Going on vacation is a special time for everyone and camping can be one of the best experiences you have. Check out the advice given in this article for planning a fun, safe, and memorable camping trip. They will offer great advice you can put to good use on your outdoor adventure!
Make sure to find your shelter before it gets dark. Finding the right spot for your tent, gathering firewood and making dinner are all a lot tougher after darkness settles in. Those that live in urban areas find this to be the case even more than those that are used to pitch black darkness. Avoid being in that position; find good shelter before the sun goes down.
Sleeping Bag
When going camping you need to ensure that the tent you build can easily hold you and anybody else that comes along. That makes it easier for everyone to have a comfy time while they’re asleep and moving around when they have to get up in the dead of night.
Your sleeping bag should be seasonally appropriate. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand, if you bring along a light-weight bag in the winter, you may feel like you are freezing to death. You may even subject yourself to hypothermia.
Take a class on how to do first aid. This is especially important if you are taking kids with you. Should an emergency arise, your knowledge of first aid can prevent further issues until help arrives. You could also read about different first aid techniques online. Look into snake species, poisonous plants, spiders, bugs, and other animals.
If you have bought a brand new tent in preparation for your camping trip, set it up at home first before you use it for camping. This will let you know that you’re not missing pieces from your tent and that you know how to pitch your tent in the right way. It also helps with the frustration of putting a tent up.
Review the medical coverage that you have. Out-of-state traveling will sometimes require additional coverage. Popping over the border into Canada could also cause an issue. It is essential to be prepared in case of emergency.
Don’t fear that you are overpacking for your kids on a camping trip. Camping can be a messy affair. Children love the dirt. This means that your kids will get dirty during the day. You don’t want to interrupt their fun, it’s a joy of camping after all; but, keep some extra clothing with you for them. Remember, always be prepared!
A hankerchief is a great item to bring on your trip. Not only can it keep the hair out of your eyes, it can also be a sack to carry things, a towel to dry your hands or a potholder to grab your coffee pot from the fire. It has a multitude of uses and should be an essential part of your camping gear.
Learn proper first aid. In case of an accident, you will know what to do until medical help arrives. Additional research can also provide valuable information. It is also best to know what exists in the area you will be in so that you can prepare for that as well.
Dryer lint makes surprisingly good kindling for starting campfires. A month prior to your trip, start saving the lint you pull from the lint screen in your dryer. To make it easy to collect dryer lint, simply hang a bag next to the dryer and fill with your lint. Doing this means you can just snag your kindling on the way out the door the morning your trip starts.
Bring along a bandana or handkerchief. You can use these as hand towels, cleanup towels, pot holders or anything you need cloth for. There are a lot of different uses for it, so make sure you bring one on every camping trip with you.
No matter if you are going camping alone, or with a huge group, you need to always bring along an emergency kit. This emergency kit changes depending on the place you go camping, but you have to be certain it has the basic tools. Having extras like anti-venom is a good defense for certain kinds of wildlife.
Oranges taste great, but they can also help keep mosquitoes away from you. Enjoy the oranges and then rub the inside of the peel on any exposed skin to keep insects at bay.
Don’t wait until nightfall to set up camp. Look for a safe parking place if you are camping in an RV. Find a piece of ground that’s flat and dry if you are putting up a tent. You will be able to see the area better before nightfall and become familiar with it. You can save time by knowing what you are doing.
Camping is fun for children, but make sure to plan out some extra activities they will like. If you’re out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, boredom will set in. Kids are often not used to outdoor activities such as pitching a tent or fishing. If this is their first time, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn new skills.
Make sure that you are aware of the perils around the camping site that you choose. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Each camping spot is unique and can be dangerous in its own way.
If you are a camping amateur, keep your camping adventure near your home. If you want to end your trip, you will be close to home. You may come to realize that you should have packed different clothing, or need more food. Many issues can occur for new campers, so you should camp near home your first time.
Bring activities for you to have fun with while camping. Pack such things as cards, fishing poles or even plan for a scavenger hunt. If you are taking children camping, you might want to bring more activities than you think you are going to need.
Bringing everything you need for your trip is important. Forgetting just one or two things could ruin your trip. Lists help people know what they need before they go. Good items to bring include a sleeping bag, water, food, hygiene supplies and things that can help you get a fire started.
Do you know how to pitch a tent? Long before you set off in the woods for the real thing, get some practice in on setting up the tent. By doing so, you will know that the equipment is all included, and you will be familiar with the process of pitching it. Doing this will help you pitch your tent quickly, just in case you get to your campsite when it starts to get dark.
Believe it or not, an orange’s peel may keep mosquitoes from biting you during your next camping excursion. This is an especially useful tip to remember if you forgot your bug spray. Rub the inner peel of an orange over your body as mosquitoes will refrain from biting you. Mosquitoes hate the smell and will fly away for a few good hours; and you will be free of the nuisance.
Make a list of your required camping gear and double check it while packing. Omitting just an item or two can be calamitous. It may be helpful to make a list of everything you need and cross it off the list when you pack it. Good items to bring include a sleeping bag, water, food, hygiene supplies and things that can help you get a fire started.
Trail Mix
Remember the old scout motto – be prepared! Things can sometimes go awry, even when carefully planned. Anything can change without warning, such as the weather, your environment, or your physical condition. Try not to take unnecessary risks that can yield injury or illness.
Trail mix and jerky are great snacks for a camping trip. When the day ends, you may feel so tired you aren’t in the mood for cooking. Nutrient-rich treats like beef jerky and trail mix will help satisfy your hunger. Such foods will also remain edible for quite some time, so will not go to waste if you don’t eat them up on your trip.
Find the most level, rock-free ground possible to set up your tent on. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping on a slope or a spot with a rocky surface. Always put down a tarp in order to stop water from getting into your tent.
Make sure you pack a utility knife when going camping. Utility knives can be quite versatile, so be sure to have an extra with you.
Decide what clothing you will need before you make your trip. You don’t want to be stuck wearing dirty clothes daily. Pack clothing appropriate for your campsite’s climate and weather. You should pack at least one pair of durable closed-toed boots.
A camping trip could be a relaxing, tranquil experience, or it could end up being a vacation from hell. Whether it goes well or not is usually determined by how prepared you are. If you plan and prepare for various situations, you will probably have a good time.
Keep pictures of your children on you if they are comping with you. If you lose a child at any point, having a picture to show rescuers or search parties could be very useful. Be sure to have a photo for an emergency, even more so if you’re camping far away from your home.
Pack your things carefully and smartly. Create a supply checklist for your trip and check off each item as it’s being packed. This is very helpful if you’ll be far from civilization.
Beef jerky and trail mix are two camping staples you should always bring with you. After a busy day of hiking or other strenuous outdoor activities, you may be too tired to deal with campsite cooking. These snacks are healthy and nutrient-dense, making them a quick and easy source of nourishment. Even if you don’t eat them, these are non-perishable snacks that have a long shelf life.
Clean out your campsite before you leave to go back home. Consider taking along a few garbage bags so you have a place for all your trash. Also, it’s important to take all food with you when you leave too. The best practice to follow when camping is to clean the campsite well, and leave only your footprints behind.
It might silly, but remember to take toilet paper along when you go camping. You may be camping in an area that doesn’t offer toilets, so you will need to find other places to go to the bathroom. Leaves can be dangerous alternatives to toilet paper, so don’t forget it.
Camping can be easy as pie and fun for the family if you are prepared with proper advice. Fortunately this article has supplied you with that. Relax in the beauty of nature and spend peaceful times with family and friends by taking advantage of all the helpful advice in the article above to make your camping trip the the best ever.
When you’re away camping, what cooking methods are you planning on using? You will have to decide whether you will grill, fry or even bake your food so you know what supplies to bring. Cooking over a campfire is fun, but can’t be done with out the right tools.