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This means that we need to go armed with the most important basic essentials.
We want our experience to be fun and enjoyable and to make that happen we have our must haves.
I used to take everything but the kitchen sink, but now most camp sites have sinks, so we don't need to take the sink anymore.
My top of the list must haves looks like this.
Sleeping: An air mattress is #1 on my list.
I am all for sleeping in a sleeping bag as long as it is on a nice soft surface.
Your body will appreciate it in the morning.
Take your favorite pillow, but make sure you put it in an old pillow case that you won't mind getting dirty.
Take a few old blankets or comforters that you don't use every day.
Make sure you have 1 light sheet and a heavier blanket.
It may be colder in the evenings and you don't want to freeze to death.
Last but most importantly, don't forget to bring a tent.
It might be a good idea to practice setting up a weekend before your camping trip, so that you become accustom to setting it up properly.
Toiletries: You can rough it in the wilderness without compromising your cleanliness completely.
Of course I put toilet paper at #1 for obvious reasons.
Do not assume that your camp site is going to provide toilet paper in the restrooms, if you have restrooms.
Hand sanitizer is also a must.
We have all heard the reports about how it doesn't actually kill germs, but I know it makes me feel better.
Remember to leave it on your hands and rub them together until they are dry.
A small bottle of, shampoo and conditioner, and a small bottle of body wash.
You are going to want to wash up at night and get the dirt and grime off you and your children.
A small tub of wet wipes can assist you in wiping kids and messes throughout the day until you can make it to the bath house.
Safety: More than likely you are going to be camping in the woods, so do not forget the Bug spray.
Because mosquitos do carry viruses, make sure you buy a bug spray that has DEET in it.
Don't forget your matches for lighting a fire.
As cool as it is to rub two sticks together and make a fire, matches will make the process move a little faster and efficiently.
A radio is good to have for entertainment and to listen for weather advisories.
Flash lights (with batteries) will be your best friend when you need to hike to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
Bring more than 1, just in case the other one doesn't work properly.
Food: When you are planning your list of food items to bring with you, make it short and sweet.
Choose items that will be easy to make and that you have the supplies to cook it with.
Sandwiches and fresh fruit are excellent choices for lunch.
Over the grill meals like BBQ and roasted hot dogs are fun choices for dinner.
Of course for dessert, you can always make S'mores.
No camping trip is complete without S'mores.
Obviously, you will have much more on your list, but these are some of my main essentials I do not want to forget when planning a camping trip away from home.
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