Camping is great. It is a wonderful pastime that can bring families and friends closer to nature and each other. Camping is a great way to appreciate the outdoors, but there is much to learn. The article below contains tips to help you get the most enjoyment out of your adventure.
Search out shelter before the sun sets when you are 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. This is particularly true for those city-dwellers that are not used to pitch-black darkness. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Allow everyone in the camping party a say in the location. Talk over what your destination state should be. Try to keep a small list, as there is such an abundance of spots to choose from, it can be hard to pick one. This can get people engaged and ready to go camping.
While you may count on Mother Nature to have plenty of wood to stoke your campfire, you may encounter only wet wood that won’t burn. To prevent this problem, bring along a few pieces of your own wood. Make sure to keep that wood dry in your car or another secure location.
Don’t worry about over-packing for your kids. Camping can be dirty. Your kids may love playing around in the grass and dirt. As the day goes on, your kids will get messier and messier. To prepare, bring additional clothing for your children. Prepare ahead of time!
Let everyone of your family members have a say on where to go camping. Talk about the state you wish to see. The options are plenty, so do your research! It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.
Ensure that your tent is large enough for all of the potential occupants. This assures there is enough sleeping and moving around room.
Try to go swimming when you are camping. The thing people tend to miss most while camping is the convenience of their home shower. Cool water can give you a feeling of exhilaration that may help you to miss your shower at home much less.
The way you prepare will determine whether your camping trip will be fun or if it will be dangerous. When you are prepared, you avoid many of the common mistakes that are made on camping trips. If you are camping in a new location, research the local wildlife, geography and the climate before leaving home.
A roll of duct tape is a very important piece of camping equipment. Such tape can quickly fix holes in tents, leaking inflatables and worn soles on shoes. It can also be used to seal mosquito netting.
Daylight Hours
Make sure that you are aware of the perils around the camping site that you choose. Figure out if there are any poisonous insects, what the land looks like and how the weather will be. Each camping spot is unique and can be dangerous in its own way.
Make sure to finish setting up camp during daylight hours. If you are traveling in an RV, park it in a well secured area. When pitching a tent, locate dry and flat ground. Doing this during daylight hours will save you hassle and frustration. By setting up camp during the daylight, you can avoid the frustration associated with setting up camp.
If you are camping for the first time, stay close to home. 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. You might not pack enough food, or you may run short on clothing. A lot of issues can happen to those camping the first time, so camp not too far away on your initial adventure.
A roll of duct tape is a very important piece of camping equipment. It can be used as a quick patch for tents, shoes, inflatables, or can be used to secure items such as your mosquito netting.
If you will be camping in an area that is known for having dangerous wildlife, you need to double up your precautions when it comes to food. This means you must warp things up tightly, keep them away from the tent, and avoid some food types while camping. This will reduce the likelihood of experiencing an attack.
If you bring your dog with you on your trip, make sure they are on a leash and that you watch them carefully. Many people are fearful of pets – especially large dogs. This will maximize the respect that you have for others while camping. Also, dogs can damage your campsite or another person’s campsite if they’re not watched carefully.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. Though a sleeping bag is great, extra blankets can also be useful. This helps to make sure that you are comfortable at night when it is chilly.
If the area you are camping in is known for dangerous wildlife, you will need to be doubly careful with food storage. These precautions include tightly wrapping your foods and storing them away from your tent. You also have to just forgo certain foods entirely. This helps lower your attack risk.
Remember the old scout motto – be prepared! Remember, though, that you can’t plan for every eventuality. The weather could turn sour, injuries could occur or other unforeseen events may happen. You mustn’t take any reckless risks, be careless, and you need to think before acting.
Pack extra flashlights and extra batteries when you go camping. Once the sun has set it is nice to have a source of light. Adequate light can help you avoid falling in the dark, or encountering wildlife. When camping with children, give each child a flashlight.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. It is very common for flashlights to be turned on inadvertently when going through camping supplies or while being stored. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. This way they won’t activate if the switch is nudged and will stay fresh till you need them.
Bring along a photo of any children that will be camping with you. If the unthinkable happens and your kids get lost, possessing a picture of them could be a lifesaver. When camping far away from your house, remember to bring one in case of an emergency.
Before leaving for your trip, write a list of what you need to bring along. A list will help you to not forget to bring any essentials. Start packing a couple of days in advance of camping, making sure to follow a checklist.
Be aware of the location of your campsite. You want to avoid things like wasp’s nest, ant hills and things of that nature. If you’re close to a lot of plants and things, long sleeved shirts and long pants should be worn to protect you from bugs. You might also want to carry bug repellent too.
Never let your kids roam out of your sight. Cars constantly come and go at campsites, and kids can quickly lose their way in the woods. It doesn’t take much time for something to occur, so be sure your kids are properly supervised.
If you are going on a camping trip, you want to be sure that you have a knife or two on hand. 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.
Be aware of where your campsite is. One thing to consider is whether or not there are insect nests in the space in which you want to set up. If you are near lots of trees and leaves, wear long pants and sleeves so you aren’t upset by insects. Also, insect repellent is a great device to use while camping.
It’s a good choice to take off from your automobile or base when your phone has a full battery. Even better, bring extra batteries so you are prepared if there is an emergency. A cell phone is perhaps the most useful item of emergency equipment that you can carry with you, but you do need to ensure that it does not run out of juice.
Make sure you know how to read both a map and a compass. You can get lost no matter where you are camping, keep that in mind. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you’re lost. Learn to use them so that you don’t suffer a tragic fate.
You must have a first aid box as well as a distinct survival kit. If you do this, you can easily take care of problems that may occur without having to cut your trip short. Your kit can also prevent situations from becoming worse and make it easier to get an individual in need to safety.
When erecting your tent, ensure that all of the tent’s seams are sealed. You can purchase a tube of tent seam sealer at all good sporting goods stores. By sealing the seams on your tent, you will keep out rainwater and any small critter that might want to join your tenting party.
If you don’t pack for a camping trip, it can turn a great time into a nightmare. Hopefully, this article has provided you with all you need to know to make an exciting and enjoyable time of your next camping trip!
What do you plan on cooking when you embark on your trip? Decide this before you leave so you have everything you need. Cooking over a campfire is fun, but can’t be done with out the right tools.
