The last time I went to camp was so long ago I barely remember more than rustic accommodations, archery lessons and crafting a dreamweaver. But I just returned from a weekend at Camp Blogaway – a self billed “boot camp for food and recipe bloggers” and boy has camp changed.

Camp Blogaway is held at the de Benneville Pines camp in the San Bernardino National Forest a couple hours drive from Los Angeles. With heated cabins, running water and hot showers, this is definitely more refined than my 4-H camp of years ago. And with a wine sponsor, Wente Vineyards, let’s just say that the accommodations weren’t the only thing that was a little different.

As this was my first year, a few list of “do’s” to keep in mind for next time.

Do’s of Camp Blogaway

• Do take sheets and a blanket. Although my very kind bunkmate, Ten Thousand Snacks, didn’t admit to it, I’m pretty sure the rustling of nylon sleeping bag against nylon bunkbed mattress caused more than a little loss of sleep for both of us.

• Related, do take earplugs. My roomie may have been wishing she had a set for the afore mentioned rustling. Melatonin wouldn’t be a bad addition to the dopp kit either.

• Do realize that you’re at 7000′ and that it’s important to stay hydrated (I don’t suppose wine counts as hydration, right?).

• Do take a really big suitcase. And by this, I don’t mean to pack a really big suitcase. Leave some empty space as you’re going to need a lot of room to take home all the major swag there is.

• Do take a towel. Drying off with paper towels would be a drag. Or so I hear.

• Do take the chance to pose with famous people like Phil Lempert (center), aka, the Supermarket Guru and Don Odiorne (left) of the Idaho Potato Commission.

• Do network. This is a great time to meet a lot of really talented people and hope that some of their blogging juju rubs off.  Some of the awesome bloggers that I have gotten to know through this, and other blogger events, and am now pleased to call friends include:

Average Betty
Cooking on the Weekends
Nibbles and Feasts
Presley’s Pantry
Shockingly Delicious

These are some amazingly talented women and I could learn a lot from any one of them. Note: they are also fun to drink Champagne with (food bloggers know how to camp!).

• Do talk to the sponsors that are there. It’s a perfect time to get face-to-face time with brands that you might want to work with and vice versa.

• Do go on the morning natures walks. It’s a beautiful area and since you’re going to be sitting on your butt the rest of the day eating.

• But on that note, do pack some snacks. I’m not going to say that camp food was bad. I’m just going to suggest keeping a few nuts or granola bars handy would be a good decision.

and most importantly,

• Do go! As maybe you imagined, food blogging camp and the people that attend it, are a lot of fun!