Camping – You Might Need A Checklist

As a family we really enjoy a good camp out.  We are blessed to be surrounded by beautiful forests and well maintained campgrounds throughout.  The fees are very affordable averaging $9 to $16 per night depending on the amenities.  Compared to the cheapest hotel rates, camping wins hands down on the affordability factor. 

I realize camping isn’t for everyone and there are different degrees of camping.  Some like to lay out in a sleeping bag under the stars – not me.  Others like to pitch a tent – been there; done that.  Then there are the RV campers.  Tent trailers to big huge motor coaches.  You all know where I fit in.  Barely above a tent trailer. 

Whichever you prefer, there are certain things you will need to be comfortable and well prepared.  And nothing is better to have than a checklist: 

Shelter & Sleeping

·         RV or Tent

·         Tarp & Rope (in case it rains or snows)

·         Pop–Up Screened Gazebo – very nice but optional

·         Sleeping Bags & a Blanket - for each person

·         Air Mattresses or Foam Pads – for tent camping, helps keep the ground chill at bay and adds a little comfort

·         Pillows 

Cooking & Eating

·         Coolers & Ice (I like to freeze milk jugs filled ¾ with water)

·         Water Jugs (I have a 6 gallon container and several milk jugs filled that I take with me)

·         Camp Stove & Fuel

·         BBQ Grill

·         Charcoal & Lighter or Propane – depending on type of BBQ you have

·         Matches (store in a coffee can with a lid to keep moisture away)

·         Plate, Bowl, Cup & Utensils - for each person

·         Frying Pan

·         Large Pot

·         Small Pot

·         Coffee Pot and/or Kettle

·         Metal Spatula

·         Dishpan

·         Dish Soap

·         Dish Towels, Cloths & Scrub Pad

·         Dish Drainer - optional

·         Aluminum Foil

·         Mixing Bowl

·         Measuring Spoons & Cups

·         Wooden Spoon

·         Knife – for chopping & cutting

·         Cutting Board

·         Can Opener & Bottle Opener/Corkscrew

·         Pot Holders and/or Oven Mitt

·         Cooking Oil

·         Salt & Pepper

·         Spices

·         Jam or Jelly

·         Peanut Butter (I always take this)

·         Butter or Margarine

·         Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Mix

·         Food & Beverages – plan enough meals for you trip plus one extra day, just in case.

·         Marshmallows, Graham Crackers & Chocolate – of course!

·         Roasting Sticks – or you can cut your own in camp 

Personal Items

·         Cool Weather Clothing – a set for each day

·         Warm Weather Clothing – a set for each day

·         Socks & Underwear – a set for each day plus one extra, just in case

·         Winter Pajamas & Warm Socks

·         Sweater, Hoodie or Light Jacket

·         Winter Coat, Hat & Gloves

·         Swimsuit

·         Shoes – appropriate for conditions

·         Boots – for hiking and/or snow

·         Toiletries – lip balm, toothbrush & paste, comb & brush, mirror, soap & shampoo, deodorant, lotion, sunscreen

·         Insect Repellent

·         First Aid Kit – I keep one in each vehicle and one in my RV

·         Sunglasses & Eyeglasses

·         Medication – pain reliever, cold/allergy medication, cough drops, prescription meds

·         Liquid Hand Soap & Hand Sanitizer

·         Towels & Wash Cloths

·         Water Bottle

·         Pocket Knife

Other Things To Have Around Camp

·         Lawn Chairs & Folding Table

·         Lantern & Fuel or Batteries

·         Flashlights & Extra Batteries – one for each person

·         Citronella Torch or Candles

·         Board Games & Playing Cards

·         Toys – for kids & adults alike

·         Camera

·         Clothesline & Clothes Pins

·         Fishing/Hunting Gear & Your License – if you plan on doing so

·         Bikes & Helmets

·         Tools & Duct Tape

·         5 Gallon Bucket & Shovel

·         Axe or Saw

·         Firewood – it isn’t always available in camp

·         Daypacks

·         Personal Protection – I won’t even elaborate on this because each person views this one differently. 

I love to have items on hand that can perform double duty.  Large plastic storage totes are a great place to organize and store your camping equipment.  An empty tote can also double as a bathtub when needed.  A large pot can not only be used to cook your food but heat your wash water too.  Frozen jugs of water start out as ice in the cooler and become drinking water when they thaw. 

This is a basic list to get you started.  I’m sure there are plenty of items you will add to this list to personalize it for your family.  If you have suggestions, I’d love to hear them - I am by no means an expert. 

Is there something you always take with you?

June – 30 Things to Do This Month

Every day this month I am going to pick one thing from the list to do and then mark it off.  Some I can do quickly and some I will need to schedule time for.

1.                   Clean vehicles – inside and out.

2.                  Sweep garage

3.                  Super clean and re-organize kitchen

4.                  Meal planner for July

5.                  Make a gift

6.                  Sew something

7.                  List items to sell on eBay

8.                  Bake two loaves of bread

9.                  Try a new recipe

10.               Family Movie Nite

11.                Go on a mini vacation

12.               Weed and fertilize garden

13.               Fertilize flower pots

14.               Fertilize herb garden

15.               Spray for weeds

16.               Spray for spiders

17.               Pull weeds

18.               Fertilize lawn

19.               Complete one task on the HOUSE TO DO LIST

20.              Family Game Nite

21.               Go for a bike ride & picnic

22.              Make ice cream

23.              Clean and tune up the yard tools

24.              Create organized yard tool storage in garage

25.              Install A/C units upstairs

26.              Wash interior windows

27.              Wash doors and door jambs

28.              Dust for cobwebs

29.              Wash exterior windows

30.              Date night with my girls

May – 30 Things to Do This Month 

I was pretty productive and managed to get a lot of projects done last month but my “TO DO” list wasn’t where I’d have liked it to be.  We had a pretty wet and chilly month and that hampered my efforts a bit. 

1.                   Get the camp trailer ready for camping

2.                  Wash exterior of camp trailer

3.                  Wash vehicles  weather did not cooperate!

4.                  Vacuum and clean inside of vehicles  weather did not cooperate!

5.                  Clean and organize laundry room

6.                  Vote flatlined with a migraine.  I was so disappointed.  I always vote.

7.                  Meal planner for June

8.                  Make a gift

9.                  Sew something

10.               Swap out the summer/winter clothing

11.                List items to sell on eBay & Etsy

12.               Bake two loaves of bread

13.               Try a new recipe

14.               Family Movie Nite

15.               Have a pinochle date with the ladies

16.               Go on a mini vacation – Memorial Day

17.               Plant garden

18.               Plant flower pots

19.               Plant herb garden  seed pots started

20.              Finish flower bed in backyard

21.               Spray for dandelions  weather did not cooperate!

22.              Pull weeds

23.              Fertilize lawn  weather did not cooperate!

24.              Treat the trees & shrubs

25.              Complete one task on the HOUSE TO DO LIST

26.              Family Game Nite

27.              Go for a bike ride & picnic unfortunately due to the weather we didn’t get to do it together like I’d hoped we would

28.              Make ice cream

29.              Sand deck  weather did not cooperate!

30.              Stain deck  weather did not cooperate!

 Do you make lists like this?

Last Day Of School

It is hard to believe but today is the last day of school for my girls.  I am looking forward to the time we’ll spend together this summer and a reprieve from making all those lunches every morning. J 

On the last day of school I begin preparing for the first day of school all over again.  I start by going to the school district website and printing off next year’s calendar and a copy of the school supply list for each one of my daughters. 

When they come home this afternoon we will go through all the school supplies they have brought home.  What can be recycled and used again next year gets set aside and the rest is used in craft projects we will do this summer. 

School Supplies - I keep a stock of school supplies I purchase each year during the back-to-school sales.  Each store seems to have its loss leader item whether it is crayons, glue, pencils or spiral notebooks for 10¢ or markers for 88¢.  Those are the items I buy and refill my recycled copy paper box with.  After going through this year’s leftovers we fill in with what is in the box and I mark those items of the list.  Then I watch for sales throughout the summer to get the items we don’t have.  I am usually able to spend about $10 or less each year on schools supplies. 

Backpacks & Lunchboxes – We completely empty them out and they get to take a spin in the washer on the gentle cycle.  Then they are hung to air dry.  I make any repairs necessary.  The lunch boxes and school supplies we have on hand are tucked inside the backpacks and are put up in the closet to await the first day of school.  If a backpack or lunchbox is too far gone I then make a plan to replace it. 

Thermoses & Drink Bottles – I wash these with hot soapy water and then let them soak in a little bleach water to get rid of any odors or stains.  I toss any worn out or damaged drink bottles in the recycle bin.  Once everything is completely dry I put them in a bin I keep in our pantry to store them until they are needed once again. 

Ice Packs – I wash these in hot soapy water, allow to air dry and put away with the thermoses and drink bottles. 

Plastic Utensils – By this time most of the plastic forks and spoons we started with have been lost or broken.  I wash what is left and put it in the bin with the idea that I’ll buy some more to begin the school year with again. 

Plastic Containers – We are trying to cut down on the use of plastic bags so I buy small round ½ cup containers and sandwich size containers to put certain items in.  By this time some of them are pretty worn out or the lids are missing.  I go through the ones we can save and wash them in hot soapy water and let them soak in bleach water too to get rid of stains and odors.  After they are completely dry I stack them up and put them in my plastic container bin in our pantry.  I also make a note to replace anything that needs replacing.  This year it appears we need to replace some of our ½ cup containers.  We are down to only four left. 

It is nice to have all this taken care of so I don’t have to worry about it later on when we are preparing to go back to school at the end of the summer.  It is also nice to know what I need ahead of time so I can take advantage of sales or coupons and can spread out the expense instead of having to do it all at once.

So far it appears I am short on large pink erasers, three hole paper and Kleenex.

Do you have any great tips you’d like to share?  I’d love to hear them!