Camping is one of my family’s favorite activities! From the moment we get on the highway until we pull back into the driveway two days later, we can’t seem to get enough of uninterrupted family fun for one of our “memorable” camping weekends. When I share these memories with most people, they are surprised that I would be the “type” that would enjoy something like camping.
[Sidebar: I am a VP for an integrated marketing firm; I have two of my own businesses; I am a wife and mother to two amazing kids – so busy really doesn’t even begin to describe my life. Controlled Chaos might be a better catch phrase.]
I find it interesting when people ask me why I like camping. One of the biggest “deterrents” and reasons most moms don’t want to do it is because it’s stressful and way too much work for just two days. I don’t know what they expect, but I think they have watched way too many reality TV shows like “Man vs. Wild” – “Survivor” – “NatGeo,” etc. Some moms actually think you have to live off the land, cook over a fire, search for water, and fight off bugs and wild animals to call it camping.
Well, I can assure you that’s not how I do it! We camp roughly 15 times a year in EVERY season – rain or shine, snow – and I can truly tell you I enjoy all weather and every minute I share with my kids and husband! With that being said, I feel compelled to write a blog on Stress-Free Camping, with tips on how to have a fun, safe experience and enjoy your family time while out in the woods! There are a ton of “How to” camping guide books. After talking to Millennial Moms, many think they could NEVER go camping. I am here to tell you that you CAN, and that IT CAN BE EASY – with the right tools.
Which brings me to my first tip - How to Start a Camp Fire:
Everyone who has ever been camping or watched camping shows knows that every night you and your camping party frequently sit around a small campfire, sing songs, talk about the day and share stories and experiences while making plans for the next day.
Many people also have a visual in their minds of rubbing two sticks together, using flint or bringing several “starter” logs from home to assist them in starting their fire. While all of those work and will eventually start your fire, they all take a while. As a mother of two children, when you say “campfire,” they want it started now – because they already have their marshmallows on their skewers and are really to roast!
I don’t have time to take 15 minutes to start my fire, so I bring the following with me for a quick and easy fire starting kit:
- Dry firewood purchased from the campground.(Don’t move firewood from home [or anywhere!] to your campsite. Stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer)
- Bring old newspaper as a quick starter.
- Bring a cylinder of Mapp Gas Bernzomatic 6Z010 Cylinder as a quick igniter.
- Most importantly, ONLY START A FIRE IN YOUR CAMPGROUND’S DESIGNATED FIRE RING!
You want to tightly crumple your newspaper into a ball. Place a few newspaper balls in a circle inside your fire ring. Next, take the dry firewood and stack it in a teepee manner to allow good airflow. Finally, use your Mapp Gas cylinder to quickly ignite the newspaper ball; fairly soon the dry firewood will start to flame.
Presto – you have a campfire started in less than five minutes and your children will be roasting marshmallows in no time! And you’ll be sitting around the campfire enjoying yourself and your favorite beverage. Be sure to place another log on the fire every five to ten minutes to keep your fire burning bright!
FLAME ON CAMPING MOMS!
Watch for my next post on “COOKING” while camping – NO, NOT OVER THE CAMPFIRE!
