A lot of folks think camping is just rationing food, being bored and getting bit by bugs. It does not have to be this way. You can enjoy yourself, have great meals, and avoid insects if you do a little planning. Keep on reading to gain knowledge of how you can enhance your next trip.
You need to make sure your sleeping bag is sufficient for the climate. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night. If you are going to bring a light bag in the winter, you may end up freezing and having a miserable time. You might even get hypothermia.
Let everyone of your family members have a say on where to go camping. Talk about where you want to camp. There are so many options around the U.S. that it can actually be difficult to pick one! If necessary, select a few locations yourself, then let the family decide among your choices.
Do not hesitate to pack too much for your kids. Camping is messy business. Kids love to play in the dirt. As a result, they are going to be seriously messy by the end of each day. You can not really prevent it from happening, but you can pack extra clothes. Be prepared!
When you’re getting a brand new tent for your camping trip, take it out and set it up at home before you go camping. This will not only familiarize you with the process, it will allow you to ensure there are no missing pieces or defects. This also helps you not to be frustrated when you’re trying to pitch your tent.
Go to a class to learn about first aid. You will be prepared for any accidents that may occur and can survive until you reach professional medical care. Make sure to do your research. Look into snake species, poisonous plants, spiders, bugs, and other animals.
Check the weather updates for the camping site that you choose to go to. There are lots of websites that can give you an idea of what the typical weather is like in the area during the time of your travel. When you know what the weather is going to be like ahead of time, you can pack the appropriate clothing and equipment.
Camping can be very dangerous or fun depending on whether you’re prepared or not. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. If you are going to a new place, make sure you do some research about the local wildlife, as well as the local geography and climate.
Bring a bandanna or a large handkerchief with you when you go camping. Such an item can be used as a carrying bag, a potholder, a hand towel, a blotter or a paper towel. You will find that you can use these in a lot of versatile ways, so bring one along when you’re camping.
Check out your medical insurance policy. If you go camping out of state, you may need to have coverage where you go. If you are camping outside of your own country, it can be even more critical. Be sure to be properly prepared!
Camping Trip
Even the most natural experience can allow for one nice luxury from home. Something small and lightweight is appropriate, like candy or some cream for coffee. Small luxuries can make things more enjoyable!
Emergency kits are one of the most important things to bring on a camping trip. You want to bring a kit for any situation that might arise during your camping trip. For example, if you are camping in an area that may have poison ivy, make sure you pack hydro-cortisone.
Oranges are great for camping since they’re healthy, easy to eat, and they also keep mosquitoes away. When you finish eating them, save all of your peels and rub them around your body to use as a natural insect repellent.
Use specialty camping pillows when camping. The typical pillows will become sticky in hot and humid climates. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. Camping pillows, on the other hand, possess a protective coating that prevents that from happening.
Make sure you have activities to do while camping. Fishing poles, card games and even a scavenger hunt list will make great entertainment in the woods. Take as many entertainment items as you can fit if you are taking kids on your trip.
Bring along some interesting activities when planning a camping trip with kids. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. Children may not be familiar with activities like pitching a tent or fishing. Teach them about these activities prior to leaving.
If you are traveling to a place with an abundance of animals, make sure you are prepared with respect to food. You can wrap up leftovers well, keep them away from the tent and use other precautions to protect yourself. This will reduce your chances of being attacked.
Make sure you pack plenty of camping-friendly food. Depending on how long you’re planning to be camping, it’s important to have things that won’t go bad during the trip. Getting food poisoning can bring an abrupt end to a camping trip. Learn the right type of food preparations meant for camping before you go.
Generally when you camp, you want to live with as little as possible but still be prepared for anything. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. This is useful for nights where the temperature gets too cold or as extra padding when sleeping on hard ground.
Plan several activities to do while camping. Card games are a fun way to pass the time if the weather does not cooperate. If you brought kids along, you might want to pack a lot of things for entertainment.
Upon arrival at the campsite, find a soft, flat area of ground and pitch your tent there. It is important to feel as level as possible to maximize the comfort that you feel. Also remember to put down a tarp underneath your tent as an extra layer of protection from water.
Have you just bought your first tent and want to begin camping? So, practice setting up your tent and taking it down before you leave home. This will help ensure that your trip goes smoothly, for a more enjoyable trip when you understand your tent. This lets you get it done before night falls.
Bringing your survival kit and first aid kit is crucial. These kits can help to reduce the impact of injuries on your trip. This can help keep issues from escalating, and let you secure help for an injured camper.
Think carefully on your next trip to prevent the drainage of your flashlight batteries. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the “on” switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. This will allow you to keep them stored without accidentally turning them on and wasting the batteries.
Set up camp before the sun goes down. It is extremely difficult to pitch a tent whenever it is dark. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It is so much easier to set up your shelter before dark.
Create a list of the items you must bring before you go camping. If the campgrounds are located at fair distance from your home, then this step will be crucial. Pack in advance to avoid the stresses of packing before your trip.
Study the map of the area you plan to enter in advance and learn how to use a compass. Even if you know the area well, getting lost is always a possibility. Your skill using a compass and a map can be a lifesaver one day.
Be sure that you have a good amount of lighting devices with you, as well as means of keeping them running. It is important to see clearly at night, especially if you are venturing away from your site. Having ample light sources can prevent falls or surprise encounters with local wildlife. If your children are along on your camping trip, give them each their own flashlight.
Clean your campsite when you finish camping. You need to bring along bags for trash so you can clean up. Do not leave food there, either. A golden rule for departing a campsite: leave only your footprints behind.
Bring along a photo of any children that will be camping with you. If you lose them during your trip, that picture can help you immensely. Bring one to use for emergencies, particularly if you are a long way from home.
Pack your food properly to avoid food poisoning. When food is not properly preserved, it can increase the risk of becoming spoiled and make you sick. Make sure there is plenty of ice in the cooler for perishables, and do not fail to drain the cooler regularly to prevent soaking the food.
Even if it seems silly, bring toilet paper. If you go camping at a location with no toilets, you will have to use the bathroom in the woods. If you forget the toilet paper, you may be forced to use leaves, some of which could be poison ivy.
You should never camp without your first aid kit. This should have all the necessary materials in case someone has an accident. Band-aids, splints, aspirin, and other important things should be in this kit. It is important to be as safe as possible when camping, but unfortunately, no matter how careful you are, accidents do happen on occasion, so you must be properly prepared.
It is important that you practice food safety while you are out camping. Put your food in waterproof containers. Keep your food inside insulated coolers. Do not store cooked and raw foods together to avoid contamination. Wash your hands while preparing food and afterward, and keep any surfaces, utensils and cooking containers clean as well. Thoroughly cook foods and store them right away.
Every camper should remember to pack toilet paper and baby wipes. Although you could use leaves to clean yourself after going to the toilet, there really is no need to do so when baby wipes and toilet paper are for sale at almost all stores.
Make sure to plan fun things to do from your trip’s start to its finish. Only planning for campfires and smores might leave you bored for the rest of the day. Use your imagination to come up with ideas that each family member will enjoy. Consider the interests of the kids when you plan your activities.
When camping, ensure you have entertainment. Try to limit the number of electronics you take and instead bring a book, deck of cards and fishing pole to make it easier to enjoy the nature around you.
As you can see, camping can actually be a lot of fun. The information you just read is the perfect starting point for planning a great camping trip. You will avoid the pitfalls and get the most enjoyment out of the experience.
Whenever you are camping near a river or stream, always make sure to “take care of business” downstream. This will keep anyone getting water from the river will not be drinking your waste. Also be sure to do this pretty far away from camp.
