For those of you that have followed me for a while, you might know that my favourite family summer activity is camping. I’ve been camping since I was 12 (I’ll share a funny story with you at the end of this post) and I have evolved from having the most basic camping equipment to buying luxury items like a camp kitchen this year. I know what is essential, what equipment to purchase when you’re starting out, and where to save and splurge. In this post, First Time Camping Basics, I will go over the planning process, equipment purchases, and camping basics like packing, starting a fire, and how to avoid getting wet if it rains.
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In this post, I will primarily be discussing “car camping”, which is the type of camping where you drive to your site and camp beside your vehicle. I have some limited experience with hike-in camping (backpacking) and have yet to try canoe-in camping.
Types Of Campgrounds
I call Ontario, Canada my home and here we have several types of camping options: National Parks, Provincial Parks, Conservation Areas, Private Campgrounds, and Crown Land. Other countries may have different options, like State campgrounds. These days, we camp mainly at Provincial Parks, those run by the Ontario provincial government, and occasionally at National Parks. For the remainder of this post, I will focus my discussion on Provincial and National Parks as they tend to offer the most services as well as a commitment to wildlife and nature preservation and education. As a university student I completed my Master’s Degree studying one of these beautiful Provincial Parks. Monthly visits taught me to appreciate these beautiful wild places throughout the changing seasons.
First Time Camping Basics – Where To Start
Before you commit to a full camping trip, I recommend visiting a National or Provincial Park for a full day, by purchasing a day pass. If you can find one within 1.5 hours of where you live that would be ideal. Think of it as a mini camping trip where you come home before it’s time to sleep. It will help you decide if you really enjoy being outside for longer periods of time. I recommend treating it like a camping trip by planning meals and activities that you would participate in if camping. You can pack a cooler and lunch and maybe dinner, and beverages. All provincial parks have picnic areas where you can set up a camp stove and enjoy a meal.
Plan to walk on a trail, visit the beach, and/or go canoeing or kayaking if that interests you. At the end of the day, if you look longingly towards the campsites and wish you could stay for a campfire and sleeping under the stars, then you’re ready to try camping for the first time.
Reserving A Campsite
The first step is to reserve a campsite. In Ontario, the campsite reservation system is very competitive and dedicated campers will rise early exactly five months in advance of when they want to camp and log onto the Ontario Provincial campground reservation site. If you don’t care about getting the best site or plan to camp at a less popular campground you don’t have to book this far in advance. It’s almost always possible to find a campsite a couple weeks in advance especially if you plan to stay for only one night. Confirm your reservation online and print your receipt. You will be issued a permit once you arrive at your park on the first day of your reservation.
Make sure you pay attention to site restrictions, such as pets, number of tents, campers, alcohol, etc. And be sure to look into the cancellation policy. Additionally, observe the amenities that the site offers- does it have showers, laundry? Is there a beach, visitor centre, or camp store? Bring your reservation printout with you on the day of your trip for check-in.
First Time Camping Basics – Basic Gear
If you’re going to make the commitment to camp, I strongly recommend buying decent gear that will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable. Buying the cheapest gear will set you up for failure. If you have a successful first camping trip, then you will start to develop a love of camping, and you will want to return. You can save money by not buying the top-of-the-line equipment and by avoiding gear designed for backcountry campers (i.e., lighter, more compact, and much pricier gear).
The Tent
The tent is your most important piece of equipment. Take care in choosing the appropriate size of tent. A two-person tent will fit one person comfortably, an eight-person tent will suit a family of 4 or 5. This discrepancy is because the size rating doesn’t account for additional space needed for bags and personal space.
Choose a tent that is as waterproof as possible. The base should be made of thick tarp-like material, the sides should be water-resistant, and there should be a tarp included with the tent. Our tent has a lightweight tarp and also a heavy-duty rain tarp that goes over the other tarp. Even during the worst rainstorm no water has ever entered our tent. We have a 6-person Woods tent that is no longer sold. It is equivalent to the 6-person Woods tents that Canadian Tire sells. Three of us sleep very comfortably in this tent- myself and my two teens. When we went camping last October, it was so cold, we squeezed our family of 5 into this tent to stay warm. This is the maximum number we’d be able to fit and we were packed in side by side.
We have a second smaller tent, the Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) Snowfield which is no longer available. It’s a two-person tent that is cozy for two people and perfect for my husband and younger son.
Tent Options
Nowadays there are all kinds of tents with different structures. A dome tent is always a good bet as they are sturdy and often offer some good height in the middle. Depending on the size and design, they can take a little while to assemble, but once you become familiar with it you’ll get the hang of it and the set-up time will be much shorter. Look for screened windows that zip shut, a few interior pockets for keys and flashlights, and any other features that are important to you. Some tents have multiple rooms inside or offer a sheltered patio area.
Air Mattresses
If you have any back or neck issues or trouble sleeping, then I highly recommend buying an air mattress. They will be more comfortable and less expensive than a sleeping pad. You will need an air pump and adaptor that plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. We have a Coleman double-sized air mattress which is perfect for two children or one adult and a small child. Queen size is a better size for two adults or two teens. The single size works for a child, teen, or smaller adult. If you purchase an air mattress you will need an air pump and convertor. Air mattresses are readily available online or in stores like Canadian Tire and outdoor merchandise shops.
If you don’t want to fuss with an air pump, think you might eventually do some backpacking, and you don’t have back or sleeping issues, then a sleeping pad might be a good option for you. They pack up small and tidy, don’t require a pump, and are only slightly more expensive than an inflatable mattress. We’ve always purchased our sleeping pads from Mountain Equipment Coop and they are readily available at outdoor stores. They typically don’t have as many issues with deflating or developing holes as air mattresses do.
Sleeping Bags
If you are planning for summer camping only, I recommend purchasing a sleeping bag that has a temperature rating down to about 0 degrees Celsius. Lower temperature ratings will cost more and may not be worth it unless you plan to camp in spring, fall, or winter. In Ontario, summer nights can occasionally dip down close to zero, so it’s a good idea to be prepared.
Sleeping bags are typically synthetic or down-filled. Synthetic-filled sleeping bags are more affordable, tend to be bulkier, and are best for warm-weather camping. Down-filled sleeping bags are more expensive, lighter weight, packable, and tend to keep you warmer. They are less washable and the down loses its loft and warmth when wet, so take precautions to ensure that no water enters the tent. Basic synthetic sleeping bags can be inexpensively purchased at stores like Canadian Tire and Walmart and may be a good option if you’re not sure about camping. There is quite a price jump up to higher-end sleeping bags especially if you want a down sleeping bag.
Where To Shop
We purchase our down or higher-quality synthetic bags at Mountain Equipment Coop. Stores like Mountain Warehouse, Cabela’s, SAIL, and REI stock quality sleeping bags. Be sure to check out your local outdoor stores as they often have the most knowledgeable staff and are passionate about the outdoors. If you plan to do at least a couple of camping trips per year especially if there will be spring or fall camping, then it’s worth buying a higher-quality sleeping bag. They last longer and are warmer and more breathable.
Options
Sleeping bags come in three main shapes- mummy, barrel, and rectangle. I find the mummy sleeping bag to be really constraining as they are strongly tapered towards the foot end. Barrel sleeping bags are a compromise between mummy and rectangular fits and strike the right balance between pack-up volume and sleep comfort. Rectangular sleeping bags offer lots of room to move around but do take up a lot of space when packed up. You can also buy double sleeping bags, which can be a fun option for a couple or for a parent and small child that needs extra cuddles and reassurance while camping.
Pillows
For beginner campers, I recommend bringing your home pillow or an extra pillow camping. Later on, you can invest in camping pillows- they are smaller sized and roll up into a small bag to save space.
Picnic Shelter
Camping gear is expensive and I think that a picnic shelter is one of those items that you can add on later if you find you want to do more camping. They are invaluable when camping in a buggy area or when it rains. We waited too long to purchase our and wish we would have invested in one after our 3rd or 4th camping trip. We have a Eureka Hex Screen House and I highly recommend it. It has doors at both ends and rain panels that can be added to all the sides. Most of the time we leave the rain panels off so we can enjoy the view.
Water
Purchase water jugs with spigots. We buy the blue hard plastic water jugs commonly available at hardware and big box stores. For car camping, bring a large 10-20 litre jug filled with drinking water from home. Many campsites have well water which doesn’t agree with some people, so consider bringing water from home if that describes you or a family member. I find that a 20-litre jug will last our family of 5 about 4-5 days if we use camp water for cooking and washing and reserve the drinking water just for drinking.
I also recommend bringing a 10-litre jug to fill with camp water for cooking and washing hands and dishes. We fill up this jug at the campsite water tap every meal. Ten litres is a reasonable size to carry from the tap to the campsite. This is a job that my teens do every time now.
Additionally, bring 500 mL or greater insulated water bottles (one per person) for drinking water in the car and on trails and around the campsite. These are refilled from our drinking water jug.
Table Set Up
Whenever we camp, the very first thing I always do is set up the picnic table with a vinyl table cloth (and clips to keep it in place) and a fleece blanket on each side of the table seats. We use inexpensive table cloths from Walmart and blankets from IKEA. The blankets can be repurposed for around the campfire if it gets cold.
Cooler
The next most important thing is a cooler with ice and food. You will also need a plastic tub for food that doesn’t need refrigeration. I’m not going to discuss food in detail in this post but will share the tools and equipment needed to prepare food and enjoy a meal.
Stove And Cooking Gear
The camp stove is a basic item that all campers need. I recommend a Coleman two-burner stove and propane tanks. You will also need a pot set (two nesting pots is good) and a frying pan. Remember to pack a lighter, can opener, wooden spoon, spatula/flipper, mixing bowl, and small cutting board and knife.
Dishes
Bring a set of plates, bowls, cups, cutlery for each person plus enough for at least one more for serving or multicourse meals. We use melamine dishes, metal cutlery, and insulated mugs. You don’t need to buy “camp” dishes. Outdoor dining dishes (melamine) and inexpensive metal cutlery are fine. If it’s your first-time camping, use dishes you already own. Eventually, you will want a set of dedicated dishes for camping to make packing a breeze.
Washing Up
I recommend getting two washbasins- one for washing and one for rinsing. Don’t forget the biodegradeable dish soap, scrubbers, dishtowels and teatowels. Always bring paper towels and paper napkins to make clean up easier. We boil water and mix it with air temperature water and dish soap in one of the tubs and fill the second tub with fresh water. We wash, rinse, and place the clean dishes on a tea towel. The we dry the dishes right away and put them back in the storage bin. We do the dishes on the picnic table or at our camp kitchen if we’ve brought it along.
Light
Bring at least one table top flashlight or lantern and a small personal flashlight for each camper to keep in their pocket. I like to bring a candle in a metal tin for our picnic table.
Campfire Gear
For the perfect campfire experience, bring a lawn chair for each person. Most people already have these for soccer practice, picnics, or backyard entertaining. Also bring a long-handled lighter, newspaper, and a rigid plate to fan the fire. Don’t forget to bring marshmallows and long metal skewers. Purchase you kindling and firewood at the camp office or camp store. Bringing in firewood can spread disease and invasive species to parks so it is not recommended. Also, be aware of any fire bans in the park. Only build a fire within the designated firepit and always thoroughly extinguish your fire before leaving the site or going to bed.
Starting a fire is usually easy if the wood is dry. I scrunch up a few pieces of newpaper into balls, then build a teepee of kindling wood on top of the newspaper. Then I add 2-3 of the smaller pieces of wood and light the newpaper in several spots. I fan the flames to ensure the kindling catches fire. Wood is added on as needed during the evening. It’s helpful to find two large sticks to use for moving and adjusting wood in the hot fire.
Clothing And Personal Care Items
Pack and dress in layers and bring a little extra clothing to substitute for wet clothing. It’s important to have a long pair of comfortable pants, warm socks, walking shoes, and a hooded sweatshirt for every camping trip. If you plan to swim, then bring bathing suits (2 per person), flip flops, and beach towels. Bath towels, face towels and toiletries are also essential. You might consider bringing a thin bag for keeping dirty laundry separate.
First Time Camping Basics – Checklist:
- Reservation printout
- Tent (s)
- Air mattress(es), air pump and adaptor OR sleeping pad(s)
- Sleeping bag(s)
- Pillow(s)
- Picnic Shelter- optional, bring a tarp and rope if not bringing a shelter
- Water jugs (20L and 10L)
- 500mL or greater water bottle for each person
- Picnic table cover and clips
- 2 fleece blankets
- Cooler and ice or ice packs
- Food, beverages, and pantry staples
- Camp Stove and lighter
- Pot set (two nesting pots)
- Frying pan
- Can opener, wooden spoon, and spatula/flipper
- Mixing bowl
- Small cutting board and knife
- A set of plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery for each person plus one additional set
- Two plastic wash basins
- Biodegradeable dish soap, scrubbers, dishtowels and teatowels
- Paper towels and paper napkins
- Newspaper and plate to fan flames
- Campfire sticks/skewers
- Flashlights, candle
- Lawn chairs
- Clothing, shoes, and personal care items
- Swimming gear (bathing suits, toys, towels)
- Beach blanket
- Small backpack for transporting snacks and essentials
- Face masks and hand sanitizer for visiting indoor spaces
- Baby gear if you’re travelling with a baby
Don’t Forget:
- Sunglasses, sunhat
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Laundry line (rope)
- First Aid Kit, bandaids, and basic medicine like Tylenol and Benadryl
- Prescription medication and allergy remedies
- Cell phone
- Cards, book, game
- Toys for any children on the trip including sand toys
- Compass and maps if you’ll be exploring
- Ziploc bags for leftover food and kid’s rock collections etc.
- Umbrellas and/or Rainjackets
- Hammock- Optional, but recommended!
Safety Training and Knowledge
Always bring a First Aid Kit with you and be aware of the types of dangers that may be present at your campground. Make sure you know about bear safety and other wildlife issues. We’ve never had to worry about snakes and venomous creatures where we camp, but I know this is a concern in other areas. It’s also recommended that at least one person on the trip know First Aid and CPR. Classes can be taken through the Red Cross and other organizations.
First Time Camping Basics – Staying Dry
Your first defence against the rain is to purchase good quality tents that are water-resistant and come with tarps. If there’s any chance of rain during your trip, I recommend setting up the tarps immediately so that you don’t have to scramble if a storm suddenly hits. Bring extra tarps and rope if there’s a chance of rain during your trip.
Make sure that your sleeping bags, mattresses, and bags are not touching the sides of the interior tent walls. When tents leak it is often through areas where gear is touching the tent sides.
What To Do When It Rains
If you don’t have a picnic shelter and it’s raining during mealtime, many campsites have covered picnic areas and gazebos that can be utilized. When it rains, you can hide out in the tent, picnic shelter, or vehicle, or you can venture out on rainy days. It’s a perfect time to go to the campground’s visitor centre or interpretive centre or to head into town for groceries or to see an attraction. If it’s only raining lightly, you could opt to put on a rain jacket and go for a hike in the forest. A densely wooded area will prevent much of the rain from reaching you.
It’s no fun packing up camp in the rain, so consider packing up early if heavy rain is scheduled on your last day of camping. We have left after dinner a couple of times the day before we were scheduled to leave if heavy rain was predicted overnight or early the next morning.
First Time Camping Basics – Making The Most Of Camping
I used to resist camping for the first couple of days after arriving at our site. Nothing was as clean or as organized as home, the temperature wasn’t right, or the kids didn’t behave the way I wanted them to. Usually, after 2 or 3 days I would relax into the camping experience and start to enjoy myself. Now, I appreciate the whole camping experience from the minute we are there until the minute we leave.
My Advice:
- Bring items that comfort you like blankets, a candle, or a favourite book
- Learn about the history or natural environment of the park you are visiting
- Look in awe at the beauty of nature or the incredible starry night sky
- Know that you are creating happy memories, even more so if you bring children along
- Take time to relax- don’t feel you always need to be doing something; be sure to dedicate some time for reading, games, writing, or napping
- Bring delicious food (I can’t stress this enough) – I will be sharing some of my camping menus in upcoming blog posts
A Funny Story
The first few camping trips of my life were with my brother (one year younger than me) and father. These annual trips began when I was twelve years old and were always group camping trips in Conservation Areas. The point of these trips was to socialize, not to learn about nature or survival skills. My brother and I slept in a tent together or I shared my tent with a girlfriend. My Dad always slept in some friend or other’s camper, or so we thought. I just found out this previous year, over 30 years AFTER the fact, that my dad actually drove home each night because he didn’t like camping. He drove back early each morning to have breakfast with us. I can’t believe I never noticed! But I was too busy having fun with my friends.
To my dad’s credit, I think he knew we were surrounded by friends and other responsible adults. It is endearing and I’m glad my dad’s dislike of camping didn’t get in the way of introducing us to camping.
Summary
I hope you have enjoyed reading this post, First Time Camping Basics, and are encouraged to give camping a try. If you liked this post, please check out my post, The Complete Fall Camping Guide For Families.
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