Before you were a parent, you were bold. You were adventurous. You went places, you did things. You were spontaneous and fun and laid back.

And then you had kids, and now you’re afraid to take them all to the grocery store without bringing reinforcements.

We get it, having kids definitely complicate things, and what was once an easy pack-a-bag-and-go event is now a month of planning and getting out the door two hours behind schedule.

It’s the reality of juggling a lot of preferences and schedules all at once, and it’s what scares a lot of parents off from wanting to camp with their kids. Between the enormous amount of gear you have to bring to the low levels of patience tiny humans typically have, it can be super stressful to try to spend a day or two in the great outdoors as a family.

If camping is too stressful, that’s okay, but don’t limit yourself by saying you’re not cut out for it without giving it some practice. Camping is a great experience for children, so lean into the crazy a bit – we’ll help you find your happy place.

Become a List Person

 

 

When it comes to camping with kids, checklists are going to be your saving grace. Use an app like Wunderlist (or just a good old-fashioned pen and paper) to start working on a packing list at least a few days before you leave. Give yourself time to remember things you’re forgetting, and have your spouse (and kids) go over it and add anything that was missed.
Checklists are your saving grace.

And whatever you do, don’t forget the essentials:

 

• Extra socks and underwear for everyone
• Toilet paper
• Hand sanitizer or soap
• Drinking water, cooking water, and sanitary water
• Trash bags
• More food than you think you’ll need

 

Know Thy Weather

 

Keep an eye on the weather as your camping plans develop, and try to have a backup plan in place if storms start rolling onto the radar. There’s nothing worse than the letdown of a canceled camping trip, but having something fun that you can do indoors in its place will keep kids from dwelling on it too much.

Make sure you’re watching the weather in your destination, not your current location. Even if your campsite is just a few miles up the road, microclimates can form in forested or mountainous areas and create some seriously different weather.

 

Get Real

 

The most important part of enjoying a camping trip with your children is managing your expectations of both them and yourself. Depending on your children’s ages, they may not have the patience to fish or the stamina to hike, and that’s okay.

Keep activities short and simple, and go through what something might go like in your head before proposing the idea to the whole family.

Can your little ones carry a pack into the woods?
Can you handle getting up in a tent three times a night to feed the baby?

 

Zone Your Campsite

 

Setting up your campsite in zones like your house can be a major sanity saver. When you arrive, start looking for ideal spots for each of these:

 

• A flat, dry area for the tent
• A secluded but closeby spot for the bathroom
• A designated place in the tent for shoes (to keep debris out)
• A shady, close space free of brambles for play and socializing
• Open dirt or rock patch for fires

 

If you plan to camp in an area with bears, take extra precautions with your food. Store food off the ground, and be extra diligent about cleaning up scraps left behind by the kids. Keep food and cooking tools well away from the sleeping area as a cautionary measure.

 

Pack What You Need for Comfort

 

Being comfortable is a big win when it comes to camping, and when things aren’t going as planned, it can be what keeps everyone happy. Don’t skimp on the bed setups — get what you need to sleep comfortably and to keep the kids comfortable.

Be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing to sleep in for the evening temperature drop, and remember that 50 degrees can feel like 20 when you’re not in the comfort of four insulated walls. Always waterproof your tent no matter what’s in the forecast – even condensation can saturate campers while they sleep.

Let It Go

 

We know you’re not going to like having this song stuck in your head (again), but Elsa had a point – you need to let it go.

Doing anything with kids can be a little crazy, least of all living temporarily in the wilderness with them. Try to laugh a little and let go of the little things. Prepare as best you can, but go into it expecting imperfection and being 100% okay with it.

 

Take Notes

 

One thing a lot of parents don’t realize about camping is that it isn’t just something you do — it’s a skill, and it takes practice.

As you go through camping trips with your family, take some notes. What did you forget this time? What was really hard? What did you wind up not even using? What would make things a little easier next time? How long wound up being too long in a tent for your family?

Keep a notepad or your list-making app handy while you camp, and take notes to make it a more enjoyable experience every time.

 

Are you a family of happy campers? Tell us what makes you great at camping in the comments below!