Camping has become a popular pastime, thanks in part to all the reality shows depicting outdoor activities. Read on to learn the right way to create a fun, safe and memorable camping trip.
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. You are going to roast all night long in a sleeping bag designed for cold weather that you camp with during summer. The opposite is true as well, a summer bag won’t keep you warm in the winter. You may even risk hypothermia.
When camping, there is a good chance that your items will get dirty. If you know this ahead of the actual trip, you can prepare for the inevitable and get yourself some extra supplies. Part of the whole camping experience includes allowing yourself to get dirty. When you’re home, you can be normal again.
While you may think that nature will offer up enough wood to keep your fire embers burning, it could quite possibly be wet wood that doesn’t really want to burn. As an added precaution, bring along wood from around your yard or logs from a home store, and keep them where they will stay dry.
All participants should have a say in where you go camping. This will make everyone feel invested. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.
Make sure that all of your friends and family are involved in choosing the camping site. Talk about which state you would like to go to. The many options may make it difficult to settle on one. Throw out your ideas to see if they stick with members of your family.
Camping can be incredibly fun or incredibly dangerous depending on just one factor: preparation. When you are prepared, you avoid many of the common mistakes that are made on camping trips. If camping at a new location, make sure you investigate the geography, climate, and local wildlife so you are prepared for any dangers.
Pack and carry a survival kit on your person for the entire trip. This kit should include water-purifying tablets, a first-aid kit, flare gun, survival knife and waterproof matches. You may find that this kit makes the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Keep your kit with you at all times; don’t leave it at the campsite.
During a camping trip, try to go swimming at some point. Any time you go camping, you are likely to miss taking a shower. Cool water can give you a feeling of exhilaration that may help you to miss your shower at home much less.
If you’re bringing kids on your camping trip, over-pack for them. Camping can be very messy. Children seem to be dirt magnets. That all means that you will have very dirty children as the day progresses. You can not really prevent it from happening, but you can pack extra clothes. Always prepare!
Pack things like oranges when you go camping. They are nutritious, and they also keep mosquitoes away. When you finish eating them, save all of your peels and rub them around your body to use as a natural insect repellent.
Check weather reports in the area you plan to camp in. There are lots of excellent websites that you can use for a weather forecast and they can give you an idea of what to expect. When you have accurate weather information, the right clothing and equipment can be included in your supplies.
Research the area you are planning to camp in and familiarize yourself with its particular dangers. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Many camping areas pose some dangers.
Double-check any medical insurance. You might need a new policy if you go to another state. This is very important if you will be camping in a foreign country. Be sure you’re prepared to be on the safe side!
Your children will love to join you on your camping trip, but be sure to plan some fun activities for them. They could get bored if there isn’t anything to do. They may not be used to thing like fishing and pitching a tent. If they aren’t used to camping activities, teach them before you leave.
Incorporate swimming into your camping trip. While you are camping in the great outdoors, it can be very easy to miss taking your daily shower. The coolness of the water when you swim will help you feel clean and refreshed, so you may not miss your home shower as much.
Have you just bought your first tent as a rookie camper? Spend time practicing pitching a tent prior to leaving for your trip. Doing this will make you properly prepared when you get to camp. This will help you set up camp in a hurry if you get to the site just before dark.
Did you know that dryer lint can make great kindling to get a campfire started? Start saving this lint a short time period prior to going camping and you’ll have enough lint in time. Keep a simple plastic or ziplock bag near your dryer to make collecting easier. This is a good way to have kindling ready when it is time to go.
Don’t let your flashlight batteries get drained inadvertently. You can easily turn on the flashlight while searching through bags and equipment. To prevent this from draining the batteries, store the batteries in the flashlight backwards until you need to use it. Doing this will prevent batteries from being wasted so that you can be confident they will be ready when the time comes to use them.
Prior to camping in a brand new area, you must understand its dangers. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Each camping spot is unique and can be dangerous in its own way.
As indicated by this article, a camping trip requires some forethought and preparation. However, this article gave you enough info that you should be able to handle simple camping events with ease. This knowledge can help to relieve many of your fears so you can get the utmost enjoyment out of your camping trip.
When you take children camping with you, make sure to go over some of the dangers associated with camping. Use the Internet to teach them about things like poison ivy and the like, and ensure that they will approach nature with respect and caution.