CAMPING WE WILL GO
The last time we went camping in a tent was before kids. We’re talking 8-9 years ago. The girls have been asking and we somehow managed to book a campsite at Cultus Lake through the ever so horrible Discover Camping website. Almost 3 hours later with Jason and I both on phones and laptops, trying and trying again to get a site somewhere, anywhere, I got through and booked Cultus Lake. By pure luck, we got a campground that many friends have now said is their favourite.
I don’t know about where you live, but booking camping here in BC can be a mess. The website is awful. This year was frustrating with having to attempt 30 days out at 7 am along with everyone else, plus with new COVID-19 restrictions, it meant everyone in BC was attempting to get a site so they could have some sense of normalcy this summer.
MAKING CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
COVID-19 has impacted so much this year, changing many plans and the way summer was going to be. Thankfully we were able to make this one request from the girls happen. The girls have been asking to go camping in a tent for a while now. Jason was brave enough to take them and I was given the opportunity to stay home and rest. I knew sleeping on an air mattress was not going to do well for me this pregnancy. However, I did drive out their first day there to visit and bring a couple of things that were forgotten at home.
I put out a plea for help the week before they left and so many of my friends came through with recommendations for camping with kids. One of the biggest suggestions being to prepare as much as you could for meals ahead of time. I created a meal plan and then set to cooking and preparing what I could. Taco salad for lunch meant cooking the meat at home and slicing up veggies for it. This made a big difference for Jason to be able to feed two hungry little girls as fast as possible.
MOMENTS THEY WILL REMEMBER
I love trips like this, even if I wasn’t there because things like this are the moments they will remember. My Dad had given the girls each a little wooden plane to be built there. These kept them busy and entertained a lot of the time. They also had little parachutes with figurines attached to it. Plus a few new games to play, like Pass the Pig.
A nice little bonus of this trip was that the girl’s aunt and uncle had booked a site at a campground not far away and everyone was able to hang out together. Early morning adventures swimming in the lake, going snorkeling, or for a ride in a kayak. Plus, learning how to make a campfire in the evening with uncle even letting our youngest use a lighter. Hands-on, life skill moments.
We only booked two nights away and with how you pretty much have to pack up the whole house to go, we’ve agreed that next year we need to book at least 5 nights and make a nice long trip of it. I’m currently working on convincing Jason that we need to buy a bigger tent to fit all 5 of us. Though he’s voted baby and I get our own tent next summer. Not sure how I feel about that. But, I do think tenting will become something we do every summer. Plus, we also have our “glamping” trips to look forward to as well.
If you’ve gone camping with an infant, please send any and all tips my way! Have you gone camping as a family this summer?
So sweet! Everyone WON! They got to go camping and you got some much needed and deserved rest at home. Lovely!
This has been a great summer for camping. Luckily we have a lot of great places so near to us and BC Parks have been doing an incredible job with cleaning and making sure everyone’s safe.
What a beautiful family you have! keep camping and enjoy every moment! Keep sharing with us.