This summer, my wife Victoria, our 8-year-old son Robert, and I decided to mix up our vacation by seeking out new experiences and emotions. We opted to attend RFM Somnii, a three-day music festival held from July 5 to 7 in the lovely coastal town of Figueira da Foz, Portugal, and to make the experience even more memorable, we selected to stay in the festival’s dedicated camping village.
As this would be our first camping trip, we began asking ourselves numerous questions regarding preparation, from the correct camping equipment to food planning. Importantly, because we will be with our eight-year-old son, the camping preparation will take into consideration his demands. In this post, I want to give some ideas on camping preparation and at the conclusion of the article, you can find a link to the checklist we developed for camping. This is the first piece of a series, as I aim to cover festival preparation and give a report on our camping experience and festival attendance.
Diving into camping preparation
As I indicated, this is our first experience with camping in Portugal. When I started looking online for information on camping preparation, especially with children, I noticed there wasn’t much substantial content available. So, I decided to collect all my ideas on this problem to talk about the method we took in developing our camping checklist.
These are insights I got throughout our preparation, and I believe this knowledge will be valuable to others. With this essay, I hope to offer a guidance on what to think about when camping, what to concentrate on when purchasing gear, and what not to forget. Since the issue of preparing and choosing the correct gear is rather wide, I will concentrate on the main elements to consider while organising a camping trip without digging into unnecessary details.
I’ll let you in on a secret: I have always had a penchant for creating lists and arranging things. Whether it’s planning a trip, arranging a project, or simply managing everyday activities, I believe that having a clear framework helps things flow more easily. So, when we began planning for our camping vacation, I dived deep into developing a comprehensive plan. I broke down the preparation process into small parts and determined four primary areas to concentrate on: Where to Stay, Cooking and Food Storage, Safety, and Maintaining Hygiene. These areas were the backbone of our preparation. I couldn’t resist the joy of developing a comprehensive family camping checklist to ensure we didn’t neglect any aspects, which I’ll be providing at the conclusion of the piece. This way, we could approach our first camping vacation with confidence, knowing we were well-prepared for every element.
Where to stay. Creating a comfortable camping space.
The best place to start your camping preparations should be to decide where you wish to stay. This might vary from wilderness areas to organised camping places. If you pick the wilderness, be cautious to research local rules about whether camping is permitted in such locations. For example, in Portugal, camping is only allowed in approved locations, and it is banned to camp in the wild.
In my case, I didn’t have to spend much time looking for a campground, since we would be staying at the municipal campsite in Figueira da Foz, which is allocated for festival attendees for those days. Therefore, I bypassed the phase of picking a campground and instead concentrated on learning the rules and regulations of the campsite where we would be staying. Based on this knowledge, I proceeded to choose the appropriate equipment.
Tent
When it comes to buying a tent, the essential element is to choose a large one. A decent rule of thumb is to follow the formula of the number of individuals +1. For example, we searched for a tent for three people but landed on a four-person tent with an extra 5 square metres vestibule. Extra room in the tent is vital for keeping stuff you can’t leave outdoors overnight or while you’re gone from the campground, or in case the weather doesn’t allow you to enjoy your meal outside.
I would also suggest paying attention to tents with blackout technology. This is an excellent alternative if you are travelling with children or are sensitive to light and prefer not to get up with the sunrise. The blackout technology, marketed as Fresh & Black by Decathlon, has a unique fabric that blocks 99% of sunshine, keeping the inside of the tent dark and cool. This enables you to sleep longer in the morning or take a nap throughout the day without being bothered by the light.
Sleeping bags and mats
For comfort, we chose for three inflated beds. If you pick inflatable mattresses, be careful to measure the dimensions to verify they fit within your tent. Since the event is in July, we opted against sleeping bags and would carry light blankets instead. However, consider the season and weather circumstances, since temperatures may drop dramatically at night, even in summer. Additionally, be sure you bring a pump to inflate the mattresses.
Awnings, tarps, and hammocks
If feasible, bring awnings or tarps to create shaded areas and protect against rain. Some campgrounds may not allow hanging things to trees, so verify the regulations. We intend to bring a few of hammocks, but we won’t bring tarps since our tent type offers ample shade with its built-in canopy
Foldable chairs and tables: Choose according to your tastes, ensuring the table is big enough for cooking and dining. Look for lightweight, sturdy choices that are simple to put up and pack away. A table with adjustable height might be very beneficial for various tasks.
Lighting: I suggest having at least one flashlight per person and a lantern for greater lighting. Headlamps are a useful tool for duties that need no hands and for navigating in the dark. A powered by solar or battery-operated lamp can offer constant illumination for the entire camp. Plan for backup batteries or chargers as required.
Storage bins: Plan the number of containers based on the amount of gear and the capacity of your vehicle. For example, we chose on four bins. The first one is for “Food,” where we store non-perishable things such as snacks, cereals, tea, coffee, spices, and so forth. The second container is titled “Cooking Gear,” and it includes everything necessary to make and enjoy meals. The third box is for “Sleeping,” which comprises of mattresses, sleeping pads, pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, and so on. The fourth container is for “Other Gear,” where we store and transport the remaining of the crucial camping items.
Keeping the camp clean: Bring garbage bags for collecting and disposing of waste. Leave the campground in the same condition you found it in. If recycling is offered at the campground, it’s also a good idea to have separate bags for recyclables and compostable garbage. To keep dirt and sand out of your tent, consider packing a small broom and dustpan. Wet wipes and biodegradable soap may also assist maintain cleanliness without affecting the environment.
Final thoughts for now
We’ve covered a lot of essentials in this first part of our camping preparation guide, concentrating on the necessities of picking a campground and setting up your living space. I hope you’ve found these thoughts useful as you start preparing your own vacation.
In the following part, I’ll go into the last three crucial areas: Cooking and Food Storage, Safety, and Maintaining Hygiene. You’ll also discover a link to a free checklist that will help you plan for your camping vacation. Stay tuned for the remainder of our camping journey and more important advice!