Camping With Your Family For The First Time
If you are thinking of going camping with your family, and it’s the first time you have done so, you might find yourself being a little apprehensive, even nervous, about what is likely to happen. However, it should be a very fun experience, and if you go into it fully together, you’ll find that you probably do get a lot out of it. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the ways to make sure you are ready for your first camping trip, and to help you enjoy it as much as possible.
Start Small
As it’s your first time, you might find it a little easier to start somewhere small, and probably somewhere quite local to where you live. This is probably a lot more manageable for most families than going straight into a huge outdoor expedition. And you might find that your kids prefer it if they know that you are still close to home. If you can find a nearby campground with basic facilities, that is usually ideal for first-time campers, and if things really go wrong you can easily just go home.
Test Your Gear
There is quite a lot of gear that you might need to get hold of when it comes to going camping, although you might also find that you are able to get away with only having a few essentials. Regardless, you should test the gear before you go. Set up your tent in your backyard before the trip, so you know how it all works and to double check that everything you need is there. Consider getting yourself a couple of everyday carry knives and other essentials, and ensure that you know where to store them for the trip.
Pack Smart
You don’t need to bring everything you own, just make sure that you are not skimping on any essentials. You’ll definitely want to have lots of layers of clothing, a decent first aid kit and plenty of snacks, as well as probably some bug spray, and you might find it helpful to have torches as well. Some form of entertainment could be useful, such as books and games for the kids, but try to resist the urge to take any screens with you. And of course, remember to have plenty of food and some way to cook it.
Expect Chaos
Something will probably go wrong on your first camping trip – your job is just to go with the flow and to accept it as best as you can. Someone might forget to bring something important, or someone will complain. But that’s all part of the experience, and you just need to accept it as fully as possible. If you are able to do that, you should find that you are much more likely to enjoy it in the end, and that it is really going to make a huge difference to how you approach the whole experience.
