For a lot of people, camping can be a fantastic time to lay back and get re-acquainted with nature. All you need is a camping destination and some basic know how for a great camping trip. In this article are many valuable tips for helping you to have an enjoyable camping experience. Continue reading if you would like to know more.
You may feel that when you get to your campsite you will have enough wood to make a fire. This is not always the case because green and wet wood will not burn easily. It’s important that you bring extra wood with you that you can keep in a dry area.
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. Make sure that your sleeping bags in the summer are not too heavy. On the other hand, if you pack a lighter summer bag during cold weather camping, you are going to not get any rest. You may even develop hypothermia.
Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. Talk about the state you would like to go to. There are thousands upon thousands of places to choose from. Make a list of your favorites and allow the family to vote.
It is important to keep in mind the fact that your person and all of your possessions will get dirty during a camping trip. If you prepare yourself for this ahead of time, it won’t stress you out as much when it happens. Then, you can be as messy as you want, without worry of getting dirty. Things will be normal again once you are home.
Always pack and carry a survival kit. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include. You may find that this kit makes the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Always carry it on your person when you venture away from your campsite, or it won’t do you much good.
Make sure that all of your friends and family are involved in choosing the camping site. This will make everyone feel invested. The many options may make it difficult to settle on one. If it simplifies things, pick four or five favorites and then give everyone a vote.
Read up on your medical insurance. You may need to purchase additional coverage if you will be camping in another state. This is even more of a factor if you travel to another country to go camping, like Canada. Be sure you’re prepared to be on the safe side!
Learn to set up your tent prior to leaving on your trip. It will help you make sure that all of the parts are included and learn how to set it up right. Also, this can help to reduce the difficulty that you have when out in the wilderness.
You can use dryer lint to kindle your campfire. Start saving this lint a short time period prior to going camping and you’ll have enough lint in time. Collecting lint in a bag will allow you to have a fire building tool for your trip. Your kindling will be easily accessible when you are leaving for your destination.
Survival Kit
Try to get your camp fully set up by nightfall. If you have an RV, find a secure place to park. When using a tent, choose a dry flat location. It is much easier to do these things during the day, and you can become familiar with the area. This will save you from feeling stressed and frustrated, as you can see exactly what you’re doing.
Bring along an emergency survival kit, and keep it on you for the duration of your camping trip. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include. If you were to get lost or were put in an emergency situation, the survival kit will be of great help. Always keep it nearby and never leave it behind at the campsite.
Find all of your equipment and start packing well in advance of your trip. It is very inconvenient to forget to bring essential items like your sleeping bag or tent. Look over the items you plan to bring and create a checklist before leaving to ensure that all of your essential gear comes with you.
Preparation is key to enjoying your camping trip. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. When heading to a new spot, be sure to research the area thoroughly so you know what to expect with regard to weather and wildlife.
Make sure that you understand the dangers and risks of the camping site that you choose. This includes knowing the area’s deadly spiders, what the terrain is like, and whether flash flooding is possible or not. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.
Check over your medical insurance before going on a camping trip. If you go camping out of state, you may need to have coverage where you go. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. Be sure to be properly prepared!
Be sure and give children a thorough explanation of what camping is all about and entails, before hauling them off on a potentially dangerous adventure. Make sure they understand what poison ivy looks like, to stay away from wild animals and to carry a light if they are walking around at night.
You don’t have to entirely rough it. Bring a little piece of luxury from home. For example, bring a bar of chocolate or a small container of cream to put in your coffee. A small luxury that reminds you of home can be uplifting.
Always take along plenty of food, and be sure it’s the proper kind. Nonperishable food is favorable while you will be camping. Getting food poisoning can bring an abrupt end to a camping trip. Always prepare food the right way and take extra precautions.
Duct Tape
While camping’s purpose is to survive off the fat of the land, it is still important to prepare yourself. Bring creature comforts like a sleeping bag, extra blankets and even an air mattress. They will provide you with extra warmth, should the temperatures plummet, as well as give you additional cushioning.
It’s important to take duct tape on every camping trip so that you can use it to solve problems. From mending tent holes to fixing shoes, duct tape can be used for a lot of repair work in a pinch.
It is advisable to bring beef jerky or trail mix with you on a camping trip. At the end of the day, you might feel too tired to cook so having these nutrient-filled snacks on hand can be very useful. Such foods will also remain edible for quite some time, so will not go to waste if you don’t eat them up on your trip.
Make sure your children have something to do while camping. If you are just sitting in the woods, they will end up bored. Are they used to pitching tents and fishing? Teach them about these activities prior to leaving.
A utility knife is one of the most useful camping tools. A utility knife is very convenient to carry while you are camping, so make sure to bring a spare in case one is lost.
Make sure you pack plenty of camping-friendly food. You don’t want to bring a lot of food that will easily spoil. No one wants to end their trip early because of food poisoning from spoiled food. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the highest level of preparation with your food.
Bring duct tape with you on your camping adventures. Tents may get torn, in which case duct tape can provide a seal. A few strips of this durable tape can keep you dry and cozy at night if your tent is damaged during the day.
Rolls of duct tape can be useful to take along on any camping trips you have planned in the future. Just like at home, its uses are nearly endless. This can be used to repair holes in air mattresses. It can seal a rip in your tent, sleeping bag, or tarp. It can be used on feet to help fight off blisters during long hikes. It can also be used in lieu of bandages.
Learn how to use a compass or read a map, beforehand. If you are lost, this skill can help you to navigate back to your destination. Also, this will help to avoid tragedy with friends or family.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. You should take sleeping bags and extra blankets. This can help you stay warm if it cools down at night or you may use them for extra padding.
Bring clothes that are suitable for the weather when you camp. In nature the weather can alter dramatically quickly. 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. Then it can cool back down at night. You’ll need to have layers of clothes so that you can adjust to the weather as it changes throughout the day.
Be sure to avoid draining your flashlight’s batteries on your camping trip. It is all too easy to accidentally switch your flashlight on when digging through your bags. If you put the batteries in your flashlight backwards, you can avoid this. This prevents accidental switch nudges so that they will remain fresh when you need them.
When the camping trip will be longer, pack activities to entertain during downtime. Of course, if you bring too many electronics, you may defeat the purpose of the trip, but there is nothing better than sitting beside a lake reading, or listening to music beside a camp fire at night.
Keep one eye on your children at all times. There are cars that pull in and out of campsites, and of course, young children can quickly and easily get lost in the woods. Something bad can occur in a split second, so it is necessary to watch children constantly.
Bring a filter or tablets so you can purify water. Even if you pack what should be enough water or plan on boiling water you collect, you might run out of time or need more than you think. Try a couple of tablets out before you leave home to ensure you know what the water will taste like. You will want to get a different type of tablet it you find out that you don’t like the way your water taste.
If you’re taking along the kids, pack current pictures of them. If they go missing, you can show people the photo to help find them quickly. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.
Bring lots of water and food on your camping trip. If bears are known to live in the area, be sure to stow your food a good distance away from where you are sleeping. Burn any garbage you can to avoid attracting bears to the campsite with the smell.
Cell Phone
Make a snake-proof campsite if there are snakes where you are camping. Stay away from snake homes like woods, rocks or deep thickets. Also, check your equipment and tent for snakes before you go to sleep. Keep all areas of your tent sealed so that snakes cannot get in there when you’re sleeping at night.
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before leaving your car or campsite. Better yet, bring along an extra battery or two in case your phone runs out of juice. A cell phone will be your best friend in the event of an emergency, so keep it charged and available.
Always keep a trail map with you at all times. You could easily make a wrong turn and become lost very quickly. If you are carrying a map, you’ll be better equipped to find your camp.
If you can relax and know what to do, you can have an enjoyable camping experience. Camping can help you rediscover yourself and learn more about you. Take the advice in this article and use it as a guide for having a fun camping trip.
Reading a good book or listening to music are great ways to relax in nature, but enjoy the scenery as well. Gaze at the stars or take a stroll through the woods if you are familiar with the area. You are going to feel much more relaxed later.