What’s Big & Green & Sleeps 6?

“What’s Big & Green & Sleeps 6?”

If you guessed that old beater I drove in high school…you were right! Oh wait.

You were half right!

My car was small and red and barely fit me and “the girls” rollin’ on a Saturday night. But still. It was a car and it moved – making you somewhat correct in a weird sort of way. Sort of.

Okay never mind. What the million dollar answer really is (before I get completely caught up in reminiscing of the good old days)…..

a tent!

Oh the excitement right? The late night potty in the woods…the swarming insects…creepy noises all around? Oh pa-lease! Camping is so much more than the boogy-man – it is a journey of self-exploration and relaxtion! It is quiet time for soul, a place of serenity and beauty and a place to unwind. And yes, you may end up with a few bug bites on your buttsky from those peeing on a shrub moments, making you walk around for several days scratching your personal parts. But so what? It’s camping! *pumping you up with all kinds of excitement*

It does not matter whether you were a boy scout who could tame lions or a simple modest greenie from the burbs – camping out in a tent is for us all! You will first want to find a good tent that meets your needs. There are several styles and and sizes to choose from, and I highly encourage you to buy the pre-owned version! The cost of a tent does not need to be excessive, and you can find some really great deals at such places as Craigslist, Freecycle, Goodwill, or our fav – garage sales!! Just so you have an idea of the kinds of deals that you can find if you really look – I found a huge 6 person tent for 5 DOLLARS last week at a local garage sale! (and I even put it up all by myself)!! *patting my own back*

Here are some fun and informational sites to help you plan your camping trip:

gocampingamerica is a great resource for locating private parks and campgrounds nationwide! This site is a great source in helping you plan everything from where to camp, checklists of what to bring and tips for cooking along with some tasty recipes.

KOA is another fab site to assist you in planning a fun time in the woods! This site is full of many family friendly ideas for traveling such as games for the road, printable campfire stories, recipes and lots of tips to make help you with family camping preparation.

Checklists are always beneficial when trying to prepare for an outing. A few good camping checklists can be found at Coleman.com, lovetheoutdoors and REI camping and hiking!

Camping is a fabulous way to unwind and reconnect with your inner self and nature. It is a great stress-reliever, time to share and reconnect with your family/friends and can really make you feel at peace with Mother Earth. She has so many amazing places to explore and appreciate and I highly suggest a fun camping trip to discover all of her beauty! There’s so much “out there”  just waiting to be discovered.

Lynn

Lynn Stone is the founder of the go-to green living blog for parents, SmilingGreenMom.com. Lynn’s goal is to help others “be the best green they can be” through her affordable tips and encouraging posts. A contributing writer for multiple blogs and websites, Lynn enjoys cooking, garage sale shopping, traveling, relaxing with her family and dreams of owning an eco-friendly log cabin one day! As a former competitive swimmer, she values wellness and living an active lifestyle and hopes to one day participate in a triathlon. Follow her on Twitter, @SmilingGreenMom and Facebook.