For many of us, the word summer conjures up memories and dreams of campfires, s’mores, tents, pop-up campers, fishing poles, and swimming holes. Every spring when that first warm day comes, I start dreaming about those long, hot summer days camping with my family.
I love summertime camping. I often tell people it’s my favorite way to spend those 18 summers with our kids before they head off to college, and I mean it. If you already know my family, you know that we live in our camper in an ocean-front campground near Acadia National Park in Maine May through October every year for my husband’s job, and we love every minute. But this year is different.
As camping season opens this year with various quarantine requirements and restrictions, I’ve heard everything from, “We can’t wait to go camping – it’s the safest vacation there is this summer!” to, “We’re staying home this summer – it’s just too risky!” and everything in between.
Because we’ve already moved into the campground and my husband is one of the guys helping make decisions about campground openings and safety guidelines, I’ve gotten a lot of questions from moms about whether camping truly is a safe vacation option this year. To be honest, I’ve been wondering if it’s safe too.
So, I asked three of my nurse friends for their advice.
To sum up their recommendations, here’s what we all need to know about camping with our families this summer:
#1 – Research is a must.
Every state has different requirements and restrictions this summer when it comes to opening campgrounds, quarantine requirements before out-of-state visitors can check in, and how the bathrooms need to be utilized. Before you reserve, research. Before you get in the car, research. And, before you arrive, call ahead and ask questions. That way you’ll have the best chance of getting the right information and making the best decision for your family.
#2 – Protect your own family.
While campground owners and staff are doing their best to create germ-free environments that are safe for your family, it’s really an impossible task. That means you need to bring your own disinfectant wipes, soaps, and hand sanitizers, clean your own campsite and bathroom facilities before use, talk to your kids about whether they’re allowed to visit the playground or bathroom by themselves, and set some guidelines for your whole family when it comes to staying germ-free. Be sure you have masks for every family member, too.
#3 – Feel okay staying home if you need to.
If you don’t feel good about taking your family camping this summer for whatever reason, you should feel okay with staying home. It doesn’t have to be a political statement or a forever decision, and there are heaps of ways to have a camping trip at home, too. Plus, stress is a huge immunity buster, so staying away from things that bring you stress right now is huge for your health and the health of your family. If you think it’s risky, make a different plan.
I’m so thankful I reached out to my nurse friends. They thought of ways to keep families safe I never would have, and they had so much wisdom to give. See all 11 of their recommendations here.
Want to chat more about camping this summer? Come on over to my email group and shoot me a message – I’d love to hear from you!
Celeste Orr is an adventure-loving mama on a 7-year long cross-country camping trip with her family, homeschooling her tween and teen boys on the coast of Maine, writing books, podcasting, and hosting a fun email group to help families build connection and go after their own big family dreams at togethernessredefined.com. You can find her on Instagram @celeste__orr.