Fewer Bites, More S'mores: A Pre-Packing Plan for Bug-Happy Campgrounds

Every family camping trip has a supporting cast of characters. There's the kid who refuses to wear shoes, the cooler lid that never quite closes, and the mosquito that seems to have your youngest child's name on a calendar. Bugs are part of the outdoors. They just don't have to be the headliners.

The trick isn't a giant jug of spray or a campsite wrapped in netting. It's a plan that starts before you load the car. At Duncan's Family Campground, we've watched plenty of families win the bug battle with a few small habits and a little site-selection common sense. Here's the playbook.

Pick a Site That Breathes

Bugs, especially mosquitoes, love still air. They also love shade, damp ground, and anything that holds a little water. So when you're choosing a site, think like a mosquito and then pick the opposite.

Look for a spot with a breeze and morning sun. A site on a ridge or near an open field usually moves more air than one tucked into a thick stand of trees. Sun helps dry out the ground after rain. That doesn't mean you need to roast in a parking lot — shade is still your friend at 2 p.m. — but a site that stays soggy and still all day is a mosquito nursery.

Stay away from standing water. A marshy edge, a slow creek, a puddle that never drains — all of it is prime breeding ground. You don't need to be miles from the water, but don't pitch your tent in the damp corner of the loop either. And take a lap around your site before you commit. Tall grass, leaf litter, and brush piles are tick habitat. A mowed, open site with a clear picnic table is worth more than a postcard view.

The Short Gear List That Earns Its Space

You don't need a hazmat kit. A few items pull their weight.

EPA-registered repellent. Look for picaridin or DEET, and follow the label. Picaridin is gentler on gear and plastic, which matters when you're spraying near camp chairs and headlamps. DEET has been around forever and works. Pick one, pack it, and use it as directed.

Light-colored long sleeves and pants. This isn't fashion; it's defense. Light colors make ticks easier to spot, and a thin long-sleeve shirt at dusk keeps mosquitoes off your arms. Pack one set per kid, even in summer.

A fine-tipped tweezer. Tick removal is a boring skill until you need it. Keep tweezers in the first-aid kit and know where they are.

A battery-powered fan. A small camp fan on the picnic table moves air and keeps mosquitoes from settling. It also helps on a hot, still evening. This is one of those items families thank us for after they try it.

A screen tent or bug net. For families with babies or kids who melt down at dusk, a small screen shelter over the picnic table is a game changer. It gives everyone a bug-free zone to eat dinner and settle down.

A lint roller. Run it over pant legs and socks to pick up ticks before they find skin. It sounds silly. It works.

The Arrival Routine: Ten Minutes That Save the Evening

Setup usually gets all the attention. But the first ten minutes after you park can decide how the whole evening goes.

Keep tent doors closed while you unload. It's tempting to leave them open for airflow, but that's an open invitation. Set up chairs and the table away from tall grass and brush. Clear the picnic table and wipe it down — crumbs and sticky spots attract ants and yellow jackets. Keep trash in a sealed bin or your car, not in a bag by the fire ring.

If you're using a screen tent, set it up before dusk, not after the mosquitoes arrive. Same with the fan and repellent. Put repellent where you can grab it, not buried in a tote. A small bin near the camp kitchen with repellent, tweezers, and a lint roller keeps the routine easy.

The Dusk Handoff

Dusk is the witching hour. Mosquitoes get active, kids get tired, and dinner is usually happening. A simple handoff routine helps.

About an hour before sunset, have everyone change into long sleeves and pants. Apply repellent to exposed skin — adults first, then kids. Don't let kids apply it themselves; spray your hands and wipe it on their faces and necks, avoiding eyes and mouths. Light the fire or start the camp stove. Smoke helps a little, and having dinner underway keeps everyone occupied. Turn on the fan. Close up the screen tent if you have one.

This routine doesn't eliminate bugs. It just means you're not fighting them one swat at a time while the pasta water boils over.

Kid Habits That Actually Stick

Kids don't want a lecture. They want to roast marshmallows. So keep the bug rules short and make them part of the adventure.

Do a tick check before bed. Call it a "sock and scalp inspection" and let them use a flashlight. Check behind ears, along hairlines, under waistbands, and between toes. Make it quick and routine, not scary.

Stay on trails and out of tall grass. If they're going exploring, socks pulled up and shoes on. A buddy system helps too — two kids are more likely to notice a tick on each other than one kid distracted by a frog.

Keep food and drinks covered. Yellow jackets are the uninvited guests at every picnic table. A covered plate and a lid on the juice pitcher go a long way.

When They Still Find You

Some trips are just buggy. A wet spring, a still night, a site near a pond — sometimes the odds aren't in your favor. That's okay. Have a backup plan that doesn't involve packing up early. Move dinner into the screen tent. Break out a card game. Take a dusk walk in long sleeves instead of sitting still. And remember that a few bites are not a failed trip. They're just a reminder that you were outside.

At Duncan's Family Campground, we'd rather see families gathered around the fire than huddled in the car. A little planning before you pack — and a ten-minute routine at dusk — gets you there. The mosquitoes can have the tall grass. You keep the s'mores.