wet weather camping tips

[denialandpanic]

In light of this weekends forecast does anyone have any top wet weather camping tips (we've decided to go anyway, first trip kids are excited)

I'm currently making sure everyone has wet gear wellies etc, packing extra colouring pens and bits and frantically googling indoor attractions near the site.

We're going to hidden springs in east Sussex, really hoping they don't have springs!!!!

How old are kids? If not babies...take loads of warms socks and cosy trousers (even pi's) and just let them play /explore outside then make them warm when they come back. I make crepes as 'cheer up' food when it gets really consistently wet. Sprinkling loads of sugar/nutella/jam on a crepe seems to work every time. If it's their first time they really won't mind the rain as long as you don't make too big a thing of it. Mine seem to remember the frantic trips to the loo in torrential rain or the nights they couldn't sleep because of the wind making the tent floor rise up like a bouncy castle more than thy remember the glorious hot sunny trips!
If they're old enough to play board games..take some the whole family can play. Kids love beating their parents. My DD once sat till 1am playing Monopoly with her dad as she knew she had him on the run!!
Make sure they have lots of toys ( a selection of small figures, puzzles...
there's someone I've seen online, it's something like 'camp hampers' have good toy camping bags but it'll be too late to get them now for this weekend I think! It'll give you ideas though.
Lego
Polly Pocket
Oh...and lots of wine/gin/beer for you!!

Lots of newspaper and bin bags are your friend. How long are you going for? Don't be afraid to put wet wellies / coats in a bin bag, tie the top and bung it in the boot until you get home.

Take loads of layers so everyone stays warm and can change wet clothes if they need to, and put a towel on the floor at the entrance of your tent and set up a boot box of some sort (we use a collapsible crate) as grass and mud walks into your tent anyway without the rain and mud giving it a helping hand.

If it's your first trip make sure you know how to put the tent up before you go - get it out and look at the bits in the bag, watch videos on YouTube, put it up inside if you have space. You don't want to be out in the pouring rain trying to figure it out!

Definitely take a doormat/towel for inside the entrance and somewhere to put wet clothes and boots.

Depending on their ages, dress the DC in head-to-toe waterproofs and send them out to play. They'll be fine.

If you're planning a BBQ or cooking on a gas fire then take a gazebo.

Oh, and I've just remembered - pack coats with hoods / hats in to the main body of the car where you can get at them - footwells are good for this.

When we first had to put the tent up in the rain, I had my coat and hat. DH had dumped his coat in the boot before packing so his coat was under the tent. He had to put the tent up in torrential rain with a tea towel on his head.

Flattened cardboard boxes also make good soak up door mats inside the tent. Also take a big brolly to keep by the door, sometimes much easier to grab than coats if just popping to the loo.
Take more wine than you planned to. And chocolate

thank you! we're going Friday to Tuesday. Just done a wet weather gear try on,I need to do some shopping tomorrow am! ds has outgrown his plastic trouser thingys.

tent was trialled in garden last weekend.seemed easy enough to put up in brilliant sunshine.

I'm really hoping the forecast works out better than its looking.....

TBH if it is warm enough, wearing shorts can be much easier than waterproof bottoms. Legs are easier to dry!

Store your clothes in the boot of the car so they don't get damp.

Flip flops are easier than wellies I think in the summer.

Take extra batteries/torches/lanterns etc because if it is wet or cold you are going to be inside more.

The cardboard box idea works and you can throw and replace.

Is your tent waterproof? Buy a can of waterproof spray and spray the tent once it is up.

Pound shops have tarpaulins to put on the floor, we also put one of those waterproofed picnic rugs on the floor. Primark had these for £6.

Put your clothes in a bin bag or leave in the car our tent sprung a leak and soaked our clothes.

Tent is new, hosed it down well when we had it up seems waterproof.bloody well better be it cost enough!! I'm looking at the huge pile of kids clothes thinking surely we don't need all that for five days but I hate the thought of them being wet. Good tip re letting clothes in car, saves clutter in tent too.

Fit flops don't she with my back kitten unfortunately

Arrggh agree

Make sure you bring lots of warm clothes the kids can change into when rain-wet. Also bring some cards or games you can play with the kids. A chess set or Charade, etc. You may want to log into thecampingtrail.net/categorytips/ for some other camping tricks and tips.