Camping is fun! You can learn a lot about yourself when you camp, and it allows you to appreciate nature more. You can even hike and build your very own campfire from scratch. There are so many great things to do and think about when you go camping, but here are some tips to help you get the most out of your experience.
When you’re camping, always look for shelter prior to dark. Once darkness falls, it is very difficult to set up camp. This is particularly the case for city slickers who are unaccustomed to darkness. Don’t get into this situation, look for proper shelter before you get to this point.
Let everyone help choose the perfect campsite for your family. Talk over what your destination state should be. There are millions of options just in the United States, and it can sometimes be difficult to choose the perfect one! Try to select a short-list and then put it to a family vote.
The difference between a fun camping trip and a dangerous one? Preparation. That is why it’s important to prepare in advance and prepare well. Find out about the weather, the wildlife and the terrain of any location that you have not been to before.
Before going camping, take a course in first aid, especially if you plan to bring children with you. Camping can be very remote, so it is best to be able to deal with emergencies on your own, until help can be reached. Additional research can also provide valuable information. Find out what poisonous snakes or dangerous animals live in the area.
If you are camping in the summer, go swimming too. While camping, you might really miss the luxury of showering. You’ll feel much cleaner by swimming in cool water. Therefore, you aren’t going to miss your home shower as much.
Make sure to have an idea of the weather before starting your trip. You can find the average weather during a season for almost any location online. If you have the correct weather information, you will be better prepared with proper equipment and clothing.
Pack a bandanna or handkerchief. These can be used in a pinch if you need a potholder, towel or even something to carry an item in. Take a few with you anytime you go camping.
Preparation and organization are chief factors to facilitate a great camping trip. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. Do some research on the climate and wildlife if you are unfamiliar with the area.
Did you know that dryer lint can make great kindling to get a campfire started? Start collecting it in advance of your trip. Simply use a plastic grocery sack to collect each new crop of lint. Just grab your bag of dryer lint and go on camping day.
You can use dryer lint to kindle your campfire. Collect some lint from your clothes dryer to bring with you. Simply use a plastic grocery sack to collect each new crop of lint. When you are ready to leave on your trip, just pack your bag of lint for kindling.
Always bring along a well-stocked emergency kit when you head out on a camping trip. This emergency kit changes depending on the place you go camping, but you have to be certain it has the basic tools. Don’t forget to pack the extra for your location, too, such as antivenom for snake bites.
It’s important to have all your equipment with you when camping. Forgetting something important, such as a sleeping bag, is a terrible feeling. Have a checklist of the items you need before you leave lest something be left behind.
The incredible orange should be on everyone’s camping supply list to keep away bugs and provide something healthy to eat. Save all the orange peels. Before mosquitoes attack, rub them on exposed skin.
Bring some duct tape on your camping trip. This item has many uses and can help you save a lot of time and money. It can repair an air mattress should it get a hole. You could patch a hole or tear in your sleeping bag, tarp or tent. If someone’s shoe falls apart while out and about, it can hold shoes together quite nicely. Applied to the foot itself can prevent blisters. In a pinch, you can also bandage an injury with it.
Always remember to bring a roll of duct tape with you when you go camping as it can be used for all manner of things. It can fix so many different things, holes, leaks and just about anything else that arises.
The main idea when you’re camping out in the wilderness is to live with what you can, but it’s important to be prepared for anything. While you should bring a sleeping bag, you should bring additional blankets. This will keep you warm if it gets really cool at night and/or you can use them for additional padding.
Purchase pillows that are made specifically for camping. Regular pillows do not hold up well in the outdoor air. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. A good pillow intended for camping, however, will keep the moisture out, which will prevent any of the above problems.
Sleeping Bag
It’s important to have all your equipment with you when camping. It would be horrible to forget something important like the tent or camp mat. Look over the items you plan to bring and create a checklist before leaving to ensure that all of your essential gear comes with you.
Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the environment in which you are going to camp. Sleeping bags made of lightweight material are optimal for warmer climates. By contrast, you should invest in a heavy sleeping bag if you plan to camp in a cold area. You also want to get a sleeping bag that is comfortable to sleep in as well, so test them out.
If you are traveling to a place with an abundance of animals, make sure you are prepared with respect to food. These precautions include tightly wrapping your foods and storing them away from your tent. You also have to just forgo certain foods entirely. This will reduce the likelihood of experiencing an attack.
A great camping tip that everyone should use is to bring along an extra utility knife. These pieces of equipment are quite versitile and can get you out of a lot of bad situations.
It’s imperative that you take along the things you need when you’re going camping. If you forget a few things, it could ruin your entire trip. It is best to create a list a few weeks before your trip and to use it while packing. The most basic requirements are a tent, water, sleeping bag, an all-purpose knife, food, matches and soap.
Camping can be one of the most relaxing weekends of your life, or it can quickly turn into the trip from hell. The difference between a good and a bad trip is all affected by how well you prepare. If you prepare for different scenarios, you’re more likely to have an enjoyable trip.
Make sure not to drain the batteries in your flashlight by accident. You may accidentally turn on a flashlight while you’re looking through what you have packed for your trip. If you put the batteries in your flashlight backwards, you can avoid this. This way, you’ll still have fresh batteries for your trip.
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. Pack up any food that may remain and remove it from the campsite. A golden rule for departing a campsite: leave only your footprints behind.
Bring along a sleeping bag made for the current weather. Lighter weight bags are great for warm weather; however, if the climate is cooler, a heavier bag will be in order. You need a sleeping bag that fits snugly and keeps your body heat in if you’re going to sleep outside in a tent.
People who don’t pack food correctly risk food poisoning. Preserve the food by vacuum sealing or canning it to prevent food poisoning on long camping trips. Bring ample amounts of ice along in coolers to keep perishable items cold, and drain the water from melting ice each day to prevent food from becoming wet.
When preparing your survival kit for your camping trip, pack some waterproof matches. Store them in a container that is both airtight and watertight. You can waterproof regular matches by dunking them in nail polish or paraffin, a type of wax. Make a match holder out of a plastic medicine bottle or a 35mm film container.
Even if it seems silly, bring toilet paper. You may be camping in an area that doesn’t offer toilets, so you will need to find other places to go to the bathroom. You definitely don’t want to depend on leaves for cleaning yourself, because they could have been in contact with poison ivy.
Remember to choose a sleeping bag that is suitable for the season you are camping in. If it’s summer time, look for the lightest weight bag you can find, to keep extra cool. However, if it is winter, a thicker sleeping bag will be needed so you won’t freeze during the night.
A common mistake with newer campers is to set their site up near bathrooms. They think this is a convenience for them, but they find out differently. Many people travel to the bathrooms, and they also have lights. After a while, it becomes less of a convenience and more of a hindrance.
Follow proper safety procedures when camping. This means you’re going to have to stay away from various forms of wildlife that may be in the area you’re camping in. You may be surprised at just how dangerous little critters can be. It should go without saying, but do not feed any bears if you see them.
After reading this article, your mind should be full of great camping trip ideas. Take your time and get familiar with this advice for the next time you go camping. They can help you out immensely, so don’t forget them in order to fully enjoy your camping trip.
If you are interested in camping in the woods but have never done so before, there is a quick way to test if you will enjoy it or not. Pitch your tent in your yard and sleep in it for the night. Do not go in the house for any reason. If that is easy for you, you’ll probably enjoy camping.
