Thanks to everyone who took the time to register and congrats to Heather and her family!

I started camping when I was still in diapers, but after a somewhat long respite, I’ve returned to my camping roots and my blog – familycampman.com.   During my return to the outdoors, I’ve learned a lot about choosing a campsite, especially when it comes to accommodating the needs of families, seeing that I have two young boys and a newbie-camper of a wife.

 So enough about me; here are some of the things I’ve learned on selecting a great family campsite:

1. Think safety – If you’re camping with young children, you have to think about safety. Be sure to review the site’s surroundings. Are you near the gate where cars are constantly driving around? Are there any drop offs or rivers that are risky for young children? These are all questions that you should answer before choosing a site. If you cannot see the site firsthand, be sure to ask the owner. They’ll be more than willing to help you.
2. Flatter is better – Everybody always thinks size when it comes to your campsite. While a bigger campsite is indeed better, you should also look for a smooth campsite. Roots, rocks and hills all cause havoc when it comes to placing your tent.
3. Noise is your worst enemy – Let’s face facts; kids make noise and your neighbors will not appreciate a crying toddler, fighting siblings or any other hubbub that your precious kids will generate. I always suggest asking for a remote site. You’ll feel a whole lot better when you’re not worrying about upsetting fellow campers.
4. Bathrooms are your friend – This may contradict tip #3, but if you have kids that get up in the middle of the night for potty breaks, you will absolutely LOVE having bathrooms close by.  Close showers are also appreciated if you have family members who are particularly finicky about walking long distances after a shower.
5. Camp often – Choosing a good campsite is something you’ll find gets easier each time you go camping. If you go camping and your site doesn’t work for your family, don’t give up – there are many other sites in the forest. Take a few notes about what was wrong with your site and remember to avoid those characteristics when selecting the site for your next trip. Within just a few trips, you’ll be able to quickly discard sites that don’t fit your family’s camping style.

In reality there are no bad sites when it comes to camping – they are all just different levels of great and any site is better than not camping at all. The most important piece of advice I can give is to simply relax, eat a s’more and have a great time on your next camping trip!

Bugsy and his Coleman Repellents team were able to visit several locations throughout the day.  We met some great kids,  had a lot of fun perusing the isles,  and learned quite a bit about fishing ourselves!   Check it out!

What did you do this weekend? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or share a link.

In addition, we’d like to thank our friends at Scouting for supporting Bugsy’s Great Gear Giveaway. This year, we’re giving away $1,000 in Coleman camping gear and repellents. To register, go to ScoutingMagazine.org and click on the Bugsy’s Great Gear Giveaway link.

Good luck!

Don’t miss Bugsy this Friday at the Special Olympics Wisconsin in Stevens Point!  He’ll be cheering on all the participants from 8:30am to 1pm!

Register today!!

We see mosquito season.

And trust us – they’re coming.  So, in the meantime, here are eight easy things you can do to make your home protected from the inevitable invasion of those pesky, blood-sucking bugs.

1. Keep mosquitoes from breeding by emptying or covering any receptacles around the home that can pool water.  This is crucial in spring time when rain is more prevalent.
2. Gutters should be kept clean so water flows properly.
3. Change the water in birdbaths every few days.
4. Cover wading pools, hot tubs and outdoor saunas.
5. Make your local health department aware of standing water in your area.
6. When outdoors, wear protective clothing when appropriate.
7. Loose, long-sleeve shirts and long pants, shoes and socks all help to keep insects from contact with your skin.
8. Keep the colors light as mosquitoes are more attracted to darker hues.

Protecting yourself from biting insects is not only convenient for you and your loved ones, it could save your life!  The CDC provides a thorough look here at diseases spread by mosquitoes.

Make sure you put these items on your to-do list for this summer, and don’t forget the repellent!