How to make sure everyone has fun on a camping trip with friends

The ultimate camping season is around the corner, and it is now time to make big decisions on how and where to spend time with your friends. One of the issues is that going on a camping trip is a big commitment, and the one in charge of all organizational processes must make sure to secure all participants’ safety, happiness, and good conduct. Checking lists of top 6-person tents or the best places to visit is important, yet not enough.

Let us take a look at ten issues one must take into consideration when planning a group camping trip.

1. Make sure that everyone knows what they are signing for.

If you are a camping enthusiast, it might just not occur to you that spending three nights in a tent might be too much for some people. So if you invite people who have never done it before, make sure to tell them about the difficult parts as well as the fun ones. Let them know that it is not only about the views but also about spending time in the sun, interacting with insects, and applying physical labor to set up a tent and cook food.

2. Organise the transport appropriately

You need to make smart decisions about getting to the place you have chosen. Depending on where you are going it might be wise to walk or to go by car. A car allows you to take more necessary things and will be better if it is a distance too long for walking. You can also create a group chat to make sure that everyone gets a ride and the cars are shared — this approach is good for both environment and budget.

3. Choose the right place to go.

It is quite easy to make up your mind about where you want to go when you are alone or with a friend. However, it gets much harder when your choice has to satisfy the tastes of six or seven people. Some like to be near water, while others will be annoyed by the mosquitos it attracts. Spoiler alert: someone will end up unhappy with the place you have chosen anyway, so it might be wise to make a poll and let the majority decide.

 4. Make sure everyone has a good tent and everything they need.

If you are into camping, you are sure to have a great tent, a footprint for the tent, a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad, a lantern, and whatever might come in handy. But it is quite likely that not all of your friends are as well equipped. They might need assistance with choosing a tent to buy or rent, as well as other things. Send them video instructions on how to set them up. You can make a checklist and send it to everyone to make sure that nothing slips their minds.

5. Make a list of things you need to pack and use it to check you have not forgotten anything when returning.

As we have mentioned a checklist, we can also admit that writing one is the right approach to packing too. First of all, you will not forget to take important things with you. Second of all, when the trip is over, you can use it to check if you have not left anything behind.

6. Organise food that will not go bad and that will fit everyone’s eating habits

One of the most frustrating things about camping that some people hate is how hard it is to eat. Not having a coffee machine is alone enough to turn your friends off camping forever. Therefore, when planning a group trip, it is important to discuss what everyone wants to eat, whether there are vegetarians or people with food allergies within your group. You can then make sure that you have a sufficient meal plan and that everyone brings complementary ingredients that work well together. Make sure that all food gets good preservation and does not go to bed without a fridge. Also, it is always good to make conscious group decisions about alcohol consumption before going on a trip.

7. Organize leisure activities

Depending on what kind of people you are going with, you can opt for sports activities, board games, birdwatching, or singing songs. This is the best part of going on a trip, but it is also crucial as it allows you all to make precious memories together. Nature is impressive, but most people would get bored of it in a few hours.

8. Be in charge of safety

Safety is crucial for going on camping trips, and there are many factors you need to take into consideration, such as medications, sun protection, hydration, insect protection, and even wearing appropriate clothes. Things that seem obvious to you may be a revelation for others, so you have to inform them about safety rules if you are in charge of the trip.

9. Secure a phone policy

Phones can ruin any kind of group activity, regardless of how well it has been prepared. Unless you want your trip to turn into a series of selfies and complaints about poor connection, you can come up with a no-phone policy for everyone. You can take a few photos, but having some off-screen time can turn into a real retreat.

10. Make proper time-management decisions

When it comes to camping, the most important thing is knowing when to go home. If you manage to do it before the food runs out, all clothes get dirty, and everyone gets grumpy, you can call it a success.

In conclusion, there is nothing better than combining camping with spending some quality time in the company of friends. Being in charge does not necessarily mean you get no time to rest — if you take care of all the things we have mentioned, you can have the time of your life.

source https://www.jbklutse.com/how-to-make-sure-everyone-has-fun-on-a-camping-trip-with-friends/