Family Camping Tips

• Bring a camera or camcorder with plenty of film to capture family camping memories.


• Make your first family camping trip a simple overnighter. Get your kids warmed up with this short trip. After that, take family trips every year.


• Use a baby monitor as a tool that allows you time to relax outside the tent when children are napping.


• Attach bells to your toddler’s shoes so you can hear if he or she starts to wander off.


• Let older children wear whistles around their necks so they can whistle if they get lost.


• Take along breadcrumbs to feed the ducks or fish.


• Hide a favorite snack in your gear. If you have to weather a rainstorm, you’ll have a treat to distract the kids.


• Include the whole family when it’s time to clean the campsite. Leave nothing but footprints.

• National parks and forests make excellent camping destinations. For help in choosing a destination, go to www.coleman.com/coleman/travel. You'll find a state-by-state listing of national parks and forests, recreation areas, campgrounds, lakes, hiking trails and more – all with descriptions, available activities and contact information.


• Popular destinations fill up quickly during high-use months such as July and August; be sure to make advance reservations. Seek less-popular places on holidays and weekends.


• When choosing a campsite, make sure that it is close enough to bathrooms/showers and not too close to trash bins.


• Familiarize yourself with your equipment before you leave home. This will alleviate setup hassles and will give you a good idea of extra tools and accessories to pack.


• For couples camping, buy two sleeping bags that zip together to make a queen-size bag.

• Create a camping checklist that you can use each time you camp. List items in categories such as setup items, clothing, cooking utensils, food and activities.


• Add or delete from the checklist when you discover items you wish you had brought or you should have left at home.


• Keep your camping-only items in easy-to-load crates. You’ll be halfway packed for a spur-of-the-moment trip.


• Pack clothing in trash bags. The bags keep clothes dry in wet or humid weather and can double as laundry bags.


• Bring menu-specific measured items to save time and space. For example, measure all of the dry ingredients for pancakes and pack them in a covered container. Just add the wet ingredients when you’re ready to cook. (Don’t forget to label the items.)

• Avoid throwing away biodegradable items in the woods or campgrounds. They will attract unwanted insects and animals.


• Precook some portions or all of some meals and place in storage bags in coolers.


• Bring lids for pots and cookware. They allow food to cook faster and keep foods warm while you prepare other items.


• Pack two coolers. Fill one with items that will be used frequently, such as beverages and snacks, and the other with primary meal items. This keeps everything cold and conserves ice.


• Place your cooler in the shade and cover it with a wet, white towel to keep contents cooler longer. Tarps and sleeping bags spread over a cooler will also help improve performance on hot days.


• Before you leave home, prechill your cooler contents for maximum cooler efficiency. Load the coolers with cold items, rather than depending on the ice to cool down the contents. For example, warm pop increases the rate at which ice melts.


• Throw a tarp over your cooking area before you go to bed. This will protect your gear from heavy dew or rain.


• Invest in a solar-heated camp shower or portable water heater. This item can double as a faucet and is ideal for dish rinsing and hand washing.

• If you plan to build a campfire, make sure you’re aware of any seasonal or campground restrictions. If no open fires are allowed, consider taking a portable fireplace with you.


• Use existing fire rings if available. If not, gather rocks for your fire ring when there’s still plenty of daylight.


• Firewood may be scarce where you are camping, so take a few bundles with you.


• Make sure your fire ring is completely out before leaving your campsite. Extinguish your fire by pouring water on it. Stir the ashes and continue dousing ashes with water until there is no smoke, steam or hissing when the water hits.

• At the beginning of each season, air out your tent and seal every seam. This will keep dew and rain on the outside all season long.


• Be sure to take a tent stake mallet and a tent stake puller. These inexpensive products save a lot of heartache and allow you to easily set up and break camp in any soil condition.


• Stake your camping tent with a door away from the direction of the wind.


• If you’ll be camping in a sandy area, you'll need extra-long specialty stakes.


• Use a ground cover under a tent or sleeping bag.


• Partially unzip the upper window in your tent to remove unwanted moisture and condensation from respiring sleepers. On muggy nights, also zip open a lower window to draw cooler air and create a chimney effect.


• Zip open your sleeping bag for a few minutes every morning to remove moisture, then shake the bag to restore insulation loft. You’ll sleep warmer and extend the life of your sleeping bag.


• Never use a stove or fuel lantern in your tent. Pack a battery-operated lantern or flashlight for use inside your tent.


• Don't leave nylon tents out in the sun for long periods of time. UV exposure will shorten tent life.


• Make sure your tent is dry before you store it.

Courtesy of The Coleman Company, Inc.