What do I need for camping?

[33feethighandrising]

So far I've got

Tent
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Airbeds (oh what luxury / didn't happen in my day )
Pump
Batteries
Torches & lantern
Picnic set
Dry robes / towels
Swimming costumes
Torches
Frying pan
Pot
Paddling pool (probably won't fill with water but they all enjoyed just hanging out in it with pillows and blankets last time)
Outdoor toys
Food
Booze
More booze

There's a fire and BBQ to cook on, not bothering with gas stoves etc.

Crocs are essential.

very naice plastic glasses for said booze damn, I meant to get these today and forgot! I have a very naice new picnic jug for my copious qualities of but it's lacking a set of plastic glasses.

A front door mat now that is cunning! I'm not sure if I'll get time to pick one up this time, but definitely putting that on the list for future camping trips!

Cooking oil or spray oil yup, had forgotten, thanks :)

And a load of wine check

How are you going to transport all this stuff with you? shoving it all in the car and hoping it is actually a tardis.

If you bring the food in a cardboard box, flatten that as your doormat and recycle it at the end of the trip.

Nothing. Stay at home, it sounds hideous

@Travielkapelka

Nothing. Stay at home, it sounds hideous

This is what camping is to me:

Go to a field, with some of my oldest and dearest friends, all our kids, food and booze.

The trick to family camping is, go to campsites that are laid back and have plenty of space, definitely not somewhere where they pack 'em in.

Also - and this is key - the more DC you bring, the less parenting you have to do.

The kids quickly form a feral pack, enjoying the freedom playing what they think is miles away from their parents, but they're still in the campsite and you can still keep an eye on them.

Parents get to hang out together, actually have adult conversation, drink booze and relax. Eating is continual and leisurely.

Kids turn up for food every so often and get REALLY excited by things like toast charred on a stick in the fire, or new things like camembert baked in the fire.

Saturday, go for a walk somewhere beautiful, maybe to a pub.

Go back, drink more booze.

Kids are usually tired from all the exercise but if not and they stay up round the fire, not a problem, normal rules don't apply.

What's hideous about that? I've been looking forward to this for ages.

If you were 2 camping chairs, where would you hide?

How can something as large as a camping chair hide itself?!

An incredibly good sense of humour

@33feethighandrising

If you were 2 camping chairs, where would you hide?

How can something as large as a camping chair hide itself?!

We found the sleeping bags in the wardrobe... so I predict in a kitchen cupboard!

These are extras but goodies that I enjoyed

Solar /battery Fairy lights -

Plastic Door mat - for the transition between outdoor to indoor - where the shoes go

slip ons aka flip flops aka slides aka crocs aka birkies for in and out and around about the tents

Packed all the stuffage in big plastic boxes with clip lids that then became waterproof storage areas/cupboards/larders/counters during our stay

Drying line and pegs

hang up light for inside the tent

we always take duvets not sleeping bags so much more comfy

Pack kitchen untensils in clip boxes that are then endlessly useful for holding all manner of food stuffs, pic nics etc along the way

Lovely dry socks kept to sleep in

Fun Things like marshmallows, bananas and choc chips , camembert, to roast on the fire . Tin Foil.

Pringles as food basically.

Some Lemons to squeeze on everything and in drinks but that's just me.

*the more DC you bring, the less parenting you have to do.

The kids quickly form a feral pack, enjoying the freedom playing what they think is miles away from their parents, but they're still in the campsite and you can still keep an eye on them.*

LMAO! This is exactly how I remember camping trips when I was younger, except I was an only child (sometimes I was allowed to bring a friend) so I/we would often be accepted into another feral pack once the alpha had given me a quick sniff over.

Running feral is a great way to describe the kids on campsites.

Takes a week to get rid of the accumulated dirt from them.

Real rope hammock...

*Go to a field, with some of my oldest and dearest friends, all our kids, food and booze.

The trick to family camping is, go to campsites that are laid back and have plenty of space, definitely not somewhere where they pack 'em in.

Also - and this is key - the more DC you bring, the less parenting you have to do*

My DD loves camping. We go camping with friends and the minute we arrive, the kids are off (they range in age from 3 - 13) They come back to be fed, or because they need an ice pop, but otherwise they're exploring and generally having a whale of a time.

There's always an adult with them (usually one of the blokes - they are more fun...) so they are safe, but generally speaking we see very little of the children.

Glow sticks, bubble wands, picnic blanket and colouring in is great for the younger ones, the older ones have a projector set up in one of the tents so they all chill out watching a film at night.

I can't wait until our next trip!

rechargable pump for airbed is so much easier than a manual pump