Anymore, it is becoming more and more difficult to get the whole family together. Not only are there sporting events, school functions, work routinely running late, or just the regular busy-life kind of stuff. It feels like the more technological life gets, the more difficult it is to find some separation from it. That may be true, or it may be an excuse we tell ourselves when we’re not getting outside enough. Either way, it is as important as ever to get into our wild spaces and for no other reason than to connect with the natural world.
With the busy lives we lead, we have to be strategic with the time away we all get with our families. A bad weekend can feel like a whole year of effort went up in smoke. To make sure that never happens (or at least only rarely happens), this article will help you figure out what your base camp should look like for the whole family. The goal is, of course, to learn a little appreciation for nature and disconnect a bit, but we have to learn to do that without ostracizing the next generation.
Space: The Ultimate Family Peace-Keeper
They have it at home. They take it on the couch. They find it, somehow, in a packed vehicle. No matter where they end up, kids will always demand their own space. It’s a sort of right of passage to be able to carve out a little area and call it your own. Well, this doesn’t change when you get to camp. Kids of all ages will find their own space to get comfortable when they are outside the tent. They’ll grab a camp chair and scurry off to a secluded location just away from camp. Maybe there’s some space on a log around the fire pit. The problem for some campers, then, is that when it’s time to move the party indoors, or if you’re cold-weather camping, there’s rarely enough space. This is where the early decision of choosing a proper family camping tent pays dividends.
It doesn’t have to be complicated, a big tent, but there are some things to consider when shooting for a larger tent. Tents made from synthetic materials can be difficult to manage in the larger sizes. Oftentimes, they take a dome shape, which cuts down on headroom. They also have rounded sides that limit the ability to use all of the ground space. Ideally, straight walls with a high roof are preferred. This is why a large canvas tent comes highly recommended.
Tents made from natural fibers, and especially canvas tents, often have fairly simple architecture. A wall tent is essentially a cloth cabin with four walls set under a high ceiling. The sizes usually come with a very large footprint that allows for plenty of space to accommodate the whole family. Inside, there’s enough space for the kids to have their own corner for sleeping, a lounge area to kick up their feet, and plenty of headroom to allow anyone to stand up and stretch out.
Built for the Long Haul: Durability and Multi-day Trips
Aside from accommodating the whole family, a large canvas tent is built to last. More than a pop-up tent that needs to be replaced every couple of years, canvas tents are equipped with a durable, solid frame that is designed to withstand high winds and rough weather. The canvas fabric breathes in hot weather and insulates well in the cold. These are all important factors when considering keeping everyone in the family comfortable in any season.
If you’re going to get out with the family, it seems likely it will be when school is out, when everyone is off work, and there will otherwise be a reason you are staying for more than one night. When thinking about that, there will be significant time spent in the tent, whether it’s cooking, changing, hiding out from the elements, or just sleeping. With all this activity comes a lot of wear and tear on equipment. A large canvas tent is more than just a canvas shell, which is fantastic. Canvas is great for temperature control, as mentioned, but it also comes with ties, zippers, and reinforced seams. A good quality, family camping tent will have proper mesh screens so the windows can be drawn open, and bugs still won’t get in. And in colder seasons, a stove jack for a tent wood stove.
These features result in the benefits of what we’re really after when we take a large group, or the whole family camping: comfort. So many people are convinced that camping is a type of “roughing it”. Or that being outdoors means that you have to be some rugged individualist. With today’s modern technology and amenities, that is absolutely not the case. When you arrive at camp with your family and begin setting up a large canvas tent, it should bring everyone a sense of comfort and peace. When they look at their family camping tent, they should know that they are safe and that they are going to have a good time. This tent is more than a protective structure in the wild; it’s a second home, and it’s a symbol. Build the structure, imbue it with good feeling, and your family’s excitement will grow.
Everything in Its Right Place: Organize the Family Chaos
It should be evident at this point, but to have a successful group family trip and, more to the point, set up a functioning family base camp, comfort is key. We’ve chosen the large canvas tent for our family base camp headquarters, and we know that space is necessary; we need to figure out what to do with that space.
At home, it’s easy enough for everyone to head to their respective rooms. But in a family camping tent, they’re going to need to get comfortable. The best way to handle this is to divvy up chores, tasks, or spaces that are age-appropriate and usually have to do with a section of the tent. If you’re in the cold season, then it is highly recommended to have a tent wood stove. This is a great task for one or two of the kids. Someone is needed to keep the fire going. But this requires 1) gathering wood, 2) chopping the wood, and 3) keeping the fire stoked. This is easily managed by two of-age kids (and is usually one of the funner jobs). To assist with this, a canvas log carrier is a great idea to help them gather wood without getting pricked by sharp wood and to make their trips more efficient.
Another basic chore is food preparation and cooking. It happens at every camp, so it’s good to keep everyone involved. Instead of incessantly asking when dinner will be ready, they will know because they will be helping out. With a large family camping tent, you can keep the wood gathering/splitting by the front door in the corner, and the cooking setup with a small, foldable table next to the stove. Just about the time that kids start getting restless, it is usually time to stoke the fire, turn whatever is cooking low in the pot, or check on the boiling water. This is an inclusive way to keep people actively engaged and keep good spirits up with a little tent organization.
With a properly sized tent, there will still be room for foldable furniture, cots, and sleeping bags, and space for the younger children to spread out on the floor with a canvas tarp and a thick wool blanket. A large canvas tent will be cozy, but with the right tasks and games set up, everyone can still feel comfortable.
From Family Camping to Family Glamping
Keeping everyone comfortable while on a family camping trip is the baseline for a successful trip. But if you want to take the experience over the edge handset the bar very high, turn your family camping tent into a luxury glamping tent. This is really much easier than you think. Think of glamping as a cross between a rugged outdoor experience and a 5-star hotel. You’d be surprised how far some throw pillows and string lights can get you.
Some folks like to reserve glamping for special occasions. Whether it’s a holiday, anniversary, or birthday, setting up a luxury glamping getaway is a good idea. For this kind of setup, think battery-powered. String lights, USB speakers, table lamps, a disco ball, fans, and/or heaters, or any comfort gadget you can think of, all have options to be battery-powered. This way, you don’t have to bring a loud, obnoxious, gas-smelling generator. There are also battery banks out there that you can charge beforehand at home that provide the same quiet power.
The benefit of a large canvas tent is a broad, off-white wall. These are perfect to project a movie or photo reels onto. A little music for ambiance, and you and the family can look at old adventures while you’re in the middle of one. This keeps the family focused on one another and reminds everyone why they’re out there. The wild and the scenery are incredible, but nothing beats being around those you love.
Bring the Comfort, Keep the Memories
It’s getting continually more difficult to get away with the schedules we live and the distractions the city life provides. It can be a battle even going to the kids’ favorite restaurant because they might have to put down the phone for a minute. A good way to keep family camping in your life is to start them early and make it a practice. Frequent day trips and visits to the mountains or to a local river or pond are good reminders that the wildlife is still out there.
If camping is something you’ve never tried, then prepare in advance, practice setting up your canvas tent at home, and plan for weather, daily food, and activities. Don’t ever leave fun or safety to chance. When children feel safe, they will let down their guard and, as a result, have more fun. But that all starts with comfort.
It’s good to keep in mind that no one should be forced or coerced into doing something they don’t want to do. This can often be the case with multi-generational camping trips. There are ways around it, such as resort camping on high-end camping sites that also have pools, or visiting mountain towns and staying in campsites that have showers and running water. The impulse to drive our loved ones deep into the wilderness to experience a deep, unending love that we have for nature is tempting. But to instill that love, we have to first introduce comfort. Make them comfortable, and the memories will inevitably come. That is where a love for wild places comes.
No Comment! Be the first one.