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If you take a step back and really think about what formed you as a person you are today I am sure that your childhood memories will be one of the few things that pop into mind.

But of all the mornings, days and nights, only a few always stand out no matter how fulfilled your childhood was. Almost always, there is a memory of a trip of some kind right in there – among those few of the deepest engraved memories.

So, if you want to do the same for your kids, leave them with a beautiful memory of, say, a camping trip, this short article will point you into the right direction. It will show you how to organize things to make sure you make the most of the trip and, not less important, make sure your kids remember it fondly.

5 tips that will make it happen:

1. Spontaneity

Plan to be spontaneous. Yes, you read it right, no matter how strange it sounds. Don’t tell your kids: “Three weeks from now we are going camping”. Tell them just before you leave.

What is the logic behind this?

The answer to that lays in the science of how memories are formed and which ones stay. Whether a childhood memory “sticks” or not is determined by simple science – how much adrenaline is in the brain while the event is taking place. Why else would you remember the stressful events and forget all those French toast breakfasts?

To simplify things – you plan the trip ahead and make all the preparations but you tell your kids just before you leave. They wake up on a Saturday morning to their favorite breakfast and you just tell them that right after they finish their pancakes, you are all going camping. This way, you will pump so much excitement (and adrenaline) into their little heads that it will “brand” the memory in there for life.

2. Choosing the right camping equipment for a good night sleep

Now, if one thing can ruin the trip and the memories, I am sure it is sacrificing comfort and trying to improvise when it comes to the right camping equipment. Sure, you are in the wild and you are camping, but there’s no need to pretend you are Robinson Crusoe, especially with children. I am a camping enthusiast and my experience tells me that after a long vibrant, exhausting day, a good night sleep is a must to complete the circle.

No matter how perfect the day, you will not be able to explain to your child that it is a good thing that you are all sleeping on the ground. It sounds simple and you might be telling yourself: “I’ll just drop by a Walmart when we leave.” Bad idea.

Getting the right stuff for camping nights should be approached much more seriously if you don’t want to spend the night talking about how your air bed is deflated instead of that amazing woodpecker your kid saw. Try to pack a light air mattress so that you will have great comfort but also less weight to carry around.

3. Choose a camping site that is close to home

Believe me, you will not loose any of the magic of being ‘million miles away’ by choosing a camping site that is close to your home.

It will make the spontaneity part that much easier and even increase the excitement, because one moment they are waking up to a regular Saturday morning and within an hour or two they are in the wild with a tent set up and ready to explore. Now, this is magic. You don’t want to loose any of the excitement by travelling for 5 hours. Also, you will not feel that pressure of how boring getting back home will be.

4. Keep it short

This way, much less planning and packing is involved, there is less pressure and it’s easier to be spontaneous about the trip. Also, the fewer the memories, the more special they become in the child’s mind. Two nights is plenty to last a lifetime.

5. Simplicity and light packing

Foil dinners, pancake batter in a bottle and one-dish meals.  This will give you that feeling of freedom that will allow you to really breathe and focus on experiences instead of what is in your backpack. As always there is no way around the feeling that every thing you look at seems like something you might need. Be strict with yourself and don’t loose it. After a few trips, you will realize how little you really need.

One thing that you’ll actually need is a good sleeping pad. Just make sure you choose one that has a good R-value so that it insolates perfectly from the cold ground.

Also, remember you are not with your college friends, you are with your family. So, no rock climbing, just walk the trails, enjoy the wildlife and maybe take a swim if you have the chance… and lots of stories by the camp fire.

6. A good first aid kit

God forbid you should need it but having it will put your mind at ease and allow you to cherish every second of the precious experience.

To sum up, making those lifetime memories on a camping trip is not so hard after all. Just cut through the clutter of endless planning and worrying and focus on the experience and the moment. I know it might sounds easier said then done, but if you follow these 5 simple rules, I bet you’ll find that it really isn’t.

About the writer:  James Menta is a camping expert that has extensive outdoor experience. Gear testing is his passion. After spending years into the nature he decided to share his expertise creating definitive guides related to the great outdoors. He currently blogs at bestairmattressguide.com where he reviews air mattresses and organises camping experts roundups and interviews.

Bubs on the Move provides tips and advice for parents traveling with small children including attraction and accommodation reviews. You can join us on Facebook or Twitter to receive updates to your news feed.

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