If you have never tried it, you can’t imagine how much fun camping is. Camping is a time to relax and enjoy the great outdoors. The following article will give you tips and techniques to ensure your camping trip is a success.
You are going camping outdoors, so expect that you will all be getting dirty. Don’t stress out when it inevitably happens. Allow yourself to be improper, messy and just “let go” while outside. You can get clean when you get home.
Select your sleeping bag with the weather, season and location of your trip in mind. If you use a heavy winter sleeping bag in summer, this can be stifling and uncomfortable. The reverse is also true. Using a light, cool sleeping bag in the middle of winter will keep you very cold. You could even develop hypothermia or frostbite if it’s very cold.
Go to a class to learn about first aid. This way, if someone were to have an accident, you’ll possess enough knowledge to deal with it enough until medical help arrives. Also be sure to do all the research you can about the area. You should be aware of things like whether there are snakes around and what kind of animals live there.
You will get dirty. While baby wipes can be used to help for some level of cleanliness, expect that people will get dirty. Be ready for it and accept it. Let loose and allow everyone to get messy while you enjoy the time spent in the woods. You can get back to normal after returning home.
A “jungle breakfast” is something that could be enjoyed when camping with children. Tie fruit, juice boxes, and small boxes of cereal to trees. The kids can go on a treasure hunt for their breakfast when they wake up. This is a wonderful way to add fun to their camping enjoyment.
Before going camping, take a course in first aid, especially if you plan to bring children with you. If something unexpected comes up, you will be ready to handle it. Make sure to do your research. It is also best to know what exists in the area you will be in so that you can prepare for that as well.
Consider camping in an area that also provides you with a place to swim. When camping, you may find you miss your home shower. You’ll feel much cleaner by swimming in cool water. Therefore, you aren’t going to miss your home shower as much.
If you are camping in the summer, go swimming too. When you go camping, you can miss out on things like showers. Cool water will make you feel clean and fresh, so you may not miss your shower at all.
Make sure that your bags include oranges, since these double up as both a handy and healthy snack but also serve as an organic and natural repellant of mosquitoes. When you finish eating them, save all of your peels and rub them around your body to use as a natural insect repellent.
You can easily start a campfire with lint from the dryer. A month before your camping trip, begin collecting the lint from your dryer’s lint filter. Simply use a plastic grocery sack to collect each new crop of lint. Your kindling will be ready for you to grab on the way out the door for your trip.
Purchase camping pillows for a camping trip! Standard bed pillows tend to get sticky in humid weather. They also take moisture from the air and that makes them grow mildew fast. Pillows designed for camping have a coating on them that does not all the moisture to be absorbed.
Pack oranges on your camping trip for nutritious and convenient snacking as well as organic mosquito repellant. Don’t throw away the peels when you are finished with them and rub them on yourself. Apply to any skin that’s exposed to keep insects away with no chemicals. It’s a lot cheaper than spending your money on bug spray!
When you get to the campsite, set your tent up on the flattest, softest ground you can find. Choosing a rocky or sloped spot will result in you feeling discomfort when you have to spend time in the tent. Always lay a tarp down first to prevent water from entering or damaging the tent.
Duct tape is a handy tool to carry when you are camping. This can help to seal and protect your tent and even protect your body.
Know where your kids are at all times. There are many people coming and going all of the time and you do not want them to get kidnapped or lost. Therefore, children should always have close supervision.
Find all of your equipment and start packing well in advance of your trip. For example, your trip can be ruined if you forget your sleeping bag or tent. Use a check list that you can use to double check, to be sure that you have everything before you leave home.
Keep pictures of your children handy if they are camping with you. While it is a worst case scenario, a child can easily be separated from the rest of the party, and a picture will make it easier to locate them. Be sure that you have one on hand if you are far from home so that you are fully prepared.
Before you go camping in a new place, it is essential to have an understanding of what dangers are located there. This means, research what types of animals and insects are deadly or which weather patterns you need to watch for. Every camping spot has its own potential dangers for the untrained.
It is imperative that a first-aid kit and other survival items never be forgotten for a camping trip. These items can help save a life or help keep a harmful situation from going from bad to worse. A first aid kit helps to prevent situations from becoming serious, and it allows you to help family or friends until medical help arrives.
Though camping is meant to emphasize minimalism, some carefully chosen supplies can make all the difference. You need a sleeping bag, but you need to take extra blankets too. This helps to make sure that you are comfortable at night when it is chilly.
Pack your things with care. Have a checklist of everything you need on your next camping trip, and then use that list in full to pack. A checklist is especially crucial if your campsite is located remotely, making it less likely that you will have access to first-aid items or other emergency supplies.
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! Often times, even the best plans go awry. Also, be aware that the weather can be very unpredictable. To stay safe, plan ahead, do not take any risks and do not be careless.
An easy, yet often forgotten tip is to find shelter before it gets dark. When it’s dark, it’s hard to pitch your tent. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It’s much easier to arrive early enough to get set up before sundown.
Write down a list of all the materials you need before you go camping. For trips that take a while to arrive at the destination, this is crucial. Start packing a couple of days in advance of camping, making sure to follow a checklist.
When preparing your survival kit for your camping trip, pack some waterproof matches. They should always be kept in a container where air cannot enter. Matches can be made waterproof by simply placing them in either nail polish or paraffin for a quick dip. A film container or pill bottle can serve for storage.
Orange peels may protect you from mosquitoes. If you remembered to pack everything but the mosquito repellant, don’t despair. Experts say to rub your exposed body parts with a inside layer of a ripe orange peel. It’ll keep you mosquito-free for hours.
Whenever you select a sleeping bag, ensure that your selection is one that is appropriate for the season. For example, in the summertime, a lighter bag will keep you cool. In the winter, thicker bags are necessary to keep you warm.
Before you go camping, make sure to think about the clothes you will need for the trip. Consider how many outfits you will need for the number of days you plan to be on your trip and add in a few extra in case of bad weather. Also, remember to bring clothing that is weather appropriate for the climate of your campsite. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are considered essential footwear for any camping trip.
Follow the right procedures for safety when you go camping. Stay away from wild animals. Even small animals, such as squirrels, can pose a dangerous hazard. Keep your food out of reach of bears at all time, and do not try to interact with them.
Be sure to create your shelter before it gets dark. Tent building in the dark is a major obstacle to confront. It will be necessary to build a fire or at least have a flashlight. This should be done when the sun is present so that you can use natural light.
A well ventilated and dry tent is a lot more comfortable. When you sleep in a tent that is completely sealed, condensation can build up on the roof, floor, walls, and sleeping bags from perspiration and breathing. This can result in you getting wet. Tents usually have built-in vents, windows, or doors that can be cracked to prevent moisture buildup and create a cross-breeze.
Bring waterproof matches as part of your survival kit. Store these in a waterproof and airtight bag or container. You don’t even have to spend a lot of money. Regular matches can be made waterproof when you dip matches in nail polish or paraffin. A great container for storage is a film canister. A plastic medicine bottle also works.
An old shower curtain makes the perfect DIY tent tarp. It also doubles as a ground base for cooking, washing, etc; basically anything you need safe above the dirt. Rather than getting rid of a shower curtain, wash it with your laundry and use it the next time you go camping.
Make sure the sleeping bag you choose is the correct one. For example, if it’s summertime you need a bag that’s lighter so you’re not too hot during the night. Conversely, you’ll need a heavy bag during cold winter nights to keep you from freezing.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are smart items to pack on any camping trip. Although you could use leaves to clean yourself after going to the toilet, there really is no need to do so when baby wipes and toilet paper are for sale at almost all stores.
Ensure that your food is safe while camping. Foods should be packed in airtight and waterproof containers. Keep food in insulated coolers. Cooked food should be kept separate from raw in order to prevent cross-contamination. Always wash your hands, cutting boards and preparation surfaces to optimize safety and keep yourself from getting food poisoning. Make sure cooked foods reach the correct temperature and make sure perishable foods are kept chilled.
Always bring lots of sunscreen. You must stay protected from the sun’s rays. Make sure to purchase a high SPF since you’ll be outdoors for long periods of time. It would be even better to get a sunscreen that also has bug protection. It’s best to avoid encasing yourself with excessive amounts of chemicals when you are out in the wilderness.
You can now start to plan your camping adventure since you have read this excellent advice. You can become a camping pro in no time, by applying all that you have just learned. No matter what your destination, you are going to have the time of your life.
Do your bathroom chores downstream if your camp site is close to a water source. This will keep any contaminants from flowing through your campsite. It’s a good idea to stay a good 100 yards or so from the campsite for things of this nature; just as a common courtesy.
