The most anticipated and arguably most fun trip of the year is right around the corner now, and it’s now become the traditional way we kick off the camping season. It’s none other than the… *drum roll*
BOYS ONLY CAMPING TRIP!!!!
Yes, indeeed, that means no girls are allowed. Zilch, nada, never, nowhere, no way, not a chance, sorry Hillery, Teri, and Melissa, you cannot come with us. You do get to stay behind to feed the fish and water the plants, though.
This year we are headed to Whitewater Lake in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit, on a tent-only site which is a 600 feet walk from the parking area, a place we have NEVER camped before! Our nearest beach is 2 miles away, which we will reach by bicycle. Bryant will be a bike rider for the first time this year! We also got a new camera, and we will be taking all kinds of cool photos and hopefully making some fun goofy movies too! Exciting! IF AND ONLY IF you are a boy, and you want to come say hi to us, we will be on site # 771 in the Whitewater West campground through Memorial Day.
This is the first trip every year which brings all the gear back out from storage, and in my effort to organize and prepare I have made a new list of gear we typically take with us which includes many of the new camping gear items we have acquired lately. It’s not exhaustive, but it’s pretty close. Here it is:
| MAIN STUFF AND GEAR |
| Ground tarps |
| Instant popup shelter with tent insert |
| Grand Trunk Quick Set Tent (the best!) |
| Quick Set Screen House #1 |
| Quick Set Screen House #2 |
| Hard Top Plastic Folding Table |
| Water Boiler/strainer #1 |
| Water Boiler/strainer #2 |
| Cloth top folding table #1 |
| Cloth top folding table #2 |
| Cloth top folding table #3 |
| Full Propane Can #1 |
| Full Propane Can #2 |
| Air Mattress |
| Air pump with 4 D batteries |
| Propane single mantle lantern |
| Red folding chair #1 |
| Red folding chair #2 |
| Blue Folding Chair |
| Kids ‘cars’ folding chair |
| 12X14 Chinook Flying Tarp |
| 200 ft paracord rope |
| Metal nail stakes |
| Clothesline and clothespins |
| Stanley Sharptooth Hand saw |
| Leatherman |
| Dust pan and brush |
| Headlights with batteries |
| Radio with 6 C batteries |
| Candles |
| Cards and games, Pens and paper |
| Small camping shovel |
| Bungee cords |
| Soap and shampoo |
| Basic medical kit with benadryl, inhaler, sting relief, ibuprofen, kids’ motrin, thermometer, nail clipper, tweezers, antibiotic cream, bandaids, tums, Sunscreen, sunburn relief |
| Bug spray and fogger spray |
| Smaller tent for kid |
| Rain gear / ponchos / Umbrellas / Visors /Caps |
| Clothes, Swimsuits,– each person packs their own |
| Sleeping Bag (adult) #1 |
| Sleeping bag (adult) #2 |
| Sleeping bag (kid) #1 |
| Sleeping bag (kid) #2 |
| Pillows |
| Walkie talkies |
| Books to read |
| Flotation vests |
| Chairbrellas |
| Rain gear |
| Tent poles |
| Fanny packs |
| Towels |
| Deodorant |
| Toothbrushes and Toothpaste |
| Toilet paper in a plastic bag, and emergency TP |
| Hammock |
| Digital Camera |
| Foam pads for kids |
| Fire Starters |
| Reservation info and map to campsite |
| KITCHEN STUFF |
| Cutting board |
| Frying pan |
| Cooking Oil |
| Measuring cup |
| Eating Utensils |
| Paper towels |
| Scrubbie sponge |
| Paper bowls |
| Hot pads or glove |
| French Press |
| 2 gallon flexible water container #1 |
| 2 gallon flexible water container #2 |
| Ziploc bags and garbage bags |
| Matches |
| Two Burner Compact Propane Stove |
| Thermos Cup #1 |
| Thermos Cup #2 |
| Plastic holders and paper plates |
| Metal cups |
| Vinyl Tablecloth and clips |
| Aluminum foil |
| Spatula / spoon |
| Hand sanitizer |
| Scissors |
| Can opener |
| Marshmallow roasting sticks |
| Pudgie pie maker |
| Camp kitchen foldable aluminum table |
| 2 aluminum water boilers / strainers |
| FOOD |
| Single serve Beverage mixers |
| Hot chocloate |
| Coffee, Tea |
| Snacks |
| Spices |
| Freeze dried meals |
| Peanut Butter & Jelly |
| Smores -> graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate |
| Ramen noodles and instant meals |
| Oatmeal |
| Cereal |
| Spaghettios in can |
| TO GET RIGHT BEFORE LEAVING |
| Ice |
| Milk |
| Bread, hot dog buns |
| Jiffy pop |
| MORE STUFF |
| Cooler with frozen water bottles, milk, chocolate, hot dogs |
| Bikes, Tire pump, Bike trailers, Helmets, car carrier |
| Extra tarps and rope |
| Backup Coleman tent |
| Rest of food |
| Frisbee, football, kickball, etc |
| Backup stove, backup lantern |
| wrenches, screwdrivers, duct tape, wd40 |
| Extra shoes |
| Backup air mattress |
| Some cash, check card |
| Extra batteries (AAA,AA, C,D) |
| Extra tent stakes |
| Cast iron dutch oven |
| Cast iron griddle |
Things to do before camping:
1) Attach burlee hookups to new bikes (maybe put one on will’s?)
2) Set up other new screen house to make sure it is okay
3) Blow up new air mattress to make sure it is okay
4) Organize, pack, etc.
