For the Love of Camping

My husband David and I have always been campers. When I was little my family always camped as a family and I have some amazing memories from those annual camping trips. We slept in a trailer, ate too much food, but it was amazing.

When David and I first dated, we used to hike more and so we tented. We enjoyed it for years. We continued to tent until our son was 5 and we were expecting our daughter. David felt guilty that I was 8 months pregnant and was sleeping on the ground so we got he purchased a tent trailer. We camped with our tent trailer for 10 years.

We recently purchased a larger trailer, as our kids enjoy it and as they grow, we needed a bit more room. We also decided that we might as well continue to camp while the kids enjoy it, and while they still like us 😊

Each year we plan about 5 camping trips a year. Our longest trip over the years has been when we went to Halifax and back 2 years ago. Thankfully the kids do love it because even though it’s a bit bigger than our tent trailer, it is still close quarters 😊

What is my favourite part of camping?

My favourite part is the family time. Whether it is just our family of four, or when we camp with our extended family and the number gets closer to 20. The campfires, the food, the walks, the bike rides, the card-playing and conversations are the best.

It feels like everyone unplugs more than usual. It’s easy to relax and enjoy it all!

Some of our favourite Campfire Snacks:

Birthday Cake Smore’s

1 marshmallow

1 JerseyMilk Chocolate bar section

1 Birthday Cake Oreo

😊I bet you can’t have just one

Reece’s Pieces Smore’s

1 marshmallow

1 Reece’s Pieces Cup

2 Graham Crackers

Camper Pizza’s- (Camper Pies)

Pie Iron- We use a Double because it’s easier to keep everything in 😊

Make a nice sized fire and let it burn down to hot coals

Spray Pam on the inside of the Pie Iron

Heat the Pie Iron in the fire, spray the pam on both the top and the bottom of the Pie Iron and wipe clean.

Butter 2 pieces of bread (as you would for Grilled Cheese)

Start your pizza on a paper plate (because the Pie Iron will be hot)

Place the buttered side of one piece of bread down on the plate.

Add Pizza Sauce and all your favourite pizza toppings

Place the second slice of bread on top, buttered side up

Use a fork or Kitchen utensil to pick up the pizza and place it in the opened Pie Iron

Now close the Pie Iron

Place in the campfire (You will need a flashlight, and need to carefully open to check each side to be sure that the bread is nice and browned the same as grilled cheese)

Once it’s cooked, remove from Pie Iron with a fork or cooking utensil, place on a paper plate. You may want to cut it in half because usually, they are pretty hot, so best to let it cool before you taste your master pizza 😊

Camper Pie’s

Same ideas with Camper Pizzas-

The difference is, they are sweet treats

We have tried many varieties of the years. Some of the favourites are Apple pie filling, Cherry pie filling, Blueberry pie filling, Nutella, Smores’, adding Marshmallow’s, cream cheese or chocolate in with the fruit filings. 

Each year my kids invent something new, and we all test it to see if it makes the to keep list.

What’s my least favourite part of camping?

Unpacking—It’s the worst

I don’t mind packing because I have a packing list that I have perfected over the years. Yes, I do share it with family and friends when asked.

Coming home, and having to unpack and do all the laundry is not my favourite part. However, we’ve trained the kids that everyone helps unpack until everything is in the house, and we start laundry when we walk in the door.

-Michelle