Camping is a pastime that has long been known to be a favorite of many families. Surprisingly, many people never give it a try because they are intimidated by the prospect. It really doesn’t need to be complicated at all! Read on to learn as much as you can about camping.
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. Once blackness falls out there in the woods, it can be extremely difficult to pitch a tent, find good firewood and prepare food. Someone who isn’t very familiar with the outdoors can come to harm by placing their tent in an unsafe area due to being unable to see. Try to avoid setting up after the sun sets.
Make sure to find your shelter before it gets dark. Once the woods are dark, it is very difficult to find firewood, pitch your tent and prepare some food. Those that live in urban areas find this to be the case even more than those that are used to pitch black darkness. Avoid this by setting up your shelter ahead of time.
Make sure that your sleeping bag is right for the season and climate where you are camping. A sleep bag designed for winter camping would make you sweat during the summer. On the other hand, bringing a lightweight sleeping bap for a winter trip can make you really uncomfortable the entire trip. Without protection, you are running the risk of developing hypothermia.
Make sure to see what the weather forecast is for the town you are camping in. There are a number of sites that can provide detailed information regarding what to expect weather-wise during your trip. When you know what the weather will be like beforehand, you can plan more appropriately.
Be sure to know the recent conditions of where you will be staying. For example, you will want to know if the area will be dry enough to find suitable firewood. Bringing your own small supply of wood and keeping it dry is a wise decision.
Set up a “jungle breakfast” when you are camping with your kids. Take juice boxes, mini cereal boxes and fruit and tie the food to trees. When your kids get up, have them hunt down their breakfast. It is a fun way to start the day and something for the kids to look forward to each morning.
Pack a bandana. You can use it as a potholder, bag holder or a towel. As you can see, a handkerchief can serve many different purposes on a camping trip.
Fabric Piece
Pillows are a good item to bring to maximize your level of comfort while camping. Regular pillows do not hold up well in the outdoor air. They also absorb moisture out of the air and can mildew quickly. Camping pillows do not have these problems.
Carry a bandana or handkerchief with you. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter. There are various uses for this fabric piece, so be sure to carry one on your trip.
Bring all necessary camping gear with you prior to going on your trip. For example, your trip can be ruined if you forget your sleeping bag or tent. Double check the items you want to take and make a check list before you leave to make sure that you bring everything with you.
Always set up your camp before nightfall. If you’re driving an RV, find a safe parking spot. If you have a tent, find dry, flat ground. If you do that before it gets dark, you can get a good look at your immediate surroundings. You will be able to see a lot better, and this will make everything easier.
If you are not a seasoned camper, stay close to home. Things may go wrong and you may have to abort your trip early if things don’t go your way. Perhaps you realize that you’ve run out of food or haven’t packed enough clothing. Many issues can occur for new campers, so you should camp near home your first time.
Keep an eye out on your camping area. One thing to consider is whether or not there are insect nests in the space in which you want to set up. When staying near plants, use long sleeved shirts as well as pants; this avoids insect issues. You should also have insect repellent.
The whole point behind camping is to be one with nature, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for it. Packing a sleeping bag is pretty obvious, but take the extra precaution of including extra blankets too. This helps to warm you up in case it gets too cold at night. They are also good to use for extra padding.
A utility knife is one of the most useful camping tools. Utility knives have many uses in a campers tool kit. It may even be a good idea to bring an extra in case your first one gets lost.
When you show up to go camping, pitch your tent wherever you can find flat and soft ground. An area that is sloped or rugged won’t make for the best place to put your tent. Always lay a tarp down first to prevent water from entering or damaging the tent.
Cell Phone
If you put some thought in ahead of time, you will not have to worry about drained batteries in your flashlight while you are at a camp out. It is easy to inadvertently turn the flashlight on when digging through your camping equipment. To avoid this, store the batteries backwards in your flashlights. This way, if the button is turned on, the flashlight will not light and your batteries remain full.
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before leaving your car or campsite. Even better, tote an extra battery in case your first one dies. A cell phone is a great emergency device; make certain it will keep working.
Your list of camping supplies should include several flashlights with extra batteries and lanterns. You will surely find it necessary to illuminate things once night falls. You can use light to make sure you’re not going to fall over due to the terrain, or run into a wild animal. If you are bringing children on your trip, it’s a good idea to provide each of them with their own light.
Set up camp before the sun goes down. It is really hard to set up a tent in the dark. You will need a flashlight or you’ll have to build a fire. It is so much easier to erect your tent and organize your camping area before sunset.
Choose a proper sleeping bag for your camping conditions. If you are camping in a colder climate, purchase a heavyweight sleeping bag; people who camp in warm weather should use a lightweight sleeping bag. You might even consider a body hugging one as it helps you retain your body heat.
Having a roll of grey duct tape is a good idea when camping. Although tents tend to be more durable nowadays, they may still get torn. Having some duct tape can help you repair many things that unexpectedly tear or break.
Find a great location to set up your camper. Don’t set up camp near wasps or other insect homes. If there is a lot of nearby vegetation, protect yourself against insect bites by wearing pants and long sleeved shirts. You should also have insect repellent.
Before setting out on your camping adventure, make sure you can read a map and a compass. You can get lost in the woods even if you have been to the area before. To steer clear of calamities, learning the right way to use such lifesaving tools is key.
It is always a good idea to bring plenty of trail mix and/or beef jerky when you are planning a camping trip. Both items are fairly healthy and will come in handy when you don’t feel like cooking. These snacks should preserve for a good while, so there’s no wasting involved if they aren’t eaten.
When going camping, always remember to take waterproof matches with you when you’re creating a survival kit. The container should be airtight. You can take ordinary matches and make them waterproof when you dip them into nail polish or paraffin. Your container can be an empty film holder or even a plastic medicine bottle.
Always make sure that you have a sharp knife with you when you go camping. A utility knife is very convenient to carry while you are camping, so make sure to bring a spare in case one is lost.
When setting up a tent, ensure that the seams are all sealed. You can buy a tube at most sporting goods stores if your tent did not come with any. This will stop critters and rainwater from entering your tent.
Try to prevent your tent from getting wet and be sure it is properly ventilated. If you choose to sleep in a completely closed tent, by morning the condensation from humidity, sweating and breathing will really accumulate on everything inside. You may even wake up wet. Tents sometimes have vents that are built in or windows that can be opened to prevent the build up of moisture.
How will you prepare your food at the campsite? Think about the meals you want to make before you head out, and plan your trip around that. People enjoy cooking their food over an open fire, but it can be extremely hard if you do not have the right cooking supplies.
Prepare your camp for snakes if you are camping in an area that is known for snakes. Stay away from rocks, bushy areas and stacks of wood. Check you gear before you put it on to make sure a snake didn’t wander in. Always keep the tent closed, and fill the corners with sand or soil to keep snakes from burrowing underneath.
It is important that you practice food safety while you are out camping. Place food in sealed containers so it does not come in contact with water. Store your food in an insulated cooler. Store raw food apart from cooked food to avoid contamination. Also keep you hands clean with soap or water-free cleaner before you handle food. Thoroughly cook foods and store them right away.
Learn about the poisonous plants in the area you will be camping before you leave. Toxic plants seem like other plants unless you know their distinct look. Read a book or look up the native plants and species online. You can then be sure that you will not touch or eat any poisonous plants during your camping trip.
Wearing your clothing in layers is always best when camping outdoors. Sometimes the weather changes unexpectedly. You might find that the morning is cold, but the afternoon is hot and humid. The evenings may turn cold again very quickly. With layers of clothes available, you can remove or add them dependent on the changing climate.
Fire safety should be your number one priority when camping. Learn the proper way to build a fire ring that is safe. Do have buckets of water available in case it doesn’t go as planned. Control it quickly and do not let it burn when you are away from the site.
As you can see from this article, camping isn’t hard or complicated at all. Anyone can learn the tricks of the trade. Use the information above to make your next trip a wonderful one. Soon, you’ll find that you’re a camping expert, and you will be giving out advice to other novices you meet along the way!
Remember, nature is not yours to destroy. That means you shouldn’t just throw your trash around or leave a dirty campsite. Ideally, your campsite should look just like it was when you got there. Treating nature with respect means that it will still be around for future generations to enjoy.
