Heading off the beaten path for a camping expedition can be fun and exciting, but it requires some basic knowledge and preparation to keep you safe and comfortable. This article is filled to the brim with advice that can make any upcoming camping trip successful.
Understand your medical coverage. You may need another policy if you’re going to a different state. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. Make sure that you that you are prepared, just in case!
It’s imperative that you pitch your tent before the sun goes down. After night falls, it becomes harder to prepare your camp ground and set up the tent. That can be especially true for someone who live in the suburbs and is not used to total darkness. Try to avoid setting up after the sun sets.
For an exciting twist on the morning meal while camping with your kids, get up early and prepare a “jungle breakfast”. Take mini-boxes of cereal, juice boxes and fruit out into the woods, and tie them to the trees. When the kids awake, you can tell them to “hunt” for breakfast. This is a great alternative way to keep your kids happy while camping.
Sleeping Bag
A hankerchief is a great item to bring on your trip. These things can help you out of a bind and assist you in doing a variety of things. You can use them to pick up hot pans, or to clean up a tiny spill; therefore, you should always have one with you.
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. 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 might develop hypothermia.
Take oranges with you as a way to snack in a healthy, convenient way–and as a mosquito repellent that is organic. Enjoy the oranges and then rub the inside of the peel on any exposed skin to keep insects at bay.
If you’re bringing kids on your camping trip, over-pack for them. Camping can be a sloppy time. Children, in particular, love to get their hands in the dirt. As the day goes on, you may end up with messy, dirty kids. You don’t want to interrupt their fun, it’s a joy of camping after all; but, keep some extra clothing with you for them. It is important to be prepared.
Use specialty camping pillows when camping. Standard pillows can get hot and sticky in humid weather. Standard pillows will take in moisture and could mold or mildew. Camping pillows are covered with a special coating that keeps moisture at bay.
If possible, incorporate swimming into your camping trip. You are probably going to miss the shower you have at home while camping. When swimming, you will feel refreshed and cleaner. If you use some biodegradable soap, you can get just as clean as you would at home.
Be certain you have everything you will need before embarking on your adventure. Forgetting something crucial like your sleeping bag or a fire starter is not something you want to happen. In order to ensure that this does not happen, make a checklist before you head out and cross off the items as you pack them.
Even in a remote site where you plan on roughing it, you can enhance your camping trip with a small piece of luxury. It could be something as simple as coffee or nice hand cream. Having these luxuries available can help lift your mood.
When you go camping for the first few times, be sure that your camp is close to where you live. If you want to end your trip, you will be close to home. It could be that you didn’t pack enough food or your clothing is not warm enough. A lot of issues can happen for the new camper, so do not go too far for your first camp trip.
It’s important to have all your equipment with you when camping. The last thing you need is to forget something essential like your tent or sleeping bag. Make a comprehensive checklist of all of the items you will need on your camping trip and double check items in your bags and car against the list to ensure that you do not forget anything.
Keep a close eye on your dog while you are camping and always keep him on a leash. Many people fear dogs. Respecting others at the campsite is vital. Dogs can also damage campsites, or get into the belongings of your neighboring camps, without proper supervision.
Should you decide to bring your dog, pack a long leash and prepare everyone to keep careful watch on the pet. Other campers may not like dogs, or could even be afraid of them. This will maximize the respect that you have for others while camping. Also, dogs can cause damage if you let them run free, so be sure to keep control of them at all times.
Duct tape is a handy tool that will prove useful on any camping trip. Duct tape is very useful camping, the same as it is at home. It can be used as a quick patch in the case of a punctured air mattress. It can also be used on your tarp or tent. You can even use it to help prevent blisters on your feet. 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 you go camping, you live on basics, but you need to be prepared too. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. This makes sure that any warmth that is not handled by the sleeping bag can be augmented by using extra blankets.
Make sure you have what you might need in case of any event. It is important to plan, but sometimes unexpected things happen. The weather is something that can change suddenly, and that can make the environment become more dangerous. Don’t take risks, think ahead before doing anything and be careful.
Plan ahead and make sure your flashlight batteries have full power before you leave for a camping trip. It’s easy for the flashlight to accidentally get turned on. To make sure your batteries don’t get drained, put the batteries in backwards. It will keep the power from draining from the batteries and have them easily installed when you need it.
Don’t forget to bring back-ups of things like batteries and flashlights. You will surely find it necessary to illuminate things once night falls. If you have the proper lighting, you can prevent experiencing bad falls or wildlife encounters. If you have kids with you on your camping trip, hand each of them a flashlight.
Trail mix and beef jerky are a couple great things to bring along on a camping trip. When you reach the end of a long day, it may not sound appealing to cook, so it helps to have these things to eat when you’re too tired. These foods also keep well, eliminating the worry of spoilage.
Don’t take your eyes of children while camping. Kids can get lost easily, even in the campsite and they have to be aware of others driving on the camp roads. Disaster can strike in seconds; this makes it imperative that you always have an eye out for your kids.
Think carefully when you pack. Make a checklist of supplies that you will need on your camping trip, and check items off as you pack them. This will save you the inconvenience of forgetting something and having to stop for it and it is very important, especially if your are going to a remote location.
Plan your camping attire in advance of your trip. Make sure you have plenty of clean clothes for the duration of your trip. Pack clothes that will allow you to dress properly for whatever weather is expected in the area where you will be camping. Make sure to pack a good pair of shoes to hike in as well.
A simple and obvious piece of advice is that you should create your shelter when it is still light. Pitching tents in the dark can be almost impossible. If it’s already dark, you’ll need to create fire while using a flashlight. It’s much easier to arrive early enough to get set up before sundown.
It is advisable to bring beef jerky or trail mix with you on a camping trip. After a long day of outdoor activities, you will often feel too drained of energy to prepare a hot meal, so the availability of nutrient-filled snacks, such as trail mix an beef jerky, can be a real lifesaver. These foods also keep well, eliminating the worry of spoilage.
The more organized you are, the better your camping trip will be. Make the smart decision to use the advice from this article, as you are sure to enjoy a more relaxing and fun filled trip.
Many people forget to set up shelter before night falls. The tent pitching process can be extremely hard if there is no light. You will need to make a fire or have flashlight to do this. It is simply much easier to do this while the sun is still out so that you are all set whenever it gets dark.
