Camping with Kids? Be Prepped in your Summer Alaska SUV Rentals

Camping can be a challenge in itself. When you toss kids into the mix, the whole thing takes a lot more preparation. Worth it, of course! If prepared well, your camping trip will spur a lifelong love of camping and the wilderness in your children. If not, it could leave them whimpering to sleep in your summer Alaska SUV rentals.

We’ve created a small checklist to help you pack your summer Alaska SUV rentals accordingly. While many experienced campers may know these things already, it doesn’t hurt to have a little reminder.

Don’t overdo it with the snacks

While it can be extremely tempting to have a weekend full of typical camping food – hot dogs, marshmallows, s’mores, the works – it won’t offer a nutritional enough diet to keep the kids happy. Though they may be thrilled at the prospect of a weekend in the woods with junk, their stomachs will naturally start to say otherwise.

Try to balance out eat day with healthy food. Granola, fruit, and fresh veg will go a long way to keeping the kids happy. Keep in mind also that things like eggs and peanut butter can stay out of the fridge for a couple days without going off. Super nutritious and delicious!

You can’t go wrong with a little canned fish, as well. Tuna pasta tosses with K-D and broccoli on the fire are fairly healthy, tasty additions. Alternatively, fire top scrambles with veg, salami and cheese sandwiches, crackers with jam, nuts, and quick mix bean burgers are easy and nutritious.

Extra layers and tarps – camp uphill

While most campers know to keep the tent uphill to avoid runoff, those extra couple layers are often forgotten. As usual, use a tarp under the tent and even one over in case of rain. But once you’ve set your tent up, add an extra layer (or two!) of woolen blankets to the inside tent floor. Bring sleeping pads for extra comfort, as well as insulation.

It also doesn’t hurt to add a couple layers to the outside. A few additional blankets for around the fire can’t hurt. Fires are good for keeping your front warm, but the shoulders can get chilly quickly, even beneath a hoodie.

Don’t forget to top up first aid

It’s easy to forget to replenish first aid. Much of the time, having things like indigestion medication, allergy treatment, and cold and flu medication may not be an emergency – unless you’re out in the woods. Before setting out in your summer Alaska SUV rentals, make sure to top up your first aid kit. Marshmallows and hot dogs can be tough on a little one’s tummy, and you don’t want their trip to be ruined.

Toilet paper – and lots of it

When in doubt, bring another roll. Enough said!

Games and equipment

The great outdoors can keep most people occupied for hours. However, that doesn’t always apply after dark. You likely don’t want your child out and about exploring when dusk arrives. Bring along a few board games, some puzzles, craft supplies, books, and coloring books for the kids. Make games out of what they’ve found in the woods that day. Perhaps the shells and sticks become part of a new art piece or homemade costume.

Fireside games are also quite good. Put on little plays for each other, or bring out the story time fireside games to work their imagination.

Extra batteries

There’s nothing more frustrating than running out of batteries in your flashlight when a little one has to use the toilet at night! Make sure to bring an excessive amount of batteries and 2-3 flashlights. That’s what the storage in our summer Alaska SUV rentals is great for, after all!

Be prepared for bears

Bears shouldn’t bother you. If you’re concerned, our blog article on dealing with bears can help. It’s important to remember that bears aren’t a threat. Talk to your children in advance about how to deal with them. Come up with an action plan that is easy for them to remember. Rehearse it. Often, simply standing your ground, speaking calmly to the bear, and not threatening them in any way will be enough to have the bear move along.

Don’t surprise the bears, and don’t scare them – especially if cubs are around. Remember that mama bears are just as protective of their kids as you are! So threatening moves will cause a problem. Otherwise, you should be safe! Bear attacks are very rare around Alaska. We treat them as gorgeous, wonderful creatures with which we share this great wilderness.

Remember that bear mace should be used in rare and only emergency circumstances. To keep bears away from your campsite, don’t bring food in the tent, and invest in a bear-proof food barrel.

Begin your camping trip by reserving your summer Alaska SUV rentals from Avis today!