When some people think of camping, they think of roughing it like they do on the popular survival shows. It does not have to be this way. Proper planning allows you to have fun and enjoy eating good food while camping. You can even repel insects if you plan appropriately. Keep reading for some great ideas to make your trip a pleasurable one.
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 your own small supply of wood and keeping it dry is a wise decision.
Examine your medical insurance policy. You may need to purchase additional coverage if you will be camping in another state. This becomes even more important if your camping trip takes you to another country. Be sure you’re prepared to be on the safe side!
Make sure you know what’s covered in 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. Don’t get caught without the protection you need in case of an emergency situation.
Dryer lint is a great item to bring if you are trying to start a campfire. A month prior to your trip, start saving the lint you pull from the lint screen in your dryer. Keep a plastic bag right next to the dryer and put the lint in there. Your kindling will be ready for you to grab on the way out the door for your trip.
Bring things like a bandanna and handkerchief along with you. These can be used in a pinch if you need a potholder, towel or even something to carry an item in. You can use them to pick up hot pans, or to clean up a tiny spill; therefore, you should always have one with you.
Pack a roll of duct tape with the rest of your supplies; this sticky wonder can help in a variety of circumstances. You can patch holes in tents, shoes and inflatables as well as using it to secure your tent or seal your mosquito netting.
It’s not totally necessary to rough it during your entire trip. You can bring along something comforting from home for your trip. Bring an interesting book, some luxurious candy or even a nice fluffy pillow. Don’t bring any items that are heavy, though. You can really feel good on your trip when you bring these food items.
Take along pillows that are especially for camping. Regular bed pillows will feel hot and sticky during humid weather. Standard pillows will take in moisture and could mold or mildew. Camping pillows are coated to prevent this from happening, keeping you dry and comfortable.
Buy special camping pillows instead of using your standard ones. Regular bed pillows can become damp if the weather is wet or humid. The will also pull moisture from the air and mildew will form quickly. Pillows specifically designed for camping have a barrier to stop this behavior.
If you bring a dog camping with you, be sure to keep an eye on them and be sure they’re on a leash. Other campers might be fearful of your dog, no matter how friendly he might be. It is essential to respect the feelings of your fellow campers. Also, dogs can damage your campsite or another person’s campsite if they’re not watched carefully.
Kids generally love camping, but plan some activities for them ahead of time. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. They probably aren’t used to fishing or campfires. Teach them how to perform these acts before you set out to camp.
Take some things to do on your camping trip. Playing cards, board games and fishing poles can make for lots of fun. Children often complain that they’re bored wherever they go, so bring along as many items as you can think of to keep them entertained.
When going camping with kids, explain to them some common camping problems you might run into. 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.
If the area in which you’ll be camping is well known for wildlife that poses a danger, special precautions must be taken regarding your food. You will need to keep your food in airtight containers or securely wrapped, and store it away from your tent. Some foods should be avoided entirely. That will reduce the chance of a critter attack.
Pack enough of the right kinds of food. Also, you will want to keep food that does not spoil to put yourself in the safest position. Food poisoning can put a miserable end to an otherwise lovely trip. Take the proper steps to prepare your food and do research if necessary.
It’s very important that you bring the proper items on your camping trip. Even just a handful of things missing can really affect your camping experience. Take the time to create a list that can be checked off while you pack. You need a lot of things to take with you on a trip, and you don’t want to miss anything.
Bring along some fun activities on the trip. Bring card and board games, proper attire for hiking or swimming, books (if you want quiet time) and any fishing or birding gear that you may need. If you have kids going with you, you may want to go a little overboard with the things you take for entertainment.
When you find your site, seek out the softest, most level ground to put your tent on. Choosing a slanted or rocky site will make your stay quite uncomfortable. Also remember to put down a tarp underneath your tent as an extra layer of protection from water.
Safeguard your food from the local wildlife. Wrap your food up tight and keep it far away from seeing areas. Following these measures will keep you safe from attacks.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. You can easily press the “on” switch on a flashlight when digging in your camping bag. To prevent this, put flashlight batteries in backwards. This will allow you to keep them stored without accidentally turning them on and wasting the batteries.
You should always have some duct tape along on any camping adventure. Its multipurpose properties aren’t only useful at home, they can be used in the wild too. You may need to patch up a punctured air mattress. It is also useful for taping up tears in tents, tarps or sleeping bags. You can even use it to help prevent blisters on your feet. This can also be used for injuries when you do not have a regular doctor around.
Make sure you always know where your children are. It is easy for children to get lost, and cars often come and go. Disaster can strike in seconds; this makes it imperative that you always have an eye out for your kids.
Packing all the essentials is vital to the success of your camping venture. Not planning properly can ruin a whole trip. Write a list in advance of what you are going to need, and then you can check each item off when it is packed. Don’t forget to include your sleeping bag, water, knives, prepared food, hand gel, soap, and your tent.
If you are taking your kids camping with you, make sure you bring a photo of them along. This can come in handy if they are separated from you while on your trip. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.
Always be prepared when on a camping trip. Even with a perfect plan, things can still go awry. Weather conditions can turn on a dime, your surroundings can change suddenly and injuries can occur at any time. 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.
Utility Knife
To avoid those nasty mosquito bites the next time you go camping, try the peel from an ordinary orange. If you arrive at your camping destination and realize you’ve forgotten to pack bug repellant, fear not. Experts suggest rubbing the inside peel of a ripe orange over the exposed parts of your body. This can keep mosquitoes at bay for a number of hours.
A utility knife is the perfect camping accessory. One of the most useful camp items is a utility knife, so pack an extra one just in case one gets lost.
First aid and survival kits are essential to bring while camping. These two items can be the deciding factor in whether you have to end a trip early or care for situations as they arise. A survival kits and first aid kits can save your life.
Any survival kit you assemble for camping needs to include waterproof matches. Use an airtight container to store them. You can waterproof regular matches by dunking them in nail polish or paraffin, a type of wax. You can make a carrying case for matches by putting them in a film canister or a small plastic medicine bottle.
At the end of your camping outing, try to leave the site cleaner than you found it. Pack trash bags to help the clean up efforts go smoothly. Take any leftover food with you. A good rule of thumb is to only leave your footprints behind.
Make sure to seal the seams in your tent when you are setting it up. Some tents are sold with material to seal the seams, and the majority of sporting goods stores have tube available for the purpose. The seals keep water and pests from entering your tent.
Improper food packing leads to food poisoning in many campers each year. If your food isn’t canned, vacuum-sealed or preserved, you can get food poisoning because your food spoils. Pack perishables in ice, and don’t forget to pull out the drain plug of the cooler to keep food from getting wet.
You should now know that there is great deal of fun to be had while camping. These tips are here to help your great travel. That way, you’ll be able to avoid the camping pitfalls and enjoy all the good things about it.
When you are camping, it is vital to make sure tent has good ventilation and stays dry. You risk condensation building up inside the tent if you seal it up completely. Too much condensation can lead to you waking up soaked with water. Most tents have some sort of venting system. Use it to help prevent uncomfortable moisture build up.