Does the idea of taking a camping trip intimidate you due to your lack of experience? You shouldn’t let that stop you. All you need is a bit of confidence and the right advice. If that’s what you seek, you have found the right article. This article is going to help you learn how to have a good time camping.
Over-packing is better than under-packing when it comes to children. Camping can be messy. Almost every child will want to play in the dirt or mud, constantly. As the day goes on, your kids will get messier and messier. While this cannot usually be prevented, be sure to pack some extra clothing. Remember, always be prepared!
Make sure your sleeping bag is right for the weather. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. The reverse is also true. Using a light, cool sleeping bag in the middle of winter will keep you very cold. Extremely cold weather can bring about frostbite.
Camping can be extremely fun or extremely dangerous depending upon how prepared you are. Prepare fully before going on a camping trip. If you go someplace new, research wildlife and research the weather and geography.
You might think that you can find all of the wood that you need to keep the fire going, but there is a good chance that the wood will be wet. It’s always prudent to bring wood that you have gathered beforehand, and to store it in a location where it will stay dry.
Oranges are great for camping since they’re healthy, easy to eat, and they also keep mosquitoes away. After you’ve eaten the flesh of the fruit, save all the peels. When you need bug repellant, rub the peels on your skin to repel mosquitos naturally and on the cheap!
Survival Kit
Protect your canine companion on the trip by keeping him leashed and under careful supervision. Other campers might be fearful of your dog, no matter how friendly he might be. Take others into consideration when you camp if you bring a dog. Also, dogs can damage your campsite or another person’s campsite if they’re not watched carefully.
Always pack and carry a survival kit. A survival kit should include items like a flare gun, matches that are waterproof, a knife and other items you think you may need. Your survival kit can be the difference between you making it out of the woods on a stretcher or your own two feet. If you don’t take it with you on excursions it will serve you no good.
It is important to take even greater care storing food if you are planning to travel to an area with active and dangerous wildlife. Wrap your food up tight and keep it far away from seeing areas. This can prevent an attack.
When it comes to children, don’t hesitate to over-pack. Camping can be messy. Children, in particular, love to get their hands in the dirt. As the day moves along, your children are going to get really messy. You may not be able to keep them clean, but you can bring a change of clothes. Be sure you’re prepared!
Are you a camping novice? So, practice setting up your tent and taking it down before you leave home. Doing this will make you properly prepared when you get to camp. With this practice under your belt, your tent will go up much quicker and have you sheltered before night falls.
If you are taking kids camping, have them eat a “jungle breakfast.” Take mini-boxes of cereal, juice boxes and fruit out into the woods, and tie them to the trees. When the children awake, tell them that they have to “hunt” to get breakfast. This adds a little sprinkle of adventure and excitement to any camping trip.
Make sure you bring the right things when you go camping. Your whole trip could be ruined if you forget a couple of things. It may be helpful to make a list of everything you need and cross it off the list when you pack it. Make sure that you bring a lot of water, knives, soaps and food on your camping trip for safety.
Even if you’re roughing it, you can better your camping experience by bring a small luxury. Take along some candy, some coffee you enjoy or anything that is lightweight but reminds you of home. Having these luxuries available can help lift your mood.
Find a soft and flat spot to pitch your tent when you are camping in the wilderness. It is important to feel as level as possible to maximize the comfort that you feel. Always lay down some tarp first to prevent any water damage to the tent.
Duct Tape
Before leaving for your trip, write a list of what you need to bring along. This is imperative when there is travel involved during your camping trip. Pack a day or two before going camping, and check off things on your list as you go along.
Pack the duct tape. Duct tape is good for so many things. You can patch holes in tents, shoes and inflatables as well as using it to secure your tent or seal your mosquito netting.
Your list of camping supplies should include several flashlights with extra batteries and lanterns. There are times when it is important to be able to see clearly in the dark. Having an adequate amount of light can help avoid injuries from falls and running into animals living in the wild. Make sure you have at least enough flashlights for each person to have their own.
Before you camp in a new location, you should familiarize yourself with the local dangers and risks. This means, research what types of animals and insects are deadly or which weather patterns you need to watch for. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.
Never let your kids roam out of your sight. Not only can your children get lost, but they may also encounter cars that enter the campsite. In no time, your children could be harmed, so always keep a watchful eye on them.
Always pack enough of the proper foods. Make sure to bring food that won’t go bad while you are on your trip. A bout of food poisoning can end a wonderful trip very quickly. Take the proper steps to prepare your food and do research if necessary.
When bringing the kids along for the ride, keep a picture on your person at all times. While it is a worst case scenario, a child can easily be separated from the rest of the party, and a picture will make it easier to locate them. Always keep one ready for emergency use, especially when a good distance from the home.
When you bring a canine along on a camping trip, don’t forget his leash and to keep a close eye on him always. Other campers might be fearful of your dog, no matter how friendly he might be. It’s important to think of other people when you’re out there camping. Additionally, your dog could really destroy anyone’s campsite if left on his own, including yours.
Make sure your shelter is ready before dark. It is very hard to put up a tent when it is dark. A flashlight or fire will help you out. It’s much easier to pitch your tent while it’s light out.
You should always have some duct tape along on any camping adventure. There are multiple uses to put it to when camping, just like at home. You can use it to repair a hole in an air mattress. Use it to enclose a rip in a tent, sleeping bag or weather-proofing tarp you have laid down. Prior to heading off on a long nature hike, place some tape on your heels to avoid blistering. In a pinch, you can also bandage an injury with it.
Reading a map and using a compass are two things that should be done before heading out for a camping trip. Even if you know what your campsite is like, you may still get lost because a lot of areas look similar around where you are. Knowing how to use them can save you from a disaster.
When planning for a camping trip, make sure you bring beef jerky and trail mix. These snacks are nutritious enough to eat in the event you don’t feel like cooking. Because these items will last a while, you don’t have to eat them right away if you don’t want to.
Waterproof matches are an essential part of any camping survival kit. These need to be kept in a container that’s airtight. You can make your own matches waterproof by putting them in nail polish or paraffin. An empty prescription bottle or an old film container makes great storage for your matches.
Cell Phone
At the end of your camping trip, make sure your camping site is clean. You should have trash bags on hand for this purpose. Dispose of any left over food as well as your trash. When you leave your campsite, the only thing you should leave are your footprints.
Try to keep your cell phone completely charged. Even better, bring extra batteries so you are prepared if there is an emergency. Your cell phone can help should an emergency arise.
Camping novices often erroneously decide to camp close to the restrooms. They have convenience in mind, but might find out the situation is different than they thought. For example, there is a lot of foot traffic in these areas, as well as bright lights. Thus the strategy of camping out close to the restrooms ultimately backfires.
Pack carefully and intelligently. List all of the supplies that you need so that you are not missing anything while on the trip. This is something you should strive to do if you are camping in a secluded spot, away from first-aid or emergency amenities.
Follow proper safety procedures when camping. Stay away from larger animals, and be cautious even around smaller ones. Even though they are small, any animal can be dangerous, even a squirrel. Refrain from feeding these animals as they can do damage to you.
Bring waterproof matches to make sure you can start a fire while camping. Store them in airtight containers. Regular matches can be dipped in nail polish or paraffin to make them waterproof. Easy-to-find 35mm film canisters and plastic medicine bottles make handy cases for matches.
Make sure to practice food safety whenever you go camping. Use the correct containers to pack and store food in. Put your food in an insulated cooler. Keep your raw food away from cooked foods. Before you handle your food, clean your hands properly with soap or other sanitizers, and clean the food prep surfaces. Cook all of your food to the right temperature and get them chilled quickly.
When setting up a tent, be sure its seams are all sealed. A handy tube is available at many sporting good stores to help you do this. This helps to keep animals, insects and rainwater out so you stay comfortable.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are two things that every camper will appreciate. Leaves should only be used in the place of toilet paper if nothing else is available, so make sure to buy some baby wipes and toilet paper for camping trips.
After having read the above tips, you should feel more knowledgeable about camping as a whole. Regardless of whether or not you are just pitching a tent in your backyard or camping far far away, be mindful of all that you have learned here. Camping can become very enjoyable.
Make a snake-proof campsite if there are snakes where you are camping. Stay away from snake homes like woods, rocks or deep thickets. Check everything you have to makes sure a snake didn’t slither into things like your clothes, bags, or boots. Make sure that you seal your tent in the best way possible to prevent snakes from entering.
