Camping trips with family can be a rewarding experience; unfortunately, plenty of stressful situations may arise due to conflicting personalities, indecisiveness, or even just small mishaps that occur. Although you can’t prevent every possible thing from going wrong, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare for these events and try your best to show everyone a good time.
Stay Well-Stocked but not Overdone
Sometimes a family will complain over the smallest of things or the lack of having a certain convenience. To combat this basic stressor you should first check and double-check that everyone has what they need and every necessity is covered. However, overpacking may also make things cramped and lost, so you’ll have to bring just the right amount of stuff to keep everyone content. If you’re planning on doing several outdoor activities and some family members consist of children or people who otherwise don’t participate in such activities often, be sure to pack some things to keep them entertained by their standards as well. It may be best to find camping lists and replicate them to be sure you have all the necessities covered.
Camp Close By
No one likes the idea of having to call off any family trip early, but if you’re still within travel distance of home it can be very convenient in case things just don’t work out. The goal is to make sure everyone gets along and has a good time so returning home early should still only be considered as a last resort; however, sometimes plans just don’t happen as you thought, and staying relatively close by can provide an easy out in case things get rough.
Plan Adventures for Everyone
A family camping trip can be most stressful when not everyone is satisfied with the activities. To combat this, make sure each family member can participate in one activity at the very least. Some may find the less outdoorsy family members to be a bum on the others, but it’s important to remember that there is still an activity for everyone. If you have these types of people joining your trip, be sure to provide a fun experience for them especially; although they may still not enjoy the outdoors, they will remember the trip fondly and will be more likely to attend future camping trips and may even participate more. Not sure what kinds of activities are available? You can find various inspirations for activities online, including water activities, camping on the canals, hiking adventures, and more.
Delegate Responsibilities
There are plenty of responsibilities that arise when deciding to take a family camping trip, especially if there are several children or hard to deal with adults that are tagging along. If you assign responsibility to everyone then the stress will not be on one family member to uphold and will make things easier. Even assigning small chores to the younger attendees can help teach them responsibility and make them feel like a grown-up; just be sure to keep everyone’s duties realistic following what they can and can’t manage individually.
Camp in a Larger Group
Do you have that kind of family where the hardest to deal with adults will put on a face for strangers? If so, then maybe you should consider camping in a larger group; this can include a public camping spot or finding another family to co-op camp with to keep everyone in line. It may seem difficult to manage a larger group, but if there are separate families involved then you’re not obligated to stay together for the entire duration. Co-op camping can reap the benefits of having a large group without all the cons. You can rely on each other and be sure that your family has a better chance at acting on their best behavior around others.
The most important thing to remember is that this camping trip may prove to be a great bonding experience for the entire family. If someone is too problematic, don’t be afraid to not invite them. Allow everyone to enjoy the trip and learn to get along better by listening to everyone’s needs and trying your best to provide for everyone to prevent stress from happening on this fun adventure.
About the Author
Stephanie Caroline Snyder is a 27-year-old who graduated from The University of Florida in 2018. She majored in Communications with a minor in mass media. Currently, she is an Author and a Writer. She was born and raised in Panama City, Florida, where her family still lives.
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