As
summer draws to a close many are thinking of how to squeeze the last bits of fun
out of this season. One great way to
enjoy late summer and early fall is camping. No need to fight traffic to get that "up-north" experience. As a matter of fact, you don’t have to go far to sleep under the stars with excellent
locations for both tent and trailer camping within minutes of Burlington. If
you are tent camping you will probably not need water and hydro hook-ups and
depending on where you go, you can expect to
pay from approximately $50 and up per night for your lot.
For
me, camping is just a way of life. From
the time I was three years old, my parents
packed up me and my brother (and later just me) and set off to
enjoy Provincial
Parks across Ontario. As a young adult,
my friends and I would camp in bigger groups and tended to more commercial parks
that offered amenities like a snack shop as we were more often than not
inadequately prepared. My husband started later
but was more adventerous doing some outback camping in addition to the standard
campground type. Now with a family of my own I looked forward to
bringing my girls camping so they could have the same great memories as I have
of campfires, the smell of the morning air and running around meeting new
“campground friends”. At two and five
years this may not all be possible the first time out, but no time like the
present to start.
When choosing a camp ground it is always good to do some research and find out what style of camping best suits your needs. The age and experience of the campers and what amenities and activities you are looking for can help in determining where you want to stay.
We are lucky to have a Provincial Park located right on the border of Burlington/Oakville. Bronte Creek Provincial Park offers both tent, trailer and yurt camping until October 22nd which means you still have plenty of time to plan your trip. But remember, there are two entrances: one is for camping, at Bronte Road and Upper Middle (exit 111) off QEW; to get to the day-use area you must use Burloak Drive (exit 109) off the QEW.
The park offers 144 electric service sites, full comfort stations with showers and laundry, two play equipment areas, family programming and kids' programs. Choose from open, treed and well shaded sites. Reservations are highly recommended if arriving or staying through Friday / Saturday during the peak season. It is incredible that such a place exists so close to home. Within minutes of packing, you can be sitting beside a campfire enjoying the peaceful sounds of the frogs and birds. Staying at Bronte Creek campground can feel like a “real” vacation … without the long drive, cranky kids, etc. It is a great place to try out your camping equipment or introduce family members to camping. They even offer Learn to Camp programs at the beginning of the season (note for 2013). Reservations can be made by phone or online.
Conservation Halton also offers camping at two of their six parks. Both parks offer group and individual; tent or tent-trailer camping but do not have hook-ups for RV's. At Kelso you can camp into late fall and Rattlesnake Point offers year round camping (5 upper sites available for winter camping). At Kelso telling a scary story beside a roaring campfire and then trying to sleep in a tent with all the sounds of the outdoors is a right of passage for many youngsters. It is also a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Indulge in a swim at a sandy beach, hike along the rugged Bruce Trail, explore the trails while mountain biking and so much more. Visitors to the park can also rent kayaks, paddleboats and canoes, which means you can try these water sports without having to invest in equipment up front and no hauling! You can also take in a movie in the park on Friday night the next 2 weekends at sunset as part of Family Outdoor Movie Nights. This park is great for families and you are assured that no one will be bored.
Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area has some of the most inspiring natural vantage points in Halton Region. There are five breathtaking lookouts dotting the edge of the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment. Excellent hiking trails perfect for experiencing the areas diverse forest complex with its rich diversity of plant and animal habitats. Soak up this relaxed atmosphere with an overnight stay at one of the 18 campsites at the park (washrooms and showers are available). For the more adventureous, this park also offers some of the best rock-climbing in Ontario. At the end of the day relax by a campfire and listen to the sounds of nature as you settle in for the night.
Kelso and Rattlesnake offer pristine campsites located throughout the parks which are available by reservation. All campsites are non-serviced and some are large enough to accommodate group camping. To book a reservation visit the website.
So here begins my camping adventure and some ideas if you are planning to camp with kids. After
much searching, I found the camping gear that we had accumulated over the years
and wondered how much was salvageable for a family trip, luckily Burlington is
home to Mountain Equipment Co-op and I headed
there to meet up with Camping Product Specialist – Annika or the Camping Goddess
as I like to call her who set me up with some camping gear for our first family
trip. Whether you are a first time
camper or a seasoned pro, you will be able to find most items that you need to
make your experience great. I think what
I like best about the approach at MEC is that Annika truly was interested in
helping me and my family have a great experience, she took the time to ask
questions about our previous experience, where we were going, the kids and what
they would be doing, etc. and then she made recommendations on what we needed,
what is good to have and what is a “luxury” item. She also made suggestions about others items
we might need, even if they were not sold at her store.
First
and foremost on the list was a tent and in the end we went with a Funhouse
4, because it offered enough room to stand up and as anyone will attest to
that has hunched over in a tent trying to change, that is a big plus. This tent is so quick and easy to set up, I
was amazed, so much better than the tents of old. I have to add that one of the best things
about this tent was that they include a tent peg mallet – it’s the little things
for me. The take-down only took about 10 minutes and I was able to do it myself
while I send my husband off with the girls. It also has a ‘vestibule’ that gives some
extra rooms for bags and removing your shoes. If you have a family of four
or more, I would suggest moving up to the Funhouse 6 as it gives the adults more
space especially if you are using air mattresses under your sleeping bags.
We
had heard people suggest we bring a second tent or a dining tent as a play area
for the girls. It seemed like a great
idea. When we arrived at the camp we
left them in their car seats and worked on setting up one of our old two man
tents for them to play in, we struggled to remember how it set up and were egged
on by the chanting of “let us out” from the van but we did manage to get it set
up and piled with toys only to find out that our two-year old had zero interest
in being confined. She screeched for the
10-15 minutes it took to set up the main tent and in hindsight, we should have
just left them in the car and set up that tent as they were more than content to
play in the bigger space with some dolls and books.
One
item that was a real hit was the hammock we brought from home that we strung
among the trees. The girls loved
swinging and by the second day had mastered sharing which allowed us to do other
things while they amused themselves swaying through the air. Most of the time we were so busy exploring
that they didn’t have the time or interest in toys but if you need downtime or
worse yet if it rains, you will want to have something to keep everyone busy and
amused.
Once you are past your twenties, an
air mattress is a must unless you are outback camping where space and weight
needs to be optimized. We opted to use
our old sleeping bags for us and I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the kids –
who knew they made child sized sleeping bags.
Back in the day, my parents just put me in an adult one and hoped for the
best. Mind you in those days we didn’t
have car seats and I am pretty sure seat beats were optional. Annika suggested the Lil’
dipper sleeping bag, it comes in two sizes which was perfect for both girls
and as an added bonus they have them in purple which ensured they were a
hit. As it is getting later in the
camping season, the nights are cooler and while I woke up shivering and
searching for my fleece in the middle of the night, the girls were warm and cozy
in their bags – I think I will be investing in a new sleeping bag for our next
trip.
If
you are camping with kids or are looking to make meals quick and easy then you
will want to bring a cook stove. While
cooking over a campfire is fun it’s not always quick and practical. We chose the
Primus
FireHole 200 Stove with a double burner (perfect for those that need coffee
and food at the same time) is a really worthwhile investment.
In the words of my husband “this stove is awesome!” when coupled with a
Glacier
stainless steel percolator that brews six cups of really good coffee,
waking up at 6:30am with the kids wasn’t so bad. Annika helped me choose a cookware
set and plastic
mugs (in fun colours) as our old stuff was probably not fit to cook with but
she recommends if you are just starting out to bring stuff from your kitchen,
you don’t need special gear for cooking but keep in mind if you are cooking over
an open fire that it might not look as good when it returns. We brought along two
coolers one vintage and a new and much improved MEC
Chilli Cooler. One cooler held
the frequently and quickly used items like milk, juice boxes and produce and the
other was for longer term storage and kept our items cold and food-safe as it
wasn't opened as frequently.
The
girls had a great time exploring the nature trails, hitting the beach and
fishing for the first time. My two-year
old didn’t last long at fishing and we hit the trails for a relaxing (read:
sleeping) walk but my five-year old had a great time learning how to bait a
hook, cast a reel and on the second day out, catching (and releasing) two
fish!
The
highlight of the trip of course was the campfire; we had hotdogs and all the
supplies for s ‘mores at the request of Lily and from the time we arrived she
was anxious to start the fun. We roasted
hotdogs over the fire, and the majority of the marshmallows were consumed “raw”,
we did cook them over the fire for mom and dad.
As
night descends it is always important to have some good lighting equipment. Gone are the days of propane lanterns, you
can now get the same effect from battery operated lamps which are much safer
with kids (and clumsy adults). I was on the hunt for flashlights
but Annika turned me on to headlamps
which are a great alternative that provide lots of light for nighttime trips and
leaves your hands free for carrying or child-wrangling. They have adult and child-sizes and my girls
wore them around happily (at some points even during the day!)
The
one item I did forget was a broom, a kids sized broom and dust pan is perfect
for sweeping out the bottom of your tent before packing it away and for dusting
away the outdoors (twigs, leaves, dirt) from your other gear – no need to bring
nature home with you.
The
overall cost of our equipment came to approximately $800 not including what we
already had at home which may seem like a lot but when you think of the cost of
a weekend at a hotel with your kids it’s not much to invest. Most of the items have a minimum life of five
years but with proper care can last up to ten or fifteen years. It is recommended you pack items such as
tents and sleeping bags clean and dry and loosely if possible to extend their
life. Start small investing in a few key
items and if you decide that camping is part of your family’s lifestyle then add
to your gear yearly.
If you are looking for a great way to spend time outdoors, enjoy a vacation and not spend too much or travel too far then camping in Burlington/Halton is for you. We
had a great time and hope to go again this year if time permits. If not, next year we will venture out again
and add to what we hope will be a lifetime of memories for our
family.
Safe and happy travels to you and your family and don't forget the marshmallows!
