Lisa Mead and Dori Hailu have spent a lot of time in the outdoors with their families. And these days, the two local moms are working so that other families can enjoy some quality time outdoors together too.
Just a couple of months ago, the two launched
Camp Like a Mother, renting out camping gear to those who'd like to spend a night or more outside but don't have the gear to do it. Mead, a Durham native and former teacher who now works part-time for a Cary nonprofit, has three kids. Hailu, a former event planner who enjoys traveling regularly with her family, has three kids.
I checked in with the two to learn more about Camp Like a Mother, how it got its start and what they offer. Here's a Q&A:
Go Ask Mom: What was the aha moment that launched Camp Like a Mother? What's the back story?
Dori and Lisa: In September 2018, we were camping at Jordan Lake with five moms and 14 kids under the age of eight, and no dads, on an annual trip. Every night after bedtimes on Momcation, we enjoy a cheese plate, and we were discussing how much fun camping was and we wish more friends would be willing to try it. Another mom jokingly said Lisa and Dori have enough experience and equipment they could rent it out and our friend Elise came up with the name. We then explored the startup costs and the logistics of starting a small business. In early 2019, we purchased the equipment and went live with a website.
GAM: How much do you camp with your own families? What do you love about it?
D&L: We camp several times a year. It allows us to take more frequent vacations because of the affordability. In October 2018, we spent a week camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness together. We mostly love how the kids find ways to entertain themselves without screens or the toys from home. Being out in nature really brings out their creativity. We make wonderful memories and feel it enhances the quality of our relationships with family and friends.
GAM: What all does Camp Like a Mother provide?
D&L: We offer
three camping packages, for large and small families, and what we call the scout package, which is designed for a parent and one child. Each package contains a tent, tarp, sleep pads, and sleeping bags, We also have
package add-ons, which include hammocks, cooking essentials, an activity box, chairs, folding tables, coffee making supplies, and tailgate tents.
GAM: What are your top tips for families who are first timers at camping?
D&L: Don’t think a camping trip has to involve traveling far away and being a big ordeal. Our favorite camping sites are listed on
our blog.
You are doing this to enjoy your time with your family and give your children a new experience. Leave the planning to us. We even offer concierge service where we will set up and take down your campsite. Like any travel experience, you want to be comfortable sleeping, as that can make or break a vacation. So, bring your favorite sheets, pillow, or whatever you need. We also have plenty of ideas for meals and can walk you through that. It is possible to camp with small kids. We have taken ours camping starting at six weeks old in the California Redwoods.
GAM: What's your hope for the future of Camp Like a Mother?
D&L: We hope to get more families engaged in the outdoors without screens. We want people to feel comfortable and confident when they try camping and realize how much fun a family can have. We plan to expand the blog and Facebook page to document our travel adventures. In fact, we are answering these questions from the beach on another Momcation, with five moms, and 16 kids under nine years old.
Go Ask Mom features local moms every Monday.
