With nine children, my parents didn't have many options when it came to family vacations. They figured take us camping or stay home and watch us tear down the house.

So every summer, we piled into the cars, one full of girls driven by Mom, the other full of boys driven by Dad, and headed off into the woods with canoes, boats and trailers in tow.

These annual forays into the wilderness were fun and inexpensive. And they're a good example in these trying economic times, whether you drive north to the mountains and cooler climes, or brave Florida's heat and mosquitoes.

Yes, you'll have to buy some basic equipment, but campsite fees are cheap and so is a lot of the entertainment. Hiking and storytelling are free and fishing isn't much more.

The following tips, based on my experiences as a young camper and on camping excursions with my own children, will get you started.

CAMPFIRES

The first question a camper should ask before setting match to wood is ''are fires allowed?'' Many state and local campgrounds do not allow open fires on the ground. And even in those parks that do, drought conditions often force officials to ban open flames to help prevent forest fires.

Most organized campgrounds have fire rings. It is always a good idea to bring a shovel to clean old ashes out of the pit so air can circulate under the wood.

If the campground doesn't have a fire pit, bring your own. Cut off the bottom 12 inches of a 55-gallon drum and drill a few air holes in the side. As you pick your fire spot, be mindful of the surrounding and overhead vegetation.

Once the site for the fire has been established, set up the rest of the camp (tent, cooking area, etc.) upwind.

FIREWOOD

Don't count on finding dead wood on the ground to fuel the flames. In a popular campground, the ground is likely to be picked clean by the thousands of campers who have been there before. That's not a good thing, since a downed log supports more life than a live tree.

It is much better to gather wood at a brush site or buy some split logs at the camp store or supermarket. Oak and other hardwoods will burn long and slow and create a long-lasting bed of coals. Softwoods, such as pine or spruce, burn quicker and hotter.

A grocery store bag of split wood costs about $5. It is always better to have too much wood than too little. If you think you will use two bags a night, buy four. Keep an extra bag in reserve.

S'MORES

This classic campfire treat is easy to make. Start with a bag of marshmallows, a box of graham crackers and a package of chocolate bars.

There are two ways to make s'mores.

In the first method, toast the marshmallow until it is a delicate golden brown. Then gently place the marshmallow on a graham cracker, add chocolate and cover it with another graham cracker. Now squeeze the crackers together, wait until the marshmallow has cooled and then eat carefully.

Method two: Stick the marshmallow in the fire and wait until it bursts into flames. Now pretend it is a torch and then grab a handful of chocolate, eat in one bite. Forget the crackers.

GHOST STORIES

Gather your troop, pack, gang, tribe or family around the fire and make sure everybody has a comfy chair. Make Uncle Henry, the big mouth who eats and drinks too much at Christmas dinner, sit on the smoky side.

Do not begin until everyone is quiet. All flashlights should be off. Keep yours handy in case you want to illuminate your face during particularly scary parts.

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