Campers, What Are Some Great Camping Tips?

Well we are leaving for a three night camping trip tomorrow.This is what we bring..depending on if your using tents,cabins or RVs.
1.bring extra ziplock bags. I put my cell phone in one and my camera to keep them away from water.
2. laundry baskets...many times that is how I pack for camping.
3.overhead compartment on van
4. bike rack
5. have a bag close to you with some quick snacks

Some of my camping tricks include:
- baby powder (for beach camping)...it dries up the moisture/water on the body and sand brushes off easily before entering the trailer
- canned foods (veggies, beans, etc)...you don't have to worry about keeping them cold, which to me is always a big challenge
- 2.5 gallon water...each person in my family has their own water bottle that we refill; the 2.5 gallon water takes up less space, is better for the environment, and less expensive
- precooked foods...I like to precook many foods that are easy to reheat, such as baked potatoes; I'll also pre-make casseroles, freeze them and allow them to defrost as they keep other foods cold in the cooler
- pancakes...I will save a juice bottle and wash it out; once it's dry I measure out pancake batter and put it in the bottle; I write on the outside of the bottle how much water to add; when I fix pancakes for breakfast while camping I just add the correct amount of water to the bottle, shake it up to mix it, and pour it onto my pan; I toss the bottle when finished and there is minimal clean-up
- marshmallows...I freeze my marshmallows to keep them from getting sticky
- soapy wipes...I love the washcloths that have soap in them, such as the Johnson&Johnson baby cloths; you just get them wet to wash face/body and then toss them; they take less water and are easier to use when camping
- sanitizer...I keep sanitizer in our restroom for use after going potty and use sanitizing wipes to wash hands before meals; it reduces water use which is usually limited in any camping situation (unless you have hook-ups)
- Dawn Direct Foam...this dish soap doesn't require water to wash so I only use hot water to rinse; I sometimes might rinse dishes first to get chunks off, but I definitely use less water with this product
- camping pizza...I sometimes like to bring pizza dough and toppings and cook it on the grill; it's a lot of fun, but takes up extra cooling space

I'm sure there's more to share as we've been camping/RV'ing since we were children ourselves. Now, after 13 years of marriage, 2 children and camping in our RV almost monthly, we've perfected our own systems. I hope some of my tricks are helpful to you. Enjoy!

I leave what I call my 'camp kit' in our camper year-round. It's a list of things we use everytime we camp and I don't want to pack over and over again, such as marshmallow forks, pot holders, fans, aluminum foil, zip locks, etc. The more ziplocks the better! I have a master list I check off before every trip. I also have a separate list of items i pack for each individual trip. I pack everyone's clothing in a separate bag or we end up with a huge mess. I don't let my kids pack their own stuff - we'd end up with no clean underwear or socks! Also, I only usually plan breakfast and dinner for each day. Then I pack some lunch meat, PB&J, and chips for lunches since we are normally on a hike for those meals. It also gives me a back-up meal for the kid who can't/won't eat a particular meal or needs an extra snack. I pack our cooler/refrig based upon the recipe list so that i don't forget anything. Finally, i added a 'hiking bag' to my camp kit this year. It's a small back pack that remains in the camper with it's own separate small first aid kit, bug dope, and room for snacks. It never fails that the one time we leave without a first aid kit is the one time someone gets a bad cut.

Hi K.,

I use a line of non toxic products for my home but I have a recipe for bug repellant that is safe for the skin and works from shower to shower. Mosquitoes, fleas and ticks carry many diseases so the less they are around the better. I use these in my motor home as well and it keeps the insects away.

The thing I am big on is that everyone has their own flashlights. When other people carry the light it bounces with their walking and sometimes the ones in the back lose their footing. The more flashlights the better. I've tried the crank kind and they are good as a backup but the battery ones are brighter.

I also bring along the plastic stackable tubs so we can store things we buy or things we have forgotten to pack. The fact that they are waterproof helps with many things.

Have fun!

M.

Before we go camping we save up our plastic bags from the grocery store. They work great for so many things, vehicle garbage bags, they fold up small and fit into a back pocket if you're out for a walk and the kids want to collect things (my girls are leaves, rocks, sticks collectors), they also work well for wet swimsuits if you're going from beach to campsite.

We use the treasures we've collected for crafts, packing glue, construction paper, scissors, tape, crayons and markers, (usually in a rubbermade container, I do most things in containers or ziplock bags) means that when or if the weather turns bad you still have hours of fun. If your adventurous finger paints and bubbles are fun too, why not make the mess in the great outdoors.

I also suggest making sure you've got a well stocked first aid kit. It's handy to keep it in a fanny pack or mini back pack. That way it's easy to grab before heading out on any day adventures. I also usually find out where the closest hospital or clinic is from where I will be staying. You don't want to get caught with your pants down so to speak, in an emergency time is everything.

As for recipes check out www.recipezaar.com they have tons of awesome ideas for any kind of cooking.

Have fun!

No shoes allowed in the camper. I have a big rug I keep right outside the door. At night we put all the shoes in a big waterproof bag.

If you have a site with electric, bring a crock pot. You can set up your meal in the morning and after being out playing all day, you can come back to the site for a hot meal.

I pack my meats when they are frozen. They help keep the other foods cold, and they will gradually thaw in a day or two.

I like to pack most of the food in plastic storage containers. As I use the food, I have the containers that can be used for leftovers.

If you have a campfire, wrap up some potatoes in heavy duty aluminum foil. You can use them the next morning for hash browns, or heat them back up as part of dinner.

I always have 2 tablecloths to use for the seats at the picnic table. Most mornings the seats can be damp.

I have a small shoe boxed sized container full of card and dice games for rainy days. These games stay exclusively in the camper, so it's something different than what we do when were at home.

Beach balls make great toys. Don't take up much space. You can use them to play volleyball or even kick ball.

Have fun camping!

Here are some tips on camping.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/535

do not put bacon and cheese and etc on ice it gets nasty use blue ice for it or a fridge if you have one. put your blankets and sheets under your mattress if necessary. make your corn corn on the cob. lots of fruit it will survive ice. tomatoes put on blue ice. drain water in ice chest daily and add more ice. peanut butter is great. do sandwiches salads potatoe salad mac salad etc. all light foods because of the heat. take jerky, crackers and stuff for snacks. powdered gatorade and koolaid singles. use water frome the ice chest for drinks. take one towel for each person and hang out to dry daily.

if you have left overs such as pancakes the birds will eat the left overs. burn all your trash in the charcoal fire. lots of bug spray. and the candles to keep bugs away. also buy canned coke but always put it in a bottle with lid to keep bees and wasps away. take lots of potatoes. cook your eggs in bacon grease. have fun.