About Nadine Silverthorne
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
I am not a happy camper. I’m a somewhat superficial, fashion conscious, flat-iron loving, city-living Sweetmama. I feel like my Armenian ancestors worked really hard to move away from living in tents to, you know, structured housing. Why on earth would I pay to sleep on the floor?
On my first camping trip (a cold October in eighth grade plagued by rain and mean girls) I lasted two days before calling my parents to ask them to get me. (I ended up staying the whole week, but I was homesick for Family Ties and Armenian food.)
But since opposites attract, I’ve gone and married a part Norwegian, part canine man who routinely needs to be run outdoors and given wide expanses to roam. So we went on our second annual camping trip this past week and I survived – with a Pucci headscarf, an almost 13-year-old niece to lend a hand and a ridiculously organized list.
My colleagues might laugh at that. My desk has generously been dubbed “the workspace of a creative mind” and I have multiple mom brain moments in meetings. But this is why I need lists.
I used a variety of sources to program this Ultimate Camping Checklist, including a tearaway sheet from Canadian Tire and multiple visits to blogs and forums on camping with kids. The culmination of this obsessive research ended up on a Google Doc (so that my husband and I could create the final list together -- with no arguing). Of course a checklist is only as strong as the person following it, but that my friends, is another story...
It would be a shame not to share it with you. Hope it helps you on your tented adventures this summer. Did I miss anything? (And yes, I camp in skinny jeans! They're so easy to tuck into rain boots.)
Nadine’s ultimate camping checklist
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Camping essentials
- Tent(s)
- Sleeping bags
- Air mattress or sleeping mat
- Air pump
- Pillows
- Blanket for picnics or extra warmth
- Tarp(s)
- Rope (for tying tarps or hanging wet clothes)
- Folding chairs
- Towels
- Radio
- Candles
- Lantern (battery operated)
- Flashlights
- Clothes pins
- Dustpan and small brush
- Folding shovel
- Axe
- Camping stove or burner
- Fuel
- Small multi-tool
- Eating shelter (optional)
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Cooking needs
- A cooler
- A sharp cutting knife
- A spatula and tongs
- A cutting board
- A cooking pot
- A pan (cast-iron or non-stick)
- A kettle
- Plates
- Mugs or cups
- Cutlery
- Dish towels
- A roll of paper towel
- Biodegradable dish detergent
- A plastic bin for dishwashing
- Water jugs
- Stainless steel bottles or canteens
- A plastic tablecloth and clips
- A bbq lighter
- A can opener
- A pair of small scissors
- French press (for coffee)
- A small olive oil
- Skewers
- A corkscrew
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Foodstuffs
- Hot dogs and buns
- Condiments
- Food you can freeze in advance (keeps the cooler cold too)
- Pancake mix (the kids love it)
- Maple syrup
- Bacon
- Trail mix
- Fruit
- Breads
- Dips
- Cheeses
- Olives
- Snackable veggies
- Juice (can be frozen to keep the cooler cold)
- Granola/energy bars
- Dark chocolate
- Marshmallows
- Graham crackers
- Milk (for little ones and coffee)
- Butter (for cooking or toast)
- Coffee or tea
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Clothing
- Swimsuits
- T-shirts (2/pp/day)
- Long sleeve tops
- Pants
- Shorts
- Socks
- Undies
- Diapers
- Hats
- Jammies
- Rain gear
- Hiking shoes or sneakers
- Swim shoes and/or flip flops
- Jackets
- Sunglasses
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Extras
- A tent repair kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Anti itch stuff
- First aid kit
- Tweezers
- Toothbrush & toothpaste
- Toilet Paper
- A whistle
- Beach toys
- Extra batteries
- Plastic bags for wet or dirty stuff
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