Cheerful Valley Campground

Come Camping in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

1412 Route 14, Phelps, NY 14532, 315.781.1222    Email Us

Get The Kids Involved in Planning and Packing

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Kids help at the campsiteKids love the fun stuff about camping. They get to run, play, swim, and eat special treats while they are camping and we all love to see them have a great time. They get even more out of it when you involve them in all phases of camping. Get them to help you with planning, packing, maintaining, and unpacking at home. They may mumble and grumble a bit but you’ll be helping them build a love of camping when they are grown with families of their own.

Planning
Get the kids involved in creating a checklist of things that will be needed for the trip. They can let you know what foods they will enjoy eating and what toys and games they will want to bring. You can ask them their opinion on how things should be packed and what they should be packed in. Maybe each child can have their own backpack to hold their treasures or they may like to help pack kitchenware in plastic tubs. They can help mark them, too.

Setting Up and  Maintaining
The kids can help with unpacking once you arrive. They love to have an opinion about simple things like where the toiletries should go and where the pool toys should be kept. While you are camping they can be given responsibilities around the campsite. Maybe it is their job to set the table, make the beds, or keep the game pieces together.

Unpacking
When you get home they can help unpack. They will learn about laundering the sleeping bags and getting them ready for the next trip. Many hands make light work and you’ll make far less trips to the car with the kids helping out.

It really does give them a broad perspective on the work part of their vacation and teach them skills that will help them to continue camping for many years to come. They may grumble a little but they really will thank you later.

 

 

Grilling Fruit & Veggies at the Campsite

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Juicy steaks, chicken, burgers, and hotdogs are great on the grill but you can make some delicious taste treats by grilling your fruits & veggies, too. They are a fresh option to add to a meal and it’s a good way to get the kids to get their fiber while they are here.

You can grill pineapple rings or peach halves and then serve them with cool and creamy vanilla bean ice cream. The heat from the grill will caramelize the fruit and make it even sweeter. You can grill them as is or, as is done in the video below, you can add balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, black pepper, vanilla, and apricot preserves. Doesn’t that sound delicious?

Kebabs are a way to grill your veggies and the kids love eating them off a stick. It’s just more fun that way. This recipe nice, fat mushrooms, sections of corn on the cob, and a variety of other veggies. Add some garlic, lemon, and lots of fresh herbs. It will be wonderful.

Fresh fruits and veggies will balance the other favorites on your camping menu and they are so easy to prepare and serve. We hope you’ll give them a try and we’re looking forward to seeing you here again soon.

You Can Make Your Own Insect Repellent

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make your own mosquito repellentAny outdoors activity will expose you and guests to insects. This includes your camping trips, drinks out on the patio, parties at the beach and barbecues. Most of these insects have germs that can cause illnesses. For this reason, you’ll want to have plenty of insect repellent on hand during your outdoor activities. Most of the over the counter remedies have strong chemicals that aren’t good for your health or your body over the course of time. For this reason, you’ll want to make your own healthier versions of insect repellent. Here you’ll learn some very effective homemade insect repellent recipes.

There are some ideal essential oils out there that are very effective at repelling those vicious insects. Tea tree oil is one that works well against deer flies, ticks, and chiggers. If you’re out to alleviate black flies or mosquitos you’ll want to try some eucalyptus and lemon. Both of these work very well to help eliminate them. Another great remedy is peppermint oil and geranium oil blended together.

Never apply full-strength essential oil on your skin, it may burn your skin and cause a serious allergic reaction. Always mix it with a carrier oil prior to putting it on your skin. It’s far better to use one essential oil at a time as you prepare an insect repellent. If you’re going to mix the scents always choose essential oils that are from the same family. Lemon and lemongrass go well together as do lavender and eucalyptus. Tea tree oil and clove oil should always be used alone.

Another way to use lavender oil is to mix it with rosemary and peppermint oil to form your own version of an insect repellent. These are vital things to remember when you’re preparing your own versions of insect repellent.

Thus, your camping trips, barbecues and your parties on the beach or patio will be far more enjoyable when you employ these techniques to avoid insect bites. You’ll learn to mix and match your own preferred versions of these as you go. Just mix them in a spray bottle for best results.

Packing for a Family Camping Trip

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family campingIf you are taking your family camping then you need to know how to pack. There are a lot of items you do not want to forget when you are out and about in the woods or wherever you are camping. You can find out more about how to pack below.

You need to make sure that you pack fishing poles if you plan to go fishing with your family. You should also remember to bring anything else that you want to do while you are out camping, including board games or whatever else you want to do with your children. When you are packing you have to keep in mind that you may not be able to bring everything with you all at once so you may have to make multiple trips back and forth to your vehicle.

Make sure that you pack a first aid kit. If you have children then you know that they get hurt easily when you are not looking or even when you are. You need to have all that you can get in terms of safety gear so that nobody gets hurt and has to deal with an injury not being tended to. You may want to bring your cell phone even if this is a trip you want to take to get away from technology. You can turn the phone off while you are camping but if there is an emergency you can turn it on and get help right away.

These packing tips for family camping should get you started. Make sure you create a checklist and that you add every item that you are going to need. Then, go down the list and you should not run out of whatever you need when you are out camping.

Easy Energy Bars for Camping Treats

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camping energy barsHave you recently been to a grocery store and priced out a box of energy bars? If you are outraged at the high price that is required for a few energy bars then you may want to consider making your own energy bars at home. In fact, not only will this save you money but it will be a great opportunity to spend some time with your children as they help you put together a variety of energy bar recipes.

One energy bar recipe that your kids will truly love is a peanut energy bar. A peanut energy bar is delicious and nutritious because it is packed full of seeds, nuts, fruit, and peanuts. It is a great grab-and-go breakfast alternative for parents and children who are on a busy schedule. The recipe requires peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, rolled oats, rice cereal, and wheat germ.

Another no bake energy bar that has delicious wholesome ingredients is the Mediterranean no bake energy bar. This energy bar is made with almonds, dried dates, spicy cinnamon, and flaxseeds. All you need for this amazing treat is a food processor. After you have mixed all of the ingredients in a food processor you can pour the mixture into a pan of your choice that is lined with wax paper. Press the mixture down into the pan, cover it with Saran wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until the mixture is hard.

A unique energy bar that will be a big sensation in your home is the pear and ginger energy bar. This energy bar requires one pear, fresh ginger, flour, dried dates, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and ground flaxseed. Once again you will need only a food processor. Do the same process as you would with the Mediterranean no bake energy bar. All of the above recipes can be made easily at home but you can also make an energy bar of your own design by simply using your imagination.

Fun Road Trip Games to Play With the Kids

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There are a couple of road trip games that can be fun to take part in. You can find small versions of board games, for instance, to take with you. Or, you can play games like looking for different colored cars and more.

Eye spy is a game where you say that you see something with certain features. For instance, you can say “eye spy with my little eye, something blue” if there is a blue car around the vehicle you’re in. You can also play this when the vehicle is stopped because that allows you to pick from more things in the landscape. You can’t expect to pick something on the side of the road if the vehicle will be going by it fast, but if there is a large landmark in the distance that may just work out.

You can find small versions of games that you can bring with you on a road trip. Even if you don’t want to go with that because your kids don’t know what to do to play the game, you can bring tablets or other devices that have games on them. You could also bring paper and pens and let the kids play tic-tac-toe. If you’re going to bring anything in the vehicle, make sure you store it properly when it’s not in use. You don’t want to have, for instance, your tablet sitting out in the sun while you go somewhere for a while.

What you take with you as your road trip games will depend on what your family is into. The more you can prepare to have a good time on a trip, the better. You’ll know you made the right choice when everyone is having a lot of fun on the road.

Cake in a Mug – Perfect for Camping

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Mug cake for campersThis cake in a mug trend is a fun one for camping. You can make a single-serving cake in a coffee cup and even choose which flavor you want. The kids will enjoy the whole idea of having their own little cake to eat as they sit around the campfire at night. It takes minutes to put together and will be a big hit.

Photo Source: BuzzFeed

Cookies & Cream Mug Cake
This one will be a favorite of many. All you need is some flour, sugar, baking powder, crushed sandwich cookies, milk, oil, and vanilla.

Birthday Cake Mug Cake
This is as pretty as it is delicious. Bring some sprinkles along with you and let the kids decorate their own. It takes all the ingredients as listed above except the sandwich cookies.

Strawberries ‘n’Cream Mug Cake
Even better than strawberry shortcake, this little delight will curb that craving for something sweet and your love of those delicious strawberries. You can top it with whipped topping and you’re on your way to a little bit of dessert heaven.

Chocolate Hazelnut Mug Cake
For the hazelnut lover in the family. You’ll be adding the ingredients as listed above, along with some of your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread. The fragrance alone will be enough to call the kids back from the pool.

You can make all of this even easier by pre-packing individual storage bags of the dry ingredients. Then, when camping, just open one into your mug and add the wet ingredients. Now you stir, microwave, and enjoy.

You can find these recipes at 3-Minute Mug Cakes 4 Ways. So, go ahead and enjoy a single serving piece of cake. It will add that final touch to your next camping meal.

Healthy Treats for Little Campers

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fruit and veggie snacksThe kids are going to love camping and they will get their share of treats while they are here. If you want to try and balance their snack intake with some nutritious options, we have some suggestions we’ve found along the way.

Granola
A lot of people make their own and bring it from home. It’s a good way to control the amount of sugar that goes into the mix. You can add all your family’s favorites and they will enjoy it in place of other snacks you may be trying to curb. The blend of oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in your granola will provide fiber and nutrients to keep the kids going strong.

Veggies and Dip
Kids will eat most veggies once they are cut and accompanied with a dip of some kind. You can offer low fat ranch dressing, hummis, yogurt with seasonings, or even peanut butter to go with them. There is just something about the dipping part of eating these that makes them more fun for the little ones.

Fresh Fruit
Fortunately, this is usually pretty easy to get the kids to eat and summer provides a bounty of choices. From sweet watermelon, apples, oranges, seasonal berries, kiwi, and pineapple, you have lots to choose from.

Nuts, Seeds, and Dried Fruit
Having a variety of these around to snack on will keep kids from getting restless before dinner. They are filling and delicious – exactly what you want to feed them when they are looking for a snack.

Kids will run and play all day when they are camping and that means they will be working up an appetite. You can keep the snacking healthy while still allowing for the treats they plan on during vacation time.

Tips for Your Camping First Aid Kit

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First Aid kit for campingAccidents will happen when you are camping and hopefully they are all small and easily remedied. It is wise to keep a first aid kit on hand to fix a cut or pluck a sliver quickly, getting everyone back outside playing again soon.

Some of the basics to carry in your kit:

For bumps, bruises, rashes, bug bites, cuts, burns, slivers, and scratches you should pack plenty of salves and bandages. Bring antibiotic cream, calamine lotion, something for sunburn such as an aloe based lotion, bandages, gauze squares, ace bandages, eye wash cups, saline solution, tweezers, small scissors, and a magnifying glass.

For pain, tummy troubles, sniffles,and allergies you should carry Pepto Bismol, Benadryl, Tums, a pain reliever of your choice, throat lozenges, cough syrup, and cold medicine.

Check your own prescriptions to be sure you have enough to get you through while camping. It is easier to fill one these days as you travel but still could be inconvenient. Be sure your pets’ medications are full as well. It doesn’t hurt to carry their vaccination records with you, too, in case you have to visit a vet while you are away from home.

Some other things to consider are sunscreen with a high SPF – and be sure to apply it often, and bug spray or repellent bracelets to keep the mosquitoes at bay.

Check yourself and the kids over each night to see that there aren’t any scrapes or bites that need attention. They will heal much more quickly if you catch them early and remedies applied at night will have time to work before they wake up and go off playing again.

This should help make your stay a pleasant one. Some bumps and bruises may appear but they can be kissed and fixed quickly when you have the supplies on hand.

Tips for Fall Camping

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Fall Camping at its FinestIt’s a wonderful time of the year and we hope you’ll make the most of it. Fall can become your favorite time to camp once you’ve tried it. It does require a different approach so there are some things to keep in mind.

It gets dark a lot earlier than it did in the summer. Days can shorten by several hours alltogether so, when Fall camping, it is advisable to arrive earlier than usual. No one like setting up in the dark so arriving by at least mid-afternoon should have you unpacked and enjoying a toasty campfire by early evening.

Pack clothes that can be layered. Afternoon temperatures will be warm and inviting but evenings will really cool down. Be sure to bring along your favorite hoodies and cozy pjs. You will put them to good use.

Think about your favorite soups and stews when packing food for your trip. Fall is a time for watching the steam roll up out of your cup or bowl while sitting all snuggled in around the campfire. Your tummy will appreciate the warm feeling of a nice, hot bowl of chowder.

We love Fall, here at the campground, and we think you will, too. Give us a call to make a reservation and then prepare to fall in love with this particular camping season. We look forward to seeing you.

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