Oh the joys of camping! This is time well spent with nature and discovery for those seeking solitude. As thrilling as camping is, it’s important you know something about it before embarking on a trip. Use these tips to enjoy your trip!
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. After the night falls, pitching a tent, locating firewood and making food can be difficult. This is especially true if you are an urbanite whose sight is not used to the pitch dark. Try to avoid setting up after the sun sets.
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. Bringing some extra wood in a watertight wrapping is a smart idea for camping success.
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. On the other hand, you don’t want a lightweight summer sleeping bag if you’re going to be out in the frigid temperatures of wintertime. You might develop hypothermia.
Keep in mind that you, your family, and everything you take with you is probably going to be dirty. If you prepare yourself for this ahead of time, it won’t stress you out as much when it happens. Enjoy your time in the woods by letting yourself relax and get dirty. You can reclaim the normalcy in your life when you arrive back home.
Expect that camping is not typically a time you can stay clean easily. If you prepare yourself for this ahead of time, it won’t stress you out as much when it happens. Part of the whole camping experience includes allowing yourself to get dirty. You can clean up when you get back home.
Pack and carry a survival kit on your person for the entire trip. Survival kits should contain waterproof matches, a survival knife, a first aid kit, a flare gun and water purifying tablets. This kit could be the difference between life and death. Always keep it nearby and never leave it behind at the campsite.
Put together a survival pack and have it on you all the time. Things to include in your survival pack are a knife, matches that are waterproof, first aid kit, flares and tablets to purify water. This kit can keep you alive! Be sure to carry it on your person and not leave it at your campsite.
It is better to over-pack than to under-pack, especially for kids. Camping is messy business. Kids love the dirt. Therefore, you will need to understand that a clean trip is probably out of the question. By packing a few extra changes of clothes, your children can be presentable at dinner. Prepare ahead of time!
Be certain that your tent has enough space for both yourself and whoever else comes with you. This makes it possible for everyone to sleep comfortably, and it also allows for room to move about and exit the tent if nature calls.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that is going to sleep in it. This assures there is enough sleeping and moving around room.
Proper planning and preparation can keep you safe and make your camping experience more enjoyable. Without proper preparation, a camping trip can turn into a disaster. Research the area to learn about the wildlife and the geography and climate.
Carry a handkerchief or bandanna while camping. These things can help you out of a bind and assist you in doing a variety of things. Make this multi-use item a standard addition to your camping supplies.
Don’t wait until nightfall to start your camp site. Figure out where you can park if you are driving an RV. If you have a tent, carefully select the plot of land you are going to use. Doing this during daylight hours will save you hassle and frustration. It is also easier for you to see what is happening, so you won’t feel so frustrated.
An emergency kit is a very important component to have while camping. This kit should contain the basics, but should evolve as you change your camping locations. For example, if you are camping in an area that may have poison ivy, make sure you pack hydro-cortisone.
Duct tape is important to pack because it can be used for a good bit of things. It’s easy to use, can hold out moisture and will even fix a leak or a broken shoe!
When you’re going to take some kids with you on your camping trip, educate them on the dangers that camping can bring with it. It is simple to check out the Internet for photos of dangerous plants like poison ivy so they know what to avoid in the wild.
Children love camping, but be sure that you provide them with activities. Far from civilization, kids tend to get bored. Children may not be familiar with activities like pitching a tent or fishing. Show them how to do these things before you leave if they haven’t spent a lot of times outdoors.
Remember to bring along wilderness-friendly activities. Fishing poles, card games and even a scavenger hunt list will make great entertainment in the woods. If kids are coming along for the trip, take even more entertainment with you to keep them from getting bored without their electronics.
Always pack enough food and the right kind. Take a decent amount of food that won’t spoil when you go camping. Food poisoning can put a miserable end to an otherwise lovely trip. Know what you’re doing when it comes to food safety and take the proper precautions.
If you are traveling to a place with an abundance of animals, make sure you are prepared with respect to food. You should wrap up your food tightly, store it somewhere that isn’t close to your tent, and avoid certain types of food altogether. This can reduce the chances of wildlife coming near you on your trip.
It is important to take even greater care storing food if you are planning to travel to an area with active and dangerous wildlife. This means to wrap things up as tight as possible, keeping things away from your shelter and avoiding certain foods altogether. Making sure to do this, will lessen any chance of a wild animal attack.
Before leaving for your trip, write a list of what you need to bring along. A list will help you to not forget to bring any essentials. Have a list ready before your trip that you can check off, and pack at least two days before heading out.
When it comes to camping, anything can happen and it’s important to always be prepared. Sometimes camping trips don’t follow your plan. The weather could change suddenly, you could encounter hostile people or animals, and someone could become sick or injured. To stay safe, plan ahead, do not take any risks and do not be careless.
If you go out camping with kids, have a photo of them on hand. If they go missing, you can show people the photo to help find them quickly. Be sure that you have one on hand if you are far from home so that you are fully prepared.
Take along a current picture of any kids you have camping with you. If you lose a child at any point, having a picture to show rescuers or search parties could be very useful. Keep pictures of your children on you when ever you are far from home.
It is advisable to bring beef jerky or trail mix with you on a camping trip. You may not be in the mood to cook, so having these with you can be helpful. Also, these foods keep well so if you don’t eat them, you can enjoy them later.
Always take along a survival and first aid kit when you’re going camping. These items can literally save your life, or to a lesser extent, prevent you from returning from your trip before you are ready to do so. Carrying these items can help a situation stay safe, rather than turning very harmful or even fatal.
If you are going on a camping trip, you want to be sure that you have a knife or two on hand. Utility knives are the most diverse tools you can carry, so be sure to carry an additional one just in case it gets lost.
Reading a map and using a compass are two things that should be done before heading out for a camping trip. Even if you are familiar with your intended campsite, you could still get lost because many areas look the same. Also, this will help to avoid tragedy with friends or family.
First aid and survival kits are essential to bring while camping. Together, these items can be the difference between going home early and rapidly addressing problems that arise. This can help keep issues from escalating, and let you secure help for an injured camper.
Bring waterproof matches to make sure you can start a fire while camping. They should always be kept in a container where air cannot enter. You can make your own matches waterproof by putting them in nail polish or paraffin. An empty prescription bottle or an old film container makes great storage for your matches.
Camping can be a great way to relax for a weekend, or it can turn into a hellish experience. How you prepare for your camping trip will make or break your weekend. Your activities will go more smoothly and your trip more enjoyable when you take the time to plan your trip before you go.
Seal all of your tent’s seams when erecting your tent. You can get a tube of sealant at a sporting goods store if you didn’t get any with your tent. Sealant keeps both insects and rain out of your tent.
It may sound silly to be reminded of this, but always make sure you take toilet paper on a camping trip. If your campgrounds or location doesn’t have a properly installed restroom, you will need to go outdoors in the woods. Leaves may have poison on them, as you will want to use toilet paper to wipe.
What do you plan on cooking when you embark on your trip? Decide before leaving the house what cooking method you’re going to use, and pack the right supplies. A lot of people are excited about cooking thing over a flame, but that is hard to do without the right supplies.
Often, those new to camping make the erroneous choice of putting up tents too close to restrooms. While this can seem convenient, it really isn’t. The bathroom areas are light sources and draw a great deal of traffic. This can lead to difficulty sleeping and other discomforts that you want to avoid.
Follow proper food safety guidelines when you go camping. Make sure your food stays dry and safe by using airtight bags and waterproof containers. Insulated coolers are where the food should be stored. Do not store cooked and raw foods together to avoid contamination. Keep surfaces and hands clean when you’re dealing with your food. Use hand sanitizer or soap. Ensure that you heat food thoroughly and keep perishable items chilled at all times.
Keep the tent well ventilated and dry. Condensation from breathing and perspiration can build up in a sealed tent, causing moisture to permeate the walls, roof, floor, and even sleeping bags. No one wants to wake up in a moist atmosphere, as this could make you very uncomfortable. In a tent, you can crack doors, windows or vents to help you avoid buildup of moisture and give yourself a crossbreeze.
Dress yourself up in multiple layers when you go camping. In nature the weather can alter dramatically quickly. You might find that the morning is cold, but the afternoon is hot and humid. During the evenings, it can get pretty chilly. By dressing in layers of clothing, you can easily shed layers when the temperature rises and then add layers when the temperature drops.
Camping can be one of the most fun activities there is. However, without the proper packing and planning, it might be a disaster–in some cases dangerous as well. With any luck, this article should have given you some useful tips to have a great time and enjoy the next camping trip.
Keep old shower curtains around to use as disposable tarps for under your tent. This is good to use for areas where you cook and clean, since you can control the run-off. Rather than getting rid of a shower curtain, wash it with your laundry and use it the next time you go camping.
