Complete camping virgin needs a master class on the basics.

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

I have a tent. That is it. Want enough stuff to go camping with DH and DCs (6,4,2) for a couple of nights, locally, to start with whilst we find our camping feet.
What do I need? (On a budget ie as cheap as poss)
I assume something to sleep on and in and something to cook on and eat off?
Any recommendations?
TIA

[amistoned]

We were told in Guides to stand in the shower clothed in our waterproofs and boots just to ensure that they were truly waterproof.

Also got told to go outside and chuck our plates at the walls - if they broke, they weren't suitable for camping (not so much of an issue in a family, where people are likely to be a lot more gentle about dishwashing etc.)

To be honest it was sensible advice - the first camp I went to as a Guide, it rained solidly for 6 hours followed by a spectacular lightning storm (during which we cooked chocolate bananas under awning tents!)..

If you can, it makes sense to make a fridge outdoors - you'd need a good strong stick, and a good strong bag plus ice boxes. If you raise the carrier above ground level by a foot or so, you can place drinks etc in it to keep them cool overnight. Means you can keep the cool box for stuff such as milk, cheese, etc, stuff that really has to be kept cool.

Oh I miss camping now...

[ConfusedPixie]

Oh, waterproof your matches by dipping the tops in wax. Haven't tried this myself yet but my scouts swear by it.

Also, watch videos on how to build a fire and have a practice in the BBQ at home before you go, I still can't work it out and get DP (who is just as bad) or my scouts to do it depending on who I'm camping with

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Remember you have to be able to fit all of this stuff in your car.

[amistoned]

Oooh you could get those things that you stick pots on, a fire grid think they're called. They're a good measurement for how big you want the fire/flames to be etc.. And they help as you can dunk pots for boiling/simmering on whilst preparing other stuff.

Fires are fab to be honest for cooking, even after you've dampened the flames down you can use the ashes/coal for cooking off stuff such as baked nectarines, cored and baked apples (stuff em with raisins), chocolate stuffed bananas, cheesey jacket potatoes..

[FairPhyllis]

Head torches are good for stumbing around finding stuff at night.

Please PLEASE also remember the family whose daughter died of CO poisoning from a BBQ while camping - don't leave anything smouldering inside the tent. A whole bunch of campers last year got CO poisoning from those bloody disposable BBQs.

[comelywenchlywoo]

I can't believe I read this full thread. I don't even want to go camping. Some great ideas though!

[mousebacon]

Has anyone got tips for keeping warm in a tent where the ground sheet isn't sewn in?

Our recently borrowed tent has bedroom 'pods' but the main part has a separate ground sheet. DH is convinced we'll be frozen/blown to death.

[JewelFairies]

Ha ha ha and camping is the cheap option? we considered camping this weekend for the first time with our dc (3,5) and realised that after adding up all the 'essentials' plus paying over 30 quid for the privilege to pitch our tent in a damp field with predicted night time temperature of 3 degrees, we'd be better off in a hotel. We had a lovely evening and night and a cooked breakfast this morning.
Think well give camping at least in the UK a miss (forever)

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

You lot are awesome! Such great ideas. Am feeling much more confident about it and have started looking for kit - am looking on eBay and thought I'd put a notice up at work in case anyone has any bits thy want to give/ sell me - lots of people of the age who probably don't camp anymore their little ones have flown the nest.
For our first run we are going to camp locally for 2 nights with some friends, probably in August so should ease us in gently. DSs overheard us talking about it today and were so delighted there is no backing out now....

[Travelledtheworld]

Take your pillow if u can fit it in the car.
Good torches are essential.
Don't go if the weather continues to be cold or if forecast wet, you just won't enjoy it.
If you have never slept out I a tent do it first in your garden or .a friends garden just to get used to the strange noises, early light etc.

There are many wonderful campsites in the UK. Where do you fancy going?

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I don't like airbeds. They need a lot of insulation or will be cold, and they deflate when the cold air loses volume. Self inflating mats are much nicer.

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

katy those self inflating mats look great - definitely don't fancy blowing up 5 airbeds!

[DewDr0p]

mouse we've never had a tent with a sewn-in groundsheet and never had an issue with it. Our current tent has what I think is called a bathtub groundsheet so it's not flat, it comes up at the sides which I guess must help keep the draughts out?

We put down dh's old scout blanket, self inflating mats and use 3 season sleeping bags (fairly cheap ones at that) and we're always warm and toasty. Always take cheap fleece blankets just in case but have never needed them (they're nice to wrap up in round the fire though!)

[MustTidyUpMustTidyUp]

Are kids ok in adult sleeping bags if I tie off the ends? Or do I need junior ones? If so, how long until they grow out of them?

[DewDr0p]

How old are your dcs musttidy? I think unless they are very little they should be OK in adult sleeping bags. My older two (nearly 9 and 7) prefer to use grownup sleeping bags now (I don't even bother to tie the ends) It would help if you can pull the sleeping bag closed around their shoulders to keep the heat in. They would both still fit in a junior sleeping bag though I think (dc1 is quite small for age)

[YBR]

Has anyone any advice on sleeping bags for little ones?
My DC is going to be 21 mo when we take her camping this summer. She wears a sleeping bag normally, but she'll need a lot more warmth - where we're going can be very cold over-night after a clear day (we had frost at the end of August once). I expect we'll take the travel cot so an adult sleeping bag would be a bit much.

Sorry to hijack your thread, OP.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

My self inflating mats came from go outdoors, their own brand. Reasonable price and very good. Also easier to set up and pack.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

Don't bring food into the tent at night. Store it in the boot or a sealed cool box. We had a hedgehog come in for a snack in the middle of the night. Harmless creatures, but creepy to hear it and I had to roll it out of the tent with a stick.

[mousebacon]

Thanks DewDr0p we're off to the lakes on Thursday so I'll take extra fleecy blankets.

YBR We've just bought a nitestar bag for ds2 who's 1 at Go Outdoors. It was £20.

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I use cheap Asda duvets and cheap fleece blankets like you find at Pound Stretcher. A bit bulky in the boot, but easy. Especially the fleece blankets, which work as sheets, layering easily. And they are easy to wash and dry and generally air out .

[Miffytastic]

Just back from camping this weekend.Very pleased with my self inflating mat from argos... less pleased now I see it's 25% off at the moment grrr

www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/THERMALITE.htm

My tips are: fresh tortellini for quick cooking. You could also freeze it for coolbag assistance and then cook quickly once it's defrosted

Also, and this was handy in a bell tent which can get messy rather quickly - those collapsible laundry baskets. pack flat in the car, and then you've got somewhere for everyone's clothes/ shoes/random stuff that has come out of the suitcase. I also appreciated a hangnging pocket thing for storage, and extra pegs always come in handy

[KatyTheCleaningLady]

I always take a couple of buckets. One is full of water, for washing hands, and later as a washing up bowl. The other serves as a potty at night. Easier than walking to the loo.