Group Camping is a breeze with a few simple tips
One of the best things about campgrounds is that they allow families and groups of friends to gather and spend quality time together in a comfortable environment. Communal campfires and group picnic areas give everyone the chance to catch up and bond, while individual campsites and cabins offer much needed down time and privacy.
If you are considering hosting a family reunion, birthday party, or just a weekend get together at a campground, advance planning and communication will go a long way to ensuring everyone has a blast. After spending dozens of nights at the campground with friends, here are our 5 tips for having a blast while camping in a group.
Agree on the type of campground, amenities, and activities everyone wants
Some campers love pools, bounce pillows, and organized campground activities. Other folks look for rustic retreats where they can unwind and connect with loved ones. Discuss expectations in advance and make sure everyone is on board with the campground choice. Remember, each campground offers it’s own unique amenities and charm, but KOA’s three types of campgrounds mean you’ll easily find just the right fit for you and your group.
Decide what types of sites or cabins you would like
Do you want sites right next to each other, or are you looking for RV sites near Deluxe Cabins? Look at a campground map together and talk about what area would be best for your group. If you are camping with young children, consider reserving spots near the playground. If you are planning relay races and corn hole tournaments, look for an open field or recreation area.
Schedule time for group activities and keep plenty of time unplanned
Decide on a few events that everyone will participate in and set a schedule that people can plan around. You might consider some fun tournaments or maybe just a daily afternoon swim at the pool. But be sure not to over-schedule your time together. Feeling like every minute of your day is accounted for can seriously ruin campground mojo.
Discuss meal arrangements in advance
This might be the most important topic to discuss ahead of time. There are many different ways to organize mealtimes, but plan in advance and stick to it. We like to do breakfast and lunch on our own and then assign each family one night’s dinner. It might be a little extra work for one meal, but then you get to take the rest of the time off! Need an idea for your assigned meal? Don’t worry, KOA has plenty of great recipes to make you a campground gourmet. And a final tip: beware dividing up ingredients for individual meals (you bring the ketchup and I’ll bring the mustard) which can easily turn into a dinner-time disaster…or at least we have heard…
Be flexible!
Remember that you have gathered with your family and friends to have fun and that should be the number one priority. Not everything will go according to plan when you are group camping, but that’s okay. You won’t remember the missed activities or the burned rolls. You will, however, remember the time spend around the campfire and the wonderful connections we build with our loved ones when we take the time to camp together.
Stephanie and Jeremy Puglisi are the co-hosts of RV Family Travel Atlas, a weekly podcast available in the iTunes store and on their blog. They are also parents and educators who seek out adventure with their three young children and an RV. You can follow their family shenanigans on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
