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| Wed, 06-17-2009 - 1:17pm |
We just found out that friends of ours are going to let us use their Lake "camp/house" up in Maine for the 3rd week in July. It's right on a lake and she says the beach is fabulous for kids because it's not too deep. We've never really been on a vacation like this before. They have a kitchen and a bathroom, but I'm not sure how extensive either one is. They have a grill for food and we'll be able to make fires. We're basically 'cityfolk', but our kids are so excited.
Our basic plan is to spend our days by the lake, maybe do some kayaking, and grill food. The only thing I really would like to spend some money on is a life jacket for the baby (the kids already have some) a tent and some sleeping bags so the kids can experience sleeping outside a few nights. I can get a great one at Target for 80 dollars and the sleeping bags are only 20 dollars.
I don't want to spend a ton of money on this trip, but I will probably have the tendency to think "Oh, we need this..we need this..." and go crazy! What are some fun things we can do with little to no money while semi-camping?

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Oh, you will have a great time!
Not sure how old your children are, but my kids used to like to go bug hunting (read frogs, salamanders, cocoons etc) so we would take along some clear plastic mayo jars that will fit a canning jar ring so you can put a piece of cloth over the top.
Fishing can be an inexpensive thing you only need some fishing line, a stick to tie it to, and an inexpensive hook. Check first to see if they need a license though, most places kids under 16 don't need one. If you have one pack a bird/wildlife book and they can try to figure out what types of birds and critters are there.
Pack an old pot that you can use to pop popcorn over the fire for a campfire snack.
Sharon
The kids will have fun with the fire, but tell them they have to work for it gathering kindling and that will keep them entertained for part of each day. Make sure to pack a deck of cards in case it rains. They might have fun collecting funky rocks and shells etc?
Abbie I have a tent you can borrow if you're not too far
Abbe,
Stacy made a very nice offer.
Where do you guys live? That would be great if we could coordinate it. Let me see if any of our friends or family have a tent...I'll let you know
Abbie
Edited 6/17/2009 8:57 pm ET by abigailnh2
I would also suggest maybe you post on FreeCycle for the baby life jacket. I bet someone has one around that they aren't using, even if you just borrow it.
Peg
Hi.
We are in Nashua.
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