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Let's camp out! Creative recipes, games, and activities for camping with little ones

By Catherine Newman, Disney FamilyFun magazine, Source: MCT News Service

For my family, camping is the perfect mix of the sublime and the ridiculously fun. Even little moments can be big adventures. After all, we never know when we'll spot a red-tailed hawk while we're brushing our teeth. There's nowhere we need to be, and nothing we need to do _ we're already there, doing it _ so, despite the small chores involved, it's a truly relaxing way to vacation.

When we're bunking under the stars, minor mishaps like a punctured air mattress become the stuff of laughs. And big mishaps, well, they become the stuff of family legend. Best of all, camping is inexpensive and can be done in any corner of the nation. In short, we think it's the greatest way to get away.

Here are some tips and ideas that will help you get geared up for your own family adventure _ whether your crew are complete newbies or outdoorsy veterans.

PUT THESE ON YOUR PACKING LIST

So that you can all spend less time looking for the things you need, take along a small zippered pouch for each member of the family containing such daily essentials as:

	- kid-safe bug spray
	- flashlight
	- sunscreen
	- lip balm
	- wipes
	- safety whistle

- twist-type pencil sharpener

- Flying disks are fun to toss around between meals and double as paper-plate holders during meals.

- Give cell phones a rest and try walkie-talkies instead. They'll help your group stay in touch on hikes or trips to the bathroom. You can talk tent-to-tent or, if you're caravanning, car-to-car _ and not fret about going outside of the service network! (We like the Motorola MH230R Radio Pack, $60 at cabelas.com.)

- For increased visibility, have your kids embellish their shoes, sweatshirts, and caps with reflective tape, available at hardware stores. And winding some tape around tent posts means fewer stumbles after dark.

- We've used Gorilla tape to fix everything from a leaky air mattress and a raccoon-torn tent to swimsuits, hiking boots, boogie boards, and even a fallen off car bumper (about $9 per roll at Target).

Camp mail

We vacation at the same campsite every summer, and our neighbors there always prop a little mailbox at the edge of their turf (and always get loads of letters from our kids). Last year, we finally brought our own.

Homemade or store bought, a mailbox makes a delightful diversion, breeds goodwill among fellow campers, and offers plenty of secret admirer mystery (even if it's usually just doting parents writing those love letters).

To make your own, you'll need a lidded coffee can and an extra lid. Use a hammer and nail to make a hole in the can's side about 2 inches above the bottom rim.

Cut a rectangular flag from the extra lid, use the nail to make a hole in it near one end, and secure it to the can with a brad fastener (watch out for sharp edges). Use bungee cords to secure the can to a tree or post, and leave a pad and pen inside for jotting notes.

Instant friends kit

Bring along a bag of googly eyes and a bottle of craft glue, and your kids will never be bored: they can make rock pets, stick snakes, nutty friends ... Just beware the strangely addictive nature of gluing eyes to everything.

Night walks

Evening hikes are tons of fun for our kids, who feel like nocturnal outlaws on the shadowy trails. A handy clip-on cap light turns your favorite hat into a headlamp, and frees up your hands (we like Schylling Cap Light, $3.50 at schylling.com). We also like to bring glow sticks and a field guide to the night sky.

Campfire games

For some wacky fireside improv, divide your family into two teams. One fills a box or pillowcase with campsite props (pinecones, ketchup bottle, flashlights). The other team then has 15 minutes to develop a skit that uses every object (yes, even that single flip-flop). After they perform their masterpiece, the teams switch roles for the game's second act.

S'mores kit

Pack graham crackers, Nutella, and marshmallow creme. Then if it rains, you can have s'mores inside your tent. It's the opinion of some people (ahem, me) that the Nutella version is superior to the chocolate-bar kind anyway.

Make a meal in a jar

Inspired by the popular (but not recommended) practice of boiling camp food in Ziplock bags, we came up with an ideal variation: jar meals. These simple dishes are prepped, cooked, and eaten in canning jars with lids and rings. They're ideal for rustic dining because each camper can assemble her own meal and cleanup is minimal. Plus, kids will have a blast customizing dishes to their own tastes.

Line the bottom of a large pot with extra jar rings (this keeps the jars from touching the bottom), fill it one third full with water, and bring the water to a boil.

Coat the inside of each jar with cooking spray. Have each diner add ingredients and prep his jar meal as he likes it.

To move the jars into and out of the water, use a pair of canning tongs or elbow-length oven mitts.

Save the leftover boiled water for washing the jars after the meal. After your jar meal is cooked, let it cool a bit, then slip a cut-off sock top around it to serve as a holder. Be sure to tell diners to handle the jars with care.

Jar cakes

Chocolate cupcakes steamed in jars have the enchanting taste and texture of classic pudding cake. And what better way to end an outdoorsy day than with a tummy-warming dessert?

Before you leave home

For four cupcakes, mix in a Ziplock bag:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix in a jar with a screw-top lid:

1/2 cup water

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1-1/2 teaspoons white vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla

At the campsite

When you're ready to make the cupcakes, pour the jar contents into the Ziplock bag, seal the bag, and knead to mix the batter. Snip a corner from the bag and squeeze out the batter, dividing it evenly among four prepared jars. Screw on the lids (not too tight), then carefully put the jars in rapidly boiling water. Cook for around 35 minutes, until the cakes are mostly set but still soft in the middle. Let them cool for 10 minutes, then serve while they're still warm. Serves 4.

Jar omelet

For a super-satisfying breakfast, crack 1 egg into a prepared canning jar, then beat it with a teaspoon of water and a sprinkle of salt. Add 1 teaspoon of butter and any omelet ingredients you like, such as shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, herbs, or ham. Screw on the lid (not too tight). Place the jar carefully in boiling water and cook for 15 minutes, or until the egg is set.

Jar burrito

Cook up a simple, hearty Tex-Mex meal in a prepared jar by adding a few spoonfuls of cooked rice (with boil-in-bag rice, you can use your pot of water to make the rice before you start on the jars). Next, layer on your favorite burrito ingredients _ we like canned corn, salsa, shredded cheese, and beans or chili. Screw on the lid (not too tight) and place the jar carefully in the boiling water until the food is hot, about 10 minutes. Serve with warmed tortillas.

Keep it clean

Cleanup station

Simplify campsite hand-washing: fill an empty milk jug with water, then use a nail to make a small hole that can be plugged with a golf tee. If you put your washing station in a sunny spot, the water should be pleasantly warm for rinsing hands and faces. Place a hand towel and a container of biodegradable hand soap within easy reach.

Bath buckets

For bathroom trips, stow gear in lidded five-gallon buckets, one for the gals, one for the guys. These can hold all the necessities _ toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo, packets of tissues, flip-flops, and a tin of quarters for coin-op showers _ and even double as a sink-side step stool for little ones. Line the bucket with an old towel to keep everything dry and add a field guide to insects (since the most exotic ones always seem to hang out in campground bathrooms!).

Finding a great campsite

State parks are our favorite places to camp. They're clean, offer all the basics, and are almost always beautiful _ and you can book up to six months ahead at reserveamerica.com. Call the park in season to talk to a ranger about the ideal site for your family (near water, tent-only, or whatever you like), then go online early to book it.

For more basics and a complete packing list, check out "Camping 101" at FamilyFun.com/magazine.

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(c) 2010, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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