip is approaching its time to get ready. I have made a start on packing, and I thought I would share my top tips for remembering everything. From tent to sleeping bag to watershoes there is a lot to pack for a family.

What's works for me is to make themed lists based on a daily routine. Sounds crazy but this ensures you think about all the things your family does in an average day and then accounts for all the tools and supplies required!

So I have made a meal list, sleeping list, beach list, campsite set-up list, clothing list, toiletries list, first-aid list and so on! This is an easy way to think about what is required. After all, how much fun is your bike if you forget the helmet? 


I also like to pack in themed boxes/bags/containers. I do a bin for the 'kitchen', packing the smaller items inside the larger in an effort to keep it all contained. Similarly I have bins for the campsite set up (including rope for a clothesline, extra tent pegs, tarp and so on).
Things like sleeping bags, clothes and pillows are packed in bags. The bins allow storage all year in our garage for the camping items and the next season all you have to do is pull out the box. The kids are each allowed one small bag for toys, but we try to keep it simple,  no electronics are allowed. The best toys when camping are usually the balls, beach toys and a few craft supplies to pass the time while dinner is cooking.


I will never forget the magic of our first family camping trip last summer. We were going to sleep, tired and dirty and happy from a fun filled day - I was reading a bedtime story by flashlight and along came this firefly... He flew in between our tent and the fly on the roof outside and started blinking. My children were enthralled watching this little creature flash and blink until they fell asleep - it took him forever to find his way outside again! 

Check out momstown.ca for more must haves for the family camping trip and remember to always pack your sense of humour when you are travelling with your kids! The unexpected will happen but it's how you react to it that they will remember for years to come!