Camping

The Magic (and Mess) of Camping with Kids

Camping with kids is an adventure—messy, chaotic, and full of surprises. Routines get tossed out the window, bedtime becomes a suggestion, and dirt becomes a constant companion. But amidst the mess, there’s magic.

It’s where new traditions are born. It’s where the fast-paced world slows down long enough for you to notice the stars, the laughter, the quiet moments in between.

There’s nothing quite like the glow in your children’s eyes around the campfire—the flicker of wonder as they stay up late, roasting marshmallows with sticky fingers and mischievous grins. These are the memories that last long after the campsites are packed away.

“Light a campfire and everyone’s a storyteller.” - John Geddes

Camping with Kids

If you think you’ve packed enough clothes, pack more.

•  Between mud, marshmallows, and mysterious puddles, you'll go through them faster than you think.

Rain sneaks up on you.

•  Pack a few boredom busters—crayons and paper, puzzles, magnetic tiles—whatever will keep the kids busy and you sane when you’re stuck in the tent.

Camp is a place to get messy.

•  I like to bring things I don’t exactly love having inside my house—think sand, slime, and paint. The picnic table becomes their creative studio.

Nets and buckets are a must.

•  Frog-catching, rock-collecting, and stream exploring should be core childhood memories.

If you think you’ve packed enough snacks, pack more.

•  Then pack a few more after that. Something about the woods makes kids hungry all the time.

Bring baby wipes—even if you don’t have a baby.

•  They’re miracle workers for sticky hands, muddy feet, and the general chaos of outdoor living.

“And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling.” - Shanti

5 Benefits of Camping

1. Reconnect to nature

2. Stress Relief

3. Reduce Screen Time

4. Reset your Circadian Rhythm

5. Vitamin D Exposure

Campgrounds in Maine

Highly rated for camping with children

Acres of Wildlife

Steep Falls

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort at Yonderhill

Madison

Lake Pemaquid Campground

Damariscotta

Bayley’s Camping Resort

Scarborough

Our Favorite Place

I can’t write a post about camping without mentioning our most favorite place on Earth — Acres of Wildlife. We just returned from two weeks there, and somehow, it becomes more magical every year. Maybe it’s the kids’ ages, or maybe it’s the way we’ve learned to slow down and truly appreciate our surroundings. Whatever it is, “Acres” (or campin’, as we call it) is simply the best of the best.

Sure, I could tell you about the spotless facilities, the beautifully maintained beach, the multiple playgrounds, or the endless activities they offer. But that’s not really what keeps us coming back.

It’s the way the morning light spills into our camper and glitters over the pond. It’s spotting the family of geese that returns each year — and counting how many babies they have this time. It’s watching the kids rise to new challenges: lasting longer in the hula-hooping contest, making it farther on the paddleboard crossing, or building a boat sturdy enough to survive the falls.

It’s about the friendships — the ones that blossom in a single afternoon and the ones rekindled each year when familiar faces return. It’s learning new games, creating new crafts, and singing karaoke to a crowd of strangers who cheer like lifelong friends. It’s dancing well past bedtime, riding on a firetruck, conquering the highest hill on the bike course, and catching the biggest frog of the summer.

It’s the golden sunlight stretching across the beach and tree line at sunset, and the way the stars flood the night sky once darkness falls.

If you’re planning a camping trip, I cannot recommend Acres of Wildlife strongly enough. For us, it’s more than just a campground — it’s a place where memories are made, where childhood is celebrated to its fullest, and where the magic only grows year after year.