Introductions

Victoria - posted on 07/05/2012

Hi my name is Victoria im 26 years old , I have a 3 year old son who has been camping with us since he was 4 months old :D we live in Ontario, Canada. We go camping in many diffrent places in southern Ontario

ReBecca - posted on 01/28/2011

I am ReBecca and my daughter Ruby is 3 months old. We are looking forward to taking her on her first camping trip soon. My husband and I travel and camp alot for work so we are curious how it will work out taking Ruby along on all of these camping trips. Tips and suggestions are welcome! :)

Kris - posted on 09/24/2009

Hello, I'm Kris, married to Pete, mom of 3 boys. Matt 18, Tim 16, Andrew 11. We have camped as family since Andrew was 3 months old. The whole family is invovled in Boy Scouts so we continue to use our camping skills. When the boys were young we had a group through our church that camped together several times a summer. This made it easy since we went to smaller campgrounds and checked in at the same time You knew everyone in your area of the campground. Which made the toddler and kid chasing very easy. I love a good campfire and the time it gives you to sit and talk to your kids and friends.

Mylissa Lea - posted on 09/15/2009

Hi I'm Mylissa. I'm 30 years old and have two kids. Autum is 7 and Malhaki is 2 1/2. We love the outdoors and we are constantly ouside playing, hiking, fishing, camping, etc. My daughter has been camping every year since she was 5 months old (except unfortunately this year) and she loves it. We own about 3 acres out in the middle of nowhere and love to be outside. Malhaki is my digging machine and constantly digging in my gardens and yard. But it is okay cause that does him good to play outside instead of being attached to the tv. We mainly camp at a small camp ground called Prince Gallitzin State Park in Glendale, but also like to pop the tent in the yard and have fun. My daughter joined Girl Scouts last year and we went camping over night with the girl scouts. I even got sucked into being a leader at the local girl scout day camp, which I loved by the way even though it rained two days. I can't wait til my son is old enough for boy scouts so we can have those kinds of experiences.

Shanon - posted on 08/04/2009

Hello everyone, my name is Shanon, i am 34 w/ 3 kids, 2 boys & 1 girl. I am divorce after after a 13yr married but i am with a wonderful man now, we are going on 3 yrs now. We both work at Firestone a 6p-6a shift. I live in Des Moines,IA. I am very new to camping i havent been camping for 16yrs. We are looking forward to going next year, we have a tent, that is a start LOL. We are going to buy things through this winter. I am looking forward to chatting with all of you sometime & getting ideas of what we are going to need

Amy - posted on 07/28/2009

Hello Group, My name is Amy and I have two boys 6 and 13, We live in the SIerras, so camping is fairly easy, just pitch a tent out in the yard. More than likely a bear will wake you up or a skunk will spray your tent. We are surrounded by wonderful lakes and hiking trails and just everything great about the out doors. We go fishing every week and usually camp overnight....so we can catfish. The boys just love it. We call our tent, "Our Weekend Cabin" We will get another good 3 months of camping in before we get snow. Then we will have to have house fever until May.

Colleen - posted on 06/28/2009

Hi everyone, I'm Colleen, 28 from Braidwood Australia. I have two daughters, aged three and a half and eighteen months. My family and I go to folk festivals as often as we can, camping, fires, music and other like minded people. :) I also love four wheel driving and, when the girls are a bit older, want to go horse riding in the beautiful state forests in our area.

Heather - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Maureen:

I'm Maureen, 41 with a 2 year old girl. We haven't been camping in six years, and our going with our daughter to Savoy Mt. State Forest in Mass. We are renting a cabin, but I was talking "camping" with folks last and got re-energized. I am returning to work in a few weeks, so my "wish list" is to get a dutch oven and cook that way. I got a great yard flag that says "Campers have Smore Fun" off of ebay. I got some great camping recipes off line, and am excited to try them! Someday I'd like to rent a RV or pop up and travel Utah and Texas.

The flag made me giggle. My fiance just looked at me like I am crazy. Eh,... who cares what he thinks!! HAHA It sounds like we have a lot in common. I ended up planning my last two camping trips months in advance. We could smell people burning wood in the fireplaces, and then all we wanted to do was go camping!

Heather - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Patra:

Hi, I'm Patra, 42, with 1 four y/o boy. Usually camp in August in Oregon. Missed last year as we moved in August and this year by older sis is coming up from L.A. - but isn't much of a camper and has a 5y/o and 6 m/o, so I'm canceling the tent camping and going to try to get a cabin amongst some nature - as she wants to expose the kids to something other than what's around L.A. My little boy can sit near a stream, pond for hours throwin' rocks. Anyone with ideas for cabins in the Cascades in Oregon?
I'll probably also set up the tent in the backyard for fun.

I used to love camping in the back yard!

Heather - posted on 06/09/2009

Quoting Stephanie:

Hi! I'm Stephanie (29 in July) and I have a 3 month old son. We live in beautiful Canmore Alberta so getting out into the mountains is a necessity! We have been going out climbing as much as possible (wee one bundled up and on a sleeping pad) and will hopefully be going out camping soon!

That sounds like a lot of fun!! If you need any help figuring out how to manage camping with the baby, check out Kids and Camping! I look forward to chatting with you.

Maureen - posted on 06/09/2009

I'm Maureen, 41 with a 2 year old girl. We haven't been camping in six years, and our going with our daughter to Savoy Mt. State Forest in Mass. We are renting a cabin, but I was talking "camping" with folks last and got re-energized. I am returning to work in a few weeks, so my "wish list" is to get a dutch oven and cook that way. I got a great yard flag that says "Campers have Smore Fun" off of ebay. I got some great camping recipes off line, and am excited to try them! Someday I'd like to rent a RV or pop up and travel Utah and Texas.

Patra - posted on 06/06/2009

Hi, I'm Patra, 42, with 1 four y/o boy. Usually camp in August in Oregon. Missed last year as we moved in August and this year by older sis is coming up from L.A. - but isn't much of a camper and has a 5y/o and 6 m/o, so I'm canceling the tent camping and going to try to get a cabin amongst some nature - as she wants to expose the kids to something other than what's around L.A. My little boy can sit near a stream, pond for hours throwin' rocks. Anyone with ideas for cabins in the Cascades in Oregon?
I'll probably also set up the tent in the backyard for fun.

Stephanie - posted on 05/29/2009

Hi! I'm Stephanie (29 in July) and I have a 3 month old son. We live in beautiful Canmore Alberta so getting out into the mountains is a necessity! We have been going out climbing as much as possible (wee one bundled up and on a sleeping pad) and will hopefully be going out camping soon!

Heather - posted on 05/26/2009

Quoting Melanie:

Hi, my name is Melanie. i am 27 and live by the laramie mtns in wyoming. i have two kids, my daughter is 5 and my son just turned 1 in feb. we enjoy going camping and fishing up in the mountains. last summer we went down to colorado alot and stayed in a camper with in-laws...on a man made lake, with sites right next to eachother...not my idea of camping really. i grew up in wisconsin and every summer we would drive to the UP of michigan and tent camp. so this summer will be my son's first time in a tent. cant wait.

I went camping in a camper once... aside from the times in my back yard. It didn't really feel like camping to me either. I know my mom's friend was actually living at the camp ground the entire summer, so I can see why she had a camper. It was almost like staying in a breezy rental home lol. I had fun, and it was very relaxing.

I love tent camping. Its so much more fun. Well, I can't say more fun, but I like the experience better. My kids love it, too. I just brought both of my daughters out for a camping trip this weekend. They had so much fun. My 1 year old found out she loves toasted marshmallows, too. ha

Heather - posted on 05/26/2009

Quoting Wendy:

Hi, I'm Wendy and I live in the mountains of western North Carolina. I grew up in a family of campers and love it! My husband is NOT a camper; his parents' idea of "roughing it" was staying in a hotel without room service. My two girls (aged 7 and 3) love to camp and my 9 year old son decided he likes it after he went camping with the Cub Scouts for the first time last month. I'm lucky enough to have some friends and a sister-in-law who love to camp so I have someone to go with me and the kids. There are lots of places around here that I haven't explored yet so am looking forward to warmer weather so we can plan some trips. Especially now that my youngest is old enough to do some of the easier hiking trails. She's kinda heavy to carry for long...

LOL@ no room service. That is so funny. I just brought my 11 year old little sister, and both of my daughters on a camping trip. They had a blast. We were there with my fiance's cousins, and we each brought other family members along. It was great. My 1 year old has been walking for a while now, and it was definitely easier than having to carry her every minute. I brought the stroller with me, but that wasn't always the easiest thing to push around.

Melanie - posted on 05/21/2009

Hi, my name is Melanie. i am 27 and live by the laramie mtns in wyoming. i have two kids, my daughter is 5 and my son just turned 1 in feb. we enjoy going camping and fishing up in the mountains. last summer we went down to colorado alot and stayed in a camper with in-laws...on a man made lake, with sites right next to eachother...not my idea of camping really. i grew up in wisconsin and every summer we would drive to the UP of michigan and tent camp. so this summer will be my son's first time in a tent. cant wait.

Wendy - posted on 05/18/2009

Hi, I'm Wendy and I live in the mountains of western North Carolina. I grew up in a family of campers and love it! My husband is NOT a camper; his parents' idea of "roughing it" was staying in a hotel without room service. My two girls (aged 7 and 3) love to camp and my 9 year old son decided he likes it after he went camping with the Cub Scouts for the first time last month. I'm lucky enough to have some friends and a sister-in-law who love to camp so I have someone to go with me and the kids. There are lots of places around here that I haven't explored yet so am looking forward to warmer weather so we can plan some trips. Especially now that my youngest is old enough to do some of the easier hiking trails. She's kinda heavy to carry for long...

Shawna - posted on 04/06/2009

Whiteface, Tx and any help would excellent!!!! I am new at all of this and I am an out doors person I just don't know alot about camping!!!!

Heather - posted on 04/06/2009

Shawna, I posted a response to your question in the Help thread. Where are you from?

Shawna - posted on 04/06/2009

Hi my name is Shawna, I am the Scout master for our local Boy Scout Troop, we just got back from a camp out and we had some nasty wind the winds topped 60 to 70 mile an hour. I am wondering if there is a tent that will not lay down in winds of this speed? Mine stayed spiked to the ground and the rain fly stayed put but the support poles just doesn't seem to be supportive enough the tent literally layed down on top of me!!!!!! If anyone knows of a tent that will be better in the wind please let me know.

Lori - posted on 03/27/2009

Quoting Linda:

1st question is, do I need to "season" the dutch oven before I cook in it? If so, what is the best way to do that? 2nd question is do I need any special kind of coals or charcoal to put on top to help even out cooking?
Thanks in advance for your help!

The answer to your first question will really depend on the type of dutch oven that you purchased. You can purchase ones that are already seasoned but otherwise you do need to season them. If you bought a Lodge brand dutch oven, they have a pamphlet that will explain how to season your oven. They also put out a book that you can purchase called "Camp Dutch Oven Cooking 101" that has a lot of basic information and some recipes in it. I would recommend seasoning the dutch oven on a warm day when you can open every window and door in your house as it tends to stink up the house.

I use just plain charcoal (not the kind soaked in lighter fluid). You will also want to learn how to use a chimney starter as lighter fluid tends to burn up your coals faster than if you don't have any.

Heather - posted on 03/26/2009

Quoting Linda:

1st question is, do I need to "season" the dutch oven before I cook in it? If so, what is the best way to do that? 2nd question is do I need any special kind of coals or charcoal to put on top to help even out cooking?
Thanks in advance for your help!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?... this has a bunch of answers to your first question.

This is a list of sites that came up after I searched your 2nd question: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=do+...

AND Here is the list from the first question in case that first link doesn't help you: http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe...

Heather - posted on 03/26/2009

Quoting Heather:

Hi, I'm also Heather and I am 24 until June. I have three children (Cameron who just turned 6, Jaden who was 5 in January and Caleb who is 5 months). We love to camp. We started 2 years ago. Before then I had never camped in my life. My parents used to take us on trips and we would stay in hotels etc so I never experienced camping. Boy was I missing something...lol! This will be our third summer but I don't know what it will be like going with a 5 month old. Hopefully it won't be too overwhelming.

Its really not so bad. My daughter was that young (umm actually younger) but anyway, we have taken her camping since she was that age & she did just fine. Make sure you bring the playpen & whatever toy the baby can sit or stand up in. I bought a mosquito net for the playpen, too & brought my little portable swing. Its more to pack, but at least you'll still have time to relax.

Heather - posted on 03/26/2009

Quoting Tammy:

Hi, I'm Tammy. I"m 35 until December.  I have 2 kids, Gaby, who will be 14 in May and Liam who just turned 4 in December.  We started off tent camping when Gaby was 5. We moved up to a pop-up last year when we took a month long camping trip to upstate NY.  We try to get out camping as often as we can, but this year that may not be much.  We were supposed to go camping for Spring Break, but the hubby had a heart attack in mid-February, so we had to cancel. He's doing great, so we may get to in the Fall, it's too hot in Texas to camp much in the summer.

I am glad to hear he is doing better & it is definitely hot in Texas during the summer. If you find a place with a lake or a pool it might not be so bad. Oh & take warm showers because cold ones make your body warm up faster after you are done.

Linda - posted on 03/19/2009

1st question is, do I need to "season" the dutch oven before I cook in it? If so, what is the best way to do that? 2nd question is do I need any special kind of coals or charcoal to put on top to help even out cooking?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Lori - posted on 03/16/2009

I am rather new to Dutch oven cooking but I am willing to help if I can. What questions do you have?

Linda - posted on 03/16/2009

Hi, I'm Linda. I am 40 (until August). I have one son, will be 11 in a week. I have been camping since I was a little kid and we had an old canvas tent. We usually go camping at least once a year. This year we are planning a camping trip on Dauphin Island, AL. My son has been wanting to go to the beach for a long time and that is the closest beach to us. I haven't been there either, so it should be a fun experience.

I have yet to use a dutch oven and would love to learn that skill. I usually just use my Coleman stove or grill. So, if anyone has experience they would like to pass on about Dutch oven cooking I would appreciate.

Heather - posted on 03/13/2009

Hi, I'm also Heather and I am 24 until June. I have three children (Cameron who just turned 6, Jaden who was 5 in January and Caleb who is 5 months). We love to camp. We started 2 years ago. Before then I had never camped in my life. My parents used to take us on trips and we would stay in hotels etc so I never experienced camping. Boy was I missing something...lol! This will be our third summer but I don't know what it will be like going with a 5 month old. Hopefully it won't be too overwhelming.

Tammy - posted on 03/13/2009

Hi, I'm Tammy. I"m 35 until December.  I have 2 kids, Gaby, who will be 14 in May and Liam who just turned 4 in December.  We started off tent camping when Gaby was 5. We moved up to a pop-up last year when we took a month long camping trip to upstate NY.  We try to get out camping as often as we can, but this year that may not be much.  We were supposed to go camping for Spring Break, but the hubby had a heart attack in mid-February, so we had to cancel. He's doing great, so we may get to in the Fall, it's too hot in Texas to camp much in the summer.

Heather - posted on 03/07/2009

I'm sure she will get plenty dirty, but thats ok... thats half the fun.

Lori - posted on 03/04/2009

Quoting Heather:

It wouldn't be camping without a little bit of hot dogs with dirt! LOL

I can tell that you don't know me as I don't do hot dogs. I just can't stand them but I do have a pretty good recipe for homemade corndogs if anyone would like it.

Heather - posted on 03/04/2009

It wouldn't be camping without a little bit of hot dogs with dirt! LOL

Lori - posted on 03/03/2009

Just watch what she puts in her mouth (you know how they are) and make sure that you have wet wash cloths and soap on hand. My girls would get black by the end of the day.

Heather - posted on 03/02/2009

I have been to Vermont before. I went skiing in Killington. Very cold there!! I am sure you will find a nice spot there.

Heather - posted on 03/02/2009

My name is Heather as well, I am 28 and have one daughter who is 18 months. I am sooo excited to take my daughter camping this year that I have already started buying her gear (got her a sleeping bag and life jacket this week even though there is still tons of snow outside).  I recently moved to southern Quebec so am really close to Vermont and New york, I don't know if there are any good camping spots there but I am always up for an adventure.

I have no idea what to expect for my first trip out as I have never camped with kids before, but it should be fun... I will just have to adapt a few things as I used to be more of a minimalist camper. I will just have to get more kit and check out some established camp grounds.

I also can't wait to get out in the canoe.... I am just counting down the days till the snow melts and the sun comes out.

Lori - posted on 03/02/2009

Quoting Heather:

Thanks for your introduction!

Not a problem.

Heather - posted on 03/02/2009

Thanks for your introduction!

Lori - posted on 03/02/2009

Hi, I'm Lori. I'm 44 until June and have five children. I have two boys and one daughter that are grown and have moved out and two daughters aged 13 and 11 at home. They have been camping since the youngest was under a year old (I don't remember exactly how old she was before I convinced her dad that she wouldn't die if we went). We own some land in northern MN so that is where we normally go to "camp" (we have two campers parked on the land so I don't really call it camping). We do also have a family reunion that we go to every year where we tent it (this is my preferred method of camping). My camping skills have greatly evolved over the years as my younger two have joined Girl Scouts and I have been involved with that. I went from using just a Coleman stove to using a Dutch oven and box oven to cook in. At the first family reunion, I fixed my family a roast with potatoes and carrots and we had homemade bread besides (I know, a lot of work but it was worth it to show off to my Boy Scout brothers). I always start thinking about camping about one week after the weather gets too cold to be outside anymore (normally sometime in November). I usually don't have time to start planning anything until now though. I think that I have blabbed enough though and hope to meet more people. If any of you are from MN (or if you plan on coming to MN), maybe we can get together at a campsite and meet.