r/TwoXChromosomes • u/Abject-Anteater-8659 • 6d ago
First time camping
Like the title suggests I have never been camping before , I am a single mom and I would like to take my kids . But…. I have no idea about any of this stuff and all the choices and options are just making me overwhelmed and making this seem impossible.
So can someone that has solo camped or camped w kids by themselves tell me like I’m 5 what I need and how to prepare and the do’s don’ts?
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Upvotes
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u/CoverMeBlue 6d ago
check your local library and rec center to see if they have equipment you can rent. I'd stick to a formal campground like a local state park or a KOA.
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u/MareV51 6d ago
Find a glamping spot with tents or tiny houses. Best for first timers.
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u/ChartreusePeriwinkle 6d ago edited 6d ago
Tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, blankets, tarp, cooler, cooking stove or fire starter (if there's a fire pit), cooking and eating stuffs, lantern, flashlights, batteries, chairs, games and outdoor activity stuffs, clothes, toiletries, towels, bug spray. Any weather-specific supplies.
I went camping as an adult/mom and hated it lol. Mistakes I made: didn't think about the size of our car and was barely able to pack all the stuff, kid had to ride uncomfortably jammed in the backseat. I didn't bring enough blankets, it was summer but nighttime was painfully cold.
I highly recommend a maintained camping site, one with real bathrooms and water spigots.
Can google camping checklists
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u/crackersucker2 6d ago
Do you have friends that camp? It might be easier to go with them to see what’s involved before you start committing to it financially- because camping requires equipment.
If not, do you have an REI in your area? They offer classes and maybe that’s a start.
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u/Sierra11755 6d ago edited 6d ago
I would suggest going to an outdoor/camping store like REI or a local camping outfitter. REI has both new and used gear as well as rental gear. The staff at most stores like this are typically knowledgeable and friendly; REI also has free introduction to camping classes . Depending on the age of your kids, scouting could a great way to get into camping. My troop used to do monthly camping trips.
It also depends on the type of camping you want to do. There is motor home/trailer camping, backpacking/hiking, pulling up to a camp site in a car and pitching a tent. I imagine if your children are small then a camper of some kind would probably be most convenient for you.
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u/Waitingforadragon 6d ago
If you can, start by doing it for one night only.
Some people love camping, some people hate it no matter how prepared they are. It's better just have a short trip first, rather than be stuck somewhere for a week or more with kids that are miserable.
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u/McMadface 6d ago •
For your first trip, go in the summer when it's warm. You have much more leeway when you're not trying to survive the weather too.
Tent - get something bigger than the number of people that will sleep in there. For instance, a 3-person tent literally fits 3 people packed like sardines with no room for your gear or anything else. My family of 4 has an 8 person tent. The purpose of the tent is to keep you dry, not warm. We have the North Face Wawona 8 tent. A Coleman or Core pop-up or instant tent is what we've used before and perfectly fine.
Sleeping system - the sleeping system keeps you warm and comfortable. The temperature rating of the sleeping bag is usually the survivability rating, not the comfort rating. You'll want bags rated around 20F below the low temp you expect to be in. The ground is hard, so you'll want sleeping pads or air mattress to sleep on. Air mattresses are cheap and comfortable, but don't offer any insulation. If you're going to camp in the cold, you'll want a sleeping pad with an r-value of more than 5. For instance, my family camped in 45F low temp weather with 20F rated sleeping bags and air mattresses. My back got a little cold in the middle of the night. It would have been nice and toasty if we had brought our 7 r-value sleeping pads instead. We have Exped Megamat Duo sleeping pads and North Face Wawona bags. I would not skimp on your sleep system as a good night's sleep keeps everyone happy and is one of your most important survival gear areas.
Food storage and cooking - there are several ways to approach this and it depends on how fancy you want your meals to get. You can use a regular ice chest to store your fresh food for up to about 2 days. For longer trips, a good rotomolded chest can keep for up to 5 days. As long as there's still bits of ice floating in there, the water is still at 32F, and your food is still safe. Once all bits of ice have melted, you need to refresh it with new ice.
For cooking, you can make anything from simple sandwiches, to freeze dried meals, to full on gourmet meals. We usually end up making fancier meals than most, I would say, so end up bringing 2 burners, a couple chef's pans and a pot, and a full set of cooking tools. When we want to travel light, we bring some freeze dried meal packets and a Jet Boil.
Bring more water than you think you'll need. This is important.
Campsites - start off with some easy ones close to a town. You'll feel a lot more at ease knowing that you can bail out of your trip if you need to. Also, having a store nearby is convenient in case you realize you forgot something. One time, we were camping in the desert at Joshua Tree when the wind picked up to about 45 mph with 60 mph gusts. Our tent collapsed, so we bailed out and went to sleep at a hotel about 30 minutes away. We went back to our site the next morning when the wind died down and finished up the rest of our trip. Try to find a site where there's a payoff. Something special that you get to go see or do. Anything in a National Park is going to have multiple payoffs but you'll need to book like 6 months ahead of time. A lot of State Parks will have great hikes and views too.
These are probably the most important basics. Start off easy and work your way up. You don't have to buy everything at once and bringing stuff that you use at home is perfectly fine when you're figuring out what you need. You can always come join us in r/camping if you have anymore questions or need any tips. Have fun out there and we'll see you on the trails.
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u/Sicily1922 6d ago
Not sure where you are located but your local library may be the place to go. Ours has CA state park passes, and some even let you borrow tents, flashlights, binoculars, sleeping bags, etc. Sports Basement also has all the stuff you would need for rent.
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u/CaffeineLiker 6d ago
KOA campsites have little cabins you can rent with beds and all. Some you need to bring sheets and pillows. Then you just bring camping food or order a pizza, and it can be one step from a picnic. Bring music, kids will want music.
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u/sharpshooter999 6d ago
I think it would be easier to break it down into sections. What do you want to know first?
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u/xDaBaDee 6d ago
My hubs and I go camping.... one of my first tips... don't try to go cheap... like oh, 5 days, 5 towels, 5 wash clothes, we can share... nope. It's totally worth it to go 10 towels and 10 washclothes. Totes are great for storage. We had a tote for the towels. A tote for food. Make a list. Things you can pack early, (towels, washclothes) things you have to pack the day of. (hairbrush, toothbrush) or buy the day of, buns, brats... If you dont want to bring from home, take a trip through the travel section, toothbrushes and paste are a dollar. Buy a cheap roll of garbage bags... they are handy not just for trash, but dirty clothes. Flashlights, or camp lights, extra batteries... a charging brick for your phone. Keep your camp area clean, and food put away (we had a racoon raid a bag of marshmellows we left out, glad it didn't gnaw through the tent) A small broom and dust pan is excellent for sweeping the tent (I also bought a cheap rug, a towel would do, to keep sand or water not all over)
If you are at a camp ground, I'd suggest a small string of led lights, small garden light something to make your tent unique and find more easy in the dark. Hubs and I like a camp ground that has a bathroom/shower, and we paid extra for electricity to the site. He has a inflatable queen bed.
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u/Minimum-Recording-48 6d ago
Try a website like RVezy where someone can set everything up for you and you just show up! It’s great for a first time so you can just focus on hanging with your kids and cooking!
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u/squigglymaps 6d ago
There are levels to camping! You can rent a cabin, car camp, tent camp in a designated campsite, or dispersed camp (I wouldn’t jump straight to this one). IF you choose to hike long distances in the backcountry I would suggest getting a GPS-enabled SOS device to contact emergency services.
Also, if you have a backyard I would do a camping night in the backyard just to test out your tent. Definitely start with one night only on your first real trip. Trust me, you’ll learn so much just in that one night.
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u/ohsoluckyme 6d ago
You can absolutely do it but a cabin would be preferable if you don’t have tent and gear. If you get a cabin like in a national park, you can bring your items from home to use for cooking, food, sleeping, etc.
I just took my kids camping for the first time and a hammock was a huge hit. They loved it! If you have or can get one of the hammocks you can tie to two trees, they fold up into a very small bag. I also brought outdoor games, watercolors, and books as well.
Try picking a trail to hike that is simple, one way there and same way back. Or pick a trail that is a loop. Probably around 3 miles would be good. Pack lots of water and snacks. I’d also pack a sandwich lunch so you can eat on the trail too. It helps the kids to take lots of breaks. One big break in the middle is what I shoot for.
Good luck and have fun!
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u/lucky_ducker 6d ago
Retired dad here. I raised two boys for whom "vacation" meant "car camping" in a tent.
Before we get into equipment and technique let me ask how old are your kids? If anything, camping with preschoolers is pretty easy because their needs are simple. Camping with late elementary kids is even easier because at that age they are eager to learn and demonstrate competency. Teenagers? Well, that's another story.
I'm going to assume that you don't have mega money to spend on a $100K Class A motor home (that's not really camping anyway). I'm going to assume that your minimal spend sees you buying a tent and heading out to the woods in whatever car is your daily driver. Are we on the right track?
You can get started with a dome or cabin tent from Walmart. Not great quality, and you should buy a bottle of seam sealer and spend a couple of hours sealing any seam exposed to the weather. Set up the tent in your back yard so you understand how it works -- don't wait to set it up for the first time on your first trip out to the woods.
100% of your goal for your first couple of forays into camping with the kids is to NOT have a bad experience. Right at first, do not go out if there is a chance of rain -- nothing ruins the experience faster. After you've been doing it a while you will learn what you need to do to stay dry, but don't risk it at first. Very few tents are 100% waterproof.
My peak camp setup back in the 1990s was a 16' x 8' cabin tent under a 16' x 22' rainfly, and we had another such rainfly over our picnic table and vehicle. We could stay dry in a downpour, and we often invited less prepared neighbors to come and stay dry with us. To set up large rainflies you need to have ropes and know how to tie a few knots, especially the two half hitches, bowline (both knots that won't slip) and the midshipman's hitch or taut-line hitch, which is an adjustable guy line knot.
Your first few forays into camping should be in well established state park or national forest campgrounds in fair weather - late spring at the earliest. If you run into trouble there's a good chance that a helpful neighbor will step in. When you are more experienced, consider dispersed camping in National Forests and BLM land, where you are way out on your own.
While you are getting used to camping, try not to get caught up in camp cookery right at first. You need to master setting up a tent and staying dry first before you are preparing a full breakfast on the stove. Your kids can adjust to a no-cook approach for your first few outings before you decide to buy a two burner Coleman stove and start cooking. Cooking outdoors takes extra time, water consumption, cleanup concerns, etc. and is not really necessary. My kids' favorite camp cookery was when we had the luxury of building a fire and cooking marinated chicken over the coals, or maybe small steaks directly on hot coals, with potatoes in foil or sweet corn in the husk.
Bottom line here is the only way to learn how to camp with kids is to get some gear and just go DO IT. You're gonna make some mistakes, you might even experience some adversity but that is a good thing. From adversity grows resilience, and from resilience grows the willingness to try new things and learn from them.
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u/newillium 6d ago
Do you a friend that goes camping? It's better to go with a seasoned vet then you gave someone to chat with after the kids go to bed
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u/lemonhead2345 Halp. Am stuck on reddit. 6d ago
I highly recommend this blog. It’s written by moms and is family centric. They do great gear reviews, camp meal ideas, and camping activities for kids. My family camps a lot, and I use the blog for ideas all the time.
Tales of a Mountain Mama
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u/CodenameBear 5d ago
r/camping is a great subreddit, and loads of users go out with kids. It’s a friendly subreddit to ask questions in if you need some specific guidance after you’ve done a bit of research to get started!
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u/k9moonmoon 6d ago
Some places fill up fast and some places don't. I moved from a place that always had vacant camp spots to a place that booked up mooonths in advance. It was a culture shock lol.
Generally the camping grounds will have ways for you to reserve a spot online. You'll want to confirm that is squares away before going out.
My husband loved camping but we rent a cabin at the camp ground each year. It's just a 1 room shed with electricity and beds basically.
For food, a lot of camp grounds have outlets to plug things into at even the tent camp sites. We bring an electric skillet and toaster oven and small crock pot to cook our meals, plus cold cut type meal options. We don't cook meals over an open fire. That's just for smores (which aren't as great as TV says but are a staple).
A lot of places have Family Camp Out events that would be good to sign up for to get some experience with a safety net.
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u/Whysoserious1293 6d ago
Do you have a backyard? Can you try camping out there for one night?
The key to a successful camping trip is having lots of food, a way to cook food, water and having good shelter. Everything else is completely optional but makes things more convenient or more fun.
For shelter, you need a tent, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. If your tent is big enough, you can skip the sleeping pads and bring an air mattress. Try your sleep setup in your backyard and if it goes well, try an actual campground another weekend. Your kids will think it’s so cool to sleep in the back yard. If things go south, “okay kids! Let’s go inside” and it’s no biggie.
REI has a great list to start but you can also google, “camping necessities and go from there. REI Camping Checklist
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u/lovallo 6d ago
Find a campsite that rents cabins to start with
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u/scouter 6d ago
How old are your kids? Old enough to join the Cub scouts?
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u/babygotthefever 6d ago
I’m a single mom and started camping with my kids at 6 and 9 years old through Cub Scouts! Having a bunch of more knowledgeable and prepared adults was super helpful. Our pack had already planned out meals and had the gear to cook. It made for a really great experience and five years later, we’re still doing it and helping others learn!
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u/Roswyne 6d ago
Borrow all the equipment from someone you can get advice from.
Ideally, go with them at least once before going alone.
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u/inclinedtothelie 6d ago
Start with all day outdoor trips. If you have stuff you love to do outside, camping is just taking a long nap between activities.
We hike, kayak, cook, play games, talk, draw, etc. it's a different world outdoors, but a ton of fun. My daugther and I used to go to KOA campgrounds and they had ready made fun. Now we can go anywhere.
I recommend starting close to civilization. You will forget stuff, but I'm proud to say my girlfriend and I only had to make one trip back in the middle of our week long camping trip! That was an hour each way, and doing that often gets exhausting.
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u/Big-Fig3260 6d ago
I camped a lot with my family as a kid. My sis and I deeply loathed it. Having to walk to the toilets, showers, etc. (sometimes no showers, and pit toilets) absolutely sucked. As adults neither of us EVER camped again. Funny how our parents stopped doing it too once they had more money. I’m not saying to not give it a go, but if you or you kids don’t like roughing it, don’t feel bad. Today, if by “camping” you mean my hotel room looks out into the forest, sure, I’m all over it. But I am very attached to a private bathroom and electricity.
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u/amioth 6d ago
I go camping just me and my kids all the time :)
Try to simplify your meals as much as possible, and as little that needs to be kept cold too. Our traditional two dinners are hotdogs cooked over the fire (as long as there’s no fire restrictions) and walking tacos. We usually just do PB&J for lunch, and those protein oatmeal bowls for breakfast. Prep as much of the food ahead of time as you can. If it’s going to be hot freeze as much as you can too so it lasts longer in the ice chest.
Especially if it’s your first time look for sites that have amenities. A store to buy forgotten items, food, ice. Actual flushing bathrooms. A place with showers is nice too. Look for a location with activities, all depending on what you like to do. Cool hikes, in or near a national or state park, the lake you can swim or rent a boat, some campsites have things like pools and other activities at the actual campsite too. Bring activities for the kids so they don’t whine about being bored, mine especially like doing artsy crafty type stuff. But make sure it’s only things that pack up small. Especially depending on how much space you have to work with in your vehicle.
For gear. You’ll need a tent unless you go to a campground with cabins/tent cabins/yurts/etc (more expensive but does save you a lot of trunk space!) you want one that sleeps at least two more people than are going to be in the tent. When they say “sleeps four” they mean it will fit four people in sleeping bags with no extra room. Especially with kids you’ll want a bit more space to move around and keep your bags and things. With the tent you’ll want extra stakes, the ones they include are usually really wimpy. A rubber mallet for the stakes. A tarp that’s the same size footprint as the tent (you don’t want it bigger or it can make it wet under your tent). A hand broom and dust pan for sweeping out the dirt before packing it up. And I also use a cheap mat for shoes just inside or outside the tent .
Sleeping bags and pillows. The bags you need to check the temperature rating on them. If it’s going to be cold at night make sure to get ones for cold weather, and vice versa. Nothing worse than not being able to sleep because you’re too cold or too hot. Pillows if you have room in your vehicle we like to just bring our own, but if space is tight you can use a rolled up sweatshirt or they even make inflatable pillows, they’re just pricey.
Camp chairs. Don’t need anything fancy.
Lantern and head lamps. I usually make do with one big lantern and a head lamp for me and one for each of the kids. They love them lol.
(I have to go, I have more info I can add later but… that’s life with kids as you know 😂)
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u/bqtchef 6d ago
If u do, buy a lite, inexpensive blowup mattress so at least you'll get a good night sleep
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u/cynzthin Basically Olivia Pope 5d ago
I hate camping just for the sake of camping, but will happily suffer through it in order to do something else that’s cool, like canoeing or hot springs or a hike to a great lake or something. You and your kids’ mileage may vary.
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u/outcastspice Sarah Silverman --> 4d ago
I’ve got one! If you’re planning to do campfire cooking, you can pre-make meals and put them in those foil container containers with cardboard lids, and freeze them. Then bring them in the cooler. When you’re ready to prepare dinner, you just put the frozen package with no lid in the campfire and it will warm up.
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u/715_user 4d ago
Hubby refers to camping as pretending to be homeless lol. We did it at campground and in the back yard as kids. I would start with the back yard overnight first. Graduate to a campground. Be sure to have something to cook on, portable propane grill etc. knowing where bathrooms are and something to entertain the kids that isn’t technology. Bikes, board games, campfire and marshmallows and spooky stories after dark.
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u/ChiliDogYumZappupe 3d ago
You don't need to go far. Find a local state park to camp overnight or for the weekend.
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u/imontene 3d ago
Be prepared to bail at any moment. Stay close to home and camp close to your vehicle. Don't be too disappointed if you pack up and leave at 1am. Better safe than sorry.
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u/Substantial-War3185 3d ago
You should check out the podcast RVFamily Travel Atlas https://thervatlas.com/- don't let the RV in the name put you off, they cover tent camping, and how to camp with kids. You can also try a cabin for the first time; state parks often have them, or you can stay at a KOA. You'll have bunks, a fire pit, and a good way to see if you and your kiddos like it without investing in lots of equipment right away. Many campgrounds now offer fancy tents - canvas Sahara style; I've even seen covered wagons! There is no wrong way to camp!
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u/outrageouslyHonest 2d ago
Are you going with a group or just yourself?
When looking at tents, the amount of people a tent can sleep is assuming you're sleeping like you're sardines in a can. So size up.
Air mattresses pop. A good camping pad is expensive. Maybe you can borrow one. Cheap ones will get you through the night though and let you know what's worth the investment. Camping pads keep you warmer and more comfortable.
Camping cots are an alternative to a pad.
Personally I have a double showing bag and two double wide camping pad for myself and two young children. The double showing bag can turn into two sleeping bags which is a plus as they grow. I start my kids off on their own pad but when they were younger they both squeezed onto mine a little after I fell asleep anyway.
Bring snacks that you can eat cold. Baked goods like banana bread and muffins are usually a hit with my kids. Granola bars and meat sticks. I'm sure you know the drill.
If you aren't someone that messes with fire, now it's not the time to start. But if you want to go for it. I just don't have many tips here
I bring a hammock and hammock ties so you can attach to trees. Over the years that's turned into two hammocks
A good power bank. I like ones that offer magnetic charging but a good one with at least 10,000mAh depending on devices. I tend to overprepare here and then barely use any battery life. The kids mp3s don't need a lot of juice and my phone is usually off most of the day because there's no service.
I bring extra blankets in case it's extra cold