Hello Summer! One of the best outdoor family activities for summer is camping. Below is a full packing list. We also go a little further into the main items just for the girls in your crew, specifically that awkward and embarrassing bathroom stuff in the outdoors. As well as tips for choosing the right sleeping bag, first aid go-tos and more.
Encouraging the girls in your family to participate fosters a spirit of adventure. As well as learning opportunities for a ton of things that aren't only just useful in the great outdoors.
She will learn self-reliance, resilience, and some great problem-solving skills along the way. These skills will help mold her to be an independent thinker and a do it herself kind of girl. A camping experience is also the best way to help her gain an appreciation for nature.
Being well prepared for your outdoor trips by having all the supplies that your girls need, plus a few things to make the trip extra fun and special, is a great way to make sure she has a great experience with memories to last a lifetime.
63 Camping Essentials for Girls:
| Basic Things | Girl Things |
| 1. Tent, stakes, tarps | 37. Pads & Tampons |
| 2. Sleeping bag & pillow | 38. Feminine Wipes / baby wipes |
| 3. Flashlights & Lanterns | 39. Urination device / Pee funnel |
| 4. Batteries | 40. Menstrual Cup |
| 5. Axe, hammer & pocket knife | 41. Period Underwear |
| 6. Lighter, matches & starter | |
| 7. Whistle | |
| 8. Backpacks | First Aid Things |
| 9. Waterbottles | 42. Bandages - various sizes |
| 10. Water purifiers | 43. Anti-bacterial cream / spray |
| 11. Towels | 44. Antihistamine cream |
| 12. Waterproof picnic blanket | 45. Antihistamine meds |
| 13. Extra Blankets | 46. Tick Remover |
| 14. Bug Spray | 47. Tweezers |
| 15. Sunblock | 48. Saline |
| 16. Battery or generator for electronic charging | |
| 17. Clothes {both warm & cool} | |
| 18. Water shoes & Waterproof boots | Personal Things |
| 49. Toilet paper | |
| 50. Baby wipes | |
| Kitchen Things | 51. Hand sanitizer |
| 19. Paper towels | 52. Dry shampoo |
| 20. Cooler & Ice | 53. Hair ties & headbands |
| 21. Table | 54. Deodorant |
| 22. Trash bags (leave no trace) | |
| 23. Skillet & Pot | |
| 24. Cutting board & kitchen knives | Fun Things |
| 25. Scissors | 55. Smores supplies |
| 26. Tongs, Spatula & Spoon | 56. Board games |
| 27. Can & bottle opener | 57. Hammock |
| 28. Large bowl & strainer | 58. Bluetooth Speaker |
| 29. Dish sponge, soap and large bucket for dishwashing | 59. Books |
| 30. Foil & Ziploc bags | 60. Football |
| 31. Plates, bowls, cutlery & cups | 61. Cornhole set |
| 32. Water jugs | |
| 33. Grill & charcoal | |
| 34. Grill Accessories & Utensils | Extra Things |
| 35. Cleaning Spray | 62. Binoculars |
| 36. Grocery Items | 63. Ponchos |
Now that you have the full list, here a few items I wanted to go a little further into.
SLEEPING BAG
Whether you are car camping or tent camping, the right sleeping bag is not only a good idea, but an absolute must. Even if your family has had an incredible day hiking, fishing or exploring, at the end of the day is when they may start wondering why you opted out of a cozy, comfy bed. A freezing cold or sweaty night could be the thing that ruins the trip for everyone.
Keep in mind that not all sleeping bags are made for all sorts of camping conditions. Some are specific for warm weather; others are best for cold weather and then some are designed for somewhere in between. You will want to check the description to be sure that you are making the right selection for your family's excursion.
Girl Stuff
Let’s face it, roughing it is easier for boys than girls in some ways. Particularly when it comes to bathroom stuff, like peeing and periods. A little extra planning and packing to make sure your girl is covered when it comes to these things will go a long way.
Going pee without modern indoor equipment is challenging for a grown-up woman, let alone a young girl. If you have ever helped a little one “go” in the woods without getting her clothes, shoes, socks and legs wet then you know exactly what I am talking about.
Luckily, there is some modern equipment for the outdoors that will help! It comes in the way of a urination device or pee funnel. Imagine a urinal of sorts, for girls. This gadget takes all of the mess out of the situation. And now there are several on the market so check them out and see which works best for you.
A few other fairly new products on the market make it easier for girls to have a blast doing all the fun outdoor stuff without her period interfering. One of these are menstrual cups. Now, these can take a little practice to use, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to a girl that is still pretty new to this whole period thing. But a teen girl who is comfortable with a tampon could benefit.
One new item out there that I haven’t tried yet but am really curious about is period underwear. If they prove to be all they say they are, this could be a game changer. Especially for younger girls. If anything, they could serve as a great back up since popping into a bathroom with running water and a trash can isn’t around every corner in the wilderness. Check out this article that gives the pros and cons to a few different tested products.
Aside from these two make sure you have plenty of the usual pads and tampons stocked. Even if your daughter hasn’t started her period yet. If she is showing any of the signs, go ahead and pack it. It will be worth it if Dottie or Flow or whatever you want to call it, makes an appearance without a drug store in sight.
This may be stating the obvious, but make sure you have plenty of toilet paper handy as well as wet wipes. Obvious, yes, but somehow those two things are also easily forgotten. A wetting accident or period surprise can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for girls to talk about and create even more embarrassing and uncomfortable situations for her if you aren’t both prepared.
Natural Beauty Still Requires a Product or Two
Camping is all about the natural beauty of nature and connecting with the outdoors. No make up required! However, there are still some practical hygiene things to consider. Otherwise, your girls will contend with breakouts, bug bites and more once the camping trip is over, especially for your pre-teens and teenagers.
Face wipes or face wash is still needed to wash off the dirt, sweat, sunscreen and bug spray the day piled on. Make sure you pack something for your daughter to keep the breakouts at bay while showers are in short supply.
Sneak in sunscreen wherever you can. You will want to pack face moisturizer, lip balm or maybe even a tinted face moisturizer for older girls. All of these have options that include an SPF. So why not grab the one that does over the one that doesn’t have any sun protection.
Another stating the obvious, but if you think you’ve packed enough insect repellent and sunscreen…toss in another. Packing as light as possible is the goal, but you will not regret an extra bug spray, I assure you.
Little girls may not care about wild and crazy hair. But teen girls may. Dry shampoo will be a lifesaver. It will help absorb extra oil and keep her hair fresh until an actual shower is available. Also, be sure to pack plenty of hair ties, clips or headbands to keep hair manageable and out of the way.
I say, let girls be as frilly and girly as they want, even if they are trekking through the wilderness. So, if your girl feels more confident and comfortable with her hair put together and make up on, then let her go for it. One of the greatest things about being a girl is that she can participate in outdoor activities and sports and be as girly girl as she wants or not. She can be herself!
Keep Hydrated
Be sure to pack a reusable water bottle for everyone on the trip. Your girls can get engaged and excited about the trip by picking out their own. Or covering one in stickers that let them show their personality a bit.
Even if you are planning to pack several gallons of water, packing water purifiers is a great idea. It could be a lifesaver in a pinch or emergency. This will allow you to have clean drinking water from just about any available water source.
Keep in mind that your family may be doing a lot more physical activity than usual and a lot more sweating. Keeping everyone hydrated will make sure they stay healthy and ready for the next activity. As well as keeping everyone's moods on happy side of things.
Safety Stuff
Packing a good first aid kit is crucial. When getting this together be sure to include bandages of all shapes and sizes as well as antibacterial cream or spray. A scraped knee or fishing hook incident is within the realm of possibilities here. Sometimes a cute bandage goes a long way in getting over it for little girls. Heck, I like a cute bandage myself! Check these out, they are a great option for a camping trip.
We’ve covered bug spray already. But in your first aid kit, be sure to include a tick remover. Ticks can be serious business if left unattended. They can cause several serious illnesses, including Lyme Disease and TBE. A tick remover tool is everything! This thing is worth it, I promise.
Be sure to bring a printed map of the trails around your campsite and campsite itself. Especially if you are planning on camping in a more remote location. Yes, there are tons of apps and surely you have all this information on your cell phone. But should you not have a signal, or your battery dies, a good ‘ol paper copy will help you get back to civilization.
Your Girl is Ready for a Road Trip
Taking a girl camping doesn’t just expose her to outdoor survival skills. It encourages her to be fearless and adventuresome. It gives her an opportunity to disconnect from the stress of school, social media and schedules. And allows her to soak in the fresh air, sunshine and nature. Hopefully these suggestions will help you pack in those necessary items on your next camping trip.
If you have some packing list must haves for your family, especially for your girls then share it with us!
