When planning a family camping trip, it's important to remember the Girl Scout motto: "Be prepared." Advance planning, along with proper packing, are the key elements for a relaxed outdoor vacation.
After years of camping trips, our family has organized a system for storing and transporting gear that makes it easy to get away for a quick weekend without too much advance hassle. Most of our camping equipment is stored in several large, plastic boxes with removable lids. After putting together a set of menus and making a trip to the grocery store, we can be on our way quickly.
Our system works well for car camping and for use in a camper or recreational vehicle, as well as a visit to a state park, where we typically sleep either in tents, a cabin or a screened shelter. We haven't graduated to backpacking trips yet, which would necessitate a completely different approach to gear, with a "less is better" orientation, rather than the "everything but the kitchen sink" attitude we have adopted.
There are several crucial factors involved when planning a camping trip. In addition to selecting a destination, it's important to decide at the onset whether food will be kept cold in a refrigerator or in one or more coolers. That decision affects what food is taken, how much grocery shopping is needed during the trip and how often ice will need to be purchased.
Advance meal planning also depends on which cooking methods are selected. Will you be using an open fire which burns wood or charcoal, a small gas or charcoal grill, or a single- or double-burner propane gas or liquid fuel camp stove? If electricity is available, campsite chefs can include small kitchen appliances such as an electric skillet, slow cooker, griddle and even a coffee pot.
Experienced campers suggest you do as much meal preparation ahead of time as possible. For example, if you plan to use ground meat in a recipe, brown it at home and store it in a plastic bag inside the cooler. Likewise, chop vegetables at home and wash fresh fruit ahead of time.
The following checklist of camping equipment is designed to be the starting point for planning a trip. Not all items are needed on every campout. Check out the recommended books for more suggestions on equipment and menus. And remember: Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints!
Bulky Items
Equipment Box
Kitchen Box
Paper Box
Personal Belongings
Sue Merkner is a former editor for Dominion Parenting Media and Parenthood.com.
© Parenthood.com, used with permission.
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