Family Camping Headquarters

We recently went to upstate Wisconsin to visit family. We decided to take our small car to save gas, and stayed in a motel. We did save money on gas. The car got about 32 mpg, and our van would have probably gotten around 16 mpg while pulling the pop-up.  So we saved about 16 mpg. It would have cost $384 in gas to take the van & pop-up, and it would have probably taken a little longer to get there. The car cost $192 in gas. So we saved $192 in gas, and probably 1.5 hours of time.

Thinking back, we should have chosen to camp. There were some beautiful campgrounds in the area where we stayed.  The average cost per night was around $23. Our motel, on the other hand was $120 per night including tax. So our seven night stay cost us $840. Camping would have cost us $161, a savings of $679. So we would have seen a net savings of $487. This does not include the cost for food our attractions which would have probably been around the same.

I think the numbers speak for themselves. If you’ve had similar experiences, please share them with us.

On a family camping trip, the campfire is an enjoyable part of the experience. The fire is also an attraction to our children. Campfire safety practices are extremely important when camping as a family.

Here are some precautions you can take to make sure of burn free camping for your children.

First of all clear the area around the campfire of sticks, toys, rocks and other obstacles away from the fire ring. These hazards can cause a child, or an adult for that matter, to trip and fall into the fire. Before lighting the fire make sure your children understand how close they are permitted to get to the fire ring. You will have to remind them many times of this imaginary line. Always keep an eye on your children when they are near the fire!

One of the things that children love to do is to poke sticks in the fire and then pull them out with embers on them, and wave them around. This should not be permitted, no matter how much they want to do it! The embers on the end of the stick could come of and fall on someone. Even worse the stick or the ember could end up in someone’s eye.

It is important to allow your children to cook things over the fire such as hot dogs mountain pies, marshmallows, etc. That way your children feel they are important and a part of the camping experience. Allow your children to experience the campfire. Just make sure that they know the rules, and always keep an eye on them when they are near the fire.

When camping as a family everyone can do the cooking.  If you have an open fire and some sticks, many recipes can develop. Of course there are the old favorites hot dogs and smores.  If you have a mountain pie maker, the sky is the limit. Even the children can get the satisfaction of cooking their own food, with supervision of course!

The great thing about camping is the campfire allows everyone to cook.  Each member of the family can do their own campfire cooking. There are many many recipes available for cooking over an open fire, and everyone can make what they want, when they want it.

Using a mountain pie maker, my families favorite is the pizza mountain pie. This is one way to have pizza while camping without ordering out. You need two slices of bread, pizza sauce, mozzerella cheese, and some pepperoni or other desired topping.  Butter the bread and place the buttered side on one half of the pie maker. The butter keeps the bread from sticking to the mountain pie maker. Then put some pizza sauce on the bread, add the cheese and other topping. Butter the other slice of brad and pace the buttered side toward the other side of the mountain pie maker.

Close the mountain pie maker and then put it in the coals of the fire. About 2 to 3 minutes per side should be good. It will be golden brown on both sides when done.

ENJOY!

When we go camping as a family, my wife and I each have our own lists for the stuff we need to take along.  My list, ” the man’s list” has all of the outdoor things: tent, tarps, cooking stove, wood cutting equipment, etc.  My wife’s list focuses more on the “inside” stuff: bedding clothes, medicine, cooking utensils, etc. Each of our lists cover different things, but together we have everything we need. The lists develop and grow or shrink as we learn more and more about the things we like to have while camping.

If you are a beginner camper, the list can be very important when you are planning a family camping trip.  So you don’t become stressed at the last minute, begin to assemble your stuff a couple weeks ahead of time. You should put all of the items in one area near to where you will pack the vehicle. When it comes to checking off the list, the stuff will all be easy to see.  Having the stuff in one area will also help when you are packing the vehicle, because you can visually see what must fit into the car.

The whole family will want to get their list’s together ahead of time. The important thing is to start getting your stuff ready ahead of time to avoid that last minute stress before your trip.

While camping as a family it is important that every member of the family has there own day-pack or small backpack. Our family has found that using backpacks is a good way to stay organized.

For the children, the backpack is a place to put the treasures they like to have with them. It is also a place for extra clothes to be put if you should go away from camp for a while. Snacks can also be put in the backpack for each child, so they all have what they like. Each child is responsible for their backpack, so it allows them to share in the responsiblility of the camping experience.

We have found the backpack to be extremely useful when going to the shower house.  All of the items needed at the showerhouse are with you in one place. I have seen many familys going to the shower house, and towels are dropped on the ground by the children, or mom and dad end up with arm loads of stuff while the kids are running wild. If everyone has their own backpack, the towels, soap, shampoo, etc. can all be put in the backpack.

Mom or dad may need to pack the backpack for the shower, but al least they won’t have to juggle all of the stuff on the shower house trip. They may still end up carrying it, but at least things are all contained in one pack.

Although camping can be an exciting prospect for a child, it can also be kind of scary. At first you may have plenty of baggage to take, but make sure you allow your child to take their favorite things, within reason of course.

Always stay close to your child, especially at night. Around the campfire is a great time to hold your child. many times, our children will fall asleep on there own while sitting around the campfire. Read the rest of this entry »

Are Black bears really something we need to be worried about when camping in a tent?

No.  I have seen a black bear walk right behind a tent, and it didn’t even pause to smell the tent.

However, we have to use our head when camping! Black bears are not looking to go to the campgrounds and pick a fight with humans. They are only looking for food when they meander through the campgrounds. Unfortunately, food is very easy for them to get, so they keep coming back.  The biggest rule is to never take food in your tent! Read the rest of this entry »

Thinking about taking your computer with you on a camping trip?   Don’t!   Last year, I was planning to take my computer with me on my families week long camping trip. At the last minute, I decided to leave it behind. That was the best decision I ever made. You see, If I had the computer, I would have undoubtedly gone in and worked on some home financial planning, or maybe even dive into some “work” files. I didn’t have internet or cell phone service anyhow where we were camping. Read the rest of this entry »

Family camps may be a way to get your family together.  However, Most people do not have the money or the time for an extended family camp adventure.  Families need to consider what works for them, but I suspect that most families would benefit from camping as a family rather than attending a family camp.  Camping as a family can be done relatively inexpensively, and you will find that the activities that you plan during this endeavor will be just as enjoyable as those offered at family camps for a hefty fee.

[Via A short list of summerlong family camps, Deseret News (Salt Lake City) , Jun 22, 2006 by Associated Press]

Camping Magazine , July-August, 2006 by Tom Rosenberg

Countless camp parents visiting camp on opening days or visitor days wistfully remark on how they would love the chance to go to camp either for the first time or to rekindle the summer camp magic they discovered in their youth. In the midst of their hurried lives, families are yearning to vacation together in settings where adults and children alike can find a menu of activities structured to suit them. Younger children are eager to try camp with their older siblings, but parents aren’t sure they are “ready” to experience camp on their own yet. Family camp can be the answer to these various needs.

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