Summer Fun Trunk Tote

Dear Lissy,

Trunk Tote!  Get it?

Sunny weather is fast approaching, and we like to be OUTDOORS!  If I take just an hour or so to pack a small tote we keep in the trunk, it frees us up to be much more spontaneous as a family.  This isn't the emergency kit I always keep in the back, it's more of a "fun emergency" assistant.


I think about things our family might like to do:  a trip to the park with friends, a campfire & s'mores, stop by the lake, go for a short hike or fish, or maybe just go out for ice cream after church.

Bucket of Fun

Towels 

Fun almost always involves water!  From drying off a playground slide to protecting car seats after a dip in the swimmin' hole, you're going to need towels. I use the thin, ratty, stringy ones for the car tote.

Garbage bag

5 Ziploc gallon bags 

These hold everything from "treasures" scavenged from the river or beach to leftover food, to fish.  A must have for us.

Disposable plastic grocery sacks (3)

Case of bottled water

This and the bag of charcoal aren't actually in the tote, just in the car.

Roll of paper towels

Dollar store roll of aluminum foil.

This can be used to make casts of objects like tree bark, cover a nasty grill, or even make pouches for cooking food over coals without a grill.  

Tub of wet wipes

Roll of t.p.

Dog tie-out, collapsible water bowl, and kibble rations for one meal.

Toys 

Frisbee, balls & gloves, bubble solution, insect nets, etc.

Snacks 

Nothing that will melt or spoil!  Crunchy granola bars, dried fruit and nuts, graham crackers (just add marshmallows and chocolate for smores), commercially made beef jerky.  This allows us to skip or delay a meal.

Plastic picnic cloth

Public picnic tables are almost always icky, and it can double as a ground cloth at the river or park.

Bug dope and candle

Sunscreen

5 or 6 clothespins with springs

$20 

Whether it's park fees or a trip to a roadside ice cream stand, it never hurts to carry a little cash.  

Collapsible fishing poles and small bait kit.

Folding Utility Knife

These sturdy, sharp knives will make quick work of marshmallow sticks or other small tasks.  Daddy keeps a hatchet and a Mora knife in the locked glove box for bigger jobs.

Bag of Instant Light charcoal

Because of pine borers most of the local parks and Army Corp of Engineers sites no longer allow wood to be brought in.  Charcoal works fine in a fire ring or grill.

Strike anywhere matches and a lighter

Always, always, always have three ways to make a fire!  We have a Swedish Fire steel key in the emergency kit, too.

Egg Carton fire starters

When we can have a wood fire, that's what we prefer.  Cardboard egg carton cups filled with pencil sharpener shavings and then wax make lightweight, reliable firestarters.

In addition to this tote, I keep supplies on hand in the house for s'mores and cookouts so we can go on a moment's notice without a stop at the grocery store.  These few moments spent planning give me the ability to bless our family abundantly all through the warm weather months.  They also give me the grace to say "Yes!  That would be fun!" when Dad suggests a last minute trip instead of making excuses or needing an hour's lead time and a pit stop at Wal-Mart on the way out of town. 

Wishing you many years of family fun,

Momma