Off camping for the first time in a month. On my own with 4 dc. The eldest is autistic. What do I need to take

[Ghostsgowoooh]

I am finally taking the plunge. I have never camped before but a group of us are going to shell island in early aug and we all have kids that are either ADHD or on the spectrum. I think we are booking a field to our selves. And I am borrowing a tent. What will I need gulp. My youngest is only 3 and the eldest is 13. I have 3 sleeping bags and a head torch!

I have 4 dc

My first (very flippant) thought, was GIN!

wet wipes! am I right in thinking Shell island is the one with no showers?

Wine I imagine! Balls, bats, bikes if you have room, cups, BBQ or portable grill, chairs rugs ground sheets pillows jumpers in case it's colder at night sun cream for starters

cool box and ice packs.

Shell island does have showers, just not very many!

Oh god I hadn't thought about the showers or going to the toilet.

Wine is top of the list believe me [ grin]

A bucket.
Dustpan and bush.

I was also coming here to say alcohol

I don't have any experience but familiar type stuff for the children who are well out of their comfort zone. Writing books, pens and cameras for them to keep diaries/draw/document their trip?

Mattresses
Wet wipes a must, especially if showers are awful!
Cutlery
Cups
Plates
Freeze all the food you won't need on day one, such as juice, meat etc as this will also help cool box to stay cool
Snacks
Lots of water/drinks
Swim shorts/costumes
Lightweight/travel towels
Frisbee

You can get those bat and ball games which get anchored to the ground and ball tied to a string to save you from loosing balls!

I've just googled it. It looks lovely. What you need is stuff to do if it rains, which is likely in North Wales!

Oh and Wellies and plenty of plastic bags for dirty clothes, dirty shoes etc.

As a first time, I honestly wouldn't go to shell island. It's so baron, if you need anything in an emergency you'll struggle.

Can you try out the tent and camp in someone's garden for a night? We've just done this, to make sure all of our equipment was in working order, and to remember what we need to bring. Also to practise putting up the tent so you can put it up fast if it's raining.

I know I was a bit at the choice but there are other families there so hopefully I should be ok.

I am worried for ds who is 13. He's the one with autism and doesn't cope well with change but he says he wants to go.

Oo never thought of trying the tent out first. It's not ours tho so I dunno

Defo try the tent especially if not yours as it will be unlikely to come with any instructions.

Corkscrew

Mind the people that we are borrowing the tent from are also going, they have two tents!

I am either going to love it or hate it aren't i

Hmmm - is there any way you could go for one or two nights to a campsite really close to home before you go to Shell Island, and give the whole thing a try? Not only will it help you to work out what you might need to take with you, but also will give all your children a chance to get used to the idea of camping. At the same time if it all goes wrong you could come home easily (even in the middle of the night if necessary and go back next day to pack tent etc).

As to equipment:

Sleeping bags and foam mats/self inflating mats for everyone
Head torches for everyone
If possible a large lantern type torch to light the tent at night
Waterproofs/wellies/sunhats/suncream
Several changes of clothes and/or washing powder/travel wash for clothes
A BBQ/cooker of some description
Some frozen meals in a cool box (chilli/bolognese/casseroles which can be easily heated up on one ring)
pots and pans (one or two from home are fine)
mugs/plates/cutlery
waterproof picnic rug (chairs/tables not essential if you have a rug)
Buckets and spades
WINE

Ideally if you are going in a group you could take turns to cook and maybe pool the equipment you need to take? If possible someone could take a large tarp or event shelter of some sort which everyone could shelter under together in bad weather - more sociable than everyone sitting in their separate tents.

Oh and a coolbox/bag of some sort to keep cold milk/butter etc and any frozen meals you might be bringing.

Mummypig says what I would - especially multiple torches (ideally head torches) and plenty of spare batteries.

For camping I add a generic antihistamine to basic first aid kit (most supermarkets do their own brand).

Buy a box of big, sturdy freezer bags, the ziplock kind, and pack essentials in those eg matches, batteries, other electronics, medication, lip salve, whatever it is that's essential to your family. Keeps everything segregated and dry, but is still easy to find things quickly.

About a million plastic bag for rubbish / dirty or wet things / keeping clean things clean!

Have a fab time, I hope the DCs love it.

I'd also suggest putting the tent up in the garden (or park) even if it is only for ds to see it and suss it out. I have a ds similar age also asd, he is by far the most helpful of the three dc as he knows what to do in what orser and incessantly asks what jobs need doing He gets the water (= filling huge water container on wheels, in our case)
you need.... (as well as )
chairs (folding, obv)
picnic mat to use as a 'carpet' in sleeping area
whatever fleecy blankets you've got
sleepin bags
mats or airbeds
cool box or bag for food
lots of ice packs - put your name on them, sites will usually re-freeze for you
table
something to cook on, we use single burners that only cost about a tenner, they're fine
kettle, pan, frying pan
plastic cups plates bowls wine glass
cutlery
bowl and teatowel for transporting washing up to dishwashing area
bag of stuff for dc to do when not busy, card games etc
more wine
clothes, towels etc
food
more wine
torch and spare batteries
gin
errr, cant think of anything else
top tip. something to put your laundry in
did I mention wine