This is a sponsored post on behalf of Kohl’s. All opinions are my own.
My very first (and only) camping trip was when I was four years old. My dad had a tradition of taking each of his kids camping with him in the middle of the woods once they reached a certain age, and I’d been looking forward to my turn for a long while. Out in the middle of the Allegheny National Forest, we set up camp with a nice tent and a crackling fire. My dad had warned me that there were going to be strange noises in the woods and that I shouldn’t be scared. But I was a nervous wreck anyway. In fact, it was only a few hours in before I began to cry and beg him to take me home. We never tried again.
So when my kiddos started begging a couple of years ago to go camping, I was nervous. Not only had I never been camping since my disastrous trip with my dad, but I so didn’t want to go through the effort of buying camping supplies, hiking out to the woods, setting up camp with little kids and then having to pack it all up again when they got scared. So I kept putting it off until very recently when Dexter came to me and asked me once again to go camping. That’s when I made a decision – if they could make it through one night camping out in the back yard, I’d consent to going on a REAL camping trip.
I began by doing my research about the best camping gear. I called my dad and asked his opinion, and I looked around online to see what the experts had to say. One brand kept coming up again and again – Coleman. It was a name I recognized, as we already owned many Coleman products, and I knew my dad did, too. And then I discovered that Kohl’s was having a Camping and Hiking Sale Event! You’d better believe I was online ordering a ton of new supplies!
Everything from a new tent (which is AH-MAZING!) and sleeping bags to camping chairs, portable picnic table, a portable grill and kitchen, and even potable water carrier! I got it all from Kohl’s.
And then it was time to set it all up…
My husband had promised to help, but three days had gone by, and the kids were getting antsy. So I decided to do it myself.
I began with our Coleman® Tenaya Lake™ Fast Pitch™ 8-Person Cabin with Closet tent! It came in a perfect little carrying case with the instructions sewn right onto the lid! I’ll admit, it did take me a bit of time to set up.
Getting everything placed the correct way was a little daunting, but I managed to figure it out.
In the end, it took me a little more time than it would have if I’d ever set up a tent before, but I still managed to do it all by myself in less than 30 minutes. I call that a win!
The kids were SO excited. They loved exploring inside, unzipping the windows and staring out the ceiling at the sky and trees overhead.
We set up our new Coleman Comfort Cloud Memory Foam Sleeping Bags and tested them out. Dex and Dan shared one because they share EVERYTHING.
We had the necessities ready for our backyard camp out, so it was time to set up the rest of our “camp site.”
This included a couple of Coleman Oversize Quad Chairs with Coolers, a foldable picnic table with umbrella, a Coleman Pack Away Camp Kitchen, and a Coleman PerfectFlow InstantStart Portable Gas Grill!
It seemed to me like we were ready for anything! We made plans to sleep outside at the weekend, and we counted down the hours. But when the weekend arrived, it brought RAIN!
So our little backyard camp out has been postponed for a while. Our tent is still set up in the yard, and we spend a ton of time in in just pretending at camping, and I love the my kids remain so excited about it! I can’t wait until we can do it for real. And dare I say, I’m even excited to go for a REAL camping trip out in the woods!
What about you? Do YOU want to go on a real campout? And do you want $50 Kohl’s Gift Card to help you buy your supplies?? Well now is your chance to win. Simply enter below and one lucky winner will win! Contest will run April 21st – April 30th 2016 and is open to US residents only.
Thank you to Kohl’s for sending me the amazing tent and sleeping bag combo and for facilitating this post.
I would buy a sleeping bag
I would get an air mattress.
I would buy a tent
I would buy a sleeping bag.
I need a new Tent and Coleman cooking stove for Camping this Summer
I would buy a sleeping bag!
id buy a tent
I would buy a new lantern and sleeping bag.
I would get my son a sleeping bag.
I would buy a backpack and some pots and pans for camping!
I would buy a tent.
Sleeping bags. My boys need new ones.
I would use it for water shoes and some sleeping bags!
I would buy a sleeping bag.
I would buy new beach towels!
I would buy a tent.
a sleeping bag for sure
We need a new air mattress and tent.
I would buy a sleeping bag or Hocking boots.
I would buy some type of portable grill to take camping.
Oh I would love to buy their Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme 5 Wheeled Marine Cooler and the Camp Chef Cast-Iron Square Cooking Iron!
I would buy campfire cookware and another sleeping bag.
thank you
I would buy sleeping bags.
I’d get some flashlights and a cooler.
I would get that tent. It looks perfect! I would also buy a case of water.
i would buy some chairs to sit by the fire with
I would get a new tent
a lot of cooking utensils
I would buy a sleeping pad.
I would use it for an air mattress.
I would use it for a new sleeping bag.
I would buy a tent and some sleeping bags!
I need some sleeping bags.
I would get a larger tent to fit my whole family.
would buy some plates and Grilling dishware
I would get a new air mattress.
I would buy a tent.
I would buy a cast iron pan and sleeping bag.
I would use this to buy my husband and I comfortable sleeping bags for camping.
I Would Buy Some Camping Chairs.
We need one more sleeping bag.
My sleeping bag is 40+ years old and even though it still keeps me warm, it’s probably time for a new one.
I love the camping chairs – you can use them at parades, the beach, camping – just seeing them makes you want to go away and have fun!
I would get my boys each their own chairs to use around the campfire or while fishing.
I would get a new tent!
We need some sleeping bags!
I would use it for a tent! We have everything else for camping!
I definitely need a new tent! Ours is missing pieces, and honestly I’m kind of afraid to take it camping!
Pretty much all our camping gear is Coleman…they make such great stuff! I’d use it to get my god daughter the Kids Coleman Glow-In-The-Dark Sleeping Bag.
I’d buy either a sleeping bag or a camp table!
I’d get a sleeping bag
I would get a tent or a sleeping bag
Sleeping bags!
this would be amazing to win! we love to camp and I would buy my daughter her own sleeping bag and a blanket with this GC
I would purchase some thermos to keep our coffee warm!
We need new sleeping bags!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to get a Coleman PerfectFlow InstaStart Portable Gas Grill
I would buy a new tent are other one is worn out.
A cooler and some comfy camping chairs!
I would use it for a sleeping bag! My sleep is important to me!
I would buy a sleeping bag
I would use it for a new tent. Our’s broke.
Sleeping bags, so my kids and I can stay cozy at night.
I would have to get a tent!
I would definitely buy a new tent! Ours is old and really, really, used!
I will be gettting a new tent
Good to have one while on camping. I will buy this tent and a set of quad chairs and table.