Camping has become a popular pastime, thanks in part to all the reality shows depicting outdoor activities. Continue reading if you want to have a camping trip that is enjoyable and memorable.
When camping, get your shelter squared away before nightfall. Once things go dark, you will find it very hard to erect a tent, locate wood and cook a meal. This is even more true for city folks whose eyes are not used to the pitch black. Avoid this by setting up your shelter ahead of time.
Bring a survival kit on the trip and keep it on your person all the time. You need to pack a flare gun, utility knife, matches and a first aid kit. These are essential items for your survival if you ever get lost. Remember to carry it with you and do not leave it in your camp.
After buying a tent, make sure to pitch it in your yard before you leave for a trip. This helps you learn to put up your tent and make sure there aren’t missing pieces. This also makes setting up your tent at the campsite a much smoother process.
Over-packing is better than under-packing when it comes to children. Camping can be messy. The dirt is like a magnet that draws your children into the mess. As a result, they are going to be seriously messy by the end of each day. The solution is not to stop them from getting dirty, but to have clean clothes ready for them after they are done. Don’t be caught without something you need!
Don’t be afraid of bringing too much if you have kids. Camping can be messy. Kids are seriously attracted to the dirt. Expect them to be all shades of dirty as the day moves on. While this cannot usually be prevented, be sure to pack some extra clothing. There is nothing like being prepared!
Be sure that your tent will comfortably fit everyone that you will be sharing it with to have a good trip. A bigger tent means easier movement, which can be useful when you have to urinate at night.
Learn proper first aid. If an accident happens, you will have the knowledge that you need to make the situation better until you can get medical help. Be sure to do some research as well. Find out if the area has poisonous snakes, what type of wildlife lives in the woods, etc.
Check out what the weather is going to be like before you leave for your destination. There are dozens of websites that can tell you about local climates. Armed with the forecast, you can prepare yourself with appropriate clothing and camping gear.
A cute way to add fun to meals is to make what is known as a “jungle meal”. You can tie small food and drink boxes into the trees. Let younger children wake up and hunt for their breakfast. This is a fun way to bring excitement to the morning.
A bandanna or a handkerchief can be beneficial to bring on your trip. In emergencies, such cloth can turn into a towel, a potholder or a piece of luggage. There are many uses for these, so you want to be sure you have one or both of them on your next camping trip.
Incorporate swimming into your camping trip. Many people miss a nice warm shower while camping. The coolness of water while swimming is refreshing on hot days, and it helps you to clean yourself. You might not miss the shower after all!
Emergency Kit
Dryer lint makes wonderful kindling to start your campfires with. Start collecting the lint from your dryer’s filter about a month before you go on your trip. Have a bag next to the dryer so you don’t forget to collect it. Your kindling will be easily accessible when you are leaving for your destination.
If you are interested in camping alone or with friends, make sure you have prepared an emergency kit. Pack an emergency kit that contains basic first aid supplies as well as anything needed for the specific location in which you are camping. Some extra things,like antivenom should be included for specific types of wildlife as well.
Pack your camping supplies in advance of your trip. 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.
Bring oranges not only to eat but also to deter mosquitoes. After you’ve eaten the flesh of the fruit, save all the peels. When you need bug repellant, rub the peels on your skin to repel mosquitos naturally and on the cheap!
Be sure and give children a thorough explanation of what camping is all about and entails, before hauling them off on a potentially dangerous adventure. Show them pictures of plants that are poisonous so they know not to touch them.
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Regular house pillows will become sticky and uncomfortable when exposed to humidity. They can mildew quickly after absorbing moisture. Pillows designed for camping have a coating on them that does not all the moisture to be absorbed.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. You need a sleeping bag, but you need to take extra blankets too. This makes sure that any warmth that is not handled by the sleeping bag can be augmented by using extra blankets.
Be certain you have everything you will need before embarking on your adventure. Forgetting your sleeping bag or food is not what you want to happen. Check and double check your packing list and make certain that every item has been included.
Find the most level, rock-free ground possible to set up your tent on. If you pick a spot that is rocky or has a slope to it, you will be uncomfortable when you are inside your tent. Make sure you put down a tarp before you set up your tent. This will keep water from entering your tent at night.
If you are new to camping, you should camp near your home. You don’t want to be far away if you decide you’ve had enough of camping, or if you have problems with your equipment. Other problems can be food shortage or inadequate clothing. Many problems may arise for a new camper, so camping close to where you live can help you.
Make sure that you choose the right sleeping bag for the conditions on the campsite. If its winter, use a heavy-weight bag and use a light-weight one in the summer. You also want to get a sleeping bag that is comfortable to sleep in as well, so test them out.
Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on your camping trip into the wilderness. The tape that does it all at home, also does it all while camping. It can repair an air mattress should it get a hole. It works well for repairing tears in tent material, sleeping bags or tarps. Prior to heading off on a long nature hike, place some tape on your heels to avoid blistering. It can also work as a bandage.
If you are taking your kids camping with you, make sure you bring a photo of them along. 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.
The idea of camping is to live with just the essentials, but you should make sure to be well prepared. Though a sleeping bag is great, extra blankets can also be useful. They can be used as padding or for warmth.
Your survival kit should include waterproof matches. They should always be kept in a container where air cannot enter. A regular match can be made waterproof by dipping it in nail polish or paraffin. Your canister for storing them could be a plastic medicine bottle or an old film-roll container.
When you find your camping spot, put the tent up on top of the patch of ground that is flattest and softest. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping on a slope or a spot with a rocky surface. Make sure to put a tarp down so that water cannot penetrate your tent.
What will you do about cooking food while camping? Decide this before you leave so you have everything you need. People enjoy cooking their food over an open fire, but it can be extremely hard if you do not have the right cooking supplies.
You can tell that there are many things to consider when you go camping. Fortunately, you now have some great advice to work with in your preparations. You are sure to enjoy your next camping trip now that you are better equipped.
Remember food safety when you go camping. If you bring food, pack them in waterproof containers and airtight re-sealable plastic bags. Also carry ice packs so you can insulate and cool your food. Keep food contamination low by separating raw and cooked foods. Always wash your hands, cutting boards and preparation surfaces to optimize safety and keep yourself from getting food poisoning. Cook all food to safe temperatures, and chill foods as soon as they cool down.
