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nutsmcgee

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Nov 22, 2005
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Taking my daughters (9 & 7) tent camping at Mammoth Cave next month. I have not been in a tent since high school (coming up on 20 years). Just staying 1 night this first time. Hoping this becomes something we do a few times a year.

Any advice or must bring items (besides the obvious) for this camping noob? Thanks
 
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akers65

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Jan 23, 2008
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Bug spray but I suppose that's obvious.

With little girls the restroom question needs addressing
 
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P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor

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Mar 26, 2007
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Something to keep you busy if the weather or bugs are bad enough to keep you cooped up in the tent. UNO, Skip-Bo, Catch Phrase, something like that.

If your daughters are the science-y type, pick up an insect or plant guidebook from the local library for when you're on a hike. Turn it into a game.

If fires are allowed in the park this weekend, look up some cool recipes that the girls can bake food in the fire. You can bake biscuits in big leaves, make cobblers inside pie tins, etc etc.
 
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VT/UK Rondo

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Aug 2, 2009
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Take stuff to make smores
sparklers
learn a few ghost stories
they make a sandwich device that you sit in the fire to make grilled cheese
portable dvd player w a few movies
If you have access to electric hookup you can take an electric ice cream maker
 
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P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor

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also, this:

 
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LadyCat92

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May 22, 2002
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I used to buy the smallest bag of MatchLight charcoal and bring it with me to start my campfire. Some see it as cheating. I see it as being innovative. No one wants to fight with starting a fire and getting it going. This does it for you. Haven't been in years though.
 
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-LEK-

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Mar 27, 2009
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Bug spray.

Get a blow up air mattress. Trust me, your back will thank you. With pump.

Multiple flashlights and batteries

Lighter

Depending on where you camp, you can take an apple core or some other food and use it to attract bugs away from you.

Raccoons or wildlife will go through your trash, so hang it on a tree.

Rolls of TP

Extra socks.

I like a ground tarp or putting up a tarp.

S'mores kit
 
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DeadAhead

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Feb 5, 2003
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nutsmcgee said:
Taking my daughters (9 & 7) tent camping at Mammoth Cave next month. I have not been in a tent since high school (coming up on 20 years). Just staying 1 night this first time. Hoping this becomes something we do a few times a year.

Any advice or must bring items (besides the obvious) for this camping noob? Thanks
Click to expand...

Not something to take but something that the Nat'l Parks have that is fun for kids is the Junior Ranger program. Ask about it at the visitor center and they can hook your kids up. It's kind of like a scavenger hunt of information for kids at the Nat'l Parks and they get to earn a badge for it. My daughter really enjoys it (she's 10 now). I'm hoping to camp at Mammoth Cave sometime soon too; I've always heard how nice it is there. Hope you have a great time!
 
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WonderBraa

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I would always bring spaghetti O's and forget a can opener. Then get drunk and hit the can against a rock until a big enough hole arises. By that time the spaghetti O's were spread out across the ground. Moral of the story, bring a can opener.
 
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rmattox

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Shower shoes....don't want ath foot as a souvenier
Bring a little dry firewood with you (cover it up or hide it in your trunk..The people at checkin may confiscate due to fear of bugs that kill trees)
Firestarter
 
AustinTXCat

AustinTXCat

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Jan 7, 2003
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A cousin lives just 17 miles from Mammoth Cave NP. Considering all the times I visited him, including 4x within one year, I've never been there. But this year, perhaps Thanksgiving week, I may finally check it out.

Thanks for the idea, OP.
 
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rmattox

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MCNP is a great place. 25+ years ago, my wife, mom and baby son and I went on one of the cave tours that required you to carry a lantern. There were two older (50 something :) ) rangers leading the group. At the end, the rangers climbed the exit steps, opened the door to the "world"...and the two of them sang "My Old Kentucky Home". I'll never forget it.
 
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Free_Salato_Blue

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Duck tape for those MacGeyver situations.
Also a good tarp that cover your tent if the rain fly can't handle a hard storm.
Maybe some treats to feed the deer.

 
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theoledog

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Nov 21, 2008
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Mashburned said:
I wouldn't dare let my children camp without a yeti cooler, but that's just me and my opinion.
Click to expand...
you'll do fine without a yeti $300+ cooler just like everyone else has....
and anyone that takes a rug to the outdoors doesn't belong there in the first place... body inside the tent/shoes on the outside, and take a small brush or use a sock to clean out tent...
you're only going to be there one night... you can take all kinds stuff you won't need or use.... but that's okay
i congratulate you.... a woman that can keep herself neat and clean and be comfortable in the outdoors is a woman to be admired... and a valuable skill for the coming apocalypse :-O
 
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mashburned

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Mar 10, 2009
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That's pure crazy talk, imo. We are humans, not animals. Any dimwit with a raccoon brain will do "fine" out in the wilderness.

The goal is to enjoy the wilderness to the fullest. Bring your rugs, your cooler devices, your grills, etc...hell, I bring a rug for inside the tent, welcome mat for entrance, and one large outdoor one for Yeti, the grill, and the fold up picnic table.
 
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vhcat70

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Feb 5, 2003
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Many moons since I camped in a tent there, but the raccoons were aggressive. Need to lock cooler or put 10# rock on it. No food/trash left outdoors. In tent OK.
 
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vhcat70

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Feb 5, 2003
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Glenn's take said:
Make sure to get a couple of empty cough syrup bottles so you can fill them with bourbon and drink all day in front of your kids without them knowing. Just keep fake coughing all day. You won't be driving them around so it won't matter.
Click to expand...
This and the other alcohol/drunk comment are pure asinine. Grow up.
 
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bluelifer

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Feb 25, 2009
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robo222 said:
you'll do fine without a yeti $300+ cooler just like everyone else has....
and anyone that takes a rug to the outdoors doesn't belong there in the first place... body inside the tent/shoes on the outside, and take a small brush or use a sock to clean out tent...
you're only going to be there one night... you can take all kinds stuff you won't need or use.... but that's okay
i congratulate you.... a woman that can keep herself neat and clean and be comfortable in the outdoors is a woman to be admired... and a valuable skill for the coming apocalypse :-O
Click to expand...

But what if you get grass clippings in your sleeping bag? I've heard that can lead to non-congenital dwarfism as you get older.
 
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theoledog

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Nov 21, 2008
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vhcat70 said:
Many moons since I camped in a tent there, but the raccoons were aggressive. Need to lock cooler or put 10# rock on it. No food/trash left outdoors. In tent OK.
Click to expand...
I don't watch SNL often any longer but did see a rerun with Kevin Hart last night... He did his opening and it involved an encounter with a raccoon.... He is a very funny and winds his way through a story in a very funny/creative way.... I'm a Kevin Hart fan after seeing this... Sharp guy...You should see if it's on YouTube...
 
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theoledog

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Nov 21, 2008
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Mashburned said:
That's pure crazy talk, imo. We are humans, not animals. Any dimwit with a raccoon brain will do "fine" out in the wilderness.

The goal is to enjoy the wilderness to the fullest. Bring your rugs, your cooler devices, your grills, etc...hell, I bring a rug for inside the tent, welcome mat for entrance, and one large outdoor one for Yeti, the grill, and the fold up picnic table.
Click to expand...

that's a lot of damn rugs...you Persian? :)
 
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TriangleUKCat

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Dec 28, 2014
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34 posts and no mention of pitching a tent until my own sophomoric post.

Is the Paddock finally growing up?

Hope not.
 
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theoledog

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my last comment to the OP... if you really want to have a good experience in the outdoors with your daughters... pick another month to go... Fall or even early winter. You have the right idea picking MC Nat. Park, and car camping... But sleeping in a tent this time of year is like being in a greenhouse... It's hot at night and "great ventilation" don't do squat when nightly temps might be in the 80's... Cave temps are the same all year round so a tour, if interested, isn't effected....... have fun.
 
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AustinTXCat

AustinTXCat

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Jan 7, 2003
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I am at Mammoth Cave preparing to leave in 20 minutes on a tour. Decent WiFi here at the visitors center.
 
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