Camping for the weekend

[BetterthanEE]

Is it worth it? We have 3 kids (5, 4, 2) quite a big set up with a vango kassari 800 plus a kitchen tent.
We love camping as do the kids and I really want to get put more this year, is it Worth going Friday after school and packing up Sunday?
This is the first year we've been restricted by schools (5 year old is October birthday) and I'm not sure it's doable, thoughts?

[CJCreggsGoldfish]

We often just go for the weekend! It's a bit more hassle, but we pick a site closer to home so less travel time. We try and make things as simple as possible regarding food (prepare at home and heat up, of use a cafe on site if there is one). DC's are 4 and 18 months.

[bombayflambe]

It is doable but the more time you spend pitching and striking the less time you have sitting in the sunshine watching the children play.

For weekend camping a simple set up is best. presumably as it's just for a weekend you won't be heading out if thunderstorms are forecast so consider a lightweight 6 man and a barbecue rather than the full home from home and kitchen.

Cereal bars and bacon sandwiches for breakfast, local pasty for lunch, barbecue tea.

It's a different mindset: camping for its own sake rather than having a full rig up to make it more like home.

[BetterthanEE]

That's a good point bombay! I think this is the first year we haven't had to think about sterilising and bottles!
How do you boil water on a bbq? (although i think dh will insist on taking the full rig, he's not a camping man...the rest of us are!!)

[ChairinSage]

We often go for a weekend - it's nice to escape from the usual routine of shopping and organised activities & reconnect with the family. We leave the big tent at home and use a smaller 6 man tent, don't take any furniture other than something to sleep on and don't cook beyond one pan meals - bacon sandwiches, pasta with stir in sauce. You don't need to travel far from home to make it a break, our favourite site is about 20 mins from home.

[LifeIsGoodish]

We have a couple of lightweight pop ups for precisely this reason.

A 1-2 week camping holiday means the big family tent, dining shelter, cooker, EHU, table etc. Also showers at night, clean clothes, balanced meals etc.

A weekend camp means the just the two pop ups (3 and 2), maybe the cooker, minimal kit, lazy food, and shower when we get home.

As the PP said, totally different mindset

[OnyK]

We've got a smaller, weekend/festival tent which we can pitch in 30 mins.
We also take less stuff for weekends and try to book last minute when the weather looks good, as that saves on packing up a wet tent and having to dry it at home.
Like CJ says, go somewhere close to home, to cut travelling time.

[bombayflambe]

Forgot the tea/coffee .
For weekends we literally take one of these: www.robertdyas.co.uk/summit-portable-gas-stove
and a barbecue (or go to a site that allows fires and cook on that - great fun!).

[BetterthanEE]

I think we're going to go for it!!

[poocatcherchampion]

You def need a stove IMO. Camping requires a lot of tea.

We always have spag bolt on first night so it is easy.

I have seen some people arrive on a Friday day, get it all set up then disappear and return with a child in uniform fresh out of school if that is an option for you?

[bombayflambe]

OMG no!!
Don't steal a child! HTF would that add to the camping weekend?

[Milliways]

Lol at BombayFlambe. I was Lso about to suggest setting up child free and collecting them later.

2 night camping is my minimum under canvas if going locally, and if weather forecast is glorious. Will your 5 year old cope with school on Monday after a weekend camping?

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

We have one of these:

www.amazon.co.uk/BioLite-Stove-Bundle-Complete-Cooking/dp/B016IO9BE2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1464717094&sr=8-3&keywords=biolite%20camping%20stove&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

It's brilliant and the kids would enjoy collecting little twigs and pine cones etc to fuel it. We take a bag of kindling just in case but have never needed more than the odd stick out the bag.

We cooked 4 massive thick burgers and some bone in chicken thighs on the grill with a small pile of twigs - i wouldn't do bone in again though as it took a while and ended up a bit charred on the outside by the time the inside was safe to eat. And we charged DSs phone at the same time. :)

[BetterthanEE]

That literally had me laughing out loud bombay!!!
I've just bought the Aldi one, no idea how good it is but thought it was worth a shot while we were figuring out if it'll work for us.
I'm going to start researching campsites within an hours drive, luckily we already live on the south West coast, so I'm sure we will find a few nice ones!
Pitching then getting kids won't really work as dd2 has preschool. Friday afternoon us manic making sure everyone is in the right place on time.
I'm so excited!! I think dh mentioned truing it out this weekend! Just need to check the weather, find a campsite and make sure all our kit is together!!!

[bombayflambe]

How did you get on?

[BetterthanEE]

We didn't go, some work things came up at the last minute :( We're thinking this weekend instead. Fingers crossed!!