Do you have any tips for camping with young children?

yahooey

We have done it before...but it has been almost 2 years. We will be tent camping with a 2 1/2 and 5 year old. We got a site with both electrical and water hookup. Any tips would be great, thanks!
we'll be at the beach.

Answer
bring their bike :) we went camping on the weekend and it was a very kid friendly park where they had activities every hour planned for the kids and it was so much fun but all the kids had bikes and my son was the only one without one.

glow sticks and sparklers are great for night time. We bought some chalk at the dollar store and my son was playing with it and like 5 kids flocked over to play with him, it was a great friend maker :)

get a laundry basket and fill it with your cooking items, that way everything is together so you can whip up a quick meal.

taking kids camping..?

AC

Me and my hubby love to camp but we never took the younger kids camping and this time he camping near water can anymore give me some tips to help us we have a 10 year old and 6 years they both have been before also have 3 and 1 years old and i am pregnant

Answer
The first thing I do is establish "boundaries" with my kids: we walk the perimeter of the space around our campsite with which I'm comfortable exploring. Make it as large as you feel comfortable so they can have some exploring time without you hovering - that's part of the joy of the outdoors. I taught my two and four year old that if they hear an adult calling their names, they are to immediately freeze and shout, "Here I am." It allows us to keep tabs on them during that moment of panic when they're on the other side of the big rock or the kneeling to look at ants under a tree stump and you don't immediately see them. With the older two, I recommend walkie talkies, which work great for exploring after they've become familiar with their surroundings.

I'd definitely recommend a baby carrier/backpack that your husband can carry the one year old in so that you can hike as a family. REI has some wonderful free scavenger hunt/outdoor journals for kids. My family also loves geocaching: looking for "treasure chests" helps break up a longer hike into manageable chunks and keeps the kids going. Unless your 3 year old regularly hikes, I wouldn't plan anything longer than a 2.5 miler, unless you want to carry him back (my rule is one mile for every year they are old, but you have to plan for a little less than that because no kid hikes in a straight line). Enjoy the journey - not the destination.

Ditto on the glow sticks (they're nightlights in the tent), but cheap glow necklaces also work great for locating your kids at twilight and making them feel more secure too. For sleeping, we still bring a pack and play for my two year old. A matress pad/blanket under the sleeping bag will add to the warmth factor and we have our kids sleep in double pajama layers (long john types with socks inside of footie sleepers) and knit hats when they sleep. We always keep a little porta-potty inside the tent at night: my potty-training daughter uses her little potty seat regulary, but her older brother has been known to "borrow" it while camping when it's too cold and dark to make it to the outhouse.

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Tips and suggestions? :)?

Q. As a university student, my summer job this year is to be a camp consellor. Any general tips or sugestions? like do i need shorts or should i wear jeans? Do i need one of those bear bells? If it rains how do i keep dry? what if one of the kids gets lost etc. ? thanks camp enthusiasts!

Answer
need shorts And jeans, add insect repellant to that list for the shorts days.bear bells?? never heard of, you able to scream??? do just as well ;-), if you sleeping in a tent, make sure you get some water repellent spray for it, and set it up before your trip to spray it down and also check for any holes, etc. be sure and spray down the corners sewn together, these will leak first. Soon as you notice a kid is missing alert everyone at the camp, call 911.
hope I helped you a bit
Good luck ;-)

First camping trip, please help :)?

nicola0102

Hi, i am planning a camping trip in the summer for my family. We are wanting to camp in a tent at a campsite and bring our own BBQ.

Now, this will be my first actual camping trip, as we usually go abroad, but as money is so tight at the moment we decided to holiday in the UK.

We will be taking our car, but obviously we will not want to store all our belongings in the tent for the whole week.

Are there locks for tents, so no one can steal our clothes whilst we are out during the day?

If anyone has any tips for camping with a young family can you tell me :)

thanks

Answer
I wouldn't waste your time locking the tent. First off I have never had anything stolen from my tent and none of my friends or family ever had anything stolen when camping.
The lock will just catch a persons attention, if you lock it they know there is something in there of value and will just cut through the tent to get to it, it wont deter them at all. A ripped tent isn't worth putting a lock on the tent to save your clothes, unless there is a homeless man looking for clothes I don't think you will be bothered. Just keep your tent zipped shut. If you are that worried about it have someone in the campsite at all times.

As for the young kids keep it interesting and fun for them but don't push them too hard or long if you decide to go for a hike. Let them play in the ponds, catch frogs/turtles/ salamanders, let them run through puddles, play in the rain; all stuff they normally cant do when they are home.Let them be kids. Get them interested in fishing if there is a lake or river near by. Go on a nature hike and try to spot animals. Have them build the campfire, stacking wood and such so you can light it, let them feel they had a part in creating that. Teach them how to start a fire. Let them pee behind trees. Just let them be kids and they`ll have a blast.

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I am new to tent camping and need help. How do you use an electrical hookup in a campground?

tent camping with kids tips image

romancegir

I am going to camp in a Yogi Bear campground in a site that says "Water and Electrical Hookup". Does that mean I can use an extension cord with a strip on the end of it that has plugs in it?
I can find lots of info on tent camping on the internet, but nothing that explains electrical hookup. I'm a single mom. I hope I can find a veteran camper who can help me with my camping questions.

Answer
Typically, "Water and Electrical Hookups" are referring to convenient places an RV or trailer can plug in to for power and running water. Chances are, you should be able to plug an extension cord with a power strip for running some electrical items.

I say plan your trip as if the electrical won't be available, but bring a few things that will be helpful in case it is.

A few helpful camping tips:
If there's a firepit, bring a couple Duraflame logs. They last a couple hours, don't take any special gymnastics to ignite, and you can always throw regular wood on after the duraflame is burning. Remember to smother your campfire before you go to bed (Shovel dirt on it, etc).

Bring a stiff rake. Rake out the spot where you're putting your tent(s). This way, you don't end up rolling over onto a rock or acorn.

Please, please, PLEASE, clean up when you're gone. Have your kids walk all over your campsite and pick up every little bit of trash possible. (Also, bring trashbags! Not all campsites have convenient trash receptacles).

Check the temperature ranges in advance, and pack accordingly. It's a very long night when it's freezing cold and you didn't bring the winter sleeping bags. Remember that tents catch fire VERY easily, so don't put the tent next to the campfire, and don't bring electrical or gas heaters into the tent.

Bring fresh drinking water. (Those 2.5 gallon jugs with the convenient spigot are good...)

Bring a medical kit w/ all the usual refinements. Kids will always find a way to get boo-boo's.

I can almost guarantee that you will certainly overpack for your first trip. You'll find that over time you'll be able to whittle it down to the stuff you *really* need, as opposed to the stuff you think you'll need.

If you're with someone who is not a morning person, they will be much worse in the morning. Trust me.

Good luck!

Do you have any tips for camping with young children?

yahooey

We have done it before...but it has been almost 2 years. We will be tent camping with a 2 1/2 and 5 year old. We got a site with both electrical and water hookup. Any tips would be great, thanks!
we'll be at the beach.

Answer
bring their bike :) we went camping on the weekend and it was a very kid friendly park where they had activities every hour planned for the kids and it was so much fun but all the kids had bikes and my son was the only one without one.

glow sticks and sparklers are great for night time. We bought some chalk at the dollar store and my son was playing with it and like 5 kids flocked over to play with him, it was a great friend maker :)

get a laundry basket and fill it with your cooking items, that way everything is together so you can whip up a quick meal.

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What is your most embarrassing menstrual cycle story?

tent camping with kids tips image

georgetown

I wanted to ask for two reasons 1) pure curiosity, and 2) advice for girls that i watch from time to time.

I was talking to a group of young girls the other day, and one of them had one of those moments at school. She was embarrassed and wondered why it happened to her. I tried to explain to her that things like this happen to people all the time. The only issue; I've never really had an embarrassing moment like such.

Her story: She recently had a school program and everyone participating had to wear white. She was ok during the entire program until she got up from her seat near the end of the program. She said she didn't know she was bleeding, and thought she felt wet from sweating so much because that was her first time speaking to a crowd. Kids were laughing at her, even girls.


What are some tips you learned on how to handle period situations.

Answer
I have a few period stories but here are 2:
1) This summer I went to the scout camp and I got my period 1 week earlier. My period came on the 8th day of the camp. I had packed 2 pads just in case, because I wasn't expecting it. Another girl got hers and I gave her the 2 pads I packed for me. The next day, we were sitting in the tent and I noticed something was wrong. I got up to go to the toilet and I see my period. I also noticed a stain on my shorts. I just ran back to ask another girl for a pad. In the tent there were also boys, but what could I do I had to ask her and most of them heard and had a strange look. Later, I had to wash my shorts where all of them were washing their clothes. I only had one pad, so I had to ask for more from our chief. That specific day there was a female gym teacher that I asked in front of other 3 males chiefs. When she left I had to go to them to ask it was very embarrassing!! However, they were very understanding :D
2)I had taekwondo exams and I was on my period. Our uniform is white. I knew I was on it and I had a pad on (I didn't wear tampons at that time). We had to kick high, so my legs were widely spread apart, so my pad had moved out of place! I had bled through the white uniform. I hadn't noticed. My female coach did and the male examiners. They saw the blood and said nothing. When I finished my exam, my coach asked me if I was feeling ok. I said yes and asked why? She told that I got my period and it showed on my uniform. She handed me a pad and sent me to the bathroom. It was so embarrassing that everyone was able to see the blood.

The tips I learned were to always have a pad with me, and use it a few days before I get my period!

How do I run away from home?

Jimmy The

***I'M ASKING OUT OF 100% CURIOSITY***

So, lets says i'm 14 and I want to run away from home. How would I be able to achieve? What items should I bring with me? And do you have any tips or a basic guide line? Thanks.
Oh yeah and how likely is it that I will get caught?

Answer
Get together as much money as you can, and make specific plans. Don't just randomly wander out; that's how kids end up living on the street. Get in touch with a relative or friend, and make travel plans.
Your parents would file a missing person's report as soon as they realized you were gone. That's why it's best to flee at a time when they're not expecting you home for a while. Do it when you're supposed to be going to school. This gives you a whole school day to put some distance between you and your parents. Even better, say you're staying over a friend's house for the weekend or just make some sort of excuse to be out of the house for an extended period of time. Your parents would panic, so leave some note behind to reassure them that you're safe and aren't lost.
Don' try to fly anywhere. It's guaranteed that the airport will do a check on a 14-year-old travelling alone. Take the bus or train, and make the reservations ahead of time, because that's less suspicious than just showing up and buying a ticket on the day of departure.
Bring some non-perishable/canned food, a small stove or hot plate, a sleeping bag, small tent, plenty of water, cell phone, maps of everywhere you'll be going, preferably a GPS device. You'll probably end up spending a lot of time without shelter, so you'll have to find places to set up camp.
Remember that pretty soon your money will run out, and you'll have to start looking for a job. As a 14-year-old runaway your options will be limited, but you should be able to find something. Preferably a job that also provides housing, but if not, then you'll have to budget your income to rent an apartment, and pay for the rest of your expenses.

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I am new to tent camping and need help. How do you use an electrical hookup in a campground?

tent camping with kids tips image

romancegir

I am going to camp in a Yogi Bear campground in a site that says "Water and Electrical Hookup". Does that mean I can use an extension cord with a strip on the end of it that has plugs in it?
I can find lots of info on tent camping on the internet, but nothing that explains electrical hookup. I'm a single mom. I hope I can find a veteran camper who can help me with my camping questions.

Answer
Typically, "Water and Electrical Hookups" are referring to convenient places an RV or trailer can plug in to for power and running water. Chances are, you should be able to plug an extension cord with a power strip for running some electrical items.

I say plan your trip as if the electrical won't be available, but bring a few things that will be helpful in case it is.

A few helpful camping tips:
If there's a firepit, bring a couple Duraflame logs. They last a couple hours, don't take any special gymnastics to ignite, and you can always throw regular wood on after the duraflame is burning. Remember to smother your campfire before you go to bed (Shovel dirt on it, etc).

Bring a stiff rake. Rake out the spot where you're putting your tent(s). This way, you don't end up rolling over onto a rock or acorn.

Please, please, PLEASE, clean up when you're gone. Have your kids walk all over your campsite and pick up every little bit of trash possible. (Also, bring trashbags! Not all campsites have convenient trash receptacles).

Check the temperature ranges in advance, and pack accordingly. It's a very long night when it's freezing cold and you didn't bring the winter sleeping bags. Remember that tents catch fire VERY easily, so don't put the tent next to the campfire, and don't bring electrical or gas heaters into the tent.

Bring fresh drinking water. (Those 2.5 gallon jugs with the convenient spigot are good...)

Bring a medical kit w/ all the usual refinements. Kids will always find a way to get boo-boo's.

I can almost guarantee that you will certainly overpack for your first trip. You'll find that over time you'll be able to whittle it down to the stuff you *really* need, as opposed to the stuff you think you'll need.

If you're with someone who is not a morning person, they will be much worse in the morning. Trust me.

Good luck!

Do you have any tips for camping with young children?

yahooey

We have done it before...but it has been almost 2 years. We will be tent camping with a 2 1/2 and 5 year old. We got a site with both electrical and water hookup. Any tips would be great, thanks!
we'll be at the beach.

Answer
bring their bike :) we went camping on the weekend and it was a very kid friendly park where they had activities every hour planned for the kids and it was so much fun but all the kids had bikes and my son was the only one without one.

glow sticks and sparklers are great for night time. We bought some chalk at the dollar store and my son was playing with it and like 5 kids flocked over to play with him, it was a great friend maker :)

get a laundry basket and fill it with your cooking items, that way everything is together so you can whip up a quick meal.

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What are some great family vacation destinations?

tent camping with kids tips image

readingtea

This is what we are looking for:

Beach (either right there or nearby)
Warm weather in February
Cool things to see and do for kids
Reasonable price

Thank you!

Answer
I few years ago I did some camping on St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

This would be one exciting camping experience for a family. The "tents" are built into the hillside on the southern tip of the island, These solar-powered loft tents combine sustainable technology with some of the most spectacular views on the island.

There is much to do on the island, such as hiking, snorkleing, sitting on remote beaches.

$95 to $175/night

http://www.maho.org/Concordia.cfm

packing tips for 3 weeks with one suitcase?

anime eyes

So, I am going to a camp where we stay in college dormatories, and I want to bring a different outfit for every day, but I can only have 1 suitcase. Not to mention having my bedspread and toiletries in there too. Any tips?

Answer
In different one gallon zip lock bags, individually roll the kids
T-shirts, shorts and underwear.

Squeeze the air out.

Place the bags in their suitcase.

If you do this, then dirty clothes never touch clean clothes. Come laundry time, you wonât have to sort laundry and youâll probably have less to wash
-----------------------
Here are a few ideas on how to pack for a 7-day vacation to California in July.

Each person should only pack what they need. Most children over the age of 4 should be able to easily carry or pull on rollers, their personal stuff from the car to the hotel room, cabin or tent in 1 trip from the car. If you canât, then youâve packed too much!
1.Each person (kids over 4 included) gets their own toiletry bag. Donât make mom responsible for everyone.

2.Pack enough summer clothes for 3 days plus a pair of long pants and nice shirt.

3.While at the pool, do the laundry

4.Toiletries - pack a tooth brush, tooth paste, comb or hair brush, soap etc for each person. Blow dryers etc... maybe.

5.Pajamas: No girlie or tacky sleepwear - bring something that can substitute for a pair of shorts or a shirt just in case of a clothing disaster.

6.Bring 2-pairs of shoes: walking shoes and sandals

7.Bring a Windbreaker of some sort.

8.Sweatshirts or Polar fleece jackets â If you are going to buy souvenirs, buy a sweatshirt or jacket. Itâs a useful souvenir and the memory will last until itâs worn out or out grown.

9.Pack the swimsuits and towels separately. Youâll probably want to use them as soon as you get to the destination.

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