The Test Run

One thing that I like to do before the first camping trip is to go on a "Test Run."  My kids and I have done this every year as soon as it's warm enough to go.  All we do is go to Grandpa & Grandma's backyard and set up camp.

I use this opportunity to teach/remind the kids about making a fire ring, clearing the ground under the tent, fire-starting skills, etc and we go through all the gear.  I like to show them everything we have, how it works and the proper ways to use it.  This just makes it a lot more fun for them when they understand how something works and can be in charge of that thing.

It's nice to be able to set up the tent and do a full inspection.  Checking the stakes, looking for rips or tears and getting it swept out.  We don't always sleep overnight in our test run campsite.  It's optional.  But we do sit around the campfire and have s'mores while discussing the future camping trips.

This is also a good time to get out the camping stoves and fire them up.  Believe me, you don't want to start them in the house.  You'll get in trouble with the wife.

I always enjoy these test runs because it's like a refresher course in camping.  It also reminds me of things that I need to get prepared for the upcoming camping season.

If you have any questions about camping gear, feel free to email me or contact me through my Facebook Page at Camping Dad.

Ye Old Camp Cupboard

The other day, my kids and I decided it was a good day to sort through the camping gear.  I try to go through our gear at some point during the winter to make sure everything is ready for Spring.  Every time I take my family camping, we bring this camp cupboard along with another rubbermaid container. 

Between these two containers, we have more than what we need to camp with 6-8 people.  Our camp cupboard has been in service for more than 25 years.  I don't know who made it as it was given to us by some friends.  It's unique design makes it the most efficient camp cupboard I've ever used.  It's large enough to fit utensils, plate settings for my family of 6, pots, pans, and kitchen accessories.  Even after all that is packed in there, it still has enough room for dry food and canned goods.

Last year I neglected to sort through the gear before our first camping trip.  Since I store our cupboard in a shed during the winter, we discovered a little surprise when we first opened the cupboard at our camp site.  I'll let my son, tell you about it in his own words:

We were on our first camping trip and my mom yelled, "Uh oh!" when she opened the camping cupboard.  I went to see what was wrong and I saw a family of mice!  So, we asked mom to set them free.  It was really cool.  Mom even took a picture.

So you see, it's important to go through your gear BEFORE you actually need it.  Also, it's good to go through your gear so that you have a couple months to purchase needed items and replenish used goods.  This prevents that oh-so-familiar mad rush the days before the first camping trip - when you realize you need tons of stuff.  You end up spending more than you wanted to and adding extra stress that you don't need.   This can just cause you to be so frustrated with camping that you never want to go again.

My point in all of this?  Good camping starts with good preparation. 

Dog Days of Winter

When you don't have a healthy amount of snow, winter just seems like a waste of time.  At least here in Minnesota.  I cannot begin to explain how excited I am for warm, spring days and for camping season to begin.  Nothing beats being outside at 8:30 at night and you can STILL see because the sun hasn't set yet.

What do you do in the winter-time when you are ready to be outdoors, in a tent or around a campfire?  Well, what I do is get my kids excited about camping by showing them potential destinations for summer camping trips.  One thing I like to do is go to the Minnesota State Parks website and check out the panoramic virtual tours.  Very cool.  The kids get really excited when they start seeing pictures of the lake, a beach, a campground, etc.  But I'm careful to not start doing this too early in the winter, otherwise it's pure torture for those poor kiddos.  

The other night, I was online with ALL the kids - one on each knee, one on my shoulder and one on my head.  We were dreaming about where we will go camping once it gets warmer outside.  I started by asking them how many times we should go camping this year.  Well, that turned into a bidding frenzy, not unlike an auction.  The higher number of camping trips, the better.  My son got up to about six.  My daughter thought we should just go camping every single weekend.  The final decision ended up being at least five trips.  

So, that's our goal.  Five camping trips.  Next thing you know, we were picking dates and I was mentally committing myself to those dates to make this all happen.  Not every camping trip will need to be six hours away or a 3 night camping bonanza.  Doing an over-nighter at a local state or county park is just as exciting as a long trip far from home.  Making the effort and getting out there and being together.....with the tent, campfire and s'mores is good enough for the kids!  Heck, even Grandma's backyard will work fine.

With all that said, I've made commitments to my kids, I know where we are going to go and when we are going to go.  This keeps them excited and gives them something to look forward to.  It also assures that camping trips won't get swept aside during the busyness of the summer season.

Welcome

Hey!  Welcome to my blog!  My name is Joel. I'm a husband and a father who LOVES to take his family camping.  As I was growing up, camping was a huge part of our family's life.  Some of my greatest memories happened while camping.  I have continued that tradition with my own brood.

My goal with this blog is simple.  I hope to inspire parents to take their kids camping and create some awesome family memories.  Camping doesn't have to be a lot of exhausting work.  It can be easy, fun and relaxing.  How you ask?  Well stay tuned.

I'll be testing gear, sharing tips, posting camping highlights, personal experiences and mistakes.  Keep checking back.  It's sure to be fun!