My sister called for camping advice. My first thought was, “YOU are going camping?” Listen, I like camping, but my sister camping sounds terrifying. She is more of a hotel person, and “roughing it” is not in her vocabulary. Turns out she went glamping in a yurt… with a mini-fridge… and beds. Seriously? As much as I wanted to judge, it looked beautiful, and I’d DEFINITELY try it.

Here are a few things I shared with her about camping prep. First, Cozi has a starter camping checklist on their blog. My personal camping supplies checklist is on Google Keep where I also maintain a shareable menu plan and grocery list.

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO ADD TO THE STARTER LIST:

1. Games. Cards, corn hole, ladder ball, Bananagrams, Spoons, etc.
2. Clothespins and a rope for drying clothes and towels.
3. Bungee cords and duct tape. Because you never know.
4. Mason jars with lids. These are ideal for double duty. Use them as measuring cups, for drinks, for food storage, or to store matches to keep them dry. We always bring a few.
5. Clear, over-the-door, hanging shoe rack. Hear me out! I saw this on Pinterest, and this idea is a keeper. Hang the rack from a tree or wherever with a bungee cord. (Don’t hurt the tree!) We call it the “Catch-all.” Where are the matches? In the Catch-all. Who has the bug spray? It’s in the Catch-all. Sure, it’s ridiculous, and your friends will make fun of you, but by the end of the first day, they will be believers. Don’t put food in it unless you plan to lock it up at night. You can likely find one at Ross or Marshalls for less than $8.
6. Knife roll. I like a good knife, and I refuse to use a dull one. My husband used to wrap the knives in a dishtowel and a rubber band. Ugh. It was not ideal, and I feared for my digits. I bought a knife roll, and there was peace.
7. Train whistle. When the whistle blows, all kids should head back to base. You could offer an incentive for the first little camper who shows up first.
8. Walkie Talkies. These are so fun for the kids. Plus, parents can have one to check in and hear what the kids are up to.
9. Lantern flashlights: These are very handy and the kids enjoy using them. Also, these battery-powered lanterns are fantastic.
10. Packing Cubes. My love of packing cubes runs deep. I bring them on every trip, and they’re especially awesome when living in a tent for a few days. Instead of clothes EVERYWHERE, each family member has his or her stuff contained in a different colored cube. Throw sunblock and/or toiletries in a small spare cube.
11. An extra small tent (if you have it). We recently upgraded to a bigger tent for our family, but we brought the smaller one as a play spot for the kids when they wanted to get out of the sun. It was a big hit.
12. Hammock.
13. Pop-up shade tent to place over the main picnic table or eating area. It gives you shade from the sun or cover from the rain. Plus you can hang stuff from it like dish towels, paper towels, or the shoe rack. Do not place it too close to an open fire.
14. Mixing bowls. These are useful for food prep and can double as wash/rinse bowls for dishes.

IDEAS FOR EATS:

BREAKFAST:

1. Pancakes: Mix all of the dry ingredients at home and store them in labeled Tupperware. Note on the label what else needs to be added. Pack the wet ingredients in the cooler.
2. Eggs and bacon or sausage: Cooking bacon outside in the morning while drinking coffee is a beautiful thing.
3. Eggs, creamy beans, tortillas. Yum.
4. Cereal, instant oatmeal, English muffins, bagels & cream cheese, veggies & hummus, etc.

LUNCH:

1. Sandwiches: PB&J or deli meat sandwiches.
2. Leftovers.
3. Appetizers: cheese & crackers, olives, salami, nuts, chips & salsa.

DINNER:

1. Pasta and sauce: A couple of weeks before a trip, I make a big batch of  Marinara or Homemade Meat Sauce for freezing. When we pack the cooler, I put the frozen sauce at the bottom. It helps keep the other food cold and will eventually defrost for a meal. Don’t forget a strainer for the noodles! I did once, and it was interesting.
2. Chili with rice: This is such an easy thing to make while camping. You can do it with or without meat or beans. I make it with ground turkey and kidney beans. My kids like it over rice. Any leftover rice can be used for eggs the next morning or for quick fried rice.
3. Flank steak, green beans, and baked potatoes: This is another one that can be done ahead of time. Take frozen flank steak and put all of the marinade ingredients with the steak in a Ziploc bag. By the time we’re ready to grill it, it will be deliciously seasoned. Wrap the potatoes in aluminum foil and throw them in the fire or on the grill. Place green beans in aluminum foil with olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. Wrap them up tightly and flattened, and place on the grill for 7-8 minutes on each side.
4. Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya. One-pot meals are fantastic for camping. Grab a beer and chop everything to throw in the pot. Halve this recipe if you don’t have a big crowd or you don’t want leftovers.
5. Burgers and hot dogs. Of course! I’m not a fan of prepackaged burgers, but it’s kind of a pain to make them while camping. This is another meal you can prep ahead and freeze. Mix and prep the patties then freeze them with parchment paper separating each burger.

DRINKS:

1. Water. Think multiple gallon containers and reusable cups rather than individual bottles.
2. Coffee. Obviously. Seattleites need coffee.
3. Booze:
   1. If there are wine drinkers, a box of wine is very portable. Don’t be snooty. Everything tastes better while camping. #Fact
   2. The hard stuff. Whatever sounds good, bring extra. You’re on vacation! (Drink responsibly of course.)

Note: None of the linked products is promoted. They’re simply examples.