I have been asked to share some of my "secrets" for camping with little ones, and though they're not that ground breaking, I will share what I have learned so far.
1) Be Prepared - Specifically in the area of warm/dry clothes and bedding. If you and (more importantly) your children are warm and dry (both day and night) your chance of enjoying the trip goes up about 99.9% I have found one or two base layers (patagonia and REI make great ones) to start layering clothes with. They breathe well and don't leave your child cold with sweat. Now before you freak out because these are spendy brands (which they are) realize that you can save a lot of $ by keeping your eye out all year round at thrift stores/garage sales, etc. Also, other brands work as well, it's mostly just cotton as a base layer you want to stay away from. Mother Goose resale (a consignment store with several locations) is great for this. Even if you are mostly camping in the summer remember that evenings/nights can get quite cold and/or rainy here in Oregon, especially if you're in the mountains or on the coast. Extra blankets are never wasted.
2) Even if showers aren't provided bringing towels is a good idea to dry up dew, clean off dirty feet, or for use after giving your child a bath in a tote.
3) Condense your gear. If you're planning on doing much camping at all it might be a good idea to look into storing your stuff in easy to pack/store totes (we like Rubbermade roughneck totes a lot.) We have a lot of things that just stay in those totes ready to go for the next time. (We try to refresh them at the end of the trip if needed, cleaning gear and adding things such as more matches, while we remember them.)
4) Having a separate set of kitchen stuff helps a lot too. I actually have a camping kitchen we just pack up with everything in it, but you could do this in totes as well. It's so much easier not to forget things when they are already together. (Pots, pans, plates, silverware, salt/pepper, tooth brush/paste, matches, tea, dish towels, etc.)
5) Try to put all your non-perishable food in one or two totes/boxes. This way everything is together and easier to guard from little (or big) critters looking to steal your food.
6) Don't skimp on things like a bumbo for the baby to sit in, or a few small toys for your children to play with. I like to bring Mikaiah's baby stroller, doll, toy truck, bucket and shovel. That's usually all the toys we take, but it helps a lot. We also like bringing a portable highchair (that snaps on a chair/picnic bench.) It's nice to have a safe/clean place to put your child to eat/and or play.
7) Plan your food. I have two or three dinners I usually use (chicken fajitas, sausages, and spaghetti or soup of some sort.) I only have to prepare the fajitas and by cooking the chicken and veggies ahead and putting them in a mason jar or zip lock my meals take less than 20 minutes to heat up and serve. I also like to cut up fruits and veggies before hand (especially melons/pineapples, celery, and bell peppers or other messy things to cut) that way they are quick to grab and as easy to eat as all the carb loaded prepared snacks like crackers, chips, and trail mix. Too much of these and by the end of the weekend no one is feeling very great. Throwing in hummus or ranch is a nice incentive to eat your veggies as well. Lunches are usually fruits/veggies with pb and j sandwiches or tuna (which I often prepare at home.) Hard boiled eggs are a nice addition as well. If you plan your food ahead you won't feel the need to bring so much extra and can save space there, plus having it all in one tote can save about 5 square feet filled with reusable grocery bags (my husband's pet peeve!)
8) Try to think of some kind of activity or outing each day (whether or not you choose to do it.) Build a sand castle, fly a kite, visit a lighthouse or museum, take a hike or build a dam in the river. Talk to your kids about what your going to do or ask for suggestions. This helps them feel involved and gets them excited about what your doing. Make up scavenger hunts looking for "the roundest rock you can find" or "something fuzzy." We have even gone to a public pool in the past and things like that. Getting away with your family by camping is great, but if you think the weather might be really bad try to camp somewhere near a town that you can escape to for a quick movie or game of bowling. You will still be saving a lot of money by not staying in a hotel, and you will enjoy the outing that much more.)
9) Use headlamps with your children. They'll love having their own light and will be less likely to lose it or shine it in your eyes (you can adjust the direction of the light.) These can be relatively inexpensive, especially through places like Costco (though ours are from REI because of their great return policy. Still only about $15 - $20.)
10) With children in diapers a good rule of thumb is to bring 5 for each day plus an extra 5. This works out quite well.
11) Laundry. Bringing a folding laundry hamper (about $4) is a great way to reduse unpacking time once you get home. I just put all my dirty laundry inside, pack it up and start it as soon as I get home. This way I don't have to sort our clean/dirty clothes out and get jump started on the wash.)
12) Use reference guides. We have just a few books that have helped us a lot. Here they are:
- Babes in the Woods (a guide to camping with children, lots of useful tips in there.)
-Canoeing and Kayaking in the Pacific North West by Phillip N. Jones (if you want to do any paddling, this is a wonderful guide to have. I could go into detail about how useful it is, but I won't. )
-Camping! Oregon By Judy Jewell (There are several books similar to this and all have decent info, but I've really like this one a lot. It does not cover ALL the campgrounds in Oregon, but quite a few.)
13) If you've never camped in the off season (October - May) you might want to consider it. Campgrounds are much less crowded (we rarely reserve sites, though if you have an RV you might need to.) Things look different in the winter and can bring about different types of exploration. Many campgrounds are cheaper during this "discovery" season as it is called by State Parks. And though the thought of camping in the cold can be disheartening, with a little help from a tent heater such as the Mr. Heater (sold at Bi-mart among other places) safe for tents (though please still use caution - a heater is still a heater, no matter how safe.) And if that still doesn't suite you, consider renting a yurt or rustic cabin available at many campgrounds. (We do this twice a year - it's a nice break.) With beds (sleeping up to 8), a heater, table and chairs, plus most of them have covered porches for cooking and such, they really are a steal for less than $40 a night.
If you have any specific questions/comments feel free to ask away.
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