Camping is a great way to get outdoors, connect with nature, and spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you have children, camping is also a great way to reconnect with your family. Whether you prefer to pitch a tent or park a camper, here are four things you must pack to get the most out of your next family camping trip.
Camping Lights
Lights are one of the most important things to bring on any camping trip. Staying up late to tell stories and talk around the campfire is a camping tradition. If you expect your family to follow suit, you’ll want to bring along a flashlight or two to light up the path from the tent of the camper to the fire pit. At rustic campgrounds without electricity, a flashlight helps users find equipment in the dark. Playing cards and board games are a good way to spend some quality family time together, and camping lights, such as lanterns, that can be placed on a picnic table or hung from an awning provide a flood of light so that your family can play games well into the night. By providing lights to play and talk by, you can encourage your family to spend as much quality time together as possible.
Lawn Games
Lawn games are a great way to fill camping downtime and get your whole family engaged. Your family might already have a favorite lawn game they like to play, but if not, a camping trip can be a great time to bring along something new to try. If there’s a lot of room between your campsite and your neighbor’s, Spike Ball and Kubb are competitive favorites. If space is limited, Bocci Ball and Cornhole need only a narrow strip to be played on. You can even establish a yearly championship for your chosen game. Draw names at random, create brackets that culminate in a championship match, and award a fun championship trophy to the trip’s winners. You might even want to keep a running list of winners in your camping gear to encourage the tradition.
Rain Gear
Being trapped inside of a house on a rainy day isn’t fun. It’s even worse when you’re stuck inside the close quarters of a tent or camper. While you might not want to venture out in a downpour, a light rain or drizzle – or the threat of poor weather – shouldn’t keep your family from enjoying every day of your vacation. By packing rain gear, you’ll be prepared to tackle any weather. Even if rain isn’t in the forecast, rain gear is still a good thing to pack. Exploring misty rainfalls is more enjoyable with a light poncho keeping you dry!
Campfire Cookery
No camping trip is complete without Hobo Pies and S’mores! S’more sticks and pie makers are a must for every family camping trip, and if your children are old enough to cook over the campfire on their own, these tools can be a fun way to take the pressure of meal prep off parents. Camping is a great time to scale back dinner prep and try something new, so be sure you have the tools to make it a fun experience for everyone. If it’s enjoyable, your kids might even try making dinner once in a while at home!
There are few family activities that compare to camping when it comes to removing distractions and bringing everyone together. Make the most of your next family vacation with these four items, and enjoy your time together making lifelong memories.