Hellobee

This post is sponsored by Kohls.

This past fourth of July weekend we went on our first family camping trip! My husband Truman found us the cutest camping grounds ever via tentrr. We had our very own private pond, pre-made tent and row boat. I had no clue what to pack and ended up taking a little too much… some guy actually asked us if we were moving out!

We stayed one night in Quarry Pond in New Jersey near the Delaware River, but next time I think we’ll stay longer. I couldn’t have asked for a prettier spot. It was so hot, but the side of the hill gave us some needed shade.

Since it was our first time camping, I think this pre-made tent was a great way to ease into the wild. I know it looks like glamping, but we didn’t have any hot/running water or a real bathroom.

Our tent came with an air mattress and 2 side tables; we just had to bring our own blankets. I’d suggest sleeping bags though because it got a bit chilly in the night! An extra thick blanket or pads for the floor will keep you warm and comfortable. One LED lantern was bright enough to light up our tent and walk around at night.

A dragonfly flew in and the boys caught it in the bug kit I brought along. Little Tru loved looking for new bugs all afternoon.

The site was so beautiful and peaceful, we didn’t have to leave to have fun. The boys loved climbing onto the rocks and just exploring the camp grounds.

We set up a second tent for our friends that came with us. It was easier to set up than I thought, but we didn’t realize you need something to hammer in the poles. Luckily Tru found a big rock that worked just fine.

Instead of disposable plates, we brought enamelware.  They are so light, durable and also very cute!

For dinner we had steaks, string beans and tomatoes. Tru cooked all our meals on the skillet. We also made hot dogs for kids and vegetable/tofu kebob for our vegetarian friend. Baked potatoes and corn on the cob wrapped in foil turned out great and was so easy to make. Put those in the fire first since they take the longest to cook.

We took 3 different coolers-  1 for dry goods, 1 for drinks and 1 for cold food. Placing cold items in baggies keeps them dry when the ice starts to melt. I used plastic ziploc bags in various sizes so when the ice melted, things were still dry.

For dessert of course we had to make s’mores! It was little Tru’s very first time and he loved it so much that he asked if he could eat it for breakfast the next morning.

I think my boys bonded and had a great time together on this trip. One of my fondest memories is camping with my family and friends, so I was happy that we got to share this special time with our son.

The next morning everyone pitched in to help make breakfast.

The enamel coffee pot boils water pretty quickly and doesn’t burn when placed directly on the fire.

Something about eating outside in the fresh air makes everything tastes so good. We made scrambled eggs and used left over veggies and hot dogs for sides. The kids couldn’t wait so we made oatmeal first in our Stanley camp cooker.

This was truly a special trip for our little family and we can’t wait to go camping again!

Here are some things I learned on our first camping trip:

G E A R

– Pack extra warm blankets! Even with sleeping bags you might want to snuggle with a warm blanket inside or lay them on the floor for extra padding.

– Double check batteries for all flashlights and lanterns. This LED lantern from Coleman was so bright it was perfect for the tent and walking around at night.

– This tent from Columbia was super easy to set up. Tt took less than 30 minutes but we might be faster next time since it was our very time making one!

– An extra small tent for kids to play in would’ve been nice so they could make a mess in there instead of going in and out of our tents.

– Check with your campsite to see what they provide. I wish we took some folding chairs to sit by the fire with.

C O O K I N G

– A skillet is a must! You can cook almost anything and it’s really a life saver. The fire gets pretty hard to control and you want something sturdy to cook on.

– Pre-cut and wash as much as food as you can and pack them into groups so when it’s time to cook, you are not searching all over.

– Have a designated canister/container for your kitchenware like knives so it’s kept safe from little fingers.

– Take oven mitts and extra long tongs help to cook over the fire.

– Take lots of foil, plastic wrap, and plastic bags in various sizes are a life saver for dirty clothes, dishes and leftovers to take home.

– We took 3 Stanley coolers. Separating the items into dry, drinks and cold foods helped keep things organized.

– Enamelware will last forever and it’s great for the environment. Don’t forget to pack dishwashing soap, a sponge and a small plastic bowl to collect water.

C A M P I NG

– Talk to your kids about safety around fire, water and walking in the woods.

– Take hiking shoes, tennis shoes (optional if you have hiking shoes) and water shoes (or slippers). Rain boots are also very handy if you have room to take them along.

– Sunscreen and bug spray – keep these together along with your toiletries. We used this backpack from Columbia to keep immediate essentials.

– Instead of toys, consider taking things like bug kits, a magnifying glass, binoculars and art supplies to encourage playing outdoors.

– Cleansing wipes – take babywipes, face wipes, hand wipes… all types of wipes are helpful when there is no running water.

– Make a list, check it twice, three times… for food items that need to be packed in the morning, make a separate list and leave it on your kitchen counter.

For more camping supplies, check out Kohls camping page here !

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We are also giving away a $50 Kohls gift card to help you get started on your camping trip! There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The giveaway ends on 8/1/16 at 11:59 p.m. PT and is open to legal residents of the US/DC who are 18+ years of age. Winners will be contacted on or about August 8th.

Click here to enter, and good luck!