What is essential to take camping? I haven't been in forever and really can't remember besides the obvious: sleeping bags, pillows, tent, cooler.
Taking whole family. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks!

we went last summer for the 1st in a few years. We hope to do more this summer. Some things we forgot, almost forgot, or didnt think of:

Extra blankets.

little things; matches, dish soap, rag to wash with, clothes line and clothes pins (useful for many things), flashlight, thats all i can think of right now. I'm sure there are mama's that camp much more than us that will have better input.

Tarps, bug repellent, wood if you want to have a fire, games, warmer clothes for night and early morning.

Extra socks for everyone and sunscreen, a gallon of water if you aren't going to e close to a water source. As far as I'm concerned, S'mores makin's are also essensial...

It's so funny, dh and I used to do the kind of hiking/camping that required a stove that fit in your front pocket and a water purifier for drinking out of streams. Now, post-Henry, we basically take the whole dern house with us.

Don't forget the can opener if you are bringing canned food!

Thank you! see most of this stuff I would have forgotten.
I'm going to print out this thread.

Have fun. The most important thing for me is to bring a little potty with a rug under it. Yah, I say it's for the kids but I use it more in the middle of the night because I am a scarety kat when it comes to going outside....of course I used a coffee can prekid days...lol. THe second thing I always bring with me is a rug to put on the outside of the tent to catch a lot of the dirt and it gives the kids a place to take their shoes off and last but not least a little broom and dustpan for sweeping the tent. Oh and one more thing. I like bringing a couple of those two and half gallon water things that have a spout on the end for washing hands, brushing teeth and whatever else. One is for drinking.
We haven't been this year yet and I am itching to go. Have fun will ya!


Ps. Okay one more thing. I like bringing rope and clothespins to tie around a tree so we can hang up any wet items to dry.

Toilet paper :D

Depending where you'll be...
calamine lotion
pads or air mattress for under the sleeping bags (gosh, my husband put the tent on a wooden campsite platform last time, I was pregnant, it was SOOOO hard to sleep on, lol)
ditto on the water--we have 3 big water-only jerry cans
something to cover the campsite picnic table if they have them (talking tablecloth & a canopy if you can swing it)
trashbags

Freecycle is a good source for camping gear :)

Just going over our list, we're doing our first camping of the year at the Uphonia music fest this weekend....

Spray bottle (hippie a/c)
extra clothes for the whole family, for all weather (we will be gone 10 days!!)
bubble stuff (good outdoor activity)
wipes
sunglasses
bug repellant or citonella candles or oil
hats/visors
sunscreen
more water than you think you will need
bucket for dishes
tp
umbrella for rain or shade
rain gear
boots, sneakers, and sandals
extra socks
healthy snacks
caprisuns(soo good right out of the cooler)
cooler
ice
backpack for hikes
toy bin
towels, blankets, washclothes
clothesline/pins
clamps/rope/tarps
lotion
nail clippers
extra set of car keys (ask me how I know)
lantern
stove
propane
lighter/matches
extra batteries
flashlights
...
I think that's all, I better print this too since I added a few from my original list!

Thanks for makin me think about it!

we Just came back from camping. Heres the list we use every trip:

tent
stakes
tarp
camp chairs
air mattress
pump
sleeping bags, blankets (xtra), pillows
flashlights, lanterns, extra propane
Spray bottle
batteries
matches
gallon jugs of water
hand wipes
sunglasses
bug repellant
hats
sunscreen
toilet paper

First aid kit - gauze, neosporin, bandages, motrin, adult tylenol, cough drops, etc

camp cooking box:
can opener
knife
percolator, pots, pans, tongs, spatulas
paper plates or washable plasticware
eating utensils
spices - salt,pepper, etc
condiments

dish soap, sponge, bucket for dishes
dish towel for drying
rope or line to hang towels and other wet items
paper towels

cooler : ice
food for each meal *we preplan each meal
drinks

non cooler foods - bag for chips, other snack foods

toy bin - sand toys, water toys
bubbles, coloring books/crayons

misc:
camera
video camera
walkie talkies