Spring break! The words conjure up images of sunny days, s’mores around a campfire, and quality time with your family.
But the reality of camping with kids is more like a chaotic episode of Survivor: Toddler Edition.
Someone’s crying because they got dirt on their hands, or another kid just wandered off looking for a cool bug. Those thoughts are enough to scare any parent from planning a camping trip with kids.
But don’t panic. Camping with kids can be an amazing adventure if you plan ahead. Here, we’ll share some tips that will make your camping trip a fun, stress-free adventure.
1. Plan Activities Ahead to Keep Kids Entertained
Your kids will turn a peaceful camping trip into chaos if they are bored. Don’t let that happen. Keep them engaged with fun outdoor activities. So, plan some fun activities ahead of time.
To keep your kids entertained before it gets dark, create a scavenger hunt list. Ask them to find a cool rock, a weird-looking bug, or a feather.
Pack a frisbee, a soccer ball, or glow sticks for nighttime fun. If there’s a lake, bring water toys or a fishing pole. Found a trail nearby? Turn a simple hike into an adventure quest with silly challenges along the way.
Another fun activity you can do is host a shadow puppet show on the tent wall. You’ll need a flashlight, so pack it. Parents advises making a wolf, bunny, or snake, and your kids can craft stories about their escapades.
2. Consider if Your Current Contraception is Suitable for the Trip
Contraception mishaps? That’s the last thing you would want to deal with when you’re out in the woods, and there is no pharmacy for miles.
If you’re on the pill, set a reminder. Fit for Travel informs that the pill is designed to be taken at the same time each day. Missing out on a single dose can mess with your hormones. You might experience light bleeding or start your periods and feel nauseated as well.
Planning to switch to a long-acting reversible contraceptive before the trip? IUDs, birth control implants, and the shot (Depo-Provera) are popular options. Check in with your doctor for recommendations since not all long-acting reversible contraceptives are safe.
Take Depo-Provera or the shot, for instance. WebMD says that it protects against pregnancy for three months at a time.
But, a new scientific study links it with brain tumors. A 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal revealed that Depo-Provera users are at 555% higher risk of meningioma brain tumors.
This new evidence has led to a wave of lawsuits. Women who used the shot and subsequently developed meningioma brain tumors have filed the Depo-Provera lawsuit to seek compensation.
TruLaw notes that the suit accuses Pfizer, its manufacturer, of failing to warn them of meningioma risk.
Photo by Jonathan Forage on Unsplash
3. Prep a Simple, Ready-to-Eat Meal for the First Night
Once you arrive at the campsite, there will be a lot of things to do.
You’ll have to unpack and set the camp while keeping the kids from running into the wilderness.
Why would you want to wrestle with a camp stove when everyone else is starving?
Do yourself a favor: Bring a simple, ready-to-eat meal for that first night. That way, you can focus on settling in without the chaos of cooking right away.
According to Practical, By Default, chicken burgers and camping mac n’ cheese are easy make-ahead camp meals. Grilled cheese sandwiches, meat and veggie skewers, and Dutch oven lasagna are other options you can try.
4. Prepare for the Spring Weather
The weather in spring is unpredictable. One minute, it’s sunny and warm; the next, you’re dealing with a surprise rainstorm.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, most of the U.S. will see warmer-than-normal temperatures in spring except for a few areas. Those areas include southern and central California, western Ohio Valley, the Desert Southwest, and southern Florida. Temperatures will be near or below normal.
Oh, and heads up — rainfall is expected to be above normal in many areas. So, pack accordingly.
Layers are your best friend. Pack light clothes for warm afternoons and cozy hoodies for chilly mornings. Always have a rain jacket. Waterproof your tent and stash some extra socks.
—
Things won’t always go as planned. Maybe the fire won’t light, someone will lose a shoe, or bedtime will be a little later than usual. That’s okay. The goal is to have fun and make memories, not to have a Pinterest-perfect camping trip.
So, roll with the punches and enjoy the memories. Years from now, you won’t remember the tantrums but the laughter, the firelight, and the little hands roasting marshmallows next to yours.