Camp Setup & Living

Two sites, three rigs, twelve people, two dogs—run as one camp. Plus heat, storms, bugs, and safety.

Our Sites and Rigs
Arrival: Clean and Inspect Like an Expert
Positioning the Two Sites
Setup Order
Beating the July Heat
Dogs at Camp
A Loose Daily Rhythm
Thunderstorms
Bugs & Plants
Fire & Cooking Safety
Camp Hygiene & Kids
Sharing the Load
A Few House Rules
Quiet Hours & Good-Neighbor Camp

Our Sites and Rigs

We’re on two adjacent RV sites with room for tents (booked ✅ for all four families). Three different camping styles, so each has its own quirks:

Rig	Who	Highlights	Cooking
Large RV	Older Smiths (+2 dogs) & Harris	Kitchen, living room, shower, bedroom + extra beds, outdoor kitchen & awning	RV propane stove + some oven, outdoor kitchen
18′ square-pod trailer	Younger Smiths	Bed + underbed storage, A/C, some closet, outdoor galley	Butane grills, outdoor galley
10–12-person tent	Zuelke	Big tent, most weather-exposed	Shared group stoves/grills

Plus everyone’s bringing electric griddles and air-fryers (Younger + Older Smiths) for the powered sites—see the equipment list.

Site split:

Site 1 — the large RV + 2 vehicles (Older Smiths & Harris). The dogs live here.
Site 2 — the pod + the big tent + 2 vehicles (Younger Smiths & Zuelke).

Arrival: Clean and Inspect Like an Expert

Before you drop a single jack or stake, do what seasoned overlanders do—read the site, clean it, and make it yours. Fifteen minutes here prevents days of ants, puddles, and “why is our tent on a slope?”

1. Walk and inspect first

Look up: any dead limbs or hanging branches over a tent/RV spot (“widowmakers”)? Don’t park under them.
Look down: slope and drainage—find the high, flat ground; note where rain would run.
Scan for hazards: fire-ant mounds, ground-wasp/bee holes, poison ivy (“leaves of three”), broken glass, old tent stakes, and animal burrows.
Check the fixtures: fire ring condition, picnic table, the electric pedestal breaker, water spigot, and how far to the bathhouse.

2. Sweep away the welcome mat

Sweep the pad and tent/galley footprints with a stiff broom. This clears crumbs and—per the overlanders—wipes out the ant scout scent-trails that lead colonies straight to your kitchen. A clean pad is your first and best pest defense.
Knock down spider webs under the table and around the pedestal.

3. Treat the perimeter—gently

Dust a light perimeter of food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) around tent edges, RV stabilizer jacks, the pod’s feet, and the power-cord “bridge” to the ground. Add a little cinnamon or peppermint near the galleys. No harsh ground insecticides—they’re discouraged/prohibited in parks and toxic to kids, dogs, and the creek. (Full method: Savvy Camper → eco pest control.)

4. Then set up

Now level, stake, and unroll—on ground you’ve actually chosen.

Positioning the Two Sites

With two sites holding a big RV, a pod, a tent, four vehicles, awnings, and a group kitchen, placement matters. A rough plan (adjust to the real sites):

Site 1 — large RV + 2 cars

Park the RV level, with the awning/outdoor kitchen opening toward the shared gathering area and toward afternoon shade.
Keep slide-outs and the awning clear of trees, posts, and the neighbor’s space.
Park the two cars tandem or to one side so they don’t block the path or the awning; use one as a windbreak for the kitchen if it’s breezy.
Set the dogs’ shaded tie-out/x-pen on the quiet side of the RV.

Site 2 — pod + tent + 2 cars

Put the pod on the firmest, most level pad (trailers hate slopes).
Pitch the big tent on the highest, flattest, best-draining spot, away from where water would run, ideally with morning sun / afternoon shade.
Stage the group HQ canopy + big tables between the two sites (or on the roomier pad) so meals are central and the kid corridor between camps stays open and visible.
Park cars to buffer wind and the road, not to wall off the campfire.

For both: keep the campfire downwind of tents and awnings, gear paths clear, and the kid zone visible from the camp chairs.

One camp, not two. Pick the roomier site as “Group HQ” for the canopy, big table, group kitchen, water jug, and daily coffee station.

Setup Order

Aim to arrive early-to-mid afternoon for daylight and energy.

Inspect & clean each pad (above).
Level & hook up the RV and pod; pitch the tent on the spot you chose.
Raise Group HQ — canopy, tables, water jug, group kitchen, coffee station.
Safety walk with the kids — bathrooms, boundaries, the fire ring (“hot circle”), the dogs’ area, and “no water without an adult.”
Beds before dark — make beds, stage headlamps and the box fans.
Nice-to-have — string lights, rugs, hammocks, kiddie pool, fire prep.

Beating the July Heat

July in Missouri is hot and humid—plan the day around it.

Schedule around midday. Active stuff early and late; rest/shade/water 1–3:30.
Box fans are a must. On the electric RV/pod sites, a box fan transforms naps and nights. Bring one per sleeping space if you can.
Set up a kiddie pool in the shade—gold for the little ones (and the dogs) to cool off at camp. Dump it daily (mosquitoes breed in standing water) and keep soap out of it.
Hydrate constantly—refill the group jug; electrolyte packets on big-activity days.
Shade is everything: canopies, the tree line, the A/C pod, and the creek.
Cool off at the swim beach or by wading Big Sugar Creek.

Dogs at Camp

The Older Smiths are bringing two dogs, so a little planning keeps everyone happy:

Leashed (10-ft max) and attended at all times—park rule, and right next to other families and wildlife. Never leave dogs tied and unattended at the site.
Set a shaded tie-out or x-pen by the RV with water always available; the kiddie pool doubles as a dog cool-down.
Watch the heat—dogs overheat fast; midday is for shade and water, not the trail.
Pick up after them every time; bag it and pack it out.
Check dogs for ticks nightly along with the kids.
Know where dogs are allowed—they’re fine on trails and around camp, but not on the swim beach. Confirm specifics with the office.
Bring vaccination records and keep tags on.

A Loose Daily Rhythm

Time	Flow
6–8 a.m.	Early risers, coffee station, quiet/fishing
8–9	Breakfast (assigned breakfast crew)
9–12	Morning activity (paddle / bike / hike / beach)
12–1	Lunch (light, self-serve, or packed for the trail)
1–3:30	Heat of the day — rest, shade, kiddie pool, creek, naps
3:30–6	Afternoon activity
6–7:30	Group dinner (see the schedule)
7:30–10	Campfire, naturalist program, stargazing, games
10 p.m.	Quiet hours

Chores and crews are on the Camp Jobs & Chores page; the day-by-day is in the Itinerary.

Thunderstorms

Missouri summer afternoons can turn stormy fast.

Watch the sky and a weather app in the afternoon.
Secure or drop the canopy before wind hits—a loose canopy becomes a sail. Stow the RV awning.
Off the water at the first rumble. Lightning means everyone out of the lake/creek.
Stage a rain plan: the RV and pod are dry shelters; pull out cards and the kids’ printables. Most storms pass within an hour. (A rainy day is also a good cue to run the supply run or a day trip.)

Bugs & Plants

Ticks & chiggers: repellent on skin, permethrin on clothes/shoes, tuck pants into socks on trails, and a tick check every night (kids and dogs especially).
Ants: the swept pad + DE perimeter (above) is your defense—plus sealed food.
Mosquitoes: worst at dusk—long sleeves, repellent, a smoky fire, and no standing water (dump the kiddie pool).
Poison ivy: “leaves of three, let it be.” Show the kids on day one.
Fireflies: the good bug—evening firefly-catching is a highlight (let them go after).

Full eco-friendly method: Savvy Camper & RV Tips.

Fire & Cooking Safety

Fires only in the provided ring/grill. Check for posted burn bans at the office.
Keep a water bucket at the fire; drown, stir, and feel before bed/leaving.
Kids stay an arm’s reach back; teach the “hot circle” around the ring.
Store food sealed in coolers/bins—raccoons and ringtails are clever overnight.
Mind butane/propane safety: cook outside, never inside a tent or the pod.

Camp Hygiene & Kids

Handwashing station: a jug with a spigot + soap by the kitchen; sanitizer everywhere.
Bathroom buddy system after dark; everyone has a headlamp.
Wet-stuff line: a clothesline for swimsuits and towels (you’ll have many).
A bin per kid for their own gear keeps two sites from becoming one big lost-and-found.

Twelve people only runs smoothly if everyone pitches in. We’ve got a whole system for it—coffee station, breakfast crews, the snack pantry, and a meal-cleanup schedule with kid jobs and adult auditors—on the Camp Jobs & Chores page.

A Few House Rules

Not to squash anyone’s fun—these are just the handful of things that keep a 12-person camp clean, cool, and bug-free all week. (There’s a kid-friendly version on the Kids at Camp page.)

No fireworks or firecrackers. The campground prohibits them—please don’t bring any. We’ll caravan to the Troy Rotary show instead, with glow sticks for the kids.
Paper plates, bowls, and plastic utensils. The Older Smiths are bringing plenty for everyone. It feels wasteful, but with a group this size it’s the fastest way to keep the site clean and the dishwater down.
Eat and drink outside the RVs—water is the only exception. No food or other drinks inside. If you open a drink, finish it and toss the container—don’t leave it sitting. And no in-and-out, in-and-out through the RV doors: every open door lets bugs in and the A/C out. In or out, then keep it shut.
Refill the filtered-water pitcher when you fill a bottle from it. Top it back off for the next person.
Don’t cut through other families’ campsites—or the neighbors’. Use the paths and the open kid corridor between our two sites.
Hang up your wet things. Swimsuits, towels, and your bath/shower kit go on the wet-stuff line—not dumped on a bed or an outdoor table.

Quiet Hours & Good-Neighbor Camp

Quiet hours 10 p.m.–6 a.m.—wind down the volume, not necessarily the fun.
Keep generators (if any) within posted hours.
Leashed, attended pets only.
Leave No Trace: pack out trash, keep the site cleaner than you found it.

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