How to Prepare for a Group Camping Trip to the Great Outdoors

Being a camper and exploring the great outdoors is always exciting. Additionally, there are occasions when having that experience with others makes it even more fulfilling. However, group camping requires a bit more organisation and planning. There are various considerations to make if you’re thinking about getting away from it all in a big group.

Make Sure Everyone Has What They Need

In terms of managing gear shares, a shared Google Document is a great way to have everyone follow up on the checklist. And why is this so important? Because anyone could easily forget that they agreed to lend their extra sleeping bag to a friend and instead lend it to another person.

This way is simpler to check everyone’s needs and make plans for how you will all work together to meet them if all of that information is centralised in one place. Additionally, you can organise who is sharing that comfortable brand new average 4 man tent size with whom. Camping supplies and equipment for particular activities can be quite expensive.

However, even in a small group, you can usually meet everyone’s demands jointly. Perhaps one individual has an extra sleeping bag. There might be space in his average 4 man tent size for another friend, or maybe there might be need for a roomier size. Making the process more organised in a professional manner ensures that everything is planned in advance and prevents the drive up from turning into a mad dash to find the last gear store along the route.

Choose a Campground: Public, Private, or Dispersed

What kind of camping you want to do should be the first thing your party decides. Private campgrounds, public campgrounds, and dispersed camping are your three primary options.

Private campgrounds

Private campgrounds can be found all around the nation. These grounds include everything from opulent resorts to basic RV and tent camping areas. Private grounds are typically the most expensive choice, but there are chances you might come across convenient deals.

Public campgrounds

Public campgrounds are available at many national and even some urban parks. These are frequently less expensive but might be more basic.

Dispersed campgrounds

Boondocking, or dispersed camping, is frequently found on Bureau of Land Management-owned public lands. Although it’s free, there are no amenities. Even water is among the items you must bring with you.

It might be best to stick to a private or public campground if this is everyone’s first experience. Are nearby restrooms, water, and electricity essential for your camping trip? If so, you should look for a site with hookups. Does your group like to party late at night or tend to be loud? Then try to be considerate and pick a remote spot. 

Will you need the group shelters that can occasionally be seen at campgrounds or will you do better with average 4 man tent size? What about grills or fire pits? (Note: Always look up local fire alerts.) Be sure to check the rules for the campground. Sites frequently have capacity limits, so before packing your luggage, it’s crucial that you’re ready for what’s on-site.

Choose a Place That Provides a Range of Activities

Your group might take pleasure in kayaking or canoeing on a nearby lake, depending on the time of year. Or perhaps the party you’re travelling with is made up of passionate cyclists, fishermen, or rock climbers. If your group specialises in night photography, look for a location remote from light pollution from cities. Choose a place that will offer the ideal environment for the activities you intend to offer, in other words.

Make Reservations and Delegate Team Responsibilities

If a group campsite is required at a public or private campground, make reservations at least a few months in advance. If your participants are making their own bookings, however, specify a deadline as long in advance as you can. Assigning tasks isn’t as important if your group is smaller.

However, if there are 20 or more people attending, it will go a lot more smoothly if everyone is aware of their respective responsibilities. In such a scenario, it could be useful to have some sort of spreadsheet or form that will enable you to keep track of the teams, payments, essential food requirements, and what each participant is bringing that will be shared with the others (i.e., sports equipment, coolers, grills, group tent).

Prepare a Menu for the Entire Camping Trip

You can create a menu for each provided group meal after you know how many campers you’ll have. Here, it’s crucial to consider dishes that may be cooked in large quantities. For instance, if necessary, spaghetti for 25 people can be made in two large pots. Easy preparation is another factor. On an open flame, you can cook grilled veggies for a big gathering, and grilling meat for your hamburgers is just as simple. Assembling tacos, burritos, bacon, and eggs as a buffet is an excellent breakfast option.

Make a Safety Plan

Before the camping excursion, put together a first aid kit. Include the standard band-aids, antibiotic creams, cold packs, aspirin, tweezers, and sterile bandages. If an Epi-Pen is not accessible, include Benadryl. Add a first aid app on your phone in addition to the emergency phone number for a hospital nearby the campsite.

Accordingly, get ready for navigating. Make sure you have a map, compass, and a clear idea of where you’re going. The folks you’re travelling with should, too, of course. If you’re doing something like backpacking where people can be moving at different paces, stay together as a group or set up particular meeting locations along the way.