Healthy Camping Essentials:
Basic Essentials for Family Camping
If you're taking the family on a camping trip, it's essential to make sure you pack everything you might need before leaving.
Neccessities will vary from one type of camping trip to another though, and some things will depend on the ages of your children too.
Here are some common camping neccessities you should pack that tend to come in handy with almost any kind of family camping vacation.
1. Maps. Whether you plan to have your family camping vacation at a nearby state park campgrounds or out in the wilderness, there's usually a drive involved to get there.
So be sure you have a map on hand with the route marked or notated. If you also plan to do some exploring - hiking or just walking - during your trip, be sure to take map for those trails as well.
2. Toiletries. It doesn't matter if you're just taking a two or three day weekend trip, toiletries are essential. Pack extra toilet paper, hand soap, washcloths and towels.
If you're camping "hardcore," i.e. away from toilets, remember the short shovel and extra toilet paper.
Tip: If this is your first time doing your business like a bear in the woods, remember that trees and sturdy-low hanging branches provide the best means to relieve yourself.
Wet wipes of some kind always come in handy even when you don't have a baby or toddler, and if you expect to be gone for more than a couple of days, pack shampoo, deoderant, and other daily essentials such as toothbrushes and hairbrushes as well.
You might also want to take along some bug repellant spray, or torches designed to be put up around the campsite and keep bugs away. Sunblock is another item that tends to be essential with young kids on camping trips, because their skin is more tender and tends to burn easily.
It's not a good idea to take colognes and perfumes with you on a camping trip.
The smells from these everyday items will attract more bugs to your campsite, and you will wish you hadn't used them at all. Certain smells from perfumes, hair spray, shampoos, soaps and deoderants could also attract wild animals, so if you're planning to have a camping trip in a remote area, only take items of this sort which have little to no smell.
3. Basic First Aid Items. A standard first aid kit is always best to have on hand with any kind of family trip. For family camping vacations, though, you'll want to be sure you have extra band aids and gauze, rubbing alcohol or peroxide, and some kind of cream to help with itching in case someone is bit, stung, or encounters poison ivy or oak.
A good pair of tweezers is recommended for splinter removal, and fingernail clippers too because someone always seems to tear a nail while out exploring.
4. Cooking Items. If you're planning to cook during your camping trip, you need to be prepared.
Some people prefer to take a barbecue grill and charcoal for cooking during their camping trip, while others plan to cook over an open fire. With either option, you'll need some standard cooking tools such as spatulas, tongs, forks, and knives.
You might also need a pan or pot, and you'll almost definitely need hot pads. If you take canned food with you, be sure to pack a manual can opener.
And of course don't forget eating utensils such as plates and cups.
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