Allow me to expand my argument for this essential piece of equipment with just a few examples of its many uses.

21 Uses for a Pashmina Scarf While Camping

Firstly, (and most obviously) – it acts as a great scarf! Its thin and lightweight material can be wrapped around your neck many times, creating lots of warming layers; or it can be used in the opposite conditions as a shade, to be wrapped loosely over head and neck.  While on a camping/hiking trip in Morocco I soaked mine in water and draped it over my head, neck and arms; this was a perfect antidote to 40C conditions! You can even use the tassels at the ends to keep flies away from your face.

While on excursions away from the campsite, I have used it as a replacement rucksack strap, a bandage, a dress, towel, skirt, even as a sock for a blistered foot! And, once or twice, I have dared venture to use it for its intended purpose and have worn it as a fashion accessory.

Meanwhile, its versatility increases back at basecamp. One of my favourite weird and wonderful uses for my beloved pashmina has been to drain vegetables. It is also great fun to spin around a campsite with a scarf full of carrots. Similarly, when camping in the wild, it can be put to use to filter unsafe water and remove debris before making potable with purifying tablets.

This queen of unlikely tools has also been transformed into a pillow, a shawl for chilly evenings, a blindfold for children playing “blind-man’s buff”, and a sling to carry babies. It has been screwed and tied up into a volleyball, laid out as a picnic blanket or tablecloth, strung up inside a tent to create a hammock shelf for valuables, used as a tea-towel……

And so on. The list is endless!

A pashmina scarf. Very simple, very small, but something I recommend and, personally, will never camp without!

Author: Phoebe Ruxton

Edited by: CampTrip.com

Get your Camping Trip Organized:

1. Make a Reservation at the Campground

The first consideration (and I think most important) is where you are going. If you are planning a trip on a holiday weekend make sure you make reservations in advance. If you don’t have reservations, don’t go.  It is almost a given that every campground will be full, and trying to find a place to set up camp on the 4th of July with no reservation is almost impossible. Even if it isn’t a holiday weekend and you don’t think you need a reservation, or if where you want to camp doesn’t make reservations, always have a couple alternatives picked out. Looking at camp books, maps or on-line is much more relaxing at home than it is in a hot vehicle with a couple of cranky, tired kids. Write the directions in a notebook and don’t forget to take it with you.

2. First Aid or Medical Box

Remember, campgrounds are usually a ways away from town; there is nothing worse than needing to get some aspirin or a band-aid at 9:00 pm and not having anywhere to go. Before we go camping I put together 3 medical boxes. One is for prescriptions, another is for first aid, and the other is for things like aspirins, children’s pain medication, cold medication – anything along those lines. Why, you wonder, do I have it all divided up? It’s so that if I’m in a hurry or if it’s late at night I don’t have to sift through a bunch of stuff to find what I need. I put it all into those plastic shoe boxes and label them.

3. Organize your Misc. Items in Plastic Boxes:

It always seems like the important little stuff is most prone to getting lost: batteries, lighters, pens, pencils (you can see where I’m coming from).  Well, you could put it all in one of those plastic shoe boxes, but I like to use a few little, drawered plastic cubes. The drawers allow for a little division, so you can find what is needed much quicker. For instance, I know I always keep the lighters in the cube’s second drawer. My husband has his own cube in which he keeps a small amount of tools, screws and little things like that.

4. Cleaning Up – Dishes and Laundry:

For years I had a big water pot for heating water for dishes. I leave that at home now that I have a small one for a little hot water. You can now get dish soap that foams when you put it on a sponge scrub and rinse. This saves a lot of water and a lot of extra work. Remember, it’s vacation time; whatever you can do to save on the work at camp makes everyone happy. On that note (and while we are talking about cleaning up), let’s address the laundry for a moment. You can’t go camping without creating laundry and it can get real messy real fast if you don’t have a system for it. At our camp everyone gets a king size pillow case and their laundry goes in it. This way there are not stinky socks floating around and lost clothes. You don’t have to buy new pillow cases. Used ones can be found at goodwill or yard sales.

5. Packing Clothing:

When considering what clothes to take camping first consider how much is too much. It is tempting to want to take lots after all you never know what you might need or want. The down side of this is that if everyone takes way more than they need these clothes become a burden on the whole family. Then again if you did not bring enough that can also be a source of frustration and discontent. I plan one outfit per day for each person with a couple of extras.  Two warm outfits and a jacket plus one bathing suit. and 2 pairs of pjs. We wash once a week at a laundry mat.

6. Plan Ahead:

By now you are no doubt getting the organized camping idea. Plan ahead, get organized and avoid a lot of frustrations, but what about the things you can’t plan for. When I have kids at camp I always send for those tourist guide books before I ever leave home. I pick out a couple of activities which would be good on a rainy day and are age appropriated to the children. You can always find a movie or sit in your camper or tent and play board games as well.. I always take a couple of games and a deck of cards. Rainy days are also great days to do laundry.

Be creative and organized and enjoy the wonder of camping. What ever you do don’t forget the bug spray. Remember camping is more than just a vacation, it’s family together memories.

If your worried about forgetting some essential camp supplies have a look at the camping checklist. The camping checklist is a great list to work off of, it has everything you could possibly need to remember to bring plus more!

Author: Sally Seals

Edited By: CampTrip.com

No more!  Here’s a list of camping supplies to remember, that are commonly forgotten. What I like to do is have a large plastic Tupper-ware box where I store all these camping supplies. It keeps everything together and ready for the next camping trip. If I use up a particular camping item, I write down what needs to be replaced on a piece of paper. This way I know what needs to be added for the next camping trip.

Camping Supplies to Remember:

Waterproof Matches with a Piece of Sandpaper – The rough strike area on the match box always wears out.

Manual Can Opener – When the fish aren’t biting there’s always beans.

Wash Rags – They’re good for dish rags, drying hands and kids in a pinch.

Pliers – Regular and Needle-nose. These are great for skinning catfish among many other things.

Paring Knife – Peeling potatoes to cutting a kids fishing pole from a bush.

Safety Pins – Temporary fix to repair clothes, zippers etc. Can even be used to hook a worm.

Calamine Lotion – Soothes just about any bug bite or rash.

Big Box of Band-aids and a large Tube of Antibiotic Ointment – For all the “ouchies” that are going to happen.

Metal Silverware – At least a fork for everybody and large cooking spoons.

Pocket Raincoats – Cheap and help when it’s damp and cold.

Old Sauce Pan – Essential for cooking meals and can be used for washing dishes in.

Sewing Kit – Scissors and needles in case something needs repairing. It happens…

Plastic Drop Cloth or Tarp – Put it under your tent or sleeping bag to keep out the damp.

Tin Foil – Use it for cooking and protecting your food, removing rust and much more! You’ll realize how handy it is once you have it on hand.

Ziplock Bags – Helps keep all your stuff organized, food fresh, as well as preventing bugs from getting into your food.

Old Plastic Bowls and Glasses – Nothing fancy or breakable. Plastic dishes are the best thing for camping plus, they’re easy to wash.

Checkout our Camping Pocket Guide with useful Advice and Tips for Your next Camping Trip.

Dish Soap & Sponge – One of the most forgotten camping supplies. It is quite handy when you need to wash up the dishes or wipe a table down.

Duct Tape –  They don’t say it has 101 uses for nothing. It can repair holes in tents, tarps or air mattresses. Put it on feet to prevent blisters or use it to help bandage injuries. Bring Duct Tape when camping. At some point you’ll be glad you did.

Hot Pads – Whatever is coming off the campfire or grill is going to be hot. Make sure you have a hot pad to put the pot on.

Washing Line & Clothes Pins -When things get dirty and wet (which they will) you’ll want to hang them out to dry.

Extra Batteries – Don’t be left in the dark. The last thing you want is darkness to fall and realize your flashlight is out of juice.

Now you are geared with a list of  camping supplies, that are most commonly forgotten. None of these camping supplies cost much. But they have sure saved me time and again. If you can remember to pack all these supplies you’ll be one step closer to a blissful camping trip.

Author: Janet Akin

Edited By: CampTrip.com

For years, I have heard many great stories and comments about Ohiopyle State Park in Southwestern Pennsylvania. My friend and I, two moms, packed her minivan with camping and rafting gear, bikes and our kids and off we went seeking outdoor adventures.

Exploring Ohiopyle State Park:

From Washington DC, Ohiopyle is a three hour drive and from Pittsburg, 90 minutes. Ohiopyle is located in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, an area lush and green, a temperate rainforest with a large tree canopy shading mountain laurel, rhododendron and ferns. Mountain streams fall from steep ravines and feed the Youghiogheny River.

White Water Rafting

The river provides a white water adventure for children on class I and II rapids to thrill seeking adults who kayak or raft class IV and V rapids. Four companies in Ohiopyle provide guided and unguided trips. My daughter couldn’t wait to ride the rapids; however, it wasn’t in the cards. We experienced temps in the 60’s and rain that creates blue lips and shivering children. Not kid (or mommy) fun!

Camping in Ohiopyle State Park

We established home for three days in the Ohiopyle State Park: staking tents, spreading out chairs, hanging a hammock and setting-up the stove. Thank goodness for the tarp because it became our togetherness refuge under the raindrops. The girls stuck together in the two-person and my son hung with the moms. Each site provided a bit of privacy from the next and the bathrooms (showers in a separate house) were “not the best I’ve seen but not the worst,” said my daughter.

The Fallingwater Marvel

Water play, rafting and riding the natural waterslides (video), didn’t make the agenda for the trip due to the weather. Instead, we wore pants and jackets, a great reprieve from the hot, humid temps in DC, to hike, bike, and visit Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s incredible, organic architecture home built over Bear Run for the Kauffman family in 1936. This ingenious marvel is the epitome of what outdoor living should be, besides camping of course!

Hiking and Biking

We hiked and biked the Great Allegheny Passage, a rails trail from Pittsburg to Cumberland, MD. After establishing home and cooking dinner, we took a twilight hike down the ravine to the Passage to walk amongst the fog that enveloped the old railroad bridge above the Youghiogheny. We also biked in search of the many waterfalls on side trails along the Passage. My kids braved a STEEP downhill climb to one with me in nervous tow. Well worth the nervous climb!

So much to do in Ohiopyle State Park with not enough time. We will be back to raft or kayak, ride the natural water slides, mountain bike, rock climb and some day bike the entire Great Allegheny Passage. This trip created great memories. We look forward to more in Ohiopyle State Park.

Read more about Jennifer in my interview with her: “Hiking Along with Jennifer”

If you would like to Write a Guest Post please let us know! We are always happy to publish what other campers and outdoor enthusiasts have to say!

By Jennifer Chambers – Owner, Hiking Along, LLC.

Edited By: CampTrip.com

What could be missing? With all the right camping equipment you’ll manage fine, but you might want to note a little advice from someone who was brought up on camping.

I have traipsed around Europe, America, the Far East and Australasia with my camping-fanatical parents; and then, as the seed was sown, I found myself heading out to the wild, old countryside on a motorbike, completely alone, to do the same thing by myself before introducing the wonderful idea to my husband and kids.  I can list canvas tents, bivouacs, camper vans, free camping, family campsites, beaches, woods, desert and the starlight hotel in my conquests.

We all know the obvious camping supplies to take but to be sure you have everything you need check out this camping checklist which will help you prepare and pack everything you need for your camping trip.

Things to Make the Camping Experience Better:

• Tents with bedrooms, insect repelling curtains and built- in storage easy to unfold and pop up (rather than standing in the dark trying to knock in a tent peg with a stone, ie: a makeshift hammer).
• Wearing lightweight polyester keeps you the camper dry rather than lying under canvas in the rain, wondering where the next big wet splodge will hit you.
• Snow tents that actually keep you warm rather than you having to try and ‘harden up’ in the icy conditions.

So, after all the obvious, what would I not travel without in any circumstances?  There are three simple camping supplies that I make sure I always have.

Camping Supplies to Never go Without:

1. Plastic Bags

Grab a big clutch of these. They can be used for just about everything you can think of; scrunched down to nothing, they weigh very little.  Campers usually have to travel light, so whatever your mode of transport – walking, biking or vehicling these little beauts are life savers. Use to:

• Wrap up your damp swimwear and towels.
• Store clean clothes separate from the used.
• Fill with ice to make ice packs for bruises.
• Use as a bucket (if there are no holes) to collect water.
• Make sand bags to wall up a side of a tent in a windy situation.
• Sit on whilst on a wet boat or damp grass.
• Stay dry in the rain (with a really big bag, cut a hole in the end to make a nifty coat).
• Collect edible berries or firewood.
• Collect the trash and take it and your bags home with you.

2. Earplugs

What? Can’t hear you? One man’s party is another man’s noise.
You’ve just found the ideal spot on the side of a lake where there are a few tents already up. Later, you sit by your campfire pondering the universe whilst the balmy evening shows a spectacular starry night, replete with shooting stars. You snuggle down for a good night’s sleep, trusting the universe is safe and wonderful when, suddenly, at 1am it’s party time. Do you go and yell at 15 loud, young people vs. 1 of you? Trust me, you won’t win. Either join in or stick in the ‘plugs’. Use earplugs when:

• The party is raging outside. You can then get a solid night of sleep (the noises of the party muffled) so that you’re fresh and ready to complain the next day.
• Camping on a windswept island so that the experience isn’t quite as ear-blowing.
• You are sleeping alongside a normally charming person in the daytime who turns into a snoring monster in a tent.
• The kids (or you) are screaming because they’re terrified that earwigs are going to crawl into their ears.
• You’re cycling. Not just for sleeping, earplugs can be real ear-savers for this activity as well.

3. Corkscrew

Okay, you’re at your destination, all set up. The steaks are cooking and you fancy a glass of the great wine you’ve brought along that will complete the camping experience beautifully. And: there’s no corkscrew. In the movies, a hero prances in with a sabre and, with one blow, cuts off the top.

Alright, so you forgot the sabre? There are grim ways to open a bottle of wine; sticking in a knife is one, but that only makes you look desperate and leaves you having to spit out bits of cork the whole bottle through. There’s really only one use for a corkscrew, but it’s an invaluable one – don’t go without it.

• And if the corkscrew is attached to a Swiss army knife, it becomes even more valuable!

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Author: Julie Harries

Edited by: CampTrip.com

During such reading experiences I found myself flipping back and forth between pages. “What few items are in the bag?”, “What shoes are best?”, “How does one battle the uncertainty of the path ahead?”

It took hikes in the Shenandoah National Park, Yosemite National Park, Olympic National Park, and many places in New Zealand, but I finally found the answers. I’ll gladly share my tips for hiking here:

Tips for Hiking – Make Hiking Easier:

Clothes

Bring as few as possible, but bring things you know are comfortable. Imagine the clothes you want to bring sweaty and dirty. Will they still be loose enough? Will they ride up as you exert yourself? Blisters and irritation can occur on just more than your feet. If you going for a multi-day hike (which I refer to as a “backpack”), try to get creative with ways to bring less clothes. For instance, if you are a girl you can bring two pair of underwear and seven panty liners. Either gender can bring a few pair of good socks and multiple pair of sock liners to cut down. Plan your clothes to work in layers to keep you warm or cool as necessary. Consider keeping your spare clothes in a sack to use as a pillow at night. Know that you might want to hang the day’s clothes out to dry overnight if they get wet. What I find works best for me is to bring just two outfits and alternate them each day of the backpack. Finally, bring things you feel confident in. You will probably have your photo taken a lot on the trail.

Shoes

One of the best tips for hiking is a good pair of hiking shoes. Do not wait to get good hiking shoes. Choose some that can do what you need them to (waterproof for wet areas, good tread for climbing, light for long easy hikes, etc). Then, try them on well in advance. If they don’t feel good then find ones that do. Shoes, as everything else in hiking supplies, will not magically work just because you are out in the wilderness and really want them to.

Bathroom/Lack of

If you know of something that helps you move your bowels on a regular basis (i.e.: coffee or oatmeal), bring it with you! More than one hiking experience has been ruined by unpredictable needs. Familiarize yourself with the rules of the place you will be hiking. Do you need to bury your poop? Consider a lightweight poop shovel. What do you need to do with used toilet paper? I would suggest doing a trial run somewhere private before you go in the woods. This will give you a real idea of the best way to pack your paper, trash bag, and hand sanitizer. Here are some more tips for Women Peeing Outside.

Hygienic Supplies

For this, you need to look deep inside yourself to determine what you really would be miserable without (for me it’s eye drops) and what you must sacrifice (flavored lip gloss). Smelly things not only need to be carried but also need to be stowed away with your food to keep away from predators, so really try to minimize your list. Also, consider sharing with your hiking buddies so that only one person brings the nail clippers, someone brings a few q-tips, and another brings the aloe vera lotion in case of sunburn. The same can be done for medical supply kits if you are sure you are staying together.

Food

Packing the right amount of food is an art. I would suggest for every full day of hiking to bring three meals and a small snack. You might also throw in one emergency meal but chances are you won’t be as hungry as you’d expect so don’t over-pack. The easiest food may be freeze dried bag meals. For those you will need water and a way to boil it. Besides the obvious of not bringing food that will melt or go bad in your pack, I would point out that it is fun to bring fresh food if you can eat it quickly over the first few days and you should bring food you like to eat. It is very unlikely you will start to magically like raisins just because they are in your trail mix and you are a little hungry. It is better to bring food you can look forward to. Also, you will want to bring more than one water filter in a group in case one breaks. In the same way you can split up gas burners and kerosene containers that will be shared.

Other Supplies

In case no one warned you, hiking and backpacking can be expensive hobbies. When purchasing your tent, pack, sleeping back, and other big items remember that if you pick quality products that meet the specifications for the type of adventures you’re going on they will last a long time. Hopefully you can last as long.

People

I have been on wonderful hikes and terrible ones. What makes the greatest difference is the group of people you go with. If the group does not get along in comfortable society, they will probably not get along when they are sore, tired, stung, burned, and facebook-deprived. Pick a group where everyone feels they have something to contribute so they do not compete too much, and where everyone looks out for the rest. This is bound to lead to a truly amazing experience.

Planning

The best planning has one main organizer who uses input from everyone in the group. The organizer should spend a lot of time on the websites and in books about the place you plan on hiking to create a realistic itinerary that notes wildlife precautions, elevation changes, distance, water sources, campsite passes, etc.

My theory is that there are two types of hikers: those who lie and tell themselves they are closer to the end than they are, and those who lie to themselves and say they are further. You will find what works best for you. Just remember, when you hike you are the protagonist in your own story!

If you have more tips for hiking we would love to hear from you! Please share your expertise in the comment box below.

If you enjoyed reading this then you might enjoy reading our other articles on the site. Sign up to our newsletter on the right hand side of the screen to receive all the latest and greatest on camping and the outdoors. We promise we will not share your details or bombard your e-mail inbox.

Author: Ashley Flanders

Edited By: CampTrip.com

Southeast England: Warm Climate but Lacks Elevation

Hailing from the southeast of England I’m spoiled in terms of climate but short-changed for scenery. The rainfall here is the lowest in the country, and although it can be brutally windy and cold in the winter, summer came early this year and when it does arrive it usually sticks around. The downside is that we don’t do hills. It’s a flat and featureless landscape for mile after mile, which doesn’t make for interesting hiking.

The upshot of this is that when I want to go hiking/walking it has to be somewhere else. The Midlands, particularly the Peak District, is a favourite – great scenery and challenging walking that you just don’t get in the southeast. But every time I go hiking in the Peak District UK, I have to remind myself not to get complacent about the weather. Down at sea-level it might be warm and calm; up high it’s a very different story, and it’s easy to come unstuck if you’re under-prepared. Don’t underestimate how beautiful or dangerous the UK can be…

Hiking in the Peak District UK offers a Great Escape

This was brought home to me again a few weeks back on a hiking trip around Kinder Scout, the highest point of the Peak District. It’s a staggeringly beautiful area: lakes and rivers, hills, forest and moors all around you. But although we were only three hours drive from home, it was clear “we weren’t in Kansas any more, Toto”.

It doesn’t matter if it’s steady summer down south: in the Peaks it can switch between warm sun and driving, icy rain and hail in a matter of minutes. The hiking trails in the Peak District are some of the most scenic parts of the area are almost non-existent and it’s easy to lose your way – paths just evaporate, leaving you in the middle of the gorse and wondering which way to turn. Maps are handy up to a point, but the paths can quickly evolve and move, soon rendering earlier maps out of date.

Don’t get Caught in the Dark

The top of Kinder Scout – not a difficult climb, and an easy hike to get there – was a different world. Dusk comes in quickly, and you suddenly realize you’re not playing by the same rules any more. Snapping a couple of glow sticks to check the map was pretty fruitless (I prefer them to torches for map-reading since they’re kinder on the eyes; glow bracelets, on the same theme, are a handy way of marking each other in the dark and have become a regular addition to my rucksack). The level of detail wasn’t useful and the terrain is – whilst quite an amazing mixture of black, peaty hillocks, boulder-strewn riverbeds and gorse plains – not blessed with landmarks.

As night fell, we realized that getting off the top should be a priority. The paths down are hard to find and sometimes steep and hazardous, especially in the dark. Fanning out to increase our chances of locating a safe one (this is where the glow sticks and glow in the dark bracelets come into their own), it hit me that getting stuck up there without the right equipment could mean a miserable night at best, and serious risk of exposure and even death at worst. The path down we finally found was difficult enough in the dark. If it had been raining too, it could have been a disaster.

Much of this is just common sense: the old cub-scout motto of ‘Be Prepared’. But it’s worth knowing what you’re preparing for. If you’re used to better conditions and different landscapes, it can be too easy to underestimate what you’ll meet. The upside, of course, is that hiking in the Peak District has some fabulous views that rival just about anywhere else you care to name.

The Author: Tom Smithson

Edited By: CampTrip.com

Have your kids read something useful -knowledge is power

CampTrip has complied a list of great camping books for kids and parents. Below are some excellent guide and story books for kids all about camping. These books are great for reading while camping or even if your kids are at home but love camping. Some of these books I read myself  as a child, they are classic camping reads!

Camping Guides for Kids

Have your kids read a book that will give them valuable outdoor and hands on information. These Outdoor/Camping Guide Books are made FOR kids, helping  them learn about their world around them and how everything functions. These books not only share useful facts and knowledge but also shares fun and interesting activities for kids of all ages to try.

Find Out More

Camping Stories for Kids

Even form the earliest of ages all kids enjoy a good book. I have found some of the most popular Camping Story Books available so that you can share these great camping books for kids. Whether you have already been camping with your kids, are planning on going camping with your kids or are  just reading them a bed time story these books are a fun outdoor adventure. If you have been camping or are planning on going camping with your kids these books will help them relate to the whole camping experience and get them excited about going camping again or for the first time.

Find Out More

Campfire Stories for Kids

Everyone loves sitting around the campfire, especially kids! Why not add to that joy by added some fun or spooky campfire stories? Here are some of the best Campfire Story Books for you to share with your kids around the campfire. Some of these books also include campfire songs, activities, poems and useful guides! So to take campfires from a good thing to an awesome thing and try out what these books have to offer.

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Camping Guide Books for Parents

Is this your first time camping with your kids? Whether you have some confidence about taking your babies out into the wild or completely panicked these Camping Guide Books for Parents will wipe your worries away.

Find Out More

These books share excellent tips and advice on everything you need to know about taking your kids camping, hiking or boating. Going camping or outdoors with your kids is one of the most enjoyable experiences for your kids as well as for you. Feel prepared taking them with these very useful how to guide books.

Know of Any Other Camping Books for Kids?

Please share any Camping Books for Kids recommendations in the comment box below. Thanks!
Author: Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)

Get your kids outside, having fun and learning!

Do you have kids that like to keep busy? Or, do you want to keep your kids busy? I have selected some of the best camping and outdoor guide books for kids at the moment! These books are great because they are packed full of fun outdoor information and activities for your child to try.

Whether your kids are outdoors camping, in the backyard playing or stuck indoors on a rainy day these books offer endless hours and original ideas to have fun and keep busy. Plus these books are great because your child may actually learn something hands on. These books packed with useful and “how to” information, making these some of the most hands on and fun books out on the market! It’s a win win situation, parents can watch their kids learn and have fun while keep busy and kids get to try hand on activities and learn new skills they will be proud to show off.

Camp Out!: The Ultimate Kids’ Guide

– Lynn Brunelle

For Ages 7 and up – Whether you’re planning an over night in the backyard or a weekend in the wilderness, this book is packed with stuff to know. The basics, from gearing up to choosing a site to building a tarp tent. Tasty outdoor recipes: Solar Oven Pizza, Chow Down Chili and s’ more’s of course—with 8 variations. This is the perfect camping and outdoor guide books for kids. It shares valuable and interesting information in a fun way!

Find out more

Kids Camp!: Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness

– Laurie Carlson

For Ages 4 and up – Kids Camp is a great book for rainy days, camping in the backyard or camping in the wilderness. It provides many activities that children can do alone or with their parents. It also acts as a great outdoors guide for kids and shares valuable survival information.

“Kids Camp offers innovative ideas to help kids of all ages keep busy”

The chapters feature directions for making inexpensive equipment and projects while exploring nature; crafts; outdoor games; and recipes for snacks and meals. Whether indoors or outdoors this book has 100 plus ways to keep kids busy, the illustrations add to the book a great visual aspect helping you follow the instructions easily.

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The Boy’s Book of Outdoor Survival

– Chris McNab

For Ages 4 and up – Packed with 101 exciting, daring and even life-saving skills, his book will introduce young thrill seekers to the amazing world of wilderness adventure and survival. The Boy’s Book of Outdoor Survival covers skills like how to start a campfire, build a shelter, forage for food, find water, track animals, set traps, spot poisonous snakes and navigate by the stars. With its detailed instructions and colorful illustrations, it brings to life the great American wilderness while showing boys how to bravely overcome its challenges.

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Survivor Kid: A Practical Guide to Wilderness Survival

– Denise Long

For Ages 9 and up – This handbook guide equips children with practical tools for overcoming adverse wilderness experiences, even if they are endured alone. Compiled by a search-and-rescue professional, straightforward advice is offered on building shelters and fires, signaling for help, finding water and food, dealing with dangerous animals, learning how to navigate, and avoiding injuries.

“This little book is packed with great information for children and adults too”

Practice projects are included to hone survival skills—such as starting a fire with a reflective surface, casting animal tracks, or using a treasure hunt to test navigational aptitude. Making a strong argument for danger prevention, each lesson is coupled with simple instructions and diagrams that will reassure and empower young adventurers.

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The Dangerous Book for Boys

– Conn Iggulden & Hal Iggulden

For Ages 8 and up – Is a guide book for dads as well as their sons, as a reminder of lore and technique that have not yet been completely lost to the digital age. Recall the adventures of Scott of the Antarctic and the Battle of the Somme, relearn how to palm a coin, tan a skin, and, most charmingly, wrap a package in brown paper and string. The book’s ambitions are both modest and winningly optimistic: you get the sense that by learning how to place a splint or write in invisible ink, a boy might be prepared for anything.

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Now you are fully equipped to get out there and make your own adventures! Have fun!

Know of Any Other Camping and Outdoor Books for Kids?

Please share any Camping and Outdoor Books for Kids recommendations in the comment box below. Thanks!

Author: Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)

Nothing beats a good book and some quality time together.

Whats better than reading your favorite story characters go camping while you’re camping too? Nothing I can think of…. If you are camping with young kids bring along some of these great camping stories for kids to get them enthused about trying the new things that come with camping. Just like their favorite book characters did!

These books will bring a bit of familiarity to the whole camping experience and your kids will be able to relate better to the things around them. It’s fun when you know that “Curious George” goes camping too! But you don’t just have to read these camping stories while camping, you can read them any day to either bring back your child’s camping memories or just go on a camping adventure with your favorite character where ever you are.

A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee

– Chris Van Dusen
For Ages 4 and up. – Mr. Magee and his trusty dog, Dee, are enjoying a peaceful camping trip when all of a sudden they find themselves plunging down a mountain and teetering on the edge of a huge waterfall! How will they find their way out of this slippery situation?

“I don’t know who likes this book best, my 2 1/2 year old, my 5 year old, or me”

Chris Van Dusen, the creator of Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee, has filled this new adventure with charming illustrations and a playful, rhyming text. A fun read-aloud for children (and adults!) on campouts or snuggling at home!

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Curious George Goes Camping

-Margret & H.A. Rey’s
For Ages 4 and up – George and the man with the yellow hat are going camping! George tries to be helpful, but after he upsets a neighboring camper, he is chased into the woods and gets lost. Before long, an encounter with a cute forest creature throws George into a chain of outrageous events that allows him to find a way to be helpful after all. This book is a fun adventure and is packed full of great colour illustrations. Curious George is a classic character that you can’t help but love! I know I love this mischievous monkey!

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Just Camping Out

– Mercer Mayer
For Ages 1 and up – A brother and sister spend the night in a tent in the backyard–well, some of the night. One of the many books in the Critter series, great for younger children.

“I just love the Mercer Mayer books, the kids and grandkids love this camping out book”

This book is full of colourful pictures, is a nice easy read and one that all kids can relate to.

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S is for S’mores: A Camping Alphabet

– Helen Foster James
For Ages 4 and up. – From what to pack, where to go, and what to do when you get there, S is for Smores: A Camping Alphabet takes readers on an A-Z trail exploring this outdoor pastime. “This amazing book can be read in two ways: as a poetry alphabet book with gorgeous accompanying illustrations and/or by reading the information side bars that extend the experience with scientific and historical facts”. “James uses each letter to highlight a different aspect of the camping experience, including animal tracks, fire safety, navigation and snow shelters. The enthusiastic approach and diverse information will excite children about camping and help them feel comfortable whether they find themselves sleeping in the backyard or the backcountry.” Note: This book is more of an instruction book on camping instead of a child’s camping alphabet book.

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Amelia Bedilia Goes Camping

– Peggy Parish
For Ages 4 and up – Amelia Bedelia has never been camping in the great outdoors before. She’s trying her best to do exactly as she’s told, but pitching a tent is not the same as throwing it into the bushes, and catching a fish with your bare hands isn’t easy. As usual, the mixed-up housekeeper makes this camping trip one hugely entertaining adventure.

“This book keeps the children’s attention and give them a laugh”

This is a great book for young children. There is no bad language just good, clean reading. It’s funny and amusing and will keep your children laughing.

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The Berenstain Bears Go To Camp

– Stan & Jan Berenstain
For Ages 2 and up – It is the summer holidays and Brother and Sister bear find that they can’t find anything to do. Mama suggests sending them each day to a local Day Camp where there are lots of different activities for cubs. Brother and Sister get to try new things and find that the summer can be a lot of fun.

“Sharing this book with your kids can definitely help to ease some of the pre-camp jitters”

“The Berenstain Bears Go To Camp” is a worthwhile addition to your Berenstain Bears library and highly recommended for kids who may be going off to camp or spending time away from home for the first time.

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So whether you’re getting them ready to go camping or just getting them ready for bed, your kids are sure to love these great camping classics!

Can you recommend any other Camping Stories for Kids?

If it’s an old time classic you liked or books your kids now are loving. Let us know of any other camping stories for kids in the comment box below and share the joy with other campers.

Author: Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)

Kick back, relax and share some stories around the campfire

What is one of your favorite camping activities? Mine has got to be sitting around the campfire, and I’m sure I’m not alone on that. There is nothing better than cozening up around a blaring campfire with the ones you love while roasting hot dogs, marshmallows and sharing great stories. This campfire time is a great opportunity to talk and share with your kids. But if you want to add to the excitement why not bring in some campfire stories for kids!

The Kids Campfire Book: Official Book of Campfire Fun

– Jane Drake & Ann Love

For Ages 9 and up – Whether readers are novice or experienced campers, the information presented in this in-depth exploration of camping will make their next excursions into the woods enjoyable, successful, and safe. A wide variety of pertinent topics is included: how to select the right wood for the specific type of fire that is being built; recipes for food to cook over an open fire; games to play; songs, complete with the music and lyrics, to sing; ghost stories for spine-tingling telling; helpful hints for interacting–or not–with wildlife and insects; guides to viewing the night sky; and the appropriate gear for sleeping under the stars.

“I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has children. This book has given me so many ideas that I know my son will not be bored”.

Black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the lively, readable text. Similar in format to books in the Brown Paper Schoolbook series, this extensive guidebook will entice young readers to pack up their camping equipment, gather up their friends, and head for the nearest campground–even if it is only the backyard.

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Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

– Alvin Schwartz
For Ages 9 and up – This book is just perfect! These 29 stories run from the funny to the downright frightening. As an added bonus, one of these 29 is actually a song (The Hearse Song), and one is an activity (The Dead Man’s Brains).

“The Greatest Childrens Horror Series of all Time!”

This is a great book, with a lot of really great stories. If you want some scary stories for younger listeners, then I highly recommend that you get this book!

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Campfire Ghost Stories

– Jo-Anne Christensen
This entertaining collection of great campfire ghost stories, whether read alone or aloud, is sure to raise the hair on the back of your neck. This book includes some scary urban legends but mostly new and original spooky stories. These stories would be perfect for a sleep over party or while sitting around a campfire.

“This is one of the best collections of scary stories I have ever owned”

Beware, some of these stories may be too scary for very young children but are sure to entertain the children who are looking for a suspenseful story.

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They’re Coming For You: Scary Stories that Scream to be Read

– O. Penn-Coughin

For Ages 9 and up. – This is a chilling collection of 27 scary stories sure to give you chicken skin and leave you screaming for more. Or just screaming. This macabre mix of howls, humor, horror, and haunting illustrations is a must have for anyone who loves to be scared.

“The Most Popular Book in the Library”

“Take the warning seriously… This book is NOT for wimps! “I have seen the face of horror, and its name is O. Penn-Coughin.”

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Campfire Stories: Things That
go Bump in the Night

– William Foregy
For Ages 8 and up – Original and classic stories of adventure, ghosts, and all the things that you must worry about the next time you hear something go bump in the night. Each story has been chosen to be especially easy to tell from memory. This book is particularly good for a younger audience but you must be the judge of your own child’s discretion. This book also offers a great section on how to tell your own ghost stories. It gives tips on how to tell stories and at the end of each story, there is a review of the story in point form so you don’t have to read them to your audience. You can actually “tell” them the story.

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Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems

– Kristine O’Connell George
For Ages 4 and up. – George has penned 30 sublimely simple poems that capture the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations of a family’s camping trip, from pitching the tent to pulling up stakes and returning home.

“I like the poetry itself for its imagery and emotional value. They are short, sweet and to the point, but very meaningful”

All of the selections convey a child-focused sense of wonder as the campers explore the lakefront and surrounding terrain, enjoy the marvels of the natural world, relish meals round the campfire, and toast marshmallows.

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The Kids Book of the Night Sky

– Jane Drake & Ann Love
For Ages 9 and up – Using a lively combination of clearly written text, myths and legends, jokes, and activities, the authors present an excellent introduction to the many wonders of the night sky throughout the seasons. The sun, the moon and its phases, and eclipses are clearly explained and brief information about the planets’ surfaces, paths, temperatures, and levels of brightness rounds out the text. Step-by-step directions for making a planisphere, sighting tube, star clock, constellation candles and flashcards, and moon cookies are clearly written and illustrated.

“Great for explaining the night sky on a level kids can enjoy. I would highly recommend it”

There is a wide variance in the difficulty of the projects; some definitely require adult guidance or supervision while others can be done independently by eight- or nine-year-olds. Younger children will enjoy hearing the stories and being guided in their gazing. The short legends and myths from a variety of cultures are well told; each story’s origins are identified.

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So next time you go camping, go prepared with some exciting and/or spooky stories to keep everyone around the campfire hanging on your every word.

Do you Know any Good Campfire Stories for Kids?

Have you been told a scary campfire story? Do you know a good story you tell your kids or a story book you read to them? Let us know about any other campfire stories for kids below and share the fun with the community. We would love to hear from you.

Author: Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)

Get outdoors and spend some quality time with your kids

Planning on going camping with kids? Do you want to brush up or learn how to make your camping trip with kids go as smoothly as possible? If so, here is a great list of camping guide books for parents I’ve found to help you make your and your kids camping experience a success!

Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping & Boating With Babies and Young Children

– Jennifer Aist
Babes in the Woods introduces outdoorsy moms and dads to the joy and vigor of taking babies and toddlers into the woods at a very early age. Well-organized chapters offer functional solutions for appropriate gear, clothing, and food, nature games to play, and tips on potty breaks and sleeping outdoors–but most importantly, Aist explores all the reasons why introducing even the youngest of children to wilderness experiences is healthy, rewarding, and fun.

“Valuable Advice and Resource for Active Parents”

Whether planning a short day hike, a car camping trip, a base camp adventure, or a backpacking excursion, Aist covers every season and climate, while confirming that babies are well-suited for the mountains, the water, and the adventures that lie beyond.

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Tent and Car Camper’s Handbook: Advice for Families & First Timers

– Buck Tilton & Kristen Hostetter
This book gives the lowdown on family car camping and tent camping—no experience necessary! Easy-to-use guide for families and first-time campers: how to do it, what to buy, best places to go, and what to do when you get there.Visual, user-friendly design provides quick-access information. Tips on keeping kids happy, healthy, and motivated during the trip plus how to engage them in the natural world.

“Delightful recommendation for those who have discovered competing books usually assume a foundation of camping knowledge”

Whether you’re headed for the desert, the seashore, or the mountains, he’ll help you minimize the fuss and maximize the fun—no prior camping experience needed! You’ll learn about picking the best spot, setting up camp, cooking on a camp stove or campfire, enjoying family activities in and around camp, providing first aid, and more.

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Camping With Kids: Complete Guide to Car Tent and RV Camping

– Goldie Silverman
Novice and experienced campers alike will find the tips in Camping with Kids invaluable. Whether car, tent, or RV-camping, you will find everything you need to know from preparing your family for a camping trip, to setting up camp, to what to do if things should go awry. It also tells you how to step beyond car camping into backpacking, canoe touring, and other extended adventures.

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Camping & Backpacking With Children

– Steven Boga
This guide to making outdoor experiences enjoyable for parents and children covers proper equipment, hiking, living in camp, coping with the weather, staying healthy, and surviving in the wild. Written with humor and loaded with information, this little book is excellent – not just for backpacking with children, but also for camping in general.

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Now you, the parent, can be confident when you go camping. With these books by your side you will be ready for any situation (except for the one your kids throw at you that you couldn’t possibly have planned for). Whatever misadventures come your way, always remember that it is an adventure and that’s what makes camping fun! All you can do is your best and you’ll have to leave the rest to chance. Have fun camping with your kids – you’ll be glad you did.

Do you Know of Any Other Camping Guide Books for Parents?

We would love if you shared your camping guide books for parents suggestions in the comment box below. Thanks!

Author: Kaitlyn
(The CampTrip Team)