Camping Essentials

[Oysterbabe]

I haven't been camping since Reading Festival 20 years ago. All the families at DC's schools are obsessed and go all the time. We've swerved it until now but have agreed to go on a camping weekend in a few months with 30 (!) other families from the school. DC are 5 and 7 and I know they'll have so much fun spending a weekend in a field with their friends. Seasoned campers, help me. What do I need to buy?

I hate airbeds so go with self inflating mattereses but with a duvet underneath

A duspan and brush, rubbish bags, phone battery things or chargers if electricity

Think of anything little that will annoy you and fix that, it is the little annoying things that drive me up the wall

Decent head torches, board cars games, eat little and often, toilet paper, keep useful things in one bag/box and not spread over 50 million bags

Wine chills in a river for an emergency (yes I hear the gasps for mentioning alcohol)

We don't have one but everyone raves about these so would get one if we bought a tent

Added I would get a 6 person tent for 4 people

Many good suggestions here, but to add another I haven't yet spotted: Duck tape. It has saved our bacon on many occasions...

Good call on your tent purchase.

You've already been given a list of the basics here. I second crocs for loo stops, fleece blankets for warmth, head torches for the night time and boxed wine for anytime. I would also tie flags or glow sticks to your front guy ropes. It means you won't trip over them half-drunk in the dark.

We do A LOT of camping. To the point where we have everything in see-through stacked plastic crates (bloody brilliant for finding stuff). As long as you are warm and get a good night's sleep, you will be fine.

One thing I