Camping with friends sounds relaxing—until you add kids to the mix. Coordinating a weekend away with multiple families isn’t so much a serene escape to nature as it is a logistical puzzle fueled by snacks. Between group texts about meal planning, packing lists, and who’s bringing what, just getting everyone out the door felt like a small miracle.

This was my first real camping trip, along with a few other rookies, though we also had some seasoned pros in the mix. That meant our group gear ranged wildly—from well-loved, dialed-in setups to brand-new stuff still in the packaging.

When we finally rolled into camp, the kids scattered like a pack of wild animals, the adults immediately cracked open beers , and within ten minutes our site looked like REI had exploded. Tents , ch

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