Camping for 10 days - Rooted in Truth Families

When we go to our Biblical Feasts, it’s hardcore camping. It may be sunny and hot or cold and wet. We’ve had days where we needed to be swimming and days you could feel the dampness. So how do we prepare for that? Well I’ll share with you some of our must haves to make it comfortable for us. Please do what works for your family and get what you need then build on it each year as money allows. Also a tip is to look for things 2nd hand. This post will be more focused on specific items. Here’s our master camping list.

You might want to consider a trailer. It was not only nice to be hauling our things back and forth but when rain came in, it was a place to keep everything dry and stack wood under to keep it out of the elements as well. We found our travel trailer on craigslist.

Tent. You want to get a tent that is bigger than you think you’d need.
We wanted something that was:
1. waterproof
2. wood stove capable
3. in rain we could hang out
4. usable space
5. fabric we could repair if it needed patching
6. something we could manage putting up and taking down within a reasonable amount of time

We chose the 16 ft luna bell tent with fire retardant cotton and cut the hole for the stove ourselves. It’s had to have a couple tent lines sewed back on from wear and tear, but it’s so doable. It is a great amount of space for 4 cots and our wood stove. Our friends really enjoy their Elk Mountain tent.

We love having lighting around our tent. We got the 100Ft solar light string that works well to go all the way around the outside and then into the inside. We make it so the plug in can come in through the bottom zipper and be turned off when we’re ready to go to sleep.

Some random things:
Camping shovel – you never know when you gotta go.
Bluetooth speaker for listening to worship songs

More random things:
Plug in cooler – works pretty well to plug back into the car if you don’t have electric on site. I’ve seen some solar battery pack ones as well that look pretty cool!
Clothespins hold up lights along the tent and also work well for drying clothes
Rug for outside the tent is a must in my opinion.
Outerwear – Good coveralls & boots
Luggable Loo – you can use kitty litter or use pine + cedar shavings. I don’t allow #2 in mine, but your tent your rules.

3 drawer storage bins or shelving and plastic bins work really well for camping to keep things organized and so you can see what is in things. I’ve even seen people be so organized to put clear slips taped onto each tote and then as they put it in they check it off and they know what goes in it every time.

Cots for sleeping. I chose these Teton ones specifically because we could put everyone’s clothes directly under them to keep everything tidy. They’re easy to put together, heavy duty, and comfortable. I would love to replace our sleeping bags and get hemp ones.
Everyone gets a cotton blanket and a wool blanket. Yes I bring my buckwheat or down feather pillow with linen sheets everywhere I go.

This bag was my intended firewood holder but we need far more than it stores, but it is a great bag for bringing all my blankets in. I roll them up and they fit well.

Camping chairs – we went with canvas. We absolutely love the high backs on them. My only complaint is I haven’t found a good cup holder that I love to attach to it. I might just buy a side table because this girl has her cocoa with her 24/7 when camping.
Table for cooking on. Any will do!
Camp Chef or Blackstone for cooking on propane makes life easy. I would definitely consider a bigger one and do a burner on the side.
A popup canopy is nice to have for cooking or gathering under especially if it is raining.
Consider what type of water you have. Bring some rinsed out jugs to keep filling up. Decide what type of container or water filter you want to put your drinking/potable water in.
Headlamp that turns red because nobody wants their retinas burnt out when you’re cooking smores.
Walkie talkies to keep in communication with older children.

Plastic spray bottle of thieves household cleaner (I usually use glass, but for campsites I don’t) is nice for cleaning up along with paper towels and water wipes.

Festive tablecloths are nice. I got a vinyl one with flannel backing and it tore quickly. I think I will put it down as a barrier and do my normal cotton style for over it.

These silicone trivet hot pads are great for sitting hot food on or grabbing things.
Plates & bowls I got were 304 stainless. They’re great to clean.

My husband is also working on a DIY station for washing dishes and hands. These collapsibles work great for putting things in to wash & dry

A cheese shredder is amazing because you can shred cheese into it and store it, just shred more when you need. Mine is similar to this one.

Another thing I bring with me is a list of what I am cooking when, this helps me to know what I need for each meal. I keep the meal things in one cooler and the snackies the children can grab anytime in another cooler – so when I go to make tacos, I’m not missing all the cheese.

Wardrobe tips – keep it simple and layered. Try to stay within a color pattern so you can switch things out and reuse. Short sleeves, light sweater/jackets, leggings & thicker pants to put over if needed. Then coats, coveralls, gloves, hats, and winter outerwear if needed.
Merino wool base layers , wool socks, and a wool hat are a MUST if you’re going somewhere chilly.

Bathroom essentials:
Homemade sunscreen & bug spray. Homemade bug/poison ivy itch spray + witch hazel + cotton pads.
Homemade salves – charcoal drawing salve + tumeric salve helps just about any sliver, rash etc.
Activated charcoal powder – upset tummies, spider bites, etc.
Tinctures/herbs & essential oils – I keep things on hand for issues that may arise such as bleeding/cuts/scrapes, help sleeping, upset stomach, head discomfort, sore muscles
Supplements – magnesium, digestive enzymes, probiotics, and NingXia are my go to
Water wipes are my literal best friend. They can keep bodies clean and clean up any mess around camp.
Fanny pack – If you have to use porta potties these are super convenient. I like to keep mine stocked with wipes, non toxic hand sanitizer, and a headlamp.
For showering – lanyards with shampoo/conditioner hooked on so you don’t have to keep them on the ground and can hang on you or the wall if they have a hook. We also use these soap pouches and a small chunk of Young Living bar soap.
Towels for each person. We love these Smyrna turkish cotton ones. They work well for bathing or swimming.
I make everyone their own tin from those Welly’s band aids. I put an owie EO blend in for any owie that comes up,

Staying warm a few options.
1. Little Buddy heater + extra propane bottles.
2. Hot hands that you can stuff in your gloves or wool socks
3. Rubber water bottles (also great for achy backs, cramps, settling tummies)
4. Wood stove

Wood stove. This was a game changer for us camping in the midwest. If you are getting a wood stove, be sure to burn off the new wood fumes in the open air several times. Get familiar with it. Set up your tent and light the fire several times. Make sure you have the correct tent pipe and everything fits properly.

You MUST have a bucket & shovel for removing ashes, fire safe mat for under, a fire extinguisher, and fireproof gloves. SAFETY FIRST.

My husband got the pizza oven which is kind of nice for warming up food. I got 2 stainless steel 304 grade pans to go inside of it. Oven to table pan and the medium cookie sheet. I measured prior. I also can use these in my kitchen.

You might consider a fan to help it circulate. A cast iron teapot is nice for moisture and having some warm tea or cocoa. We have these already from a wood stove at home so they weren’t a special buy.

Activities for children
Survival skills – emergency water filter, knife sharpening, fire building & starting, survival fort building, short wave radio, Foraging books on mushrooms and native plants, Paracord knot tying, fishing techniques, making fly fishing lures, bow safety/shooting
Board games like Catan, Bohnanza (bean game), Rack-O, Skip-Bo & Phase 10
Yard games – bags, ladder ball, badminton, kickball, volleyball, balloon toss, capture the flag nerf, 9 square in the air,
Bikes – make sure to check the tires, brakes, and gears for maintenance
kayaks if you’re by the lake (don’t forget life jackets)
Crochet hooks, knitting needles, & yarn
Tzitzit string – cotton dmc embroidery floss or hemp & hooks
Beads & string to make bracelets (we got hemp for the boys)