This past summer, my niece and nephew were finally old enough to brave the outdoors on a family camping trip! When I came to this realization, I kicked into gear immediately to plan and put together the ultimate 5-day family camping trip that would introduce them to this classic pastime that we all know and love. In the first blog of this 6-part series, I walked through everything our family did to prepare for this trip, from picking a campground in Shenandoah National Park to making a packing list and shopping for gear. After months of anticipation (we booked our campsite a full 6 months in advance), the day finally came to pack the car and head into the wilderness!
Today, I’ll take you through what our first day looked like, from arriving at the park and pitching our canvas tent to teaching the kids about safety and settling into camp for the evening. Without further ado, let’s jump right in!
New to the journey? Catch the full story “Making Memories Together – A 5-Day Family Camping Series“ before diving into Day 1.
Arriving and Setting Up Camp
The kids were wide-eyed as we pulled into Big Meadows Campground in the heart of Shenandoah. We planned to arrive at 12 pm on the dot, which was the earliest we could start setting up our campsite according to the campground’s policies. Aside from wanting to soak in every minute we paid for, we knew we had a lot to get done before the sun started to set. For anyone else traveling with multiple kids and pets, first-time campers, or complex gear like a large yurt tent, arriving as early as possible is my number one piece of advice to ensure you have plenty of daylight to get settled in.
Once everyone jumped out of their cars, it was right to work! Like I briefly mentioned in the first part of this series, I may have a few type-A personality traits, which meant that everyone was immediately assigned a role for setup. Grandma was the designated dog wrangler for the entire trip, so we tasked her with getting Luke, my brother’s Labrador, acquainted with his new environment through a potty break and sniff-filled stroll through the campground. Not only did this keep the pup out of the way, it also meant one less cook in the kitchen, which isn’t always a bad thing with a large camping group like ours.
My partner and I took ownership of setting up the family camping tent, while my brother and sister-in-law were in charge of making the rest of the campsite hospitable, which included the outdoor kitchen and leisure areas. Since the kids are still a little too young to lend any real hands, we made it a point to include them in small tasks, like helping us unfold the tent and hammering in the stakes. Ultimately, they spent most of their time exploring the campsite and oohing and aahing at the place they’d call home for the next week.
I won’t bore you with the specifics of how we put together our campsite, since every family’s gear will be different and unique to them. If you have the same White Duck Alpha Wall Tent as us, or any White Duck tent for that matter, check out their setup videos for helpful tips on the pitching process. Just don’t forget to add your basics, like a ground tarp and rainfly if the weather calls for it. As for creating a successful outdoor kitchen at camp, this comprehensive overview covers the fundamentals if you’re not sure where to start.
Decorating the Campsite
We really wanted to make our shelter feel like a luxury tent, and our greater campsite was homey, so decorating was a must. This not only ensured everyone was comfortable in the outdoors for the multiple days we’d be there, but it also increased the chances of the kids getting a great first impression of camping. We used a number of fun tent accessories, like string lights and lanterns, plenty of throw pillows and blankets, and a family flag to mark the outside of our shelter. Campsite decor is completely personal and should reflect your group’s unique preferences and style. If you’d rather keep it simple – that works, too!
For more practical additions, we got the wood in our tent stove burning and placed a poly tarp over the rest of the firewood stack outside to protect the logs from moisture. We also went ahead and pitched a sunshade tarp off to the side, knowing we’d enjoy the shade during peak daylight hours over the next few days.
Teaching Campsite Safety
After perfecting our setup, the next order of business was to go over campsite safety. While camping is one of the most family-friendly activities you can do, there’s still risk involved, especially when young kids and pets are present.
We lit the campfire and called the kids to join us for a family meeting around the pit, where we discussed everything from campfire and tent stove safety to the importance of staying together and maintaining communication with each other. Since the kids are quite young, only 6 and 4, we had no plans of leaving them out of an adult’s sight. Still, it was important that we covered every reasonable scenario to ensure their safety. Our general rules included staying within the campsite boundaries, using the buddy system when venturing away, never touching the fire pit or tent stove, and keeping a safe distance from wildlife. Exact rules will vary from family to family, but addressing each of these areas will be important on any camping trip to maintain safety.
Settling In and Reflecting on Day 1
At this point, we still had a couple of hours of daylight left to use to our advantage. We took this as an opportunity to explore the rest of the campground and get acquainted with where all the amenities were in relation to our site. As dinner called our names, we headed back to camp for the night. While you may have plenty of time to cook up a fancy camp meal on your arrival day, our crew wanted to take it easy after all of our hard work. Hot dogs are a family favorite around here, and one of the simpler meals to make at camp. Although our bellies were full afterward, there was no way we were letting our campfire dwindle without roasting some marshmallows! The kids had done this plenty of times before in their backyard, but nothing beats the magic of the first s’more surrounded by the beautiful wilderness on a camping trip.
Thanks to our many preparations beforehand and maybe a stroke of good luck, our arrival at camp was as smooth as any family could hope for. If you’re planning your own family getaway to the outdoors, use the tips outlined above to ensure your first day is as productive and successful as possible. Stay tuned for the rest of this 5-day family camping series to gain more insights into what makes a memorable trip. Spoiler: day 2 involves hiking, scavenger hunts, riverside picnics, and more!
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