Whether you’re just going to spend the night out in your back yard or if you’re going to go far away, it’s very important to be prepared to have a safe and enjoyable time. Look at these tips to find out how to properly prepare for a camping excursion. You will most likely appreciate this information.
Get everyone involved in choosing a campsite. One of the things you will want to discuss is which state you would like to visit. Since the are so many great options to choose from across the U.S., it might be hard to select only one! To aid in this decision, you may want to offer a few of those that you personally like the best and than let each family member vote.
When you’re camping, always look for shelter prior to dark. Once things go dark, you will find it very hard to erect a tent, locate wood and cook a meal. It can be even more difficult for those who are not accustomed to trying to see in complete darkness. Avoid these circumstances by finding the right shelter while it is still light.
Before leaving for a trip away, attend a comprehensive first aid tutorial. Undertaking such a task is particularly important if you are going to be camping with children. You will be prepared for any accidents that may occur and can survive until you reach professional medical care. Additional research can also provide valuable information. You should be aware of the poisonous snakes, wild animals, etc., that inhabit the area.
Sleeping Bag
Preparation and organization are chief factors to facilitate a great camping trip. Be sure you don’t go camping until you are fully prepared with all the supplies you need. Find out about the weather, the wildlife and the terrain of any location that you have not been to before.
Make sure that the sleeping bag you bring camping is right for the weather. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. Without protection, you are running the risk of developing hypothermia.
Dryer lint can make great kindling for creating campfires. A month prior to your trip, start saving the lint you pull from the lint screen in your dryer. Have a bag next to the dryer so you don’t forget to collect it. Doing this means you can just snag your kindling on the way out the door the morning your trip starts.
Make sure to pack plenty of extra clothing for your children. Camping is messy. Children, in particular, love to get their hands in the dirt. Children will get dirtier as the day goes on. While there is nothing you can do about that, you can have some extra clothing just in case. Be sure you’re prepared!
An emergency kit is a very important component to have while camping. Depending on the location, the kit may have extra items, but the basic items should be there. If you think there will be snakes, you might want to include antivenom.
A camping trip provides fun experiences or dangerous experiences. Which you will experience depends on your level of preparation. Prepare in advance to avoid the downfalls of camping. If you are camping in a new location, research the local wildlife, geography and the climate before leaving home.
Make sure to finish setting up camp during daylight hours. If you’re driving an RV, find a safe parking spot. If you have a tent, carefully select the plot of land you are going to use. If you don’t do this, you could find yourself in a precarious and unsafe area after dark. You can save time by knowing what you are doing.
Camping and swimming are a great combination. You are probably going to miss the shower you have at home while camping. Swimming is a great way to rinse off and can take the place of your daily shower.
Don’t forget the duct tape when you pack for a camping trip, to solve just about any dilemma! You can use it to repair holes in tents, inflatables, shoes and just about anything else you can think of.
Pillows are a good item to bring to maximize your level of comfort while camping. Don’t bring the pillows you use in your bedroom. These pillows can trap heat during humid weather. Standard pillows will take in moisture and could mold or mildew. Pillows specifically designed for camping have a barrier to stop this behavior.
Buy yourself some camping pillows for your trip. If you bring a standard pillow for the bedroom, they become sticky and hot when the weather is humid. Standard pillows will take in moisture and could mold or mildew. Camping pillows do not have these problems.
Make sure you have a good chat with your children about basic camping dangers before you head away. It’s easy to look at photos online of harmful plants like poison ivy so that they are aware that they should not touch them when they’re camping.
Talk with your children about the dangers associated with camping before you leave home. Go on the Internet together and read about safety, look at poison ivy pictures and poisonous animals.
If you are a camping novice, you should initially stay near home. You could have gear issues or you might want to shorten your trip. You might find that you do not have enough clothes or food. People that are camping for the first time may have a lot of problems, so being close to home is recommended.
Plan ahead and come prepared. While you should bring a sleeping bag, you should bring additional blankets. This can help you stay warm if it cools down at night or you may use them for extra padding.
If you’re camping where there is dangerous wildlife, double your food reserves. This means wrapping things up tightly, keeping them far from your tent, and avoiding some types of food completely. Following these measures will keep you safe from attacks.
Packing all the essentials is vital to the success of your camping venture. Your whole trip could be ruined if you forget a couple of things. You might want to create a checklist of things you need to bring. Don’t forget to include your sleeping bag, water, knives, prepared food, hand gel, soap, and your tent.
Upon arrival at the campsite, find a soft, flat area of ground and pitch your tent there. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping on a slope or a spot with a rocky surface. Also, use a tarp under your tent to keep water out and prevent damage.
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! While it’s crucial to plan ahead for things, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Weather conditions may abruptly change for the worse, someone could get sick or injured, along with a number of other possible mishaps. 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.
Trail mix and jerky are great snacks for a camping trip. Nutrient filled snacks can replace the need to cook if you don’t have the means or the energy. They are also convenient because they keep well and don’t need to be refrigerated.
Take steps to prevent dead flashlight batteries while camping. It’s possible to accidentally hit the “on” button on your flashlight. If you put the batteries in your flashlight backwards, you can avoid this. This way, you’ll still have fresh batteries for your trip.
Utility Knife
Have the clothing you will pack planned out before your trip. Take extra pairs of clothes to last you throughout your whole trip. Be sure to also carry clothing that is weather and climate appropriate on your trip. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are considered essential footwear for any camping trip.
You should always bring a spare utility knife when camping. A utility knife is very convenient to carry while you are camping, so make sure to bring a spare in case one is lost.
If you are taking children with on your camping trip be sure to bring pictures of them as well. If you lose them at some point, a picture will be very helpful to local authorities. Always keep one ready for emergency use, especially when a good distance from the home.
Have a first aid pack on hand, as well as a well stocked survival kit. If you do this, you can easily take care of problems that may occur without having to cut your trip short. You can avoid making situations worse, and you can take an injured person for help in a safe way.
As silly as it may seem, be sure to pack toilet paper with you on your camping trip. If you take care of business in the woods, toilet paper is imperative to have. Using leaves to clean off is not a good idea because there may be some poison ivy mixed in.
Pack wisely! List all of the supplies that you need so that you are not missing anything while on the trip. If you are planning to camp in an area away from first aid access, then this will be especially necessary.
Don’t assume that camping close to the bathroom facilities is a good idea. While this can seem convenient, it really isn’t. Light and high traffic are usually found around the bathroom area. Thus the strategy of camping out close to the restrooms ultimately backfires.
Always take a map with you, and make sure you know how to read the map and a compass before you go. You can get lost in the woods even if you have been to the area before. Your skill using a compass and a map can be a lifesaver one day.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are two things that every camper will appreciate. While you could certainly “rough it” and use leaves, there’s not really a good reason to torture yourself when wipes and toilet paper are easily transported.
Do you know how to cook while you are camping? Before you leave you should decide just how to cook and what you’ll need to bring for it. You may like the idea of rustic cooking over the campfire; however, proper supplies are necessary to do so.
Plenty of sunscreen should be packed. It is crucial that you keep yourself covered from the sun. Look for a sunscreen that provides adequate protection. Sunscreen with bug repellent is an excellent choice for camping trips. This will keep you from putting too many chemicals on your body.
Here is a quick way to see if you would enjoy camping in the outdoors. Simply set up your tent on your own property and sleep in it for a night. Do not let yourself enter the house at all. If the night is fun, you are ready to head to the wilderness!
Take along a lot of drinks, water and food when you decide to go on a camping trip. If your campsite is known to have an abundance of bears, be certain to store all food away from your sleeping area. Burn any garbage you can to avoid attracting bears to the campsite with the smell.
Sunscreen is very important to use for skin protection while camping. You need to be protected from the sun’s rays. Locate a sunscreen that gives you the best protection. This can also help to block your skin from bug bites too. It will make it easier for you to apply all of the protection you need to stay comfortable while camping.
When planning your trip, look through some old recipe books. Eating the same old foods every meal during a camping trip can become a drag. Why not add some new foods to the mix? There are numerous easy recipes that you can prepare outdoors to add a bit of variety to your campsite cuisine. Bring along a few spices to dress up meals, as well.
As this article described, camping can be fun for everyone. The information above can turn even the biggest nature-hater into a lover through a camping trip. Take a look at what the great outdoors has to offer.
Always carry your map of all the camping trails near your site. You’ll need it in case you take a wrong turn and get lost. With a map in hand, your chances of making it back to your site or somewhere civilized, are much easier.
