What’s a family-friendly campground?
When you camp with kids, you need to be a little more diligent in the planning process. Whereas adults may be able to deal with unpredictable weather and make spontaneous decisions along the way, once you add kids into the mix, you don’t want to leave anything to chance. Safety becomes more important than ever to ensure a stress-free camping trip. Follow these tips to a family-friendly campground.
Make sure everyone returns to camp well before dark.
Family camping safety
Being overly prepared when you’re camping with the family is better than being underprepared. Besides the right gear to keep your family comfortable and safe at camp, you also have to be extra cautious when playing and exploring in the surrounding camp wilderness. So, let’s talk about how to pack and how to act to set up a family-friendly campground.
You can’t predict the weather
You may not be able to predict the weather, but there are people a lot smarter than us who are getting pretty darn good at it. Make sure you check the weather reports for your campground so that you can plan and pack accordingly. Most campsites will have a weather report attached to their web page, as well as any weather warnings in the area. The employees at the park and the grounds are very knowledgeable and want you to be safe, so don’t be afraid to reach out and ask if there is anything that you should be aware of, weather-wise, before you head out.
Camp rules
Make sure you and your kids respect the wildlife and keep a safe distance.
If your kids are old enough to explore a little by themselves, make sure you set strict rules as to how far they are allowed to go, and what time they need to be back. Once the sun starts to set, it can get dark more quickly than you think, so be sure to always have everyone return to camp well before it get’s dark.
Wilderness rules
Whether your kids are exploring alone or you head out as a family, make sure that your kids understand to keep their distance to wildlife. Staying clear of wild animals is easy because chances are the animals are way ahead of you and already keeping a safe distance. The wilderness can have other dangerous attractions, like wild berries, or colorful plants that may be poisonous. It’s a good rule of thumb, for people and for nature, to take only memories and leave only footprints. Don’t touch, don’t eat, and don’t feed.
Enough food and clothing
You want to pack for all types of weather. Having layers is a great idea so that you can easily adapt to changing temperatures. Kids are going to get wetter and dirtier than adults, so bring extra clothing. Make sure that you bring enough food, as well, for the whole family, and plenty of snacks! People always underestimate how many snacks you eat while camping.
Get a tent that’s big enough for everyone to stretch out and sleep comfortably.
Family camping gear
Be sure to rent a tent that is big enough for all of you. We always recommend getting a tent that is one or two sizes bigger than you think you need. If you’re a family of four, get a six-person tent. Although camping can bring a family closer together, there are limits to how close you want to sleep at night. Be sure to add a rain fly, and get a tent that can stand up to the weather. Besides a comfortable abode while camping, add backpacks, cooking equipment, and camp furniture to set up the perfect family campground.
Safety kit
Finally, pack a comprehensive safety kit, including bandages, disinfectant, Neosporin, and bug spray.
Family camping gear packages
We start with what we call our “Basic Camping Package.” This package has a tent, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads. You can add any other items you would like to any package by browsing our rental page, and don’t forget to check out our selection of all the camping accessories you could need! Due to our large and varied stock, we have chairs, tables, coolers, or just about any other camping option. Most of all, you can custom-build camping packages that work best for your group or family.
