If you have never camped, you don’t know how great it can be. Nothing beats sitting back, against the open fire, and sharing stories under the light of the moon. If you want to go camping, but aren’t sure how to do it, the article below will help.
Always find your shelter before it gets dark when you go camping. You do not want to be stuck trying to put your tent together or finding a safe location for the tent when it’s pitch black outside. 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 situation by finding shelter before the moon is out.
Camping provides the inevitable experience that you, your family and most of your possessions will probably get dirty. If you are prepared for that before you go, it will cause less stress when it happens. Then, you can be as messy as you want, without worry of getting dirty. You can get clean when you get home.
Your sleeping bag should be seasonally appropriate. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night. Conversely, if you bring a light-weight sleeping bag to a winter camping trip, you can be extremely uncomfortable the entire time. You might develop hypothermia.
Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. Think about where it is you want to go. Since the are so many great options to choose from across the U.S., it might be hard to select only one! This can get people engaged and ready to go camping.
All participants should have a say in where you go camping. Discuss which state you wish to visit. There are a lot of choices in the USA; it is hard to choose just one. It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.
Survival Kit
Anytime you buy a tent, be sure to practice setting it up and taking it down in your backyard prior to actually camping. That way, you can make sure you have everything you need to set up the tent, including knowledge of how to do it properly. It’s a great way to avoid the frustration of having to set up a tent on site.
Bring a survival kit with you and be sure to always have it on you. This kit should feature a survival knife, waterproof matches, tablets for purifying water, a flare gun, and a first-aid kit. If you were to get lost or were put in an emergency situation, the survival kit will be of great help. Always carry it on your person when you venture away from your campsite, or it won’t do you much good.
Make sure that you get a tent that is big enough for you and whoever else is going to be inside the tent. 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.
A tent needs to be the proper size for all people staying in it. This will allow everyone in your tent to be comfortable at night and to easily get up if they need to use the bathroom.
When camping alone or in the company of friends, always bring an emergency kit. What you include will depend on where you are going and when. Don’t forget to pack the extra for your location, too, such as antivenom for snake bites.
Before going camping, take a course in first aid, especially if you plan to bring children with you. If an accident occurs, you’ll need to know what you need to better the situation until you can receive medical attention. Also remember to research other dangers near your camping location. Look into snake species, poisonous plants, spiders, bugs, and other animals.
Do not forget to pack duct tape for your camping trip so that it can solve neraly any problem! It has several uses like fixing a hole in a tent and holding moisture.
Your camp should be set up before the sun goes down. When traveling in an RV, locate a safe parking area. When pitching a tent, locate dry and flat ground. If you do it before nighttime, it is easier to get familiar with the area. By setting up camp during the daylight, you can avoid the frustration associated with setting up camp.
There are many items in terms of camping equipment that you should bring on your trip. You don’t need to forget something important like your sleeping bag or tent. Create a checklist if you feel like you are going to forget something.
If your dog goes with you, always keep up with him. Some people get frightened by dogs. You must respect other campers. Dogs can also damage campsites, or get into the belongings of your neighboring camps, without proper supervision.
Kids really enjoy camping if they are kept busy with fun activities. Being in the woods can be boring for them as time goes on. They probably aren’t used to fishing or campfires. If you don’t normally spend time outside, show them before you go camping.
Bring along some fun activities on the trip. Create a good scavenger hunt list, pack some fishing poles and carry along some board or card games to entertain you while sitting in the middle of the woods. If the kids are camping with you, you’ll need to increase the amount of entertainment items that you pack.
Talk with your children about the dangers associated with camping before you leave home. Use the Internet to teach them about things like poison ivy and the like, and ensure that they will approach nature with respect and caution.
While the concept of camping involves getting away from it all, you still need to be prepared with some basic items. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. This helps to warm you up in case it gets too cold at night. They are also good to use for extra padding.
If camping is something that you are new to, have your first trip close to where you live. You don’t want to be far away if you decide you’ve had enough of camping, or if you have problems with your equipment. Perhaps you realize that you’ve run out of food or haven’t packed enough clothing. There could be a lot of reasons why you need to end your trip early, so keeping your first trip close to home can save a lot of headaches.
Try to refrain from draining your flashlight when camping. It is not uncommon to accidentally bump the switch and turn your flashlight on when you are digging around in your bag. Keep your flashlight in a secure place to avoid accidentally turning them on. It will keep the power from draining from the batteries and have them easily installed when you need it.
Stand ready for all possibilities when you camp. Often times, even the best plans go awry. There are many things that can go wrong, including illness, injury or extreme weather conditions. You should not be careless, take unnecessary risks, or perform any action without considering the consequences.
Before leaving for your trip, write a list of what you need to bring along. This can be of particular importance if you are traveling a long distance and will be in more remote locations. To ensure that everything gets packed, mark each item off the list as you pack it.
If you are pitching a tent, look for soft, level ground. If you pick a spot that is rocky or has a slope to it, you will be uncomfortable when you are inside your tent. Just lay a tarp at the bottom of the tent to stop water from going into your tent or damaging your tent.
Think about where to set up camp before you do. You don’t want to camp very close to bee hives or ant hills. If you are by plants or flowers, bring pants to block insects. It would also be advisable to carry a high-quality insect repellent with you.
It’s essential to take duct tape on every camping trip. Tents can get torn and they are hard to fix without having the right material. A little duct tape can be the difference between a comfortable and dry night’s sleep and a drippy night spent awake.
Duct Tape
When preparing your survival kit for your camping trip, pack some waterproof matches. Keep them stored in an air and water tight container. If you do not have waterproof matches, you can quickly convert regular matches by dipping them in either nail polish or paraffin wax. You can also make a caddy for them out of a 35mm film container or a medicine bottle made out of plastic.
Bring duct tape with you on your camping adventures. While most camping equipment is durable, they can tear or break easily. The right strip of duct tape can mean sleeping dry at night after your tent has suffered damage during a day that was more exciting that you wanted.
Don’t assume that camping close to the bathroom facilities is a good idea. People quickly realize that camping near bathrooms is a bad idea. Bathrooms are a source of light, and they are also high traffic areas. While it is convenient, it will decrease your comfort levels.
Make sure to practice food safety whenever you go camping. Make sure to pack your foods in airtight containers. Keep your food inside insulated coolers. Keep food contamination low by separating raw and cooked foods. Make sure your hands are clean whenever you are preparing food either by washing them or using hand sanitizer. Ensure that you heat food thoroughly and keep perishable items chilled at all times.
When camping in the cooler weather, dress in layers. Outdoor weather can change quickly. You might find that the morning is cold, but the afternoon is hot and humid. It can get really chilly again when the sun starts going down. By dressing in layers of clothing, you can easily shed layers when the temperature rises and then add layers when the temperature drops.
You can now start to plan your camping adventure since you have read this excellent advice. Use what you learned and you can become an expert in camping. No matter where you go, near or far, you can have a wonderful time.
Always have lots of activities in mind to encompass the whole trip. There is more to camping than fires and smores. Use your imagination to come up with ideas that each family member will enjoy. Take older and younger kids into consideration when thinking of something to do.
