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It’s a glorious morning to be outdoor camping. The sky is blue, the temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and other than the geese fighting and making their honking noises just two spots away, the birds singing, and a few kids laughing, there is nothing but peace and quiet.

This particular outdoor camping trip was pretty much last minute. We had booked a sight earlier in the week, but the weather caused my husband to have to back-up his work schedule by at least one day. Then the forecast for the weekend was calling for showers and we didn’t make the final decision to go camping until late Thursday evening.

Fortunately, I was able to pack in just a few hours time and we hit the road by 9 a.m. on Friday. It’s a little ironic because a friend had just said to me a few days ago that she couldn’t go camping this weekend because she didn’t have any time off from work and it takes so long to get ready for an outdoor camping trip that she would need a day off to pack.

The key to picking up and going at the last minute is to have the majority of your supplies always ready to go. We have a popup trailer that we keep packed with all the necessary items in it. But, even if you tent camp you can be ready to go at a moments notice by keeping everything together in a few large Rubbermaid-type totes.  I’ve read that some people even keep extra clothing in their RVs so that all they have to do is stop at the grocery and they’re set for the weekend. I don’t do that; as long as my laundry is clean I can pack clothes in just a few minutes. And, even if it’s not (as in the case of my son’s clothes this past weekend) I just throw it in a bag and bring along a little laundry detergent and do a load at the campground.

So, just what should you keep packed in order leave in haste on any given weekend? Here’s a list of what I keep in our popup camper.

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It’s really not that surprising that I love outdoor camping as much as I do.  Although I grew up in a nice suburban neighborhood, my favorite movie as a child was The Adventures of the Wilderness Family.  Now, most of you probably have never even heard of The Adventures of the Wilderness Family, but the story centers around the Robinson family who’s tired of living in the city and moves to the wilderness of the mountains – in a spot so remote it has to be accessed by plane.  They get stuck there for the winter when the weather turns bad and have to make the most of their primitive, rustic dwellings.  OK, so the acting wasn’t great, but at seven I thought it was wonderful.

That should have clued me in that I was a nature lover.  What 7 year-old wants to move up on a mountain with grizzly bears and mountain lions as neighbors?

The humor in the whole situation is that I really don’t enjoy primitive outdoor camping for more than a few days.  By primitive I mean no electric or water.  I have to have a hot shower, at least every other day, and I feel the need to know what’s going on in the world at least once in a while.  However, whether or not we take the primitive route, there are few pieces of outdoor camping gear that I feel the need to take along to keep the trip from being miserable.  In this post I’m focusing on that need I have for a hot water — not just for a shower, but also for washing dishes.  Have you ever tried to clean a greasy pan in cold water?  It’s near impossible to get the grease off.

The best solution, but of course most expensive, would be a Portable Tankless (runs off propane) Water Heater.  One of these can give you hot water for up to 18 hours — but, will run you somewhere between $119 and $149.

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Outdoor camping with your children can be a wonderful, fun and bonding experience for both of you. Is there an age that is too young to take a kid camping? That depends on both you and your child. I remember my friend taking her son when he was only six weeks old. He slept in his swing in the shade the entire weekend, hardly making a sound. However, her next baby hated everything and screamed for hours on end and so a weekend camping trip with him was not what you’d call relaxing.

The great thing about outdoor camping with most kids is that they love being outside and the freedom it allows. Many kids will entertain themselves using their imagination and all a parent has to do is sit there and watch. It’s great fun to explore the ants on the ground, the pretty wildflowers that we’d normally consider weeds, and sticks that readily become guns. (At least for my little boy.)

There are a couple of things I did find helpful with small children while outdoor camping. One thing I liked to do when staying in a campground was to get a spot as close to the playground as possible. If we were right next to it, and could see it clearly, I could let my son play while I worked around the campsite. (Of course common sense should rule here, never leave a child unattended or let them get out of your sight.)

If you are tent or popup camping, or don’t have a bathroom in your RV, getting close to the bath/shower house might be a good idea. Some kids have to be on a real toilet to feel comfortable. Of course if you are primitive camping this won’t be an option, in which case you can get a Portable Toilet, with a real toilet seat, if need be.

If you have child that gets bored easily you’ll want to have a few ideas in mind for when they start complaining. Frisbees, a butterfly net, balls, and possibly even a bike will help keep your child occupied and by using what you have around you, (i.e. sticks, leaves and acorns) you can not only entertain, but even make some unique crafts that you can keep as a souvenir of your trip. (In a later post I will focus on nature crafts that you can make with kids.) Books, board games, coloring books and crayons, and possibly even a portable DVD player or handheld game system are good to bring along for rainy days, and most kids will feel safer and more in control if they have their own source of light such as a small flashlight or battery powered lantern.

Comfortable sleeping arrangements are important for a child who is outdoor camping. Kids who don’t get enough rest can become more irritable, or have other behavioral extremes such as hyperactivity, and they are also more susceptible to accidents. Investing in a good Air Mattress Travel Bed or cot will be well worth it when you have a happy, well-rested child to deal with.

Here are a few other important items to take when you are outdoor camping with kids: (Future posts will go into more depth on some of them.)

• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Rain gear including waterproof boots
• First aid kit
• Extra clothing (bring about twice as many outfits as you would pack for yourself)
• Easy to grab healthy snacks such as cheese sticks, apple wedges, individual snack cups of applesauce, yogurt, or pudding, etc.
• Familiar bedtime items such as stuffed animals, pillows, or blankets
• Kid friendly drinks (sipper cups or juice boxes, etc. – don’t forget hot chocolate if it’s cold!)
• Skin/Baby wipes (makes it easy to clean dirty hands and faces)
• Items to roast in a campfire such as marshmallows and hot dogs

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