What It Means
Camping with kids means planning a night or more outdoors around what young campers need: safe drinking water, a campfire that's fully out, food stored away from wildlife, daily tick checks, and an adult watching whenever children are near water. The National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, CDC and the American Red Cross each publish safety advice that covers one of these. The rest is packing for the weather and planning a trip short enough for the youngest camper.
Try It: Flip Through Five Campsite Safety Rules
Open each card for the rule and who says it.
Water to drink
Find out where water is available and whether it's safe to drink. Backcountry campers may need to carry it in or treat it. (National Park Service)
Putting the fire out
Pour on lots of water, stir with a shovel, pour on more, until every ember, coal and stick is wet. Never leave a fire that isn't completely out. (U.S. Forest Service, Smokey Bear)
Food and wildlife
Keep the site clean. Store food in sealed containers, and never leave food, garbage, coolers or cooking gear out in the open. (U.S. Forest Service)
Ticks
Check everyone for ticks every day and remove any promptly. (CDC)
Lakes and rivers
Give children close, constant attention near water, even with a lifeguard on duty. Stay within arm's reach of young children and new swimmers, and put children in U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. (American Red Cross)
How People Say It
- "First night out, so we're camping ten minutes from the car."
- "Drown it, stir it, drown it again before bed."
- "Tick check before everyone gets in the tent."
The Breakdown
How to do it (Buhata's suggestion, built on the agencies' rules)
- Pick a campground with drinking water and restrooms for a first trip, and check the park's page for whether its water is safe to drink.
- Pack layers, rain gear, a first aid kit, flashlights, and enough water and food for everyone, plus sunscreen and hats.
- On arrival, set up the tent, show the kids where the site's edges are, and agree on who watches them near any water.
- Keep food in sealed containers and pack it away after every meal, with nothing left out overnight.
- Before bed, drown the campfire, stir it and drown it again until every ember, coal and stick is wet.
- Check everyone for ticks each day.
Try it today. Spend one night in the backyard or a nearby campground with the full kit, so the first real trip has fewer surprises.
Who gives which rule
| Topic | Source |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | National Park Service |
| Campfires | Smokey Bear and the USDA Forest Service |
| Food and wildlife | USDA Forest Service |
| Ticks | CDC |
| Water safety | American Red Cross |
Good to Know
The Red Cross says to give children close and constant attention whenever they're in or near water, even when a lifeguard is there, however well they swim and however shallow it looks. Each campground can set its own rules on fires, food storage and water, so read its page before you go. In an emergency, call 911, and know before you go whether your phone has a signal at the site.
FAQ
How should we plan a first camping trip with kids?
Buhata's suggestion is one night at a campground close to home that has drinking water, then going further as the kids get used to it. Read the park's page first for its water, fire and food storage rules.
How do you put out a campfire safely?
Pour on plenty of water, stir it with a shovel, then pour on more, until all the embers, coals and sticks are wet, as the U.S. Forest Service and Smokey Bear advise. Never leave a fire that isn't completely out.
How do I keep food safe from animals at a campsite?
Store it in sealed containers and keep the site clean. The U.S. Forest Service says never to leave food, garbage, coolers or cooking equipment out in the open.
Do It in Buhata
Shopping, Handoff Card (Premium)
Build the camping list in Shopping so everyone in the Household can add to it, and leave a Handoff Card (Premium) with whoever is minding the house while you're away.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Beach day checklist
A list of what to pack and do for a safe day at the beach with kids: sun protection, water, life jackets, a lifeguarded spot and an adult watching at all times.
- Sun safety
The habits that protect skin and eyes from the sun's UV rays: shade, covering clothes, a hat, sunglasses and broad spectrum sunscreen reapplied often.
- Packing list
A written list of everything to bring on a trip, ticked off as each item goes in a bag so nothing important gets left behind.
- Emergency kit
A packed set of water, food, light, first aid and other basics that lets a household get through several days on its own after a disaster.
- Family emergency plan
A written plan a household agrees on ahead of time for how it will reach each other, where it will meet and what it will do in a disaster or emergency.
Sources
U.S. Forest Service, "Safety - Outdoor and Recreation: Camping Tips"; Smokey Bear (U.S. Forest Service), "Fire Safety for Kids"; CDC, "Camping Health and Safety Tips"; National Park Service, "Camping Safely Step 1 - Before the Trip"; American Red Cross, "Swimming Safety"; CDC, "The American Red Cross" (drowning prevention partner page)
- www.fs.usda.gov/safety/outdoor/camping.shtml
- smokeybear.com/fire-safety-for-kids
- www.cdc.gov/family/camping/index.htm
- www.nps.gov/articles/camp-safety-before-the-trip.htm
- www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/swim-safety.html
- www.cdc.gov/drowning/partners/red-cross.html
Last updated .