Whether you’re having a camp out with your kids in the backyard or you’re up in the mountains, being prepared will make the adventure much more memorable. The tips and advice below can provide you with a bit of inspiration as you prepare for your outdoor adventure. This information will give you what you need to have the best camping experience possible.
Take the tent into your yard and set it up before you go on your camping trip. By doing this you will be able to make sure that your tent does not have any missing parts. Furthermore, such a task will help to reassure you that you know how to errect your camping tent properly. You will find your frustration level diminishes greatly as well.
Bring sleeping bags appropriate for the season. You are going to roast all night long in a sleeping bag designed for cold weather that you camp with during summer. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. You could even develop hypothermia or frostbite if it’s very cold.
Don’t worry about over-packing for the kids. Camping can be a sloppy time. Kids are seriously attracted to the dirt. As the day goes on, your kids will get messier and messier. While this cannot usually be prevented, be sure to pack some extra clothing. Be prepared for dirty clothes and dirty children by packing extra clothes.
Camping provides the inevitable experience that you, your family and most of your possessions will probably get dirty. If you’re ready for this, it will bother you less when it happens. Use your time in nature to enjoy the chance to be a little messy. After all, you can be normal at home.
Try to add an activity having to do with swimming to your camping trip if at all possible. You may miss the shower at your home when you are camping. The coolness of the water will help you feel cleaner and more refreshed, so you won’t miss your shower as much as you thought you might!
Survival Kit
Learn about any dangers that may exist at your campsite before heading out on the highway. You need to know about the local insect population, wild animals, natural dangers like water or steep locations and weather conditions. Many camping areas pose some dangers.
Bring a survival kit on the trip and keep it on your person all the time. In your survival kit, be sure you have waterproof matches, a flare gun, a first aid kit, water-purifying tablets and a knife. This kit may just be what helps you to stay alive in case you get lost or something bad happens and you’re stuck outside for longer than planned. Keep your kit with you at all times; don’t leave it at the campsite.
Bringing everything you need for your trip is important. Even letting one particular item slip your mind can devastate your trip. It is best to create a list a few weeks before your trip and to use it while packing. Good items to bring include a sleeping bag, water, food, hygiene supplies and things that can help you get a fire started.
Over-packing is better than under-packing when it comes to children. Camping is messy business. Kids love to play in the dirt. This means that by day’s end your children and their clothes can be quite soiled. Know that you must accept that fact, but have a change of clothing for them so they can be comfortable. It is important to be prepared.
Make sure you have what you might need in case of any event. Things can sometimes go awry, even when carefully planned. Weather is truly unpredictable at times, so prepare yourself for the worse. The more time you spend preparing for the unforeseen, the better off you will be when it comes to dealing with an emergency later on.
Keep a kerchief or bandanna close at hand. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter. They are quite versatile, so be sure to bring one every time you go on a trip.
Write down a list of all the materials you need before you go camping. This is critical if you are going to be covering some ground before getting to the spot where you pitch your tent. Pack several days before you leave, and check things off as you go.
Be sure you set up camp before nighttime comes around. Figure out where you can park if you are driving an RV. Locate a flat area of dry ground if you plan to pitch a tent. If you do that before it gets dark, you can get a good look at your immediate surroundings. This will also let you avoid the frustration of doing it when it’s not at easy to see what you are doing.
Always keep an eye on your children, no matter where they are. There are many dangers associated with camping, from campers entering and leaving the campground to children getting lost. Things happen very quickly and your kids should be supervised.
Educate yourself about the area that you are camping in, and know what hazards you could encounter. This would include stuff like what spiders dwell there, how steep the terrain is, and if the area is prone to flooding. Every camping trip has different dangers.
Pick out all of your clothing before you go camping. You don’t want to be stuck wearing dirty clothes daily. You should also make sure to include clothing that is appropriate for the climate and possible weather changes in your camping area. Shoes need to be closed and durable, especially for hiking.
If the area you are camping in is known for dangerous wildlife, you will need to be doubly careful with food storage. Keep all food items wrapped tightly and securely away from your tent. Some kinds of foods should be avoided altogether. Doing this means you cut down on your possibilities of an animal attack.
Duct tape is an important piece of camping equipment. Tents are fairly strong these days, but aren’t completely resistant to tears. A little duct tape can be the difference between a comfortable and dry night’s sleep and a drippy night spent awake.
When out in the wilds camping, it is smart to be prepared for just about anything. Even if you plan in advance, something may still go wrong. Weather can change, situations can arise, injuries or illness can strike. Always avoid unnecessary risks and try not to be careless.
Once you are finished camping, be sure your campsite is left clean. You should have trash bags on hand for this purpose. Don’t forget to pack up your leftovers. When you leave a campsite, the only thing left should be your footprints.
Orange Peel
Keep food safe when you’re out in the wild camping. Make sure your food stays dry and safe by using airtight bags and waterproof containers. Also, use insulated coolers. Raw food should be kept separate from cooked food as a way to prevent contamination. Also keep you hands clean with soap or water-free cleaner before you handle food. Cook all your foods completely, and make sure to chill perishables as soon as possible.
An orange peel can help to avoid insect bites. Don’t worry if you forget the bug spray. Experts say to rub your exposed body parts with a inside layer of a ripe orange peel. This should keep you free from mosquitoes and other pesky insects of the woods for hours.
Always bring toilet paper and baby wipes when you go camping. Unless you really want to rough it by using leaves, you should always pack plenty of bathroom tissue and wet wipes.
Keep pictures of your children on you if they are comping with you. This can come in handy if they are separated from you while on your trip. Your should always have current pictures of your children with you, but this is especially true when camping.
Always bring entertainment with you on a camping trip, even if you think you won’t need it. Of course, bringing along too many things like electronics can make it pointless to be camping, but it is very enjoyable to read a book or to listen to music at times when camping.
Smart campers will leave their car or base camp with a charged mobile phone. Even better, bring extra batteries so you are prepared if there is an emergency. In the event of an emergency, you will need your cell to call out for help, so this item is very important.
If your trip is going to pull you down to a nearby stream, lake, or moving river, handle your “business” downstream; no one wants that to float by their fishing pole! This makes sure your waste won’t get into the water that goes near your campsite. Also be sure to do this pretty far away from camp.
If you are tenting, it is important that you seal any of the seams in your tent. If you tent did not include a tube of sealer, you can find it at sporting goods stores. This will prevent rain or little critters from getting inside.
You always need to have your shelter set up before it gets dark. Don’t first start at sundown; you might not be able to get the shelter all the way up before it becomes completely dark out. It is easier to put up any kind of shelter when it’s light outside, so be prepared.
What will you do about cooking food while camping? You should determine how you plan on cooking your food, so you know what supplies to bring. People enjoy cooking their food over an open fire, but it can be extremely hard if you do not have the right cooking supplies.
Learn how to know poisonous plants when you see them. If you are not aware of what to avoid, you will likely run right into them without knowing the difference. Read a book or look up the native plants and species online. Having the right knowledge can save you and your family from a lot of discomfort while on your trip.
As this article has helped you see, camping offers something for everyone. Apply the tips found above, and you will have what it takes to create a camping adventure that appeals to all. There is so much to see out there in nature, so get out there and get exploring!
Check out your recipe books to see the things that you can cook while camping. You will get tired of eating hot dogs or hamburgers the whole time if you have nothing else to cook. Find a way to mix it up a bit. Pick quick recipes that you can make outdoors for more variety with your camping meals. Don’t forget to pack spices and seasoning.