OFTEN,
excursions into the
great outdoors with
kids involves more
work than play, more
chaos than relaxation
and far more dirt
(on everything)
than bargained for.

com) is a quality choice. It’s is easy to set
up, comes in a compact stuff sack and fits
two people comfortably.

• Headlamps for everyone: A headlamp
can be picked up for under $10 and
allows for hands-free illumination. You’ll
never return to clumsy flashlights again.

• Hydration packs: Want kids to stay
hydrated? Outfit them with small
hydration packs (one liter will do).

Most day packs now fit hydration pack
bladders, which can be purchased solo
for under $30.

• Water shoes for the family: Say goodbye
to stubbed toes and splinters in little
feet. Water shoes can be worn in and
out of water, performing double duty as
light hiking shoes.

• A dining set for every family member:
Check out Light My Fire. This camp-
ing product company makes individual
meal kits that include a plate, bowl, cup
and utensils that all fit together. Kids
take pride in ownership, which means
they’ll do their own dishes.

• Mosquito bands, candles, or clothing:
Mosquitoes are an unfortunate evil
of outdoor recreation, and repellent
spray is often unhealthy and smelly.

Mosquito bands are a nonintrusive
alternative, and they can be bought for
just a few dollars. Ditto for citronella
candles, which can be set out on picnic
tables after dark. If you want to go high
tech, try insecticide-treated clothing,
with repellent infused directly into the
fabric. Exofficio.com and Columbia.

com both make shirts, pants and ban-
danas in this fashion, but they won’t
come cheap.

26 WashingtonFAMILY AUGUST 2019
• Sun and shade shelter: Everyone
remembers a tent, but many camp-
ers overlook the convenience and
comfort offered by a sun and shade
shelter. Simple canopies like ones
from REI can be set up over picnic
tables for shaded meals and card
games or brought to the lakeshore to
protect kids from the sun.

DINING HACKS
Families can have all the right gear and
convenient household items, but if you’re
still slaving over the camp stove, your
trip won’t be relaxing. The following din-
ing hacks make meal prep and planning a
breeze. Cooking most of your meals over
the campfire or on the barbecue makes
food fun and clean-up simple.

• Grill fruit on the barbecue: Fruit is
more appealing than grilled veggies to
kids, and with a little whipped cream,
you can skip the marshmallows. Try
creating fruit kabobs with stone fruit
such as peaches, pineapple, grapes (cut
in half for young children) and straw-
berries. Local berries bought at farm
stands or even picked by the family
work well, too.

• Make “pocket” dinners: Create pockets
of tin foil and fill with sliced potatoes,
zucchini, onions and other veggies, and
then let them cook in the coals. It’s best
to use heavy-duty foil to ensure that
ashes don’t get into your meal. Each
pocket is customizable and fun to eat.

• Pack milk substitutes instead of cow
milk: Milk substitutes like soy, almond
and rice milk don’t have to be refrig-
erated, and vanilla or chocolate flavors
are appealing to most kids, so there’s no
need to worry about keeping milk cold
for breakfast cereal.

• Skip the dishes: Use empty snack-size
chip bags as individual serving “bowls”
for chili, stew or even oatmeal. Kids
love these “on-the-go” containers.

• Don’t get fancier than boiled water: If
you really want to simplify mealtime,
buy dehydrated backpacking single-
or double-serving meals. They taste
just fine in the wilderness, require
only boiling water and take about five
minutes to prepare.

CAMP CLOSE TO HOME
There is no need to drive hours for a fam-
ily camping trip. Find a campground close
to home to keep stress at a minimum.

Plus, being near home allows for sponta-
neous camping or quick returns home for
forgotten items. There are a lot of options
for camping around the DMV. Check
Maryland and Virginia state park listings
and then search for available sites online.

KOA.com is a good resource for campsites
with kid-friendly amenities such as pools
or mini golf courses. A short drive and
familiarity with the surroundings helps
campers to relax more quickly. ■
Amy Whitley is a travel writer who
specializes in planning outdoors
adventures for kids. She founded the
family travel site PitStopsForKids.com.