How to Stay Organized While Camping

So you love to camp, but find that with kids it's difficult to tent camp and be organized at the same time. Hate running around before each camping trip looking for all the necessary equipment? Let's get organized so you can spend less time hunting up sleeping bags and lanterns and more time bonding with your family in nature.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubbermaid totes or similiar plastic buckets with lids
• Camping gear check-list
• Labels and Markers
• Space to store totes

1. Before your first camping trip of the season (or your first ever) it's a good idea to spread all your gear out and inspect and inventory it. Make sure all sleeping bags and pillows are clean and free of rips or tears. Make any repairs necessary. Throw out any dishes or utensils that are worn out or damaged.

2. Review your camping checklist ( I printed mine from camping.about.com ) and gather or purchase any items that you don't have. Keep in mind that you will need to personalize your list to reflect your family's needs. When purchasing items such as cooking utensils the local dollar stores are a great way to go. I inevitably lose several spatulas and dishes in the campfire or trash each season and if I only paid $1 for it, it's easily replaced. Disposable plates and forks are great, but if you have the room the dollar stores are also great for plastic reusable dishes.

3. Some items to keep in mind for your checklist are:
   *tent, *tarp, *sleeping bag for each family member, *pillow, *cooler, *camp stove or Dutch oven, *folding table, *chairs, *lanterns and fuel, *chain saw if you will be gathering your own firewood, *flashlights and extra batteries, *matches, *personal care items, *water bottles, *water for cleaning, *zip-lock baggies, *trash bags, *cutting board, *spatulas and tongs, *pot-holders, *silverware and dishes.

4. Next, set out your buckets or totes and decide how to label them. One for personal care items such as toothbrush and paste, soap, bug spray, deodorant, first aid kid, etc. One for eating utensils and cookware, one for canned and non-perishable foods, one for perishables that do not need refrigerated such as breads, snacks, jerky, trail mix, etc. One for paper towels, napkins, plates, baggies, aluminum foil, etc. You may find that using several small totes is a lot easier than using a couple of big ones. Fill them with the appropriate items.
   You will find that doing it like this saves a lot of time since the only bucket that needs to be cleaned out after each camping trip is the perishables. Keep items filled and stocked in your buckets as you run out. I also find that it is helpful to have one bucket that is full of small toys and coloring books, notebooks, crayons, etc for the kids.

5. Now find a location that you will keep all your stuff stored. Keep all buckets, sleeping bags, tents, coolers, etc in the same spot and when it's time to go camping just load it all and go!
   Happy Camping!

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea to visit a dollar store for personal care items that you can keep packed just for camping use that way you don't have to unpack all those little things each time.
• Keep a tote packed with old play clothes for the kids that you can just wash and put right back in.
• While camping keep all items in their respective totes to make packing up easy, and it keeps the critters away.

Resources

• campinggearchecklists

[jull14]

on 7/9/2009 Excellent article, thanks for sharing this important information for many of us. Very easy to follow. Keep up the good work.