So it’s with great anticipation that we are getting our camper ready for the first camping trip of the season. Hubby has pulled it out from its winter resting place and we’ve begun to get everything swept out. Thankfully we set traps this year (that Hubby checked every week) so no little friends to greet us (even though I was raised on a farm, I despise mice!!!) We took out the camping chairs and shook out the stink bugs (those things are everywhere!) I’ve already swept and mopped and dusted everything, now it’s time for the loading to begin.
Now here’s where my lists come in handy, I just check them off as I put them in the camper for our first camping trip of the season. I always pack extra sweatshirts for everyone, just incase of chilly night, those get left in the camper for the rest of the season. I also have the linens on the list, they get washed after every camping trip, then go from the dryer to the camper.
One of the most important things to remember is the first aid kit. Kids will be kids, so make sure you’re prepared for bumps, bruises and even an occasional fever can sneak up on you. We pack assorted sizes of band-aids, Neosporin, aspirin, children’s pain/fever reliever, (nothing worse then trying to find an all night store when someone spikes a fever) something for bee stings and calamine lotion for other bites or poison ivy. We also keep sharp pointed tweezers incase of a splinter. I like to be prepared for the worst and then just pray we don’t need to use it.
One other thing that’s important to have is a recent picture of the kids. It’s something none of us like to think about, but sometimes kids do get lost. If you’ve got an up to date picture of the kids handy, it will one less thing to worry about if you should ever be in that position. I’ve also seen the suggestion of taking a picture of your child/children with your camera phone (if you have one) when you’re out at an amusement park, you’ll have an up dated picture of what the kids are wearing if you should get separated.
I’ve already repacked the cleaners (it just seems easier to clean as we go along in the trip, then to do a big clean when we get back) After our one stay in South Carolina where we had stowaways, we now keep ant spray in the camper as well. I bought new citronella candles too. Yes I know bugs are a way of life when camping, but that doesn’t mean I need them in my camper or making a buffet of me when we’re sitting outside on our camping trip.
Since we camp quite a bit everyone has an extra deodorant (w/ teen boys, it’s really something we don’t want to have to do without), shampoo, conditioner, soap, all stay in the camper once the season starts as well. They’re not that expensive and it’s just easier to keep extras on hand. The first season we carted that type of thing back and forth from the house to the camper for every trip. Of course I’d forget something, because back then I didn’t use lists (silly me), then we’d have to go out and buy it anyway.
So the next several days will be busy here as we prepare for the first camping trip of the season. I’m sure it will go slow though, just like it seems to take forever for Christmas to come when you’re a kid, that first trip of the season seems to take just as long. But as they say, all good things come to those who wait.
