Things I’ve Learned from Camping with Kids

We just returned from a fabulous weekend of camping up in Northern Maryland at Cunningham Falls State Park. This was our third camping trip of the summer, so I thought I was really ready this time!

The main things I’ve learned from camping with kids this summer is that… you need to be prepared but you will never actually be prepared!

Camping with Kids

After camping three times this summer with my girls, I’ve realized that there is NO possible way for me to truly be prepared for camping.

The first time we went camping, we froze.to.death! I looked at the weather, thought I knew what to expect, and packed for it. We froze! Not only did we not have enough blankets but we did not have warm enough pajamas. Pack clothes for all temperatures, especially at night.

The second time we went camping, I wasn’t quite prepared for the heat. We swam and went fishing during the day and had a blast, but it never actually cooled off the way I thought it would. After our first camping freeze, I was over prepared with blankets and clothes… which we did not need! Find ways to cool off.

The third time we went camping, I again watched the weather and thought I was prepared! I was confident this time. Well, a slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms turned into rain from 1:30 pm until midnight. Something we were not ready for.  We were also not prepared for the cold air that came with the rain or for an entire afternoon of rain.  We had nothing to keep us dry except our tent and the back hatch of the van. Consider all weather possibilities. 

From a combination of these trips, I’ve learned to pack toys. I totally believe that camping is all about being in nature, exploring, and getting away from it all. With young kids, I think that only goes so far! So I’ve learned to pack a few things to entertain them. I typically pack a couple of shovels, buckets, bubbles, an outdoor game or two, and bikes. Bring toys and books.

What I’ve Learned

So if I’ve learned nothing from these amazing camping adventures, it’s that you NEED to be fully prepared for anything while camping, but you may NOT ever be fully prepared!  These crazy adventures have not deterred us at all, in fact we are heading back out again this week.

Check back soon for a post on my favorite camping hacks!

If you camp, what is something you’ve learned from camping with kids?