Friends and family make camping a really fun experience. It is an activity that everyone should try at least once in their lives. Camping, however, does take a lot of preparation and a lot of know-how, too. Keep reading to get some terrific ideas for camping successfully.
It is important to establish and set up your shelter before the sun goes down. If you wait until after dark to set up you will find it to be nearly impossible, even if you have decent light. This is particularly the case for city slickers who are unaccustomed to darkness. Avoid these circumstances by finding the right shelter while it is still light.
Sleeping Bag
While it may be that there’s enough wood around to keep a fire going for a long time, some of the wood may be wet and cannot burn no matter what you try. Bringing your own small supply of wood and keeping it dry is a wise decision.
Buy a sleeping bag which will suit the weather you will be in. If you bring a sub-zero sleeping bag to go camping in mid-summer, you might find that you are sweating all night long. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. You may even risk hypothermia.
Make sure that you both carry a survival kit and then get in the habit of always having it with you. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include. This kit may keep you alive if you are lost and these items are indispensable for a survival situation. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.
While you think nature will provide enough wood for your fire to continue burning, it may be wet, which will not burn. It’s a great idea to carry your own wood with you and to keep it secure in a dry area.
Pack a roll of duct tape with the rest of your supplies; this sticky wonder can help in a variety of circumstances. It works quickly in a pinch for tent holes, inflatables with leaks, shoes with worn soles, securing the tent to its pole, sealing up your mosquito netting and many, many more things.
Bring a survival kit that you can carry on your person at all times. This kit should feature a survival knife, waterproof matches, tablets for purifying water, a flare gun, and a first-aid kit. If you are injured or lose your way, this will give you a greater chance of survival. This kit should be carried with you and not left back at camp.
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Don’t bring the pillows you use in your bedroom. These pillows can trap heat during humid weather. They also take moisture from the air and that makes them grow mildew fast. Pillows designed for camping have a coating on them that does not all the moisture to be absorbed.
Be sure you set up camp before nighttime comes around. If you are in an RV, park it safely. If your camping with a tent, make sure to find a dry area that is also flat so you can pitch your tent with ease. You will be able to see the area better before nightfall and become familiar with it. You will be able to see a lot better, and this will make everything easier.
Camping is great fun for kids if you plan things that they can do. They could get bored out in the woods and away from the things they use to entertain themselves regularly. They probably aren’t used to camping activities such as pitching a tent or fishing. Take the time to teach them these skills before the trip, especially if they don’t spend a great deal of time outdoors.
Educate yourself about the area that you are camping in, and know what hazards you could encounter. You should know if there are deadly spiders found there, or if sheer cliffs or flash floods occur there. Every location has its own dangers.
As you plan your camping adventure, take children aside and go over common dangers and issues they may encounter. Get online with them and show them what poison ivy, poisonous snakes, and other dangers look like. This will help your kids know what to avoid when exploring.
Your children will love to join you on your camping trip, but be sure to plan some fun activities for them. Do not let the absence of TV and video games lead them to complain that they are bored. They have probably never fished or set up tents. If you don’t normally spend time outside, show them before you go camping.
If you’re camping where there is dangerous wildlife, double your food reserves. Keep all food items wrapped tightly and securely away from your tent. Some kinds of foods should be avoided altogether. This can help you to prevent an attack from a wild animal.
If you are a novice camper, choose a destination close to home for your first trip. You could run into problems with your gear, or you may decide you simply don’t like camping that much. Maybe you will find you have not brought enough food, clothing or other necessities. All sorts of things can happy the first time you go camping. It’s better for mishaps to occur close to home.
Plan ahead and make sure your flashlight batteries have full power before you leave for a camping trip. You don’t want to waste your flashlight battery and not be able to see. To ensure that this does not happen to you, you can put the batteries in facing the wrong direction until you reach your destination. That way, the flashlight cannot possibly drain the batteries if the ON button is bumped.
Plan several activities to do while camping. You can take card games, a list for a scavenger hunt, and fishing poles for some entertainment. This is especially important if you are bringing children, as they tend to bore easily.
Bring along a sleeping bag made for the current weather. Lightweight sleeping bags tend to work better in warmer weather and heavyweight sleeping bags tend to work better in colder weather. If you are staying in a tent, use a sleeping bag that fits to the contours of your body in order to maintain your body temperature.
If you camp in an area known to have dangerous wildlife, be sure to incorporate extra precautions to stow away food securely. This means you must warp things up tightly, keep them away from the tent, and avoid some food types while camping. Taking these precautions can significantly lower you chances of being attacked.
Plan some to take some extra snacks on your camping trip such as trail mix or beef jerky. After a busy day of hiking or other strenuous outdoor activities, you may be too tired to deal with campsite cooking. These snacks are healthy and nutrient-dense, making them a quick and easy source of nourishment. These items can be stored for quite a while, which means you don’t have to worry about the expiration date.
Camping is a fun experience, but requires being prepared and knowing a few things. Use the knowledge you gained here to make your upcoming camping trip a successful one. The tips above, and many more, can only increase your safety, fun, and knowledge gained during a relaxing camping trip.
Figure out how to use a compass and read a map in advance. Even if you know the area well, getting lost is always a possibility. Also, this will help to avoid tragedy with friends or family.
