Are you planning a camping trip? Do you have any idea of what you may be experiencing? Although many parts of camping are easy to understand, it’s wise to learn all you can in advance. The information below will help you to plan.
Let your family members all have a decision when it comes to choosing a campsite. Discuss things like the state you would like to see, particular parks that interest you and what type of camping experience you are looking for. There are thousands upon thousands of places to choose from. To make your decision easier, pick a few favorites and then vote on the final choice.
When you go camping, find your shelter before it gets dark. Once darkness falls, it is very difficult to set up camp. This is very true if you’re used to being in a city where there isn’t any darkness ever. To prevent this from happening to you, you should set up your camp immediately when you arrive.
After you buy your camping tent, set it up at home rather than waiting until your trip to set it up for the first time. This will allow you to get the experience needed for erecting your tent. In addition, it will eradicate a portion of the frustration often associated with erecting a new tent.
Make sure your sleeping bag is right for the weather. Don’t take a heavy sleeping bag out in the summer, it could make you sweat and be uncomfortable all night long. On the other hand, bringing a light-weight bag in the middle of winter could cause you to wake up freezing. Hypothermia can be experienced, as well.
Bring a survival kit with you and be sure to always have it on you. Don’t forget things like knives, waterproof matches, flares, first aid, and a water purifier. If you were to get lost or were put in an emergency situation, the survival kit will be of great help. Remember to carry it with you and do not leave it in your camp.
Remember, wet wood won’t burn right, so nature may not always provide the wood you need. It’s smart to bring your own wood and make sure it stays in a dry area.
Do not worry that you have packed too much stuff for the kids. Camping can be quite dirty. Kids love getting into dirt. Children will get dirtier as the day goes on. The solution is not to stop them from getting dirty, but to have clean clothes ready for them after they are done. Prepare thoroughly!
Survival Kit
Get a big enough tent to fit everyone and gear properly. With enough room, getting up during the night will not disturb others in the tent, and you can all be comfortable while sleeping.
Bring along an emergency survival kit, and keep it on you for the duration of your camping trip. A survival kit should include items like a flare gun, matches that are waterproof, a knife and other items you think you may need. This kit can save your life if you get into a dangerous situation. Carry it at all times.
A cute way to add fun to meals is to make what is known as a “jungle meal”. Take mini-boxes of cereal, juice boxes and fruit out into the woods, and tie them to the trees. Once the kids are awake, they can go search for their food. This can add some magic to their camping trip.
To start your fires at camp, use dryer lint as kindling. Collect your dryer lint about a month before you go camping. An easy way to remember to save up your lint is to keep a plastic bag near your dryer as a reminder. The morning of your departure, all you need to do is grab the bag and depart, kindling sorted!
Duct tape is a handy tool to carry when you are camping. It is great for patching your tent, repairing your shoes, fixing your insect netting and various other tasks.
Always understand what dangers are associated with a new place. You need to know about the local insect population, wild animals, natural dangers like water or steep locations and weather conditions. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.
Camping is fun for children, but make sure to plan out some extra activities they will like. Kids can easily get bored if you are in the woods for a long time. Are they used to pitching tents and fishing? If you don’t normally spend time outside, show them before you go camping.
When taking children camping, you must make sure they understand camping hazards. You can show them some pictures of poisonous plants on the Internet, for example, so they are aware of what to look out for.
When you go camping for the first few times, be sure that your camp is close to where you live. If you have any equipment issues, it is better and easier to cut your trip short when you do not have so far to travel. You might realize you haven’t packed enough clothes or food. There could be a lot of reasons why you need to end your trip early, so keeping your first trip close to home can save a lot of headaches.
If you are a novice at camping, don’t stray far from home. Things may go wrong and you may have to abort your trip early if things don’t go your way. You may come to realize that you should have packed different clothing, or need more food. A lot of issues can happen for the new camper, so do not go too far for your first camp trip.
Should you decide to bring your dog, pack a long leash and prepare everyone to keep careful watch on the pet. Other campers might be fearful of your dog, no matter how friendly he might be. Respecting your fellow campers is essential when camping. Also, dogs have the potential to wreck your campsite, or that of someone else, if they are allowed to run loose.
Make sure that you take some activity equipment with you. Card games, fishing poles or games like a scavenger hunt can be very entertaining in the wild. If you are going camping with children, you need to make sure that you bring a lot of things to keep them entertained during the trip.
Think about your clothing before your camping adventure. Pack plenty of different items of clean clothing for all types of weather. Make sure that you have the correct types of clothes for your camping trip. You should also have a pair of hiking boots or some other type of durable, protective shoe.
Don’t forget the duct tape. It is as convenient for repairs while you are camping as it is at home. You can use this to repair any holes in an air mattress. Also, it can help to seal any tears, which can make your item usable for the duration of your trip. If you are going on a long hike, you can put it on the sensitive parts of your feet for blister prevention. You can also put it over bandages for extra protection.
When camping, pack carefully and wisely. Create a supply checklist for your trip and check off each item as it’s being packed. This will save you the inconvenience of forgetting something and having to stop for it and it is very important, especially if your are going to a remote location.
Keep an eye on your children when you go camping. There are many people coming and going all of the time and you do not want them to get kidnapped or lost. Something bad can occur in a split second, so it is necessary to watch children constantly.
Try not to set up your tent near the bathroom for obvious reasons. While this might be convenient, you’ll soon find out differently. Many people travel to the bathrooms, and they also have lights. Thus, campers will find that they are greatly inconvenienced by their proximity to the restrooms.
Be aware of the location of your campsite. Refrain from setting your camper up next to bees nests or breeding grounds for safety. Granted, even if you are cautious, you should still protect yourself from insects using long garments to keep them off of your skin. Always bring insect repellent on any camping trip.
A well stocked first aid kit is absolutely essential to any camping trip. Include all the items you would require in the event of a mishap. First aid supplies to consider include dressings and wound cleansers, splints, snake bite kit and aspirin. Accidents can occur, so safety is utterly important.
Bring waterproof matches to make sure you can start a fire while camping. Store them in a container that is both airtight and watertight. Even normal matches can be waterproofed with nail polish or paraffin wax. You can store these matches in something like a medicine bottle or empty film container.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are great tools for savvy campers. You could certainly use leaves, but that is an unnecessary inconvenience as long as you plan in advance.
It may sound silly to be reminded of this, but always make sure you take toilet paper on a camping trip. If there are no toilets at your destination, you will need to use nature as a bathroom. If you forget the toilet paper, you may be forced to use leaves, some of which could be poison ivy.
When you are going camping for a longer time, be certain to bring activities for entertaining yourself. You don’t want to spend your entire time reading or playing with electronic gadgets, though. You can do that a home anytime!
Since you’ve looked at this piece, you now know the most important parts of camping. Camping doesn’t have to be an extravagant event; still, time should be taken to prepare for some common problems. Apply what you learned here towards your next awesome adventure!
When packing for your camping trip, be sure to include water purification tablets. These tablets will turn any water into potable drinking water. Try the tablets at home first so you know how to use it and what to expect. It is important to not let a bad taste cause you to become dehydrated.
