Think back to when you were a kid and all of the great things, big and small, you used to do outdoors everyday.  Remember all of the things we took for granted growing up in a world before iThings and internet and pre-teen texting.

In my own hometown of Toronto, my old outdoor haunts have been paved over. The creeks that I caught tadpoles in, the hills that I rolled down, the trees that I climbed have all been razed and condos built in their stead. Many items on the list are still doable, but some require a little more effort. What then is the answer? It’s time to go family camping.

Family camping is just like regular camping except louder, dirtier and more tiring. You need to bring all the same gear, just more of it and in smaller sizes. And you get to carry it all because your little angels will be busy building forts and skipping rocks and doing all of the things that you hoped they would be doing when you decided to bring them. Make out a list of everything you want to bring so you don’t forget anything. For a kids camping check-list starter, print out this list.

What I’ve learned from my decade of camping with kids is everyone is happier when the kiddies are comfortable. Let them get dirty, let them get wet, but make sure they don’t have to stay that way. Bring extra clothes for a comfy quick change and having the right gear for the weather ensures that everyone can focus on the fun. Do yourself a favour and buy gear for your little adventurers in the right size to ensure optimum effectiveness and comfort. Sure, go ahead and buy their Aquanator Jacket a size too big. The cuffs are adjustable so sleeves that are too long don’t fall over busy hands. However, resist the urge to squeeze an extra season out of hiking boots by buying the next size up. Improperly fitted footwear can cause pain and damage to growing feet. And there are enough obstacles like tree roots and rocks to traverse without having to worry about tripping over floppy footwear to boot.

After long days of making mud pies and bug collecting, junior is going to crash hard and will need a soft place to land. Try the Explorer Kid’s Down sleeping bag because it is warm and cozy, packs super small, is nice and light and looks just like mom and dads. If you are concerned about keeping a down bag dry, opt for the Little Dipper sleeping bag. It’ll maintain it’s loft and warmth even if it gets damp. Keep in mind that the body wastes a lot of energy trying to warm empty space in a sleeping bag that is too big, so try to choose one that is best suited for your child’s height.  In a pinch, you can stuff the foot with clothing to fill the dead space. Pair the bag with the new kids Reactor Explorer 2.5 sleeping pad for a winning combo. Sleeping pads not only provide cushy protection from rocks and sticks, but they keep your kids up off of the cold ground and offer additional warmth on cool nights.

Now that you’ve got your brood geared up, it’s time to start working on that list. Camping is good for the soul, good for the body and good for the imagination. Let your kids stretch their legs and their minds, take them camping.