Hey everyone! I’m not sure if this is the appropriate way to ask this, but here goes nothing! 😊 Our family of four is going tent camping for the first time during the first week of August, and I’m hoping to get some advice from this amazing community. We’ll be spending three days at a provincial park, and while we are really excited for this adventure, we’re also very aware that we have a lot to learn! We used to be trailer campers, so tent camping is definitely a change of pace for us. We’ll be going with other families who are much more experienced tent campers, but we are very much the beginners in the group. 😂 Our family also has some additional considerations: - One of our family members is an ambulatory wheelchair user with mobility challenges, so having a comfortable and practical setup is really important. - Two family members use CPAP/BiPAP machines at night, so we’re trying to figure out the best way to handle power and equipment while camping. We’re not looking to go full “glamping,” but we do want to set ourselves up for success. We’ve tried camping in the past with inexpensive air mattresses, and unfortunately it wasn’t a comfortable experience for anyone. So this time we’re trying to invest in some better sleeping arrangements. So far, we have our tent and I’ve just purchased two cots for the kids. I’m specifically looking for recommendations on: 🏕️ Sleeping setups - Comfortable elevated air mattresses or sleeping pads for two adults. - Sleeping bags or bedding that are actually comfortable - Ways to make a cot setup more cozy - Anything that works well for someone who has difficulty getting up and down from the ground (our daughter will be using a cot) ⚡ CPAP/BiPAP camping setups - Has anyone camped with CPAP or BiPAP machines? - What power banks, batteries, or setups have worked well for you? - Any tips or things you wish you knew before your first trip? 🍳 General first-time tent camping advice - Cooking setups that make life easier - Things you didn’t realize you needed until you camped - Any accessibility tips or hacks you’ve learned along the way

Today was a big milestone for OutdoorKids. We ran our very first Navigation Workshop, and I’m still smiling thinking about how well it went — not because everything was “perfect,” but because the kids showed up curious, brave, and ready to try. That’s the whole point of what we’re building here. And get this: we were a total of 25 participants out there together today. That’s a strong first workshop — and it genuinely felt like a community day. 🧭 Huge thank-you to Hammond Hill First off: thank you to Hammond Hill for hosting us and giving us a place where kids can actually practice real skills in a real environment. It makes a massive difference to have a space where families can spread out, explore, and learn without feeling rushed or “in the way.” We’re grateful for the support and the welcome. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Thank you to the parents To all the parents who brought your kids out — thank you. You’re the reason OutdoorKids works. You made time, packed the snacks, managed the water bottles, handled the “I’m tired / I’m hungry / I need the bathroom” moments, and still stayed present for the learning. But even more than that: you gave your kids something rare — the chance to build confidence through doing, not just watching. 🧒🔥 And to the kids… you crushed it To the kids who came out: You asked great questions. You tried things that felt new. You got turned around, re-oriented, and tried again. You worked together, compared notes, and kept moving. That’s navigation in real life. Navigation isn’t about never getting lost. It’s about learning how to notice clues, make a plan, and calmly find your way back. And you did exactly that. ✅ What we covered (and what I loved seeing) Here are a few highlights from the workshop: How to orient a map (and why “north” matters more than people think) Basic compass skills (and how to use it without overthinking it) Landmarks + “handrails” (using trails, edges, and obvious features to guide you) Pacing + distance awareness (kid-friendly ways to estimate how far you’ve gone)