Family events and vacations are things that can be remembered by all family members for years to come. A vacation or camping trip is memorable by providing lasting impressions to all participants. Whether it is the first time a child sleeps in a tent, or cooking over an outdoor stove or even hiking in the woods, these are life long milestones. But, in order to have a successful family camping trip, you need to prepare for the vacation prior to the trip.

If you are planning a family camping trip or vacation which involves children, it is imperative that the agenda include activities that appeal to the kids. The activity can be fun activities such as swimming, fishing or boating. Or, they can physical activities such as looking for animals, picking berries or taking a healthy hike to explore the area. And, family activities could also involve cooking over a campfire, making s’mores or singing some of our favorite campfire songs.

To help families properly prepare for a family camping vacation, we have asked a panel of camping families to come up with some helpful ideas. The following are some information and resources to help families plan a memorable family camping vacation. We hope they help you too:

Kid Friendly Camping Destinations

• Kid Friendly Camping – Information and guide for choosing locations that are kid friendly for camping vacations.
• Family Camping Destinations – Article with five of the top locations for a fun, family camping vacation.
• Camping Ideas – Helpful article with information and ideas on how to have a fun camping experience.
• Campgrounds and Camping – Informative page with a listing of campgrounds along with information on family friendly camping.

Camping Activities

• Kid Friendly Activities – Useful article providing ten fun activities to do while on a family camping outing.
• Camp Activities for Kids – Fun activities are outlined in this page for families that are going camping.
• Family Camping – Helpful listing of ten ideas to use while on family camping outings.
• Camping Activities (PDF) – Article with information and links on various categories of camping.
• Camping Games and Activities – Listing of some of the best activities and family games that can be done while camping.
• What to Do While Camping – Helpful information and suggestions on what campers can do while camping.

Packing for Kids

• Camping Packing List – Useful list of what should be packed for family camping trips.
• Packing List Advice – Informative page covering a number of topics on what to think about when creating a packing list.
• Camping Checklist – Useful page from the Scouts providing readers with a checklist on what to bring while camping.
• What to Pack for Camping – Helpful resource for campers to think about what to pack for the correct situation.

Camping Safety

• Camping and Woods Safety – Informative resource on what kids should watch for in the woods or while camping.
• Camping Safety Tips for Kids – Helpful page from TLC on how to keep kids safe while camping.
• Camping Health and Safety – Authoritative resource from the CDC providing information and resources on how to stay healthy while camping.
• Campfire Safety Tips – Helpful information and suggestions on how to keep kids safe around a campfire.
• Woods and Camping Safety – Useful site providing information on keeping families safe while camping in wooded areas.
• Advice About Camping With Kids – Resourceful website providing a variety of information and links on camping safety for kids.

Camping Songs and Games

• Camp Games – Informative page providing a number of useful resources on games that can be used during camping.
• Camp Games and Songs – Information for campers providing songs and games that campers can use.
• Campfire Songs – Sampling of some of the more popular songs that are sung around the campfire.
• Camp Game Ideas – Resourceful page of ideas for campers about games that can be used while camping.

Camping Resources

• Camp Resources – Portal of information for people who are looking for camping resources and information.
• Camping Resources – Informative page of information and resources on camps and camping.
• Camping Resource Collection – Resourceful page with a number of sites that are interesting for people and family that are going camping.
• Camping Resources and Tips – Useful page of resources along with tips on how to have a fun and enjoyable family camping experience.
• Camping Safety Tips and Resources – Web page which provides families with information on how to be safe during camping trips.
• Camping With Kids Resources – Helpful page containing a number of helpful tips on how kids can enjoy camping.