Vacations don’t always have to be about theme parks and museums; camping also makes for a great vacation. Read through the advice in the article that follows to find ways to really enjoy your next outing. You will be sure to make as many great memories and have as much fun as any theme park or museum vacation!
Make sure your sleeping bag is right for the weather. Make sure that your sleeping bags in the summer are not too heavy. On the other hand, light-weight sleeping supplies will never keep you warm enough in the dead of winter. You may even risk hypothermia.
Sleeping Bag
Don’t be afraid to over-pack for your children. Camping is messy business. Kids love the dirt. This means that by day’s end your children and their clothes can be quite soiled. While you can’t do much about that, you should have extra clothing on hand. Prepare thoroughly!
Choose a sleeping bag that is seasonally appropriate. Don’t take a heavy sleeping bag out in the summer, it could make you sweat and be uncomfortable all night long. On the flip side, bring a sleeping bag meant for summer camping will make you very cold during your winter camping trip. You might even get hypothermia.
Review the medical coverage that you have. You may need to purchase additional coverage if you will be camping in another state. That can be even more important when you plan to travel across international borders. It is essential to be prepared in case of emergency.
Keep in mind that everything and everyone that goes camping is going to get quite dirty. If you are prepared for that before you go, it will cause less stress when it happens. Enjoy the outdoors and get down and dirty. You can always take a bath back at the house.
Even when you’re trying to get away from the luxuries of life, it can help to bring something nice on your camping trip. Take something that is lightweight, like a chocolate bar or coffee creamer. Such little luxuries will really pick up your spirits!
A first aid session, especially if you have children, is essential. In an emergency, your first aid training could be the difference between life and death. Additional research can also provide valuable information. Be aware of poisonous flora and fauna, as well as of what sounds animals make.
Kids really enjoy camping if they are kept busy with fun activities. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. They may not know what it’s like to fish or do things in nature. Get them used to it prior to leaving on the trip.
Make sure you know what’s covered in your medical insurance. Sometimes going into a different state means that you will need to have an additional policy. It is even more critical if you are camping outside of your country. Better to be prepared and safe than sorry later.
Duct tape is a handy tool that will prove useful on any camping trip. Just like at home, its uses are nearly endless. You can slap a piece of it on a leaking air mattress. Use it to enclose a rip in a tent, sleeping bag or weather-proofing tarp you have laid down. If you’re planning on taking a long hike, place it on your feet to prevent blisters. If anyone hurts themselves, it can be used for securing splints or for covering wounds, provided something soft is placed between the tape and skin.
When going camping with kids, explain to them some common camping problems you might run into. Make sure they understand what poison ivy looks like, to stay away from wild animals and to carry a light if they are walking around at night.
Have you just bought your first tent as a rookie camper? It’s vital to learn all that you can before you leave about your tent. Doing so will ensure you know what tools you may need. You can do this best before it gets dark outside.
Make sure you have activities to do while camping. Playing cards, board games and fishing poles can make for lots of fun. If the kids are camping with you, you’ll need to increase the amount of entertainment items that you pack.
Decide what clothing you will need before you make your trip. Take extra pairs of clothes to last you throughout your whole trip. Also, remember to bring clothing that is weather appropriate for the climate of your campsite. You want to bring durable shoes that are closed toed like hiking boots since they work in many situations.
Prepare for your camping trip thoroughly. There is always the potential that something unexpected may happen even with the most careful planning. There can be changes in the weather or circumstances, and illness and injury can also occur. Try not to take unnecessary risks that can yield injury or illness.
Be conscious of where you set up camp. You don’t want to camp very close to bee hives or ant hills. Keep an eye out for animals and insects around your camp, and make sure there aren’t any large populations of them close to you. A strong bug spray is also something you want on hand, especially if the vegetation is very thick.
When you reach your campsite, pitch your tent on the softest, most level ground you can locate. An area that is sloped or rugged won’t make for the best place to put your tent. A tarp should be laid on the ground before the tent is set up to keep moisture out.
Trail mix and beef jerky are a couple great things to bring along on a camping trip. At the end of the day, you might feel too tired to cook so having these nutrient-filled snacks on hand can be very useful. 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.
Ensure you bring some flashlights and extra batteries whenever you go camping. You will surely find it necessary to illuminate things once night falls. A flashlight can prevent a fall and scare away unwanted wildlife. If you have little ones with you, make sure to pack a flashlight for them, too.
It is imperative that a first-aid kit and other survival items never be forgotten for a camping trip. Together, these items can be the difference between going home early and rapidly addressing problems that arise. Carrying these items can help a situation stay safe, rather than turning very harmful or even fatal.
Sleeping Bags
Camping can be a great experience or it can be a miserable one. It all depends on the time you take to properly prepare for your trip. Your activities will go more smoothly and your trip more enjoyable when you take the time to plan your trip before you go.
When you are camping, be sure you choose the right sleeping bag for the site conditions. When the weather is warm, light sleeping bags work best; heavier sleeping bags are also available for colder weather. You also want to get a sleeping bag that is comfortable to sleep in as well, so test them out.
Duct tape is handy to bring along on your camping trip. Tents are generally well-made nowadays, but rips and tears do happen. A few strips of this durable tape can keep you dry and cozy at night if your tent is damaged during the day.
Orange peels can help manage mosquitoes. If everything was packed but you didn’t remember the bug spray, don’t worry! Experts have said that you can just rub inner side of an orange peel on any exposed skin. The mosquitoes should stay away from you for hours.
Food poisoning is a common danger of camping stemming from improper food storage. If your food is not preserved, canned or vacuum sealed, you run the risk of getting food poisoning from spoiled food. Pack plenty of ice to keep any perishable foods cold and remember to pull the drain plug in the cooler so the food does not get soaked.
Once you are finished camping, be sure your campsite is left clean. You need to bring along bags for trash so you can clean up. Do not leave any left over food behind. When you leave your campsite, the only thing you should leave are your footprints.
Instead of buying an expensive tarp, you can use a shower curtain you planned to discard. It could also be used as a base for a cooking or washing area, where you can easily control all the run-off. Don’t throw away a shower curtain; use it for your next camping trip.
Food poisoning is a common ailment while camping. Make sure to maintain the best preservation possible to keep your food fresh for the longest period of time. Make sure there is plenty of ice in the cooler for perishables, and do not fail to drain the cooler regularly to prevent soaking the food.
Plenty of sunscreen should be packed. You must stay protected from the sun’s rays. Make sure the sunscreen you choose has a high enough level of protection. It is wise to bring along a sunscreen that can also protect you from bug bites so that you are placing only one product on your skin. It’s not desirable to have a lot of chemicals on your skin as you camp.
You can enjoy camping more than anyone when you follow the right advice. Enjoy whatever time you spend camping by utilizing what you’ve learned here the next time you decide to go camping. Nature has a lot to offer, so don’t miss out on any of it!
Bring a filter or tablets so you can purify water. Even when you think you have packed enough water or you have plans to boil that you collect onsite, you might not have the time or you may have underestimated your needs, Try the tablets at home so you know how they will taste. The worst thing that could happen is that you become dehydrated, so be sure to plan to prevent this from happening.