Many people are hesitant to start camping because they are afraid it’s too hard.
Camping doesn’t need to be hard, even for beginners. If you take the time to learn camping and prepare ahead of time, it will be much easier. It’s also important to simplify camping as much as possible so you can avoid bringing too much stuff.
Here are the ways I have found to make camping easier, especially for beginners.
Why Camping Can Be Hard
Camping can be hard. But there are some things we can do that makes camping much harder than it needs to be. Some people make camping hard because they try to plan for every contingency or make complicated meals. The more you bring and the more complicated your plans, the harder camping will be. Simplicity is king with camping.
Sometimes, however, camping is hard because of outside influences or situations beyond our control. I have been camping when it rained each day for the entire trip. We were able to still have fun, mostly because we created a dry area under a tarp where we could still play games, cook, and enjoy each other’s company. However, I was a child. I suspect that trip was much less interesting for my parents!
I had a similar experience with my own children. We went tent camping soon after we started fostering four siblings, which made a total of eight kids. We had six kids under 10, including two toddlers. It rained several times on that trip, and we were dealing with eight muddy kids (and all their stuff) inside our too-small tent each night. In addition, four of the kids weren’t used to the outdoor lifestyle and spent most of the trip bored and looking for entertainment. Needless to say, we decided that tent camping with eight young kids might be too much fun, even for us! (Soon after that we bought our first RV.)
There are several reasons that camping can be hard even when there aren’t unexpected problems
New Things are Hard
One of the reasons that camping is hard for beginners is that new things in general are hard. There are new skills to learn, challenges to overcome, and a lot of planning to do. Plus being out of your comfort zone is hard, and camping puts you out of your comfort zone quite literally by removing you from your comfortable house.
Overcomplicating Makes Things Hard
Another reason that camping tends to be hard is that we tend to make it more complicated than it needs to be. Beginners often complicate camping by bringing more supplies than they need. You can’t plan for every disaster, challenge, and situation that you may face, and trying just complicates things. I have seen people load multiple pick-up beds full of supplies for a quick weekend camping trip. In most cases, this is completely unnecessary and takes all the fun out of camping.
Fear Makes Things Hard
Finally, fear can make camping hard. Fear of unexpected events or emergencies can often make us overthink while packing and planning. Fear can also make camping hard because our fear of the unknown, such as the unknown of sleeping outside, the unknown of being in a new location, or even the unknown of using new equipment can stop us from trying camping out.
How to Make Camping Easier
While camping can be hard, there are many ways to make it easier. The most important thing that you can do is to be persistent. Many people who try camping find that it’s easier the more they do it. By practicing and learning to solve challenges, experienced campers often find camping to be easier and more fun than beginning campers.
- Keep it Simple: By learning what you do and don’t need to bring when you are camping, you can eliminate unnecessary packing, shopping, and organizing. Beginning campers often pack more than they need because they want to be prepared. However, I have found that having a lot of extra stuff usually makes camping more complicated and frustrating, not easier.
You can also plan simple meals and snacks, as well as simple clean-up. I don’t usually use disposable utensils and plates, but for camping, I make an exception. By using disposable dishes, I can bring less water and skip supplies like dish soap, rags, and dishpans. There are many ways like this to make camping simpler and more enjoyable. - Start Small: Starting small can help you adjust to the new challenges and experiences of camping. For your first few camping trips, consider using established campgrounds with bathrooms and picnic tables. Also keep your first few trips short, such as a long weekend, and make sure the weather will be good- rainy or hot weather can make camping much harder.
- Plan and Prepare: Plan your trip carefully. This doesn’t mean you need to prepare for every possible situation. Instead, plan what you will need and what you will eat but don’t overthink it. For example, make your packing list based on the weather you expect, as well as common variations. Plan for a few first-aid concerns, such as scrapes or mild burns, but don’t stress over the possibility of true medical emergencies. Plan meals and snacks but don’t bring a lot more food or water than you would usually need at home.
How to Make Camping More Fun
One way to make camping easier is to make sure that you have fun. If you or your kids are bored or frustrated while you’re camping, you aren’t too likely to enjoy it or find it easy. It’s hard for many kids to have fun while camping if it’s a new experience. Kids who are used to their bedrooms, toys, electronics, and activities don’t naturally know how to entertain themselves in the great outdoors, and bored, grumpy kids are a recipe for a frustrating camping experience.
Bring Activities
Prepare for your camping trip by bringing activities to do. If you have kids, this is essential. Whether you are bringing water guns and glow sticks or board games and books, make sure you have some activities to help keep your kids (and yourselves) entertained. If there is a chance of rain, consider bringing good inside activities. We always try to limit electronic use on camping trips, but it is fun to snuggle in a tent and watch a movie or listen to an audiobook at bedtime.
Along with activities such as games and toys, also plan for outdoor activities. Scavenger hunts, fort-building, and learning outdoor skills are great ways to pass the time and learn something new while camping. Our kids have learned skills like how to cook over a fire, how to identify various plants, and how to start fires while camping.
Here are more activities to consider:
- Photography
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Reading
- Rockhounding
- Birding
- Talking around the fire
- Making fun food
- Having a water fight
- Playing capture the flag
Learn to Relax
One important skill that can’t be taught but can help make camping more fun is learning to relax. Sitting by the fire or talking with friends and family can be one of the best parts of camping. Watching the sunset, listening to the birds Away from the stress and demands of your everyday life, you can learn to relax and enjoy the moment.
Eat Fun Food
Finally, you can have fun while camping by using the opportunity to have fun, unique foods you don’t usually make. The most obvious option is s’mores cooked over a campfire. For extra fun, have a different kind of s’more each night. Other fun foods include snacks you don’t usually have, special desserts, and “camping-only” meals. For our family, walking tacos are a favorite camping food, as well as rice crispy treats and hobo packets.
Conclusion
There are many things that can make camping hard, but most of the things can be traced back to a few simple causes. Outside of weather and other external influences, campers can have a more enjoyable and easier time by planning well, simplifying, and having appropriate expectations.