Camping as a family of five

Yupe you read right we're a family of five actually 7 when the older brothers visit. But I've always wanted a BIG family and no... i'm not mormon!

So throughout the years we've acumulated tents! yes tents! we've got 5 of them maybe more lmoa... but each year we seem to need a bigger one ~sniker~ now we have a 6-8man tent that will work with the playpen and car seat (baby girl likes to sleep in it) and a queen blow up matress and a possibly another twin blowup (if it will fit) otherwise he gets the ground cushions.

I've put together a few tips;

1) First we set up a ground tarp (edges folded under otherwise your just collecting the water between the tent and the tarp. This way the tarp is protecting you from the ground mositure)

2) Set up over head tarps, you can never get to it fast enough if it does end up raining. Preventative preparation is key with a family with small kids. During a downpour your thinking of getting the kids in the tent rather than putting up the tarp.

3) Prepare as much of the meals at home as you can.

• wrap the potatoes in tinfoil (unless you have children old enough to help at the campsite)
• Mix dry ingredients for bannock in a big ziplock bag. (just add water at campsite)
• Marinade meat in ziplock bag and freeze (added cooling agent in cooler)
• Bring instant oatmeal packs (or make your own in ziplock bags)
• Break eggs into one of those personal water bottles (not pop bottles) (the eggs are easier to transport and they will stay whole and pour out- but famlies mainly eat scrambled anyways)

4) Always have boiled water on hand.... (helps with cleaning wounds and baby formula)

5)If you can afford it get two way radios for the kids. this way you know where they are and can check up on them without packing up the younger ones to go look.

Here is the Camp fire Bannock recipe I use :

in a large freezer ziplock bag add 4 cups flour, 4 tsp of baking powder, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Mix dry indgrediants and add water to form a somewhat sticky dough. Now we don't make it all at once just take out some bannock mix into bowl add water and leave rest for later supper bannock. We wrap it around the hot dogs and kids love it.