
Nothing is better than being under the night stars with those you love. Camping is one of the most enjoyable pastimes. While it can be fun, you must take the time to prepare and plan for it to be as much fun as possible. Keep reading for some great tips to help you prepare for a camping trip.
Allow everyone who is going on the trip to have a say about the campsite. Think about where it is you want to go. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. Narrow down your top choices and let your entire family decide.
Buy a sleeping bag which will suit the weather you will be in. If you take a sub-zero bag camping in the middle of summer, you will probably sweat all night, or even overheat. 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 might even contract hypothermia.
When it comes to children, don’t hesitate to over-pack. Camping can be dirty! Kids love to play in the dirt and will bring it back to your tent. Therefore, you will need to understand that a clean trip is probably out of the question. Take extra clothing with you for your children. Keep yourself ready at all times.
You will get dirty. If you are prepared for this situation, you will find that when it occurs, you will be less stressed. Enjoy your time and don’t afraid to be messy. You can always take a bath back at the house.
Take a first aid class, particularly if you are traveling with children. Accidents happen, and taking the right precautions will ensure you know how to better a poor situation. Never forget to research. You should be aware of the poisonous snakes, wild animals, etc., that inhabit the area.
If you are going camping with children, eat a “jungle breakfast”. Bring small cereal boxes, juice drinks and fruit, and keep them tied up high in the trees. Let the kids go out hunt for their breakfast. It is a fun way to start the day and something for the kids to look forward to each morning.
Make sure you arrive at the campground before it gets dark. When adventuring in an RV, be safely parked before dark. Find a piece of ground that’s flat and dry if you are putting up a tent. This should be done before nightfall as is it much more difficult to navigate when it is dark. Since you will know what you are doing, you’ll prevent frustration.
Try to ensure your camp is set up before night falls. If you are in a vehicle, this means find a secure spot to park the vehicle. When using a tent, choose a dry flat location. You will be able to see the area better before nightfall and become familiar with it. This will save you from feeling stressed and frustrated, as you can see exactly what you’re doing.
Buy some camping pillows. Regular bed pillows will feel hot and sticky during humid weather. The will also pull moisture from the air and mildew will form quickly. Pillows designed for camping have a coating on them that does not all the moisture to be absorbed.
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Regular bed pillows can become damp if the weather is wet or humid. On top of that, they will mildew rapidly as they suck in moisture. Camping pillows are covered with a special coating that keeps moisture at bay.
Kids love camping, but you need to plan out activities for them to do on the trip. Boredom is something that you will want to avoid at all costs while camping. Children may not be familiar with activities like pitching a tent or fishing. Take the time to teach them these skills before the trip, especially if they don’t spend a great deal of time outdoors.

When you’re going to take some kids with you on your camping trip, educate them on the dangers that camping can bring with it. You can always visit websites that illustrate the dangers posed by poison ivy as well as other harmful plants.
If you are not a seasoned camper, stay close to home. You might have gear problems, or you might figure that you want to cut your camping trip short. It could be that you didn’t pack enough food or your clothing is not warm enough. There are many unexpected problems you may encounter the first time you go camping, so stay close to home.
Make sure you pack plenty of camping-friendly food. You don’t want to bring a lot of food that will easily spoil. Food poisoning can put a miserable end to an otherwise lovely trip. Prepare all of your food in the proper way and take any necessary precautions.
While camping’s purpose is to survive off the fat of the land, it is still important to prepare yourself. In addition to your sleeping bag, bring a couple of blankets. These can be used for additional padding or for extra warmth on a chilly night.
Duct Tape
Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the environment in which you are going to camp. Lightweight sleeping bags tend to work better in warmer weather and heavyweight sleeping bags tend to work better in colder weather. You will need sleeping bags that hug your body and help you retain body heat if you’re sleeping in a tent.
One smart thing to bring along camping is duct tape. It is nearly as useful while camping as it is around the house. Duct tape is useful for patching holes in air mattresses. It can seal a rip in your tent, sleeping bag, or tarp. Prior to heading off on a long nature hike, place some tape on your heels to avoid blistering. You can also use it to bandage injuries.
Never let your kids roam out of your sight. Cars and campers will be pulling in and out, and there is always the possibility of little ones getting quickly lost in an unfamiliar forest. Something could happen very quickly, so if you keep an eye on your kids, your supervision will help keep them safe.
As you have read in the article above, there are a great number of things to consider whenever you are planning to spend some time in the great outdoors. Take advantage of the tips you have learned here and use them to safely enjoy your excursion into nature.
It’s a great idea to bring along beef jerky or trail mix when you go camping. By nightfall, you may be too exhausted to prepare a campfire and cook, and having the quick, nutritious foods will really come in handy. They will stay fresh for long periods of time, so they won’t go to waste.
