C A M P
● ●
● LIKE A PRO
Tips to make your
end-of-summer family
camping trip a success
BY AMY WHITLEY
h, the family camping trip:
fun-filled days at the lake
or by the river, restful
afternoons lying in a ham-
mock slung between
two trees, roasting marshmallows by
the fire and snuggling into cozy sleep-
ing bags at night. At least, that’s what
campground brochures would have
you believe about the experience. If
this idealized version of events doesn’t
exactly mirror your own camping
experiences, you’re not alone. Often,
excursions into the great outdoors
with kids involves more work than
play, more chaos than relaxation and
far more dirt (on everything) than bar-
gained for. But there are some tricks of
the trade that can turn your camping
trip into an (almost) postcard version.

Want to ensure that your next camping
trip is relaxing, stress free and focused on
the fun, not the chores, in the outdoors?
The following camping tips will ensure
24 WashingtonFAMILY AUGUST 2019
more time in the hammock and less time
over a camp stove.

• Simplification is the key to creating a
relaxed camping atmosphere. Reduce
clutter around the campsite and
shorten your packing list by bringing a
few ordinary objects that can double as
useful camping tools.

• Instead of hauling bags of ice (and
dealing with the mess), freeze plas-
tic water bottles and let them slowly
melt, first cooling your food, then
ensuring hydration.

• Skip the bulky camping lantern.

Instead, simply wrap a standard head-
lamp around a clear plastic water jug.

It will light up the entire picnic area for
games of cards after dark.

• No need to bring sleeping pads and
water toys. Sleep on plastic blow-up air
mattresses that can go straight from the
tent to the lake. Float on them during
the day (or take a nap!), then return
them to the campsite each night.

• Don’t buy an expensive camp kitchen
set. Bring a hanging shoe organizer to
store camp kitchen supplies such as
spices or grilling tools.

• Why buy fire starter or chemi-
cal-based gel? Use dryer lint as your
fire-starter: simply save lint in card-
board egg carton pockets, pour wax
over each pod and then bring along to
start your fire.

• If you buy coffee at home, there’s no need
to buy a toilet paper roll container. Store
toilet paper rolls in your empty plastic
coffee containers (the big ones work
best). The toilet paper will stay dry and be
easy for kids to find when they need it.

Unfortunately, not every camping item
can be “MacGyvered” from items you
already own. A few camping “luxury”
items can go a long way toward ultimate
comfort and fun in the outdoors.

• A good hammock: The Grand Trunk
double hammock (PracticalTravelGear.