Camping is an incredible way to spend time with those we love, get into nature, have fun, and to disconnect from technology and the everyday routines of life. It gives us the special opportunity to reconnect with ourselves, each other, and nature. We know that being amongst trees, plants, placing our feet on the ground, and breathing in fresh air has wonderful benefits for the mind, body, and soul. Here are a few questions to consider as you’re planning your trip…
- What type of campsite? Remote? By car? Casual? These are important questions when considering what to pack and how you will get it to your site. How far you will be carrying your gear plays into what you bring. If you’ve never done remote camping that entails a long hike with everything you’ll need on your back, I recommend doing that at least once in your life!
- How long are you going to stay? This impacts how much you will need to pack.
- Who is coming? Aside from the obvious point of needing to ensure there’s enough tent space for everyone, taking ages into account is helpful. I’ve found that children of all ages, once they are engulfed in nature, settle in and have an incredible time.
I’m going to share some of our family’s personal favorite tricks we have learned over the years.
- Food. You gotta eat, and depending on how long you’re camping, you will probably need to cook. Cooking while camping can be one of the best parts. If you are camping with your car nearby or only have a short walk, it’s a great idea to bring along your cast iron skillet for one-pot meals. You can do all veggies or meat and veggies, add water, and simmer it over the fire. We always pack plenty of snacks like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Breakfast while camping can also be done in one pot…eggs, sausage, and veggies in the cast iron over the fire after sleeping in the woods….mmm!
- Fire! You cannot camp without a fire. It’s a rule! One of our favorite ways to make a fire is the Swedish Fire Log. You can search the interwebs for this, but basically, you cut a log in half, dig out the inside, and use that to create your fire. It’s ideal because the flat surface lends itself to cooking and can keep ongoing heat. The easiest way to start a fire is to bring along toilet paper rolls filled with lint from your dryer. Keep it in a wet-safe container and place that inside your Swedish fire log for instant flame.
- Bugs. When camping, we enter the home of many biting insects. Common insect repellents can be toxic to the environment and harmful to our bodies as well. Thankfully, nature has provided a solution with many of its plants. Our favorite way to keep the bugs from enjoying us for their dinner is Young Living’s Insect Repellent and Citronella essential oil.
- Coffee. It deserves a category of its own. Is there anything better than a hot cup of fresh coffee sipped in the woods, surrounded by nature sounds, after sleeping in the wild? We think not. You can find instant organic coffee options or bring your stainless french press, heat up water over the fire, steep, and enjoy!
- First Aid. Here’s a short list of our must-haves.
- Young Living’s Lavaderm Aftersun Spray– this is great for any skin upset
- Purification essential oil blend– great for any critter bites that get through the insect repellent, great natural cleansing option, splinters
- Deep Relief Roll-on– great for any sore places after sleeping on the ground
- Copaiba Vitality– stomach and muscle soothing…a few drops under the tongue
- Young Living Hand Sanitizer– nontoxic way to cleanse hands before administering first aid care
- Bandaids, tape, gauze, tweezers, scissors, etc.
We would love to hear what tips you take and use on your next camping venture!
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