We’ve been wanting to take David camping before it gets too cold. . .and after skimming through this book, I’m even more excited by the prospect:

The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping With Kids: How to Plan Memorable Family Adventures & Connect Kids to Nature by Helen Olsson.

To be honest, I didn’t take the time to read this book thoroughly, but what I did find was informative, helpful, and  fun. Helen includes recipes, game ideas, nature crafts, packing lists, resource lists, and general tips. I grew up camping, so a lot of the information was not entirely new to me, but I did appreciate the focus on how camping changes with little ones. One suggestion Helen gave was to have a small “play tent” that the kiddos can wrestle and play in, instead of getting the sleeping tent all dirty and rumpled. I also love how she includes a list of camping-related picture books to read before the trip.