never been camping :(

bonboncito

Ok really I never been camping. I want to plan a 2-3 day trip with hubby and 4 kids. I don't have a clue or thing to go camping. sad I know. So ideas of what I would have to buy take and if anybody knows areas around utah to go camping. Do I have to make reservations.

Eve23

I haven't been camping in years. So I may be off on some of this. I would start off with the basics though. Tent, bedding, decided if you want and air mattress for you and hubby, same tent or different tent. We normally use one. Flash lights, cooler, and are you going to cook over an open fire or use a camp stove some places require a camp stove due to fire restrictions. Matches or lighter. Pans, Utensils, dishes for cooking and eating. I would make sure everyone has a jacket and warm clothing. Utah can get cold if I recall. Different places have different expectations. Some have bathroom facilities others only outhouses. Decide on what you are looking for and talk to people in your area.

katamus

You need graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows. For sure.
Bug spray!
Bring more water than you actually think you're going to need.
And try to plan activities.. You can't just sit outside all day. Make sure you plan to DO something.. Whether it's swim, or hike, or whatever.

bonboncito

ahh Thanks. I really did not think of cooking utensils and everything else ha So much to learn :huh: ,but I will conquer this: camping quest:bigsmile: I am not much of and outdoor linda girl.

Eve23

Toilet paper, Bug spray is an absolute I am glad kat remembered it :happy:
Sun screen and with kids a few bandaids are good to have around. Some people like to take bikes.

bonboncito

Graham crackers and Chocolate where first on my list. Kat thanks. Eve thank for rebering the toilet paper and for the bike idea .

tuffytuffy1

I would LOVE to go camping, I've never been either. Make sure you don't leave your food outside ever, the bears will get to it. Happened to a friend of mine, scared her to death.

Capt_Apollo

water water water. you need a gallon of water per person, per day. that is if you go to a place thats a little remote and don't plan on going to a store/leave the campsite for a few days. the water is good for drinking, brushing teeth, cleaning dishes, etc.


google "camping essentials" and you'll see a lot of good information.

ElizabethRoad

Flashlight. Trust me on this... you don't want to get up in the middle of the night to go pee and find out the next day that you were squatting in a patch of poison ivy.

LilMissSunshine_

Toilet paper
Bug spray
BEER
Lighter or matches


Those are the most important.

Tropical_Turtle

It is a great time - I have been twice this summer. Matter of fact my pic is from this weekend camping.

Paper towels
toilet paper
camp stove
matches
bug spray
sleeping bags
pillows
blankets
cooler with food -
box with dry food items (buns, etc)
condiments - castup, mustard, etc
cups
plates (either rinseable or paper to burn in the fire)
eating utensils
cooking utensils
flashlights
can opener/bottle opener
steak knives are handy to have
coffee (instant or get a camping coffee pot)
change of shoes (I take tennis shoes to walk around in, and flip flops for around camp)
Baby wipes (if you do not have a bathroom - easy to clean up the dirt from face and hands)
water or water bottles to drink

ETA : I think this about covers it - trying to remember what we bring with us when we go.

girlnumber57

Basic easy foods for camping are Breakfast; pancake mix and bacon or eggs and bacon. Lunch; sandwich stuffs or hotdogs. Dinner; chili (don't forget the can opener) hot dogs, hamburgers. Sometimes I make things like spaghetti sauce or taco soup at home and freeze it, then for dinner I just have to heat it up. Also chips and salsa.

infamousmk

You may want to plan a shorter, one or two night trip first, just to get the feel for it. Bring matches and lighters (yes, multiples). Baby wipes can be really handy (and helps preserve your water). Teach the kids safety - making loud noises while playing, sticking together, NO FOOD IN TENTS. NONE. NO EXCUSES.

I just took my husband camping for the first time two weeks ago. He didn't think he would like it, but it turns out he loved ever bit. We forgot a lot of things (I hadn't been in a couple of years)... so we've both been making lists of various things we need before the next trip.

bikermike5094

I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota (picture 5 miles from Mt. Rushmore) I know with all the drought in the states now.. there are burn bans everywhere, evern here in the black hills. No open fires or flame. if your looking to do smores or cook in a campfire or even grilling.. you better check your local area and see if they allow it. 1k fine here if your caught with an open fire.

mandipandi75

reserveamerica.com to find camp sites and make reservations. It's an awesome and informative site.

As far as camping, my suggestion is to check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. Check the local county site too for any warnings. They should also have phone numbers you may want to take with you. Do some googling to find great camping recipes and even packing lists.

Have fun!

TrimAnew

Dryer lint makes great fire starters. Save your lint or hit up a local laundromat before you go to help get a nice flame going.

For food coolers, freeze everything that you can and pack them in order of meals, so that you don't have to dig for what you need. Avoid opening coolers when you can avoid it. This will help keep the food safe to eat.

I agree that a shorter trip would be easier for a 1st time. My family never camped much--Mom hated it. But Dad and I went a couple of times when I was in my teens. Usually we stayed at places where you could drive up close to the site, buy firewood from the office, use their pre-made fire pits, and even grab a hot shower in the bath house. We made a nice day trip out of white water rafting as a break from the camp site.

However, I have roughed it with some extended family out in Wyoming where we had to canoe to our destination because there were no roads. There were about 12 of us, including 4 teenage boys, for 5 days, so meal prep and cooking duties were divided by teams, with each "team" responsible for a full day's worth of food, and we packed the frozen food accordingly, with one cooler not being opened until the very last day. I don't remember what my group did for all of the meals, but I know we made breakfast burritos as part of it. We made them ahead of time, and wrapped them in foil before freezing them. As the oldest of the "girls" I had the adventure of teaching my younger cousins to cook (I was maybe 16 at the time), but my aunt helped for tips to make them camping-friendly and giving us ideas for meals. Come our day, all we had to do was toss them on the grill over the fire and turn them to defrost and heat them up.

Both ways were a lot of fun. But there is something to be said for knowing hot showers are available (even if it is a little hike to get to them).

Capt_Apollo

You may want to plan a shorter, one or two night trip first, just to get the feel for it. Bring matches and lighters (yes, multiples). Baby wipes can be really handy (and helps preserve your water). Teach the kids safety - making loud noises while playing, sticking together, NO FOOD IN TENTS. NONE. NO EXCUSES.

I just took my husband camping for the first time two weeks ago. He didn't think he would like it, but it turns out he loved ever bit. We forgot a lot of things (I hadn't been in a couple of years)... so we've both been making lists of various things we need before the next trip.

agreed. maybe take a one day trip, especially if you think you are not outdoorsy. also, see what kind of equipment you can borrow or rent. no need to buy for a one time experience.

and yes. no food in the tent. ever.

also, personal little flashlights for everyone. it gets really really dark.

bigdawg025

I think I'm totally in the minority here because I have absolutely ZERO desire to sleep outside in a tent with wild animals lurking around and it being either really cold or really hot outside... No thanks!

The extent of my "outdoorsiness" is my running and swimming along with a mountain hike now and then (but not overnight!) LOL

cmriverside

Yeah, print out one of the online lists.

Otherwise, you'll forget something that's super important, like a can opener. When we used to camp, I had one list for me to be in charge of, and one for my husband. Make the list and cross stuff off once it goes into the car. Nothing like forgetting matches or your chairs to learn this lesson.

Reservations: depending on where you decide to go you will need reservations. Especially if you choose some popular lake or a beautiful National or State Park. Check ahead of time. The parks have websites. I know in my state you need a permit to access certain ones, so it can get complicated.

Be prepared for any weather. Yeah, it's almost August. . . still. Prepare for rain, snow, wind, extreme heat. Always take twice as much water as you think you need.

It's so fun! Enjoy!

ElizabethRoad

I think I'm totally in the minority here because I have absolutely ZERO desire to sleep outside in a tent with wild animals lurking around and it being either really cold or really hot outside... No thanks!

The extent of my "outdoorsiness" is my running and swimming along with a mountain hike now and then (but not overnight!) LOL

One time I was sleeping in a tent and I heard some kind of animal chasing another one, and they ended up fighting right up against my tent.

_Timmeh_

I'd start off with a one nighter just to get the feel of it. Any state or county campgrounds near you?

It takes a while to get all the stuff you need, but once you do the planning and the camping are a breeze.
I'd find the campground that offers the most facilities for your first time camping.....flush toilets, showers, running water, fire ring...etc.

Rent a motorhome if you have the funds. Nothng like waking up in a cozy motorhome or trailer in a campground.
If not then a tent it is.
Lots of good camping essential websites

http://camping.about.com/od/campingforbeginners/a/campinglesson1.htm

ScottyNoHotty

Are you going camping or Glamping?

odusgolp

Get a hotel.

thefreebiemom

What part of Utah do you live in? I live in Utah and can give you any suggestions you need based on where you live or are willing to drive. We have done every Natl park out here except 1 and even one in Colorado near the Utah/Colorado border (awesome). We have also camped at or visited over half of the state parks out here as well. I can tell you which ones are good together for multiple days trips or which ones are good to go to just for 1 or 2 nights.

Feel free to message me if you want. I am from Florida originally and we have only lived here for 2-3 yrs and I will tell you the camping out here is a lot different then camping back east in forest areas.

thefreebiemom

I can also tell you which state parks not to go to because the rangers/upkeep/maintenance/camping sites suck.

ElizabethRoad

Rent a motorhome if you have the funds. Nothng like waking up in a cozy motorhome or trailer in a campground.

Why not just stay home then?

2Bgoddess

warm clothing! you will be surprised how cool the nights are even in the summer.

go someplace close to you for the first time, it's easier, you'll feel less overwhelmed, and until you become really good at it, it's easy to run home for some necessity you forgot.

take a pillow.

we use bungy cords to keep the coolers closed and wedged under the pic nic table seat to keep the animals out.

bring extra snacks, being outdoors and busy will make the kids extra hungry!

thefreebiemom

Rent a motorhome if you have the funds. Nothng like waking up in a cozy motorhome or trailer in a campground.

Why not just stay home then?

I am not the one who suggested that but I might be able to give some enlightenment on why some people might like to have a trailer. We have 2 kids. We have always tent camped. Never had the money to have a tent trailer/motor home or anything else. We really really want a tent trailer at this stage in our lives because we like camping a lot.

We go camping almost every time we have free time. It is VERY stressful and time consuming when you are visiting 4+ areas/parks in less then a week while putting up a tent taking one down every day, packing and unpacking and reorganizing everything in the van every day. Last year we did Mesa Verde (Colorado) for 2 nights drove to Hovenweep Natl Monument for some hikes, then continued on to Natural Bridges to stay the night. Next day we hiked at Natural Bridges and then drove to Canyonlands to camp and hike that afternoon and next morning. That was ALOT of building tents, taking down tents, unpacking the van, reorganizing the van and repacking the van everyday for 6 days 4 nights and that first day included a 7hr drive from home to Mesa Verde.

This spring we did a loop around central southern Utah. We visited 7 state parks, 2 of which we camped at for 1 night, then we also stayed at Capitol Reef Natl park 1 night.

I can't express enough how much more enjoyable and less stressful our trips would be if we just had a tent trailer to just get up and drive away each morning. Not that we would be fake camping or anything, the only thing different would be how much stuff we have to pack up in the morning and sleeping in the trailer instead of in a tent.

However, I can't see the point in going places to camp in a big huge RV or camper with just a couple of people and you have satellite TV and all sorts of other cushy stuff and you don't ever leave the trailer, but the point is really to get out and view the world, doesn't really matter how you view it.

Dragonldy69

It is a great time - I have been twice this summer. Matter of fact my pic is from this weekend camping.

Paper towels
toilet paper
camp stove
matches
bug spray
sleeping bags
pillows
blankets
cooler with food -
box with dry food items (buns, etc)
condiments - castup, mustard, etc
cups
plates (either rinseable or paper to burn in the fire)
eating utensils
cooking utensils
flashlights
can opener/bottle opener
steak knives are handy to have
coffee (instant or get a camping coffee pot)
change of shoes (I take tennis shoes to walk around in, and flip flops for around camp)
Baby wipes (if you do not have a bathroom - easy to clean up the dirt from face and hands)
water or water bottles to drink

ETA : I think this about covers it - trying to remember what we bring with us when we go.

Well that pretty well covers it except I think they might need a tent to put the sleeping bags and to sleep in.Change of clothes ..Bathing suit if you camp somewhere you can swim in the river..Sun tan lotions ..I also think they need ice to keep all the food and drinks cold.. Don't forget the water..:drinker:

thefreebiemom

warm clothing! you will be surprised how cool the nights are even in the summer.

go someplace close to you for the first time, it's easier, you'll feel less overwhelmed, and until you become really good at it, it's easy to run home for some necessity you forgot.

take a pillow.

we use bungy cords to keep the coolers closed and wedged under the pic nic table seat to keep the animals out.

bring extra snacks, being outdoors and busy will make the kids extra hungry!

In places out west like here in Utah you aren't supposed to leave any trace of food at all outside of your vehicle or outside of the locked metal food box if the park has one. Bears don't care whether its bungee corded and they really could care less that the food is under the picnic table and you are all the way over in the tent when they get a sense of food and are rummaging around your camp site. We have had bear attacks out here from people being irresponsible with their food stuffs.

** On a more amusing note, when we lived in Florida and went camping we would put chips and stuff in the cooler and put heavy things like rocks and camping equipment on top of it to keep the raccoons out. One night we heard a rummaging outside the tent and we looked outside and there was a raccoon sitting on the picnic table who had knocked everything off of the cooler and opened the cooler (didn't knock it over actually opened the lid) and had popped open a bag of chips and was eating them. When he saw us he ran off with the bag of chips in his mouth spilling a trail of them behind him. Smart little buggers.

quixoteQ

warm clothing! you will be surprised how cool the nights are even in the summer.

go someplace close to you for the first time, it's easier, you'll feel less overwhelmed, and until you become really good at it, it's easy to run home for some necessity you forgot.

take a pillow.

we use bungy cords to keep the coolers closed and wedged under the pic nic table seat to keep the animals out.

bring extra snacks, being outdoors and busy will make the kids extra hungry!

In places out west like here in Utah you aren't supposed to leave any trace of food at all outside of your vehicle or outside of the locked metal food box if the park has one. Bears don't care whether its bungee corded and they really could care less that the food is under the picnic table and you are all the way over in the tent when they get a sense of food and are rummaging around your camp site. We have had bear attacks out here from people being irresponsible with their food stuffs.

** On a more amusing note, when we lived in Florida and went camping we would put chips and stuff in the cooler and put heavy things like rocks and camping equipment on top of it to keep the raccoons out. One night we heard a rummaging outside the tent and we looked outside and there was a raccoon sitting on the picnic table who had knocked everything off of the cooler and opened the cooler (didn't knock it over actually opened the lid) and had popped open a bag of chips and was eating them. When he saw us he ran off with the bag of chips in his mouth spilling a trail of them behind him. Smart little buggers.

Another note: to an inexperienced camper, nighttime raccoons sound identical to nighttime bears. And I wouldn't count on raccoons running off with your Doritos: my experience says the raccoon will continue to eat HIS Doritos while looking you, daring you to call those Doritos YOUR Doritos. Raccoons aren't afraid of many things.