Top Ten Camping Essentials

This past weekend, I went camping with the kiddies to Cedar Point Park in East Hampton, and we had a blast. This was only my second time around doing this, and I had picked up a few tricks from last time that helped me survive a little better this year. When packing, I made sure I had enough of everything; in fact, it felt like I packed half my house in order to “rough it” in the great outdoors. (I think next year, it might be a bit easier to just set the tent up in my backyard and pretend) So, here are the top 10 things I found that were absolutely essential on our most recent camping adventure:

10. An instant tent. The kind that is fully assembled, pops right up and you just need to stick stakes in the ground. Not only was this convenient and easy, but it did the job of keeping rain and bugs away, and it was a decent size. Best part? Just as easy to disassemble, roll and put back in the bag. Up and down within 5 minutes. Fantastic!!

9. A good air mattress. Yes, I cheated. I know some think that’s not really camping, others think it’s perfectly fine; me, I will never go camping without one. And it’s not that I am a prima donna, but let’s face it, as a single mom who wanted to enjoy some adult time when the kids went to bed, I wanted to make sure they were comfortable and actually slept. Last year, our mattress had a hole and they were practically on the ground and it was a miserable experience. Never again. Comfort all the way!

8. Marshmallows and Long Sticks. Now I’m not talking those wimpy little regular marshmallows; I’m talking those HUGE, fun, can’t fit into your mouth marshmallows! Ooey gooey goodness, whether toasted or not. The kids had a blast toasting them over the fire then giving them to me to eat :) And of course, you can’t forget the graham crackers and chocolate for some S’Mores goodness!

7. Insect Repellent Wipes. LOTS of them. I found the wipes better than the spray because I can cover their whole bodies without missing an inch. However, I also topped it off with the spray to make sure their clothes were protected too. And I applied it frequently. They still were bit, but only when it wore off. But the wipes are so much easier to apply and carry around since they were single packets.

6. Toys. Yup, toys. I found my kids needed some downtime from the outdoor adventures, and having just a few of their toys to play with in the tent kept them balanced. The quiet time was good for them, and with them being so young and away from home for a few days, it was as if a part of home was there with them.

5. Lantern/Flashlight. Sounds obvious, but if I had forgotten this essential item, I would have had some major issues, as my newly potty-trained son and all-of-a-sudden small-bladdered daughter kept me busy trekking back and forth to the bathroom at night, and with the crazy raccoons and dark paths, I’m not sure I would have survived (haha). Plus, a small little lantern served as their nightlight within the tent to help them fall asleep. Extra batteries are an obvious co-pilot to these.

4. Proper Phone Charger. I left my iphone charger for the car at home. I know, I’m technically in the wilderness and should have no need for a phone. But when the group splits up, or if there is an emergency, it is a good thing to have. Luckily, I managed just fine when my phone went dead, but being that it also served as my camera, I missed out on some great shots AND I couldn’t upload to Facebook ;) Okay, so this really isn’t a necessity when I say it like that. But I learned that next time I need to remember a charger!

3. Travel toilet seat disposable covers. Sorry, I am a bit of a clean freak, but when you go into bathrooms where people are so discourteous that they leave toilet paper all around and can’t flush, you will be grateful you have them. In lieu of toilet seat covers, Clorox wipes (another must-have) can also suffice. Let it rain and be muddy out there, let the bugs nibble on me, but give me a clean toilet seat!

2. Child’s Potty. This was one of my best ideas, to bring this potty along. When the kids had to go in the middle of the night, I didn’t have to worry about leaving one behind in the tent or getting shoes on both of them and then head out to the bathrooms. It also was helpful when we went to a neighboring beach that did not have facilities. Extremely convenient!

And number one.....

1. Benadryl Itch Cream. Believe it or not, this was the MOST important item I could have packed. Instant relief of bug bites, this tube was passed around the entire camp all weekend. What a lifesaver, otherwise there would have been some pretty miserable kids! I was amazed at how important that one little thing became, but you can bet I will always carry a tube of it with me wherever I go!

So, those are the important tips I learned this year! Have any other camping “must haves?” Feel free to share, would love to hear them for my trip next year!! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!