Growing up, my family did not go camping. We ran a summer camp for children, but there was no way you would ever catch me in a tent, in the wilderness, using a thunderbox. I could probably get behind glamping, but never really had the opportunity to give it a whirl. However, with time, age, and marrying more of an outdoorsy man, I have had a change of heart about camping. 

We were able to try our hand at camping a few years ago and it is on our Summer Bucket List for this year. Last summer, we had good intentions of going but then it was the final week of summer and there was crazy rain, so we didn’t get the full camping experience. When we did go, we went on crown land on Georgian Bay with cousins in tow. 

Franklin Island is a fairly common spot for the real campers in the group, and I felt like we were going from zero to one hundred in camping commitment. We were on an island, with no running water or electricity, and only a thunderbox at our disposal. We cooked our food on an open fire and slept in tents. I have to say, despite my reservations, it was a great deal of fun. My kids slept fantastic, with all the fresh air, swimming and running around. I felt a sense of freedom, not having to do any tasks but just cook food and sunbathe. I felt proud of myself for trying something new as an adult…using a thunderbox with a hawk staring at me. 

I still don’t feel like I have all the bugs worked out, especially when it comes to packing food. The food is the hardest part, I found. I certainly overpacked, but was trying to accommodate a variety of picky needs. We also went with the Handy Cousin Entourage, which adds more volume to the food order. 

So, while I lack the experience and expertise to make this article a How-To, it’s more of a prompt and encouragement for you to go camping this summer. 

Here are some tips for just giving ‘er:

1. Book the time-off: If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Just like how we ran out of summer last year, you can avoid that by being intentional with your time off. You don’t have to commit to a full week of camping, just tack on a vacation day to a weekend and start small.
2. Practice in your backyard: With the rainy days predicted for our scheduled trip, we pivoted and did a tenting experience in our backyard after the fact. Kids love the novelty of sleeping in new places- on the couch, in a fort, in a sibling’s room or a tent in the backyard.
3. Start small: We live close to three Provincial Parks in our North Simcoe region. There are even more within an hour radius. Set the bar real low and if you have to pack up and head home for whatever reason- illness, weather, tapping out- you are close to home. Additional tip: McCrae Provincial Park is great for kids, with a large, sandy beach, playground, and it’s perfect to bike around.
4. Ask for help: We all have a friend who is a serious outdoorsy person. I know many. Ask them to borrow gear, before you commit to bushwacking. Ask for easy meal ideas on the go. See if they can tell you good, low-risk places to check out.
5. Have an open mind: Whatever happens, happens. If you last one night, then you did something new and will try for more nights next summer. If you burn the food on the fire, laugh and try your best to eat it anyway. I think so much of my camping avoidance was based on fear that I had adopted from the non-outdoorsy types. Once I gave camping a real try, I didn’t mind it. Dare I say, I even liked it.

Where will your summer travels take you? Let us know your favourite camping spots and tips. We would love to hear (and I would love to learn how to pack better food options).