Most people love to go camping but aren’t crazy about the thought of packing. It’s understandible when you consider that you’re packing for yourself and pretty much every other member of the family. Add to that, the feeling that you’ll forget something you really need and it can be intimidating. You can relax and make things easier on yourself by following a few tips.
Pack lighter than you think you should. We hear all the time that people return home to find there was so much that was packed and never used. It’s easy to get carried away with the desire to cover all possible scenarios. Instead, plan to wear your clothing more than just one day. Pack for wearing layers. You can change a whole outfit by adding or subtracting for weather. Bring plenty of socks and a couple pairs of pants/shorts. You can roll things up to make a smaller profile in your camping bags.
Bring easy-to-make food that everyone likes. Don’t bother trying new recipes or making big meals. Kids tend to want to eat and run and the sooner the meal is cleaned up, the sooner you can be relaxing with friends.
Practice setting up new gear before you arrive. Set things up a time or two before you get here so you don’t spend precious vacation time working on getting the tent ready for bedtime. Use nooks and crannys for packing. You can tuck in extra blankets, pillows, and rain jackets in case you’ll need them. Use available space to fit them in.
Consider bringing less electronics than you think you might need. The night sky can be better entertainment than YouTube when the fire is crackling and friends are swapping stories. You’ll save yourself from keeping track of chargers, batteries, and game cassettes as well.
Most importantly, bring your fun-loving self. Anything you might have forgotten can be figured out and substituted most of the time. We look forward to seeing you around the campground.
