Camping
Before you go
- Book the site. Ask for one near the bathhouse, not next to it.
- Pitch the tent in the yard once. Let the kids sleep in it.
- Plan every meal and write it on the cooler lid.
- Freeze water bottles and the first night's dinner. They are the ice.
- Charge the lantern, the fan, the power bank, every headlamp.
- Check the forecast the night before and add a layer to it.
Shelter
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Cabin tent, 10-person, with room divider
Six people plus bags need a real room. Stand-up walls and a divider put the kids to bed early on their side.
Amazon: CORE 10 Person Instant Cabin TentColeman Skydome XL 10 Person TentColeman 10-Person Dark Room Cabin Tent
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Tent footprint or tarp
Keeps the floor dry and whole. Cut a hair smaller than the tent.
Amazon: Coleman Tent Footprint 10 PersonRedcamp Waterproof Tent Footprint Tarp
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Canopy, 10×10, with sides
Shade for lunch and a dry kitchen when it rains.
Amazon: Coleman Instant Canopy 10x10Eurmax 10x10 Pop Up Canopy
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Outdoor rug for the tent door
Where the shoes come off, and where the sand stays.
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Battery tent fan with light
Hot tents do not sleep. Hangs from the ceiling loop.
Amazon: Odoland Portable Camping Fan with LED LanternColeman CPX 6 Tent Fan
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Mallet and spare stakes
The stakes in the box bend on the first rock.
Amazon: Coghlan's Rubber Mallet with Tent Stake PullerMSR Groundhog Tent Stakes 8 pack
add to shelter
Sleep
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Two-person camp mattress for the grown-ups
A good night makes the whole trip. Self-inflating foam beats an air bed in the cold.
Amazon: Exped MegaMat Duo 10Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3DColeman Queen Air Mattress with Pump
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Kids' sleeping pads ×4
Short and wide, so they stay on them. Kids need less thickness than adults.
Amazon: Klymit Static V JuniorTherm-a-Rest Trail Scout SmallColeman Camping Foam Sleeping Pad
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Kids' sleeping bags ×4
Rated near 30°F for spring and fall nights. Polyester fill washes.
Amazon: Kelty Mistral Kids Sleeping BagTETON Sports Junior 20F Sleeping BagColeman Kids 50 Sleeping Bag
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Grown-up sleeping bags ×2, or one double
Rectangular bags zip together.
Amazon: Kelty Galactic 30TETON Sports Mammoth Double Sleeping BagColeman Brazos 20F Sleeping Bag
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Camp pillows ×6
Small, packable. Bring the home pillow for the ones who will not sleep without it.
Amazon: Therm-a-Rest Compressible PillowTrekology Aluft Inflatable Camping Pillow
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Nose machine
add to sleep
Kitchen
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Two-burner propane stove
Pancakes and eggs at once. A windscreen matters more than the BTUs.
Amazon: Camp Chef Everest 2XColeman Cascade Classic 2-Burner StoveColeman Triton 2-Burner Stove
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Propane, 1 lb ×4, or a hose to a 20 lb tank
A family burns one small cylinder a day.
Amazon: Coleman Propane Fuel 16 oz 4 packPropane Adapter Hose 1 lb to 20 lb 5 ft
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Big cooler, 50–70 qt
Food for six for three days. Freeze water bottles as the ice.
Amazon: RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light CoolerColeman 316 Series 70 Quart CoolerIgloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler
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Small cooler for drinks
The kids open this one forty times a day, so the food stays cold.
Amazon: Coleman 28 Quart CoolerIgloo Playmate Elite 16 Quart
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Water jug, 5–7 gal, with a spigot
Hand washing and drinking at the table.
Amazon: Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 GallonColeman 5 Gallon Water Carrier
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Cast iron skillet, 12 in
Goes on the stove and on the fire.
Amazon: Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
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Kids' water bottles ×4
Named. Straw lids spill less.
Amazon: CamelBak Eddy+ Kids 14 ozContigo Kids Water Bottle 14 oz
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Coffee: percolator or press
Non-negotiable with four kids.
Amazon: Coleman 12-Cup Stainless PercolatorStanley Classic Stay Hot French Press
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Collapsible wash basin, soap, sponge, towels
Two basins: wash and rinse.
Amazon: Collapsible Dish Wash Basin 2 packCampsuds Biodegradable SoapSea to Summit Camp Kitchen Towel
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Roasting sticks ×6 and a campfire grate
Marshmallows are the reason the kids came.
Amazon: Marshmallow Roasting Sticks 32 inch 6 packFolding Campfire Grill Grate
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Kettle
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Pot
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Cutting board
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Foil
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Ziplocs
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Trash bags
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Paper towels
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Tongs
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Seasoning
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Kitchen knife
add to kitchen
Light and power
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Lantern, rechargeable
One for the table, warm light that dims.
Amazon: BioLite AlpenGlow 500Black Diamond Moji+ LanternColeman 1000 Lumen Rechargeable Lantern
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Headlamps ×6
Hands free for dishes, and kids love their own. Red mode for the tent.
Amazon: Black Diamond Spot 400Energizer Kids Headlamp 2 packEnergizer Vision LED Headlamp
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String lights for the canopy
Marks the guy lines and makes camp feel like camp.
Amazon: MPOWERD Luci Solar String LightsBrightech Ambience Pro Solar String Lights
add to light and power
Camp life
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Camp chairs ×2
Hold a lap and a mug.
Amazon: ALPS Mountaineering King Kong ChairKijaro Dual Lock ChairColeman Cooler Quad Chair
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Kids' chairs ×4
Low, light, their own.
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Bug control
Spray for people, a repeller for the table.
Amazon: Thermacell Patio Shield Mosquito RepellerOFF! FamilyCare Insect RepellentSawyer Permethrin Clothing Spray
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Sunscreen and sun hats ×6
Mineral stick for faces goes on without a fight.
Amazon: Thinkbaby SPF 50 SunscreenBlue Lizard Sensitive SunscreenKids Wide Brim Sun Hat UPF 50
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Fishing stuff
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Pipe and tobacco
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Hatchet
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Fire starter
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Card games
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Kindles
add to camp life
Safety and clean
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Family first-aid kit
Plus tweezers for ticks and a thermometer.
Amazon: Adventure Medical Kits Family First Aid KitTick Remover Tool KitDigital Thermometer Kids
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Children's medicine
Fever reducer, allergy, anti-itch, motion sickness.
Amazon: Children's Tylenol ChewablesChildren's Benadryl AllergyAfter Bite Kids Itch Relief
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Wipes, lots, and hand sanitizer
Faces, hands, tables, feet. More than you think.
Amazon: WaterWipes 12 packPurell Hand Sanitizer Travel 8 pack
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Diapers and a changing pad, if needed
One day more than the trip.
Amazon: Portable Changing Pad Travel
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Toilet paper, trowel, and a trash bag
For when the bathhouse is too far.
Amazon: Coghlan's Backpackers Trowel
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Toiletries bag that hangs
Toothbrushes ×6, paste, soap, comb, hair ties.
Amazon: Hanging Toiletry Bag Family
add to safety and clean
Clothes and weather
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Packing cube per kid
One colour each; a day's clothes rolled together.
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Layers: fleece, rain jacket, warm hat ×6
Camp is ten degrees colder than the forecast at night.
Amazon: Columbia Kids Fleece JacketColumbia Kids Rain JacketKids Fleece Beanie
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Fleece pyjamas and wool socks ×4
Warm feet are the whole trick to a kid sleeping outside.
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Twice the socks and underwear
Wet feet are a given.
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Laundry bag
Dirty goes in, nothing else gets dirty.
Amazon: Mesh Laundry Bag Travel