Get Your Family Camping Kickstart
How to gear up for your family camping adventures, like a pro, in as little as 28 days, even if you've never camped before!
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We are excited to provide you with the essential advice, tips and support so that you can camp independently, like a pro, even if you've never camped before.
Camping isn't rocket science, but there are plenty of things that won't go your way.
And it's definitely not pleasant learning the do's and don'ts of camping at the campsite.
Does this sound familiar?
Do you want to take the kids camping but:
- You don't want to learn the hard way about how to camp - what to do in a storm, how to pack for camping and how to stay warm at night
- You haven't got time to wade through endless blog posts, Youtube videos and Facebook posts trying to work it all out yourself
- You don't want to waste a lot of money buying products only to find that they don't meet your needs - too big, too small, too hard to setup, too flimsy, just gimmicks
- You don't want to tow anything unless you really have to, and you don't want an enormous car either
Wouldn't it be great if you:
- Could be camping like a pro in a tried and tested but customised tent camping setup
- Didn't have to settle for less enjoyable and more expensive hotel, cabin or resort style holiday accommodation
- Didn't have to holiday at home and constantly harass the kids about screen time when you could take them camping
And camping will be so much more enjoyable and rewarding
Now, with your Camping Kickstart:
- You can get the kids off the screens without any argument, because they are going camping
- You don't need to go to the expense and effort of trailers, camper trailers and caravans*
- Your kids will become more independent, resilient and adventurous - and who doesn't want that for their kids!
- You will always have an inexpensive getaway from the hustle and bustle of your daily life
- Your mental and physical health will improve through camping
- Camping will become so much more enjoyable because you don't have to reinvent the wheel, make costly mistakes and go through all of that trial and error
* For families or groups of up to 5
Introducing
The Camping Kickstart Program
Hi, Joanne and Helen here. Yes, two females (and sisters) running a camping website. You don't see that very often!
Joanne (pictured) is the trailer-free camping obsessive! She has a background in financial and business management and corporate governance, and a desire to transfer those skills to the campsite.
Helen's background is in IT and education and (full disclosure) she and her husband own a camper trailer. But they have four children and so we won't hold that against them!
Here's how we will help you
Join the Camping Kickstart Program and you will receive access to The Campus, our member only portal, including:
Camping Kickstart Roadmap
Our 8-step process to get you from where you are now to camping like a pro in as little as 28 days. Ideal for those who wish to camp trailer free.
Checklists, cheat
sheets and calculators
to help save you time and money and to streamline those arduous processes.
Our entire and growing library of resources and tips
to help improve and streamline your camping experience in the context of trailer free camping. It's your one stop shop.
Camping guides and programs focussing on topics of interest
such as The 1Hour Pack, eco-friendly camping, health and safety, camping for those living in apartments, the weather and much more.
Shopping guides and detailed product descriptions
to help you source your camping gear, either via the direct links displayed on our site or by way of detailed explanation.
Advice to help you choose the right vehicle
for your trailer-free camping needs - one that is not to small, but not too big either. .
Our process to pack the car for camping
We've packed plenty of different vehicles from mid-size SUV's to large people movers and you can visually see what works.
Q&A and group support
We'll be there helping you along the way.
The Express Program
This program entitles you to all that is in the Kickstart Program but is also a one-on-one guided solution. We can talk with you to discuss your needs and how we can help.
The inspiration behind Camping Kickstart Program
Hi there, this is Joanne here and I'd like to tell you a bit about my "why" for The Campus and the Camping Kickstart Program.
It all started back in early 2011 during our first camping experience as a family. It was a memorable one - but for all the wrong reasons! Up against a week-long record rainfall event, we were ill-prepared in many ways. If not for the hospitality of our co-camping friends, who all had plenty of shelter and creature comforts brought along curtesy of their trailers, we would have returned home not long after we arrived.
Camping isn't rocket science, but plenty of things can go wrong if you are learning the hard way at the campsite
After that experience, I went back to the drawing board. Basically, I wanted what our friends had, but minus the trailer. We lived in inner city Melbourne and didn't own a trailer, didn't want one, had nowhere to store it, and weren't comfortable towing it over long distances anyway.
After many hours of research and a lot of trial and error and buyers regret over several years, I came up with a great camping setup for four people - one we could transport with our mid-size car in a safe manner. After all of that effort just for our family, surely it shouldn't end there.
"next to no specific trailer-free information available online and an obvious under representation of TFF's"
More and more families these days are living in smaller properties with ever decreasing backyards, if there actually is one! Add to that next to no specific trailer-free information available online and an obvious under representation of TFF's (trailer free families) at campgrounds.
I decided to do something about it and to help others with similar challenges and other barriers to camping.
Hence, The Campus and the Camping Kickstart Program!
Since then, we have also built up an extensive and growing library of resources to address many of the challenges that you might come across in the great outdoors to help you to camp comfortably, safely and responsibly - trailer free.
If you want to start taking the kids camping and you are just starting out, this site is a must. You will save so much time and money buy avoiding all of the guess work, and the kids will have a great time.
Ange Grant
"I can't picture it" I hear you say
We're not talking about the teeny tiny two person dome tent experience of your youth. It's a proper family camping setup with good outdoor shelter, a great camp kitchen and plenty of other features to suit you an your family.
If you follow our advice you would blend in with most other tent camping families around camp, and if you want to stand out, then there's plenty of options there as well.
(click on the images below to enlarge)
Our Camping Code
Like most people, we want our camping to be comfortable and fun! We're certainly not perfect, but we also aim to camp in accordance with the following principles:
- We care about the environment and aim to leave no trace
- We are considerate of local cultures and communities, fellow campers and our hosts
- We aim to buy well and buy once
- We are safety and budget conscious, and resourceful
While there may be some unavoidable compromises along the way, we try to stay true to our code, and we encourage our members to also.
All of this and much more, ONLY inside The Campus.
Pictures tell a thousand words
Our family camping adventures have been really special to us, and we love that our son loves it as well. But putting that into words isn't easy, and so we share with you some camping memories in our personal home video. Let us help you create your own happy memories through camping.
The Campus is only new but it already has a lot of information covering so much about camping and all in one place. I especially like the eco-friendly camping and the health and safety focus.
Emily Sevenson
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Camping
Kickstart
AU$395
Kickstart
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$
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*30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
You will receive our 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked
Frequently Asked Questions
So you have questions? Let me try to answer those for you…
We have the information you need all centralised in one place. You don't have to search through endless forum threads and online articles trying to find the information that is relevant to you.
Yes absolutely! This is the place to be if you want to camp comfortably and safely - trailer free, and you are on a tight budget. We focus on keeping costs down and getting the most out of your gear. That said, we do encourage you to buy good quality gear that can last you for years and save you in the long run.
Our camping setup for beginners would be ideal for you. It is entry level, but still allows you to take advantage of most of the tips and advice available here on this site. The better you are equipped and prepared for camping at the beginning, the more likely you will enjoy it and want to continue with it. If not, you will find a later use for most of the items in the camping setup.
This website is really here to help beginner campers and families or groups of up to five to camp comfortably and safely, trailer free. It's not about encouraging you to do exactly as we do, although if you want to, that's perfectly fine with us. As they say, imitation is the best form of flattery!
We know that one size doesn't fit all, and your particular family size, circumstances, preferences and personalities will influence and help shape your final camping setup.
Within the context of our trailer-free and tent style of camping, we will provide you with as much variety and choice as we can to help you put together a camping setup that suits your circumstances. The more you understand the principles of our setup, the more you will be able to independently make your own additions as you go.
Yes definitely. While there are references to the Australian dollar, and most products at present are linked to Australian retailers, we also provide detailed descriptions to help you to source products locally as well. We also where possible reference imperial as well as metric measurements.
Beginner campers and families new to camping would gain the most out of a SetToCamp.com membership. That said, we still believe we have useful information for any camper, especially if you are looking to streamline your camping and lighten your load, but perhaps the Basecamp program might be more suited to you. We also have a lot of time and money saving tips that would help any camper.
Beginner campers and families new to camping would gain the most out of a SetToCamp.com membership, especially in relation to trailer-free camping. There is still a lot of useful information for any camper, but the core offering won't be particularly relevant to you.
Yes you can book a one-on-one consultation. You can also ask questions from within our community forum / Facebook group forum. We also run regular live Q&A sessions, where you can pre-submit your questions or ask them live.
Of course, get in touch with us and we would be happy to talk with you.
The Camping Kickstart Program is a one-off payment and includes 12 months membership. After this time you can renew as a member. You can change from monthly to an annual membership with a couple of clicks from your account page. Our system will automatically take into account the time left on your current subscription, so you'll never be double charged either.
Still not sure if the camping Kickstart Program is right for you?
Who is the Kickstart Program for
If you are a beginner camper or if you wish to camp with your family, you will receive the most immediate benefit from this website, especially if you want to car camp without a trailer, caravan or RV.
If you live in an apartment or smaller property, or have limited space at home to store your camping gear, you will be interested in our home storage solution.
If you don't have a car, or the right car for camping, you will be interested in our car advice, especially on sourcing the right vehicle through a borrowing, renting or hiring arrangement.
If you are a young adult or young couple, we can help you to start accumulating your camping and outdoor gear as part of a long-term trailer-free plan.
If you are experiencing other barriers to car camping, then please let us know. We'd love to see if we can help you and others with similar challenges. Where there’s a will there’s a way!
While this site is intended for trailer-free car and tent campers, much of the information will still be of interest to you if you just want to simplify your camping and lighten your load.
Who is the Kickstart Program not for
We want to focus our time and resources on the good fit members.
We won't turn you away of course, but think twice before joining us:
If you are looking for a quick fix and not willing to dedicate the time required to work through the tools and resources on our site. Proper planning and preparation for camping is important and shouldn't be rushed. You WILL reap the rewards in the long run, and your time will be repaid many times over.
If you already own a trailer, camper trailer or RV and plan on taking it with you on all of your camping adventures. There will be lots of general tips that you might find informative, but the core benefits of this site at this stage at least are around camping and touring trailer free.
Expect guaranteed results - we know our system works because it's been tried and tested, but there are a lot of variables and getting things right takes time and practice. That part is up to you.
Before you leave though…
Ok, so you've gone this far and you are still not convinced. That's fine. We won't take it to heart. We tried but we know we aren't for everyone.
We're not right for you, but consider whether we might be of interest to those around you - family, friends, children, grandchildren.... If so, do them a favour and share it with them! We'll be happy to help them out.
