
Many people look to camping to enjoy a good weekend outdoors, it is no wonder why. If you’re going to go out camping then you need to have a few things in mind so that things go smoothly. By taking the time to familiarize yourself with the tips that follow, your next trip can be the best one yet.
Make sure your sleeping bag is right for the weather. Make sure that your sleeping bags in the summer are not too heavy. Conversely, if you bring a light-weight sleeping bag to a winter camping trip, you can be extremely uncomfortable the entire time. You may even get hypothermia.
Don’t assume you can find wood at or near your camp site. Make sure you bring some of your own dry kindling and make sure it stays in a dry area.
Always set up a new tent once at home before taking it camping. You can be sure there are no missing pieces and learn ahead of time the correct way to set your tent up. A little practice can eliminate the frustration of setting up a new piece of camping equipment.
Camping Trip
Don’t be afraid to over-pack for your children. Camping can be quite dirty. Children love the dirt. Expect them to be all shades of dirty as the day moves on. To prepare, bring additional clothing for your children. It’s best to be prepared.
If you have a new tent to take on your camping trip, you should set it up at home before you go on your camping trip. By doing this you will be able to make sure that your tent does not have any missing parts. Furthermore, such a task will help to reassure you that you know how to errect your camping tent properly. You don’t want to waste time at your destination, so this will make you well prepared.
Before you set out on your camping trip take the time to check the weather forecast for the area that you will be visiting. There are dozens of websites that can tell you about local climates. This way you will know what type of clothing to pack and the equipment you need.
Don’t forget to include special pillows made just for camping on your adventure. Regular bed pillows will feel hot and sticky during humid weather. Mildew can grow in it when they absorb the moisture from the air. Camping pillows use a coating to lock moisture out to improve your comfort level.
Camping has the potential to be thrilling or hazardous, depending on your level of preparation. That is why it’s important to prepare in advance and prepare well. If camping at a new location, make sure you investigate the geography, climate, and local wildlife so you are prepared for any dangers.
Prior to camping in a brand new area, you must understand its dangers. Knowing what poisonous creatures to watch out for, where terrain gets rugged, and when to expect dangerous weather are key to ensuring your safety. Every campsite can have its own dangers.
Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. You are probably going to miss the shower you have at home while camping. Swimming is a great way to rinse off and can take the place of your daily shower.
Duct Tape
An emergency kit is a very important component to have while camping. There may be different items in it depending on your camping location, but there are some things that should be in any kit. Items that will help with possible snake bites or a sling in case of sprains or breaks is a good idea, too.
Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on your camping trip into the wilderness. Duct tape is very useful camping, the same as it is at home. Tape can be used to seal holes in your sleeping mattress. It can seal a rip in your tent, sleeping bag, or tarp. You can even use it to help prevent blisters on your feet. If anyone hurts themselves, it can be used for securing splints or for covering wounds, provided something soft is placed between the tape and skin.
Pack things like oranges when you go camping. They are nutritious, 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!
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! Things can sometimes go awry, even when carefully planned. The weather could change suddenly, you could encounter hostile people or animals, and someone could become sick or injured. It’s important that you take care of everything, don’t take risks that you don’t need to, and think things through before doing them.
If you are a novice at camping, don’t stray far from home. There may be unforeseen issues that you never considered they may force you to cut the trip short. You may not have enough food, or realize that you didn’t pack the right clothing. People that are camping for the first time may have a lot of problems, so being close to home is recommended.
Make it a point to properly prepare your flashlight when you pack for your trip. It’s possible to accidentally hit the “on” button on your flashlight. To ensure that this does not happen to you, you can put the batteries in facing the wrong direction until you reach your destination. This will allow you to keep them stored without accidentally turning them on and wasting the batteries.
Make sure to pack plenty of food, and pack the right kind too. It depends on how long you’ll be out, but you must have food that won’t spoil on your trip. Food poisoning can quickly put an ugly end to any outdoor vacation. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the highest level of preparation with your food.
Orange Peel
Find soft, flat ground for your tent and make sure to stick your flag in that soil before the other guy! Pitching your tent on bumpy, rocky ground or on a slope won’t make for a very comfortable night’s sleep. Always put a tarp down on the ground first so that water can’t get in and ruin the tent.

Pesky mosquito bites can be avoided with an orange peel. So, if you forgot to pack your mosquito repellant, do not despair. Experts have disclosed that simply rubbing the inner peel of a ripened orange on exposed skin can act as a repellant. The scent from the orange peel should last for several hours resulting in a long lasting repellent.
Keep one eye on your children at all times. There are many people coming and going all of the time and you do not want them to get kidnapped or lost. An accident can occur quickly, so it is important to be vigilant.
Be conscious of where you set up camp. Areas with insect nests and breeding grounds should always be avoided when setting up. Make sure that everyone wears long sleeved clothing if you camp near abundant vegetation, to minimize poison and insect issues. Also, carry insect repellent.
Before setting out on your camping adventure, plan for what you will wear. Take extra pairs of clothes to last you throughout your whole trip. Also, remember to bring clothing that is weather appropriate for the climate of your campsite. Closed toe shoes and hiking boots are generally needed for camping.
You should always bring a spare utility knife when camping. These pieces of equipment are quite versitile and can get you out of a lot of bad situations.
Make sure that duct tape is part of your supply arsenal while camping. Tents can get torn in spite of the increased durability of the newer ones. Having some duct tape can help you repair many things that unexpectedly tear or break.
You must always pack a survival kit and first aid kit. If you do this, you can easily take care of problems that may occur without having to cut your trip short. You may be able to keep an emergency from going from bad to worse.
Figure out how to use a compass and read a map in advance. It is still possible to get lost at the camp grounds even though you have already been there, because campsites look similar. You will be able to avoid possible tragedy when you learn how to use both of these life saving items.
Pack carefully and intelligently. Prepare a list of supplies, and use this to check off items as they are packed. This is very helpful if you’ll be far from civilization.
Don’t assume that camping close to the bathroom facilities is a good idea. People quickly realize that camping near bathrooms is a bad idea. There is usually light in that area, as well as heavy foot traffic. Thus, campers will find that they are greatly inconvenienced by their proximity to the restrooms.
Many people forget to set up shelter before night falls. It’s hard enough to throw up a tent, but it’s even harder with the lights out. You will need to build a fire or have a sufficient number of flashlights. It is simply much easier to do this while the sun is still out so that you are all set whenever it gets dark.
Always wear your clothing in layers for camping outings. There can often be quick and unexpected weather changes in the great outdoors. You may find the early mornings or late evenings to be very cool or cold, while the middle of the day can be warm or very hot. The evenings may turn cold again very quickly. It is best to bring all types of clothing so that no matter what the weather is, you will be prepared.
Having a roll of grey duct tape is a good idea when camping. Tents are pretty durable, but they still have the tendency to get weathered and torn. Duct tape will allow you to make some minor repairs and sleep comfortably if this happens to you.
Be sure to pack lots of sunscreen. Protecting yourself from UV rays is very important. Find a sunscreen that will provide enough protection. You might even consider a sunscreen with bug protection. Make sure that you do not put too much chemicals on your body when out in the wilderness, though.
Don’t leave your campsite a mess! Be sure to pack large plastic bags for clearing away trash. Do not leave any left over food behind. When you leave a campsite, the only thing left should be your footprints.
Be sure to bring along lots of pocket or dryer lint. This may sound silly, but lint is a great, cheap, and quick way to make a campfire. Lint creates brighter flames than those kindled from twigs or wood chips. You just need your a spark and your lint to produce a warm fire.
Often, those new to camping make the erroneous choice of putting up tents too close to restrooms. They think they are doing themselves a favor, but they aren’t. Many people travel to the bathrooms, and they also have lights. After a while, it becomes less of a convenience and more of a hindrance.
When camping near running water, take care of any private business downstream from your camp. This ensures that any water that flows through your camp site won’t be contaminated with your “special gift.” Relieve yourself a minimum of 300 feet downstream.
To remain comfortable while tent camping, keep your tent ventilated and dry. When you sleep in a tent that is completely sealed, condensation can build up on the roof, floor, walls, and sleeping bags from perspiration and breathing. You can wake up wet without adequate ventilation. To avoid moisture build up in your tent, open the door or window in your tent.
Figure out how to identify poisonous plants prior to going on a camping trip. These plants can blend in with other plants, so be sure to know how to recognize them. You can learn about poisonous plants by reading a book or Googling “poisonous plants.” Knowing what they look like will help you avoid coming in contact with these type of plants.
For those who know what they are doing, camping is a truly great experience. While camping isn’t hard, it’s important to have basic knowledge about it so that the trip can go smoothly. Keep the information here in mind to make your trip go off without a hitch.
If you suffer from any medical conditions, even minor, arrange an appointment with your doctor to discuss your trip ahead of time. He or she can tell you about important things you may not have thought about for your trip that can affect your health in a harmful way. You may need to take an extra precaution or pack an extra item to keep your trip a safe and happy one.