Tips For A Successful Group Camping Trip
A group camping trip is a highly enjoyable social activity that can bring people together and help you connect with nature. Whether you are camping with friends, family, or even coworkers, it’s a bonding experience that offers a wide variety of benefits. However, it’s important to take extra steps to prepare for group camping because the more people you have, the more there is to keep track of. Furthermore, camping in large groups also has more of an impact on the environment, so it’s crucial to camp responsibly as well to avoid harming local wildlife and ecosystems. Overall, when camping in large groups, the more organized and prepared you are, the better. This article will offer guidance and tips for a successful group camping trip to ensure everyone stays safe and has a good time.
Choose an Ideal Group Camping Location
The first step to having a successful and responsible group camping trip is to pick the right location. Not all camping areas are ideal for large groups. So you’ll want to do a bit of research ahead of time to find a spot that can accommodate everyone and all your gear. This includes space for vehicles and parking, enough room for everyone’s tents, and room for everyone to hang out around the fire or even multiple fires if needed.
You should also consider the location in terms of comfort depending on what kind of group camping you are planning. For example, if it’s a work retreat, you might want an area that has more amenities and offers a higher level of comfort. Whereas camping with friends can be a bit more (or a lot more) rugged if everyone is prepared.
Make a Reservation (If Needed)
When choosing your location, it’s also essential to keep in mind whether or not you will need a reservation. Some areas do not require reservations, some are first come-first serve, and others do require you to reserve your spot ahead of time.
With groups, it is generally advised to find places that allow for reservations before you arrive. The last thing you want when travelling with a large group is to arrive and find that there are no spots available. So when in doubt, always book ahead of time.
Organize a Meal Plan
If you’re camping on your own or in smaller groups, it’s easy to get by with little food planning. A few hot dogs or burgers and some snacks, and you’re good to go. But when camping in larger groups, it’s always best to make an organized meal plan to ensure there is enough food for everyone.
This is especially important if you are camping with coworkers or just in general with large groups where you are perhaps not familiar with everyone’s dietary needs. You don’t want to plan for specific meals the whole trip only to find that someone can’t eat what you brought due to a dietary restriction.
It’s also important to plan meals based on the facilities and what cooking equipment is available. In general, meals with simple ingredients that are easy to buy, prepare, and cook in bulk are best.
Make a Camping Checklist
When camping in a group, it’s smart to make a thorough checklist of everything you’ll need. A lot more people means a lot more equipment and necessities. So make one big camping checklist and send it out to everyone ahead of time to see what people already have and what you need to buy.
This includes tents, sleeping bags, multitools, lanterns, flashlights, bug spray, first aid kits, cooking equipment, utensils, water, camping chairs, personal hygiene items, ideal clothing, toilet paper, trash bags, firewood, firestarter, and any other tools, equipment, or items you deem necessary.
It’s also a good idea to try and buy items that are reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable, as this is best for the environment. Camping in large groups can result in a larger carbon footprint, so it’s important to find ways to reduce your impact as much as possible.
Delegate Responsibilities
While you might have people already designated as leaders for the trip, it’s helpful to delegate duties and tasks to everyone to avoid making one or two people do all the work. Before the trip, you can take the camping and food checklists and divide things up, so everyone is responsible for bringing certain items.
You should also plan to delegate duties once you arrive at the campsite as well. For example, some people can be in charge of the fires, some in charge of cooking, and others in charge of setting up tents. It’s also smart to designate a couple of people to keep an overall eye on the group to keep people safe and avoid anyone getting lost.
Prepare Your Car
When preparing for a successful group camping trip, it’s not just the camping itself you should prepare for, but the road trip to get there as well. So anyone that is driving should make sure to have their vehicle inspected and take care of any necessary maintenance before hitting the road. The last thing you want when carpooling groups and trying to stay together on the way there is for someone’s car to break down.
Have a Safety Plan
Whether you are camping alone or in a group, it’s always a good idea to make a safety plan for where you will be camping. This includes checking ahead of time for special alerts or dangers in the area, such as wildfires or issues with wildlife, having a plan in case someone gets hurt or lost and preparing overall for any of the usual camping risks.
Keep Pets Protected
Of course, camping is a great way to bond with other people as well as an excellent way to bond with pets. However, if anyone plans on camping with their pet, you should make sure they are protected and prepared just as much as everyone else.
Make sure they have enough food and water. Bring harnesses and leashes or tie-out cables to keep them from running off. And bring along some toys to keep them entertained. Pets are also more susceptible to things like ticks and fleas while camping, so make sure they are on medication or have a spray or collar to protect them.
Have a Plan for Trash and Waste
Inevitably, groups tend to produce more trash and waste while camping, so you will need to have a plan to keep everything neat and tidy. For example, it’s not a good idea to leave food or trash sitting out overnight as it can attract wildlife and pests. So make sure you clean your trash up every night before going to bed.
It is also a rule of thumb to pack out what you brought in. Leaving trash and waste behind after camping is harmful to the local wildlife and ecosystems. So have a plan to clean everything up and designate someone to check that everything is clean and clear before you leave.
Fully Extinguish Fires
Fires are another things that can be disastrous for campgrounds and surrounding nature. So, in addition to cleaning up all the trash from your group trip, you should also designate someone to make sure the fires are completely extinguished. Even the tiniest ember left burning can result in a fire that can spread.
Conclusion
Group camping is a lot of fun, but there are so many more things that can go wrong when you are out in nature with a large group. However, as long as you fully prepare, are organized, and have a plan for everything, there is no reason why you can’t have a successful group camping trip that everyone enjoys. Follow these tips for a group camping trip and stay relaxed on your trip.
