What is a Tots in Tents weekend campout like?

The fun really starts before the campout weekend! Silly and serious conversations alike happen in our Facebook group among parents who are looking for/giving out advice regarding camping with young kids. We send out gear recommendations, packing tips, meal and snack ideas, sleep strategy tips, and more in advance of the trip. All of the information about the trip is provided in full before you ever register - location, cost, features of the park, agenda of activities, links to historical weather/temps, links to sunrise/sunset times, and more is all in the information packet for each trip! And Kelly is always available to answer questions.

The campout starts at 4pm on Friday (which is the check in time for all NC State Parks). Families arrive throughout the afternoon and early evening to set up their tents and get ready for the weekend ahead. Due to the naturally staggered nature of arrivals, kids can run around the campsite while parents set up tents or make trips back and forth to the car, all under the watchful eye of the community of fellow camping parents.

Folks naturally gather between 5-6pm to eat their (BYO) dinners around the picnic tables together and start to get to know one another. Around 6pm, if we haven’t already, we will strike up the campfire and start roasting marshmallows, singing songs, reading stories, and chatting. After the campfire most families retreat to their tents and the bathhouse to start getting ready for bed. The night air is sprinkled with a little whining, some crying, and the light lull of various portable white noise machines as everyone works out their sleep arrangements for the evening and gets settled.

Around 8:30-9:00pm the adults that are able to sneak out of their tents and to the campfire for some adult socializing. We’ve had adult time last for 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on how enthusiastic and energetic the group is! Discussion topics often include: previous camping/outdoors experience, favorite nature spots in North Carolina, frustrations and ideas related to enjoying the outdoors with little ones, and general small talk.

Overnight you’ll hear the stirrings of neighbors on air mattresses, unzipping of tents for late night potty calls, and we guarantee at least a few crying babies or toddlers!

Good morning! Adults typically start filtering out of their tents anytime after 6am, brewing coffee, using the bathroom, and quietly chatting. We all pretend we didn’t hear any crying kids overnight and that we all slept super wonderfully, with the bags under our eyes being the only clue otherwise. Continental breakfast is set out on the picnic tables for everyone to grab at whatever time works for them. Kids start to wake up and filter outside to snuggle, eat, and play. There is always an adult or two willing to hold a baby to allow a parent to go to the bathroom in peace.

Mid-morning is the first structured group activity. These are always completely optional! We will gather for either a hike or beach play depending on which park. After a few hours folks naturally begin trickling back to the campsite for lunch and a little resting or low key playing.

Depending on the agenda there may be a second hike or activity in the afternoon. Kiddo (or adult) need some alone time or extra time to warm up? No pressure (ever!) to join in large group things.

Around 5pm families start making their dinners and gather together to eat in the communal area. After dinner, it’s another round of campfire and marshmallow roasting before kids head off to bed.

Once again we invite adults to return to the campfire if they are able and interested. The second night is usually even more robust conversations than the first! We usually put out the fire between 10pm-11pm (no pressure to stay up that late!).

Another early morning for many parents, with an even greater emphasis on coffee. Breakfast is set up for self service once again as families begin to filter out of their tents throughout the early morning hours.Parents usually begin packing up in the morning slowly between coffee, breakfast, and a little playing. Usually by Sunday morning the kids are all quite comfortable with one another and playing happily, giving parents the breathing room to pack up stress-free. Parents naturally take turns taking loads of stuff to their cars and watching various kiddos back at the campsite. There are always helpful hands to aid in taking down tents and carrying things.Depending on the trip, there is sometimes an optional short group activity (a hike, playground meet up, etc) right after checkout time.Then everyone is on their way home for an afternoon of unpacking, relaxing, bathing, and reminiscing about the fun of camping!

We send a link to a Google Photos shared album for folks to share photos they took during the weekend. This album is only shared among registered participants, not publicly. It is wonderful to see candid photos of yourself and/or your child that you can then download to keep for yourself!