What are your top tips for camping in the cold next weekend - my DDs are first time campers and I am getting worried about prepping adequately for this!

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My DDs (age 12 and 10) are off camping next weekend with Scouts. This is there first time camping ever, and I will not be going with them.

I have a kit list of sleeping bag, liner, hot water bottle etc but do any of you seasoned campers have any tips? They will be hiking and getting muddy, they are super excited about it but I am getting more and more worried as its so cold at the moment.

They'll be camping just north of London.

Thanks in advance

Lots of clothes to sleep in. Don't bother with pyjamas wear thermals, tracksuit, hoody. There is a school of thought that you stay warmer by wearing LESS inside sleeping bag but I don't subscribe to it. Children wriggle out of sleeping bags and you want to be well dressed if needing the loo in the night.

If it's raining the big key is to stay dry to keep warm so full set of waterproofs (esp trousers). I sometimes sleep in waterproof trousers

They need something underneath them. Roll mat or similar. Failing that a blanket. You lose a lot of heat into the ground when camping so insulation underneath is actually more important than bedclothes on top.

A thick fleece blanket is very good, so long as they can carry it. Are they hiking with their stuff or just camping out? (Blanket works best inside sleeping bag)

A warm hat.

In evening, before it gets colder and damp, put on a thermal layer underneath uniform/casual gear. Long sleeved top and full length legs. Leave those on under pjs for sleep so you’re not letting cold air at your skin when it’s late and you’re trying to get warm and cosy for sleep. (They still need to go to the lol and wash before bed - but not a full strip off to get into pjs type situation).

Put on a fresh pair (so nice and dry) pair of warm socks for getting into sleeping bag. If using a hot water bottle, I suggest putting it into sleeping bag before bathroom/pjs to let it warm the bag and be ready when Scout is ready - but also wrap the sleeping bag socks around it to warm them up to put on as they’re getting in.

Wear a woolly hat in bed. And extra layers - so the dry hoodie, tracksuit bottoms etc they’ve been wearing.

Insulate beneath the sleeping bag - a proper sleep mat at the very least. I have a picnic mat with a foil waterproof layer on the base which I put under my SIM, then SIM then a blanket. And another blanket for on top of it’s cold.

Warm drink before bed - Leaders will probably make hot chocolate or tea for those who want it. Always a good idea.

Don’t put on pjs too early - they get damp and let heat out. Pjs are for when in the tent at bedtime. Comfy tracksuit is better for evenings, hanging around in marquee (if used) or at campfire etc.

Bring spare socks! Nothing worse than cold and wet feet

If they have to carry their stuff then get a couple of those foil survival blankets instead of the fleece. They should put them underneath roll mat and sleeping bag. Makes a dreadful crinkling noise but good insulation to the ground

Trick is not to get cold... So layers you can put on when hanging around in the evening, thick socks, wearing hat and gloves. Make sure they have decent sleeping bags, not cheap thin ones (probably 3 season... I actually use an old Army one, they are very thick and heavy!). Plenty of batteries for the torches. And keep kit away from edge of tent.

Hope they have fun!

Hope they have fun

Definitely get your sleeping bag off the ground. An air mattress if possible, but at least a couple of folded blankets, perhaps even a duvet as well.

I camp regularly and my set up is: air mattress, then two thick woollen blankets, then a sleeping bag, then a duvet, then another two heavy blankets. The top blankets and duvet can then be removed as needed if I get too warm.

Also get them to pack their own bags (with your help since it's the first time) so they know what they have and where it is. Name everything. Practice putting sleeping bags etc away. And line their seats in the car with bin bags before picking them up to save your car looking like Glastonbury in July...

Thank you so much! I have these sleeping bags for them, they have a temp scale written on the casing:

My one (option 1)
Enkeeo season 3/4
Extreme: -19C/-2F
Limit: -3C/27F
Comfort: 3C/37F

Scout leaders one (option 2):
Maximum: -2.2C
Comfort: -8.5C
Limit: -26.7C

Is mine (option 1) good enough for this weather, or do I need the warmer one (option 2)?

I have already opened and used mine (option 1), so I am reluctant to get a new one, but I can always make use of mine when its warmer.

Is it worth me buying them option 2? I just don't want them to freeze next weekend. For some reason the temperatures/scale numbers are confusing me (I have no idea why, I am a grown up person in other ways..)

weekend of 15th/16th is going to be relatively mild in Hertfordshire (at a guess where they might be going). Hopefully you don't mean this weekend with Storm Ciara!

warm gloves and spare socks as mentioned, plus a hat.

they'll be fine. Just have the hot water ready when they get home!

Thank you Mencken!

Yes, not this weekend with Storm Ciara thank goodness, I think that is what has made me panic so much.

phew. It wouldn't be a lot of fun this weekend!