Depending on your outdoor skills or abilities, the style of campground is the first element and primary choice for camping with children.

Maybe you want to try something new and expose your kids to the natural world, which provides many cool and informative lessons.  You may have friends who enjoy camping and they encourage you and your family to give it a try.  With the price of gasoline as it is, camping would be a good alternative to the faraway vacation.  If you have never been camping before or haven't since the kids were born, then you may wonder where to begin planning a camping trip, buying the correct or necessary gear, and where to go. 

First Impressions

Campgrounds are readily available in almost every county of every state, either privately owned or operated by state and national park services.  With nature programs and events, government-run campgrounds are ideal for first-time campers.  Some campgrounds cater more to RVers than tent campers and some are tent and small pull-behind camper friendly.  When choosing a campground for the family, keep these five elements in mind; campground style, campground amenities, distance from camp to town, weather and season. 

Depending on your outdoor skills or abilities, the style of campground is the first element and primary choice for camping with children.  Most new camping families are tent campers; because of the affordability.  Tent camping gives the greenhorn the opportunity to experience camping with little cash investment.  Some campground owners rent sets of camping gear for folks wanting to feel the experience for little cost.

The second element is what amenities the campground provides for children.  Keeping your kid's ages in mind, contact the campground before going to discover if a playground or swimming pool is on the premises and if you may reserve a site near the attraction.  If your kids are a little older and can be responsible close to the water's edge, then setting up camp next to a fishing lake offers the opportunity for frequent fishing.  But since the camp is only a few steps away, a young camper that has become bored from not catching fish can "escape" back to their fun fort of nylon housing and blackened, but tasty hotdogs.

The third element is the distance from the campground to a town that provides the provisions for any unexpected flare-ups of trouble or for entrainment if weather dampens the camping experience beyond the camper's willing patience.  Even the regularly-prepared parent, may forget to pack something, either an important item or a missed pleasure from home.  Staying at a campground within a short drive to town provides an "escape route" for the parent trying to satisfy a, well; unhappy camper.

Number four and five, weather and season, go hand in hand.  Weather is the primary factor in determining if a camping trip is enjoyable or not.  A night spent in a leaky tent with water running through sleeping bags filled with shivering, whining kids and parents will definitely sour any opinion of the camping experience.  Although the weather cannot be controlled, selecting the season to go camping can. 

Spring camping can be camping's best season; the foliage is blooming, wildlife are active and the fish are biting.  But with spring camping action, also comes spring rains and cool nights.  Several changes of warm clothing and raingear should be the first packed when preparing for spring camping. 

Summer camping is the most popular season, mainly because kids are out of school for the summer and the weather is more stable.  Hot summer camping can be enjoyed by selecting a campground and campsite that is shaded.  A screened cooking and eating shelter is nice to have during the summer season to protect against insects, both on kids and food. 

Sleeping outdoors when the leaves are beginning to fall offers benefits to the camping family more than previous seasons.  Sitting around a campfire to keep the chill off, while toasting a snack on a stick is the picture-perfect camping icon.  Kids look forward to hearing a few haunted forest stories before turning in to the cozy sleeping bag waiting to comfort them on the thin mattress on the tent floor.

The child's first impression of camping will be the key factor to instilling the desire to return for another camping voyage.  Camping does provide plenty of activities that satisfies a kid's craving for adventure. 

The few extra dollars spent on a larger tent will be small compared to the freedom of space for the family during the night.

I have seen families unloading some interesting gear from their vehicles in preparation of setting up camp on their site.  Not that their collection of gear was not entertaining, but several items were not necessary or practical.  The three requirements of camping gear are; shelter, food, and entertainment.  The primary reason to take the family camping is to get away from the daily routine and spend some quality, simple time with your children.  Don't make the experience complicated with too much, or needless gear -- keep it simple.

Shelter includes; tent (or camper), sleeping bag and mattress, and other shelters such as a dining canopy.

When choosing a tent, don't skimp on size.  The few extra dollars spent on a larger tent will be small compared to the freedom of space for the family during the night.  The extra room will also be greatly appreciated if passing rain shower forces the family to remain in the tent for an extra hour or two.  The floor of the tent is as important as the roof.  Choose a tent with a floor sewn onto the walls at a point a few inches up from the ground contact.  Think of it as a bowl or tub, any rain run-off weather will be kept outside the tent if the seam is up and out of reach.

For kids, the best bet is to buy a "three-season" sleeping bag.  Just as the name states, it will perform nicely in spring, summer, and fall.  A must for sleeping kid campers is a sleeping pad placed under the sleeping bag to provide extra cushion between the bag and the tent floor.  A dining canopy provides shade and protection from the sun and rain while eating or filling in the lines of a coloring book. 

Packing List

Space doesn't allow me to dissect every need for a successful camping trip, but I will touch on a few necessities.  Cooking: trash bags, paper towels, paper plates, metal forks and spoons (metal to assist with cooking), skillet and pan, and dishwashing supplies.  A tablecloth for the picinic table is a must for sanitary reasons, especially with kids that like to poke into their mouth what fell just off of their fork. 

Two ice coolers, one that will be opened often for drinks and such, and a second cooler for meats and freshly-caught fish.  On hot days cover the coolers with a sleeping bag to prolong ice life.  Keep the food list simple, don't bring the grocery store.  Most campgrounds have a "camp store" that supply the "forgot-at-home" items.  A few cans of beans, corn and a can of your child's favorite pasta snack will finish the menu and provide a quick meal. 

Clothing: dress for the season, but prepare for weather changes.  Remember the temperature drops a several degrees at night and even sitting around the campfire may require a jacket.  An extra pair of shoes for the little feet that can't resist jumping or sticking a foot in the water puddles on the hiking trail or a slip into the fishing pond.  A pair of sandals to wear to the shower house, and of course a swimsuit in the summer.   Other essentials include; sunscreen, first aid kit, flashlight, lantern, insect repellent, matches, and a container for carrying and storing water for camp.

Camping offers many forms of entertainment for kids and their families.  Swimming, biking, hiking, playing cards and games, water fights, and attending nature programs are several popular camping activities.  Including the kids in the camp chores such as; cooking, building the campfire and setting up the camp is important in instilling the love for camping in your child.  Include the kids in planning the trip as well.  Ask them what they are looking forward to the most and then do it. 

Don't forget the camera, disposables are fine.  Documenting the family camping trip by photographing or jotting down highlights in a journal for the family to enjoy at a later time is a must.  Memories may fade, but a photo album presented to the child will be shown off to friends, teachers and family to tell of their grand camping adventure. 

Camping with kids allows the family to enjoy the simple pleasures of life by interacting with nature.  Sitting around the campfire, after filling bellies with s'mores and gazing at the flames, the sounds of nature will serenade a child and parents to a truly relaxed state -- an experience that will be looked forward to again and again.