This July we are starting a new summer tradition with our kids and friends; we are planning our 1st annual family camping trip. I say annual because we really want this to become a fun family tradition that our kids, and all our friends kids look forward to each summer. So today I’m sharing how I’m planning for our trip and how planning ahead for an organized camping trip is the way to go!
Activities for Kids
For some of the kids this is going to be their first camping trip so I’m planning lots of fun activities to keep them busy, and give us moms a bit of a break. I found this great post from Second Chance to Dream, with lots of activity ideas, and combined with ideas I found on Pinterest, I think the kids will have a blast!
If the kids are happy everyone will be happy so I’m looking forward to introducing them to all these fun “camping” games!
Meal Planning
After keeping the kids happy, the next most important thing is FOOD. I remember camping as a kid and the food was always the best. There’s just something about cooking on an open fire that makes everything taste better. Since we will have our kids with us, I want to try and get as much of the meals prepped while I’m still at home. I found some great foil packet recipes online (here and here) that will allow me to prep the food and then freeze them before the trip. Here are some of the recipes I want to try:
- Sausage and eggs
- Breakfast burritos
- Pork chops and pineapple
- Salmon fillets
- Steamed zucchini
I also found a great meal planning menu, at Mean Mommy Academy, that will help me plan out all of our breakfasts, lunches, dinners and what I need to bring for each of them.
Packing
When you’re driving up into the mountains to camp, and you’ll be at least an hour from any store, you don’t want to forget anything. To take the pressure off forgetting something I use a packing checklist to make sure I have everything from my toothbrush, to the bug spray, to flashlights!
Click here for a printable version
This is how I’m planning to have an organized camping trip but if you have other helpful ideas, I’d love to here them! I’m sure I’ll learn more every summer we do this so I’ll be back to share updates in the future. 🙂
Update:
Here are a few pictures of my daughter enjoying the games on our camping trip!
My daughter and the other kids LOVED the scavenger hunt bags! They filled them up, dumped them out and then did it all over again, they here a huge it!
The bubbles were also a big hit, fun for the daytime and the night time!
