We celebrated the birth of our country this past weekend by embarking on a new adventure.  We packed up our (smokin’ hot) minivan and left our comfortable suburban neighborhood for a land where cell phones have no reception and wi-fi is nonexistent.  Like a modern day Ingalls family, we forged down the road to an unknown land, our van serving as the covered wagon, her V-6 engine our yoke of oxen.

We were pioneers – FTW!

Um…So in all actuality it wasn’t that dramatic.  We did leave our home to go camping, we did plan on sleeping beneath the stars in a tent, we did not, however, rough it in the sense that a nice, clean (semi) shower house was 20 yards from our tent door, we were packed to the hilt with all measure of artery clogging boxed foods and our campsite was a mere five miles from the nearest WalMart. 

Ma Ingalls, I am not.

All things considered, though, our first, tentative foray into camping was a wild success and now that I know that A.) We can do it and B.) We actually enjoy it (and by we, I mean the little people that go wherever I go because I am legally bound to care for them…and because I love them) I am far more inclined to be a bit braver the next time we camp and, perhaps, venture a bit further into the wild.

There is something wonderfully freeing about escaping the drudgery of every day life and entering into the beauty of the land.  There would have to be – otherwise leaving the comforts of a perfectly capable home to sleep on the ground would make no sense at all. 

I grew up with very adventurous parents who often built our family trips around campgrounds.  I have looked forward to doing the same with my own children, but to be quite honest, when push came to shove I was very nervous about camping with them.  What if they couldn’t sleep?  What if I couldn’t sleep?  What if they became blubbering, slobbering messes and we had to bail early, sputtering home with our tent hanging out the back hatch?  I was truly nervous.

I needn’t have worried.  My kids were extremely flexible and they rolled with the punches much better than I anticipated.  It was the perfect way to dip our toe into the waters of outdoor living and, to be quite honest, I can’t wait to do it again. 

Though I am, obviously, no pro at this kind of family adventure, I did learn a few things from our first camping trip.

1.) Take inventory of your stock before you leave for the camp grounds.  This will spare you from the unfortunate event of discovering you have come with no stakes to hold down your tent (thank God for a nearby camp store!).  A few days before you leave, lay out all your equipment and make sure it is in good working condition, batteries are changed, tent poles are accounted for and so on. 

2.) Check the weather ahead of time and be prepared.  Because we were camping in July, I did not assume we would need heavy blankets.  In fact, I worried more that we would swelter.  Little did I know we would have a freakish cold front zip through the State on our first night under the stars, plummeting the temperature to a nippy 60 degrees.  This Mama nearly froze to death.  The next night was a much more pleasant and balmy 78.

3.) It’s not necessarily best to stay at a larger campsite.  The next time we camp, I would like to find some place a little more remote.  While our campgrounds were very nice and surprisingly quiet, there were a lot of people there and we were, unfortunately, in a site next to a rowdy group of college kids who very loudly and vocally had fun until the wee hours of the morning, only adding to my sleepless, frigid first night.  I’d prefer a little more seclusion next time.

4.) Pack food and lots of it.  This will keep your children from turning into savage little monkeys who gnaw on your blanket at night.  Trust me – you need to give them constant sustenance at all times in the big woods.  It’s as if their already racing metabolisms go into hyper-speed and if you’re not prepared the outcome could be disasterous.

5.) Speaking of the youngsters – bring plenty of activities for them to enjoy.  While they will like exploring the local nature trails and traversing through a nearby cave, they will need to be entertained while you are preparing and cleaning up meals.  This is where balls, bats, frisbees, glow sticks and yo-yo’s come in handy.  Give those kiddos something to do, lest they decide to make their own fun and carry home a snake to place in your bed.

6.) Go with friends.  Spending time in the great outdoors is a great way to bond as a family, but enjoying that experience with dear friends will only make the memory that much sweeter for you and your children.

7.) Don’t be afraid to get dirty.  This will make your first shower upon returning home the most glorious moment in all of your life.  I do believe small birds flitted about my head as I combed through my freshly washed hair upon returning.  I’ve never felt more clean.

8.) Have fun.  Camping is a lot of work – especially with small children.  But it’s also a lot of fun.  It’s adventurous and exciting and will create a memory that will last a lifetime in your little one’s hearts.  And while you’ll find that you may not enjoy the experience quite as much as your children, you will also see that the look of pure and utter delight on their faces is worth every bit of work you’re doing

And that is an adventure worth repeating.