Description

2024 NAPPA Award winner

The revised and updated edition of the bestselling guidebook that equips parents with all the confidence they need to embark on and enjoy the ultimate outdoor activity with their kids: camping.


Written by a seasoned camper, adventurer, and  mother of three, this book is a practical, irreverent introductory guide to all things camping.

Helen Olsson writes from a parent’s point of view, giving readers a clear plan—and plenty of encouragement—for an enjoyable family camping experience. Whether you’re planning a simple outing, a multiday trek with babies or teens, or camping with several families, Down and Dirty has you covered. 

Each chapter features helpful checklists, including “Little Tykes” lists dedicated to items for babies and toddlers. The book focuses on car camping but nods to alternate ways to camp: backpacking, pull-behind campers, canoe/kayak trips, hut camping, and trips with pack animals.

The second edition is updated to reflect the latest products, outdoor etiquette, and lifestyles. You’ll have guidance on: 

• choosing a destination 
• packing gear and food
• setting up the campsite
• planning menus
• and staying safe

About the Author

Helen Olsson is a freelance travel and skiing writer and a regular contributor to the New York Times Travel and Escapes sections, where she writes about family outdoor and adventure travel. Among the camping trips she's chronicled are llama-trekking in Colorado's backcountry and a canoe-and-kayak trip in the Niobrara River Valley of Nebraska—both taken with three children under nine. Visit her at www.maddogmom.com.