Be ready to rough it.

• Freeze water bottles ahead of time, and keep them in your cooler, which will keep your food cool and provide ice-cold water bottles.

• Even if you think it will be shady at the campsite, it’s still important to stay protected from the sun’s rays, so pack your sunscreen. Apply it at least fifteen minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply it every two hours if you’re in the sun (or right away after sweating or swimming).





• Keep the fire burning, but keep it safe, too. People cause 90 percent of wildfires, so take steps to make sure you’re not playing with fire while camping.

• Be prepared for cool nights. Temperatures can dip drastically after the sun sets, so make sure to pack things like long-sleeved sleepwear and blankets.

• Give everyone a job. Camping is great fun when your family works as a team!

Plan your eating.

• Crack eggs ahead of time, and store them in a clear plastic container that is easy to pour from (marking on the side as you add the eggs to make measuring easy later) and store in your cooler.





• Likewise, make pancake batter, and store it in an empty ketchup container for easy pouring. (Or you can just put the mix into the bottle and add water at the campsite.)

• Include meals that don’t require refrigeration, such as canned foods and beef jerky.

• Stock up on nonperishables that won’t take up valuable cooler space, such as trail mix, energy bites, cookies, and muffins.





• Make meals ahead of time, and freeze them in individual portions.

• Make your favorite s’mores recipe, and store the s’mores in your cooler in ziplock bags.

• If you plan to grill, bring aluminum foil. Make sheets for the grill, or cook your food in foil packets on the grill—it makes cleanup a breeze!

For more practical camping tips, visit americanlifestylemag.com/travel.