There are not many things in life that can top spending a few nights under the moon and stars with people that you love. There is a reason why camping has been enjoyed by many generations of people. To ensure that you enjoy your experience, you should do a bit of planning and preparation beforehand. This article will prepare you for a wonderful camping experience with some tried and true advice!
Remember, wet wood won’t burn right, so nature may not always provide the wood you need. Bring along some dry wood and store it where it remain dry.
Your sleeping bag should be seasonally appropriate. By bringing a winter sleeping bag in the summer you may end up sweating instead of sleeping. 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 could even experience hypothermia.
Try out your tent before going camping by testing it out at home. That way, you won’t be missing any pieces, and you’ll be able to set it up correctly the first time. A little practice can eliminate the frustration of setting up a new piece of camping equipment.
Carry a survival kit on your person. Things to include in your survival pack are a knife, matches that are waterproof, first aid kit, flares and tablets to purify water. This kit can keep you alive! Keep it with you at all times when you leave your campsite for any reason.
Make sure your tent is of ample size. This ensures the most comfortable sleeping arrangement and allows you to move about without disturbing others.
Make sure your medical insurance is up-to-date. If you go camping out of state, you may need to have coverage where you go. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. It always pays to be prepared for anything!
Before you leave home to go camping, check to see if inclement weather is predicted in the area you are planning to visit. You may even be able to find a website that gives you a general idea of the normal weather patterns in that area. Armed with the proper facts, you will know that to expect and what to pack.
Kids might enjoy a camping activity called the “jungle breakfast.” Use serving sized boxes of cereal, pieces of fruit and juice boxes and tie them to trees near your campsite. Then when your kids get up, let them search for their food. This makes the trip even more magical for kids.
If you’re camping with kids, try a “jungle breakfast”. Tie juice boxes, tiny boxes of cereal and fruit to trees in the woods. When they wake up, they’ll have to search the “jungle” for breakfast. It’s a fun way to make camping a little more exciting for the children.
Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. Any time you go camping, you are likely to miss taking a shower. The coolness of the water when you swim will help you feel clean and refreshed, so you may not miss your home shower as much.
Try to combine a camping experience with a swimming experience of some kind. You are probably going to miss the shower you have at home while camping. Cool water can give you a feeling of exhilaration that may help you to miss your shower at home much less.
Bring oranges. Not only are they nutritious, but the peels can be used for mosquito repellant. When you get through eating an orange, rub the peel on exposed skin to keep pesky bugs away.
Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. Save all the orange peels. Before mosquitoes attack, rub them on exposed skin.
Camp needs to be set up before night begins. Find a safe place to park if you’re in an RV. If your camping with a tent, make sure to find a dry area that is also flat so you can pitch your tent with ease. Making sure this is all done before dark gives you time to become familiar with the area. This will save you from feeling stressed and frustrated, as you can see exactly what you’re doing.
Your camp should always be set up before the sun sets. If you have an RV, find a secure place to park. Locate a flat area of dry ground if you plan to pitch a tent. If you don’t do this, you could find yourself in a precarious and unsafe area after dark. It also makes it much easier to actually see what you are doing, thus saving a great deal of frustration.
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Don’t bring the pillows you use in your bedroom. These pillows can trap heat during humid weather. The moisture in the air can also cause mildew. Camping pillows are made with a protective, moisture-proof coating to prevent these issues.
If you are a novice camper, choose a destination close to home for your first trip. Things may go wrong and you may have to abort your trip early if things don’t go your way. You might realize you haven’t packed enough clothes or food. A variety of issues could arise if you don’t know what to expect, so being close to home can prevent you from feeling stranded and stuck.
Camping is great fun for kids if you plan things that they can do. Your kids may start to get bored when you are out in the woods. They have probably never fished or set up tents. Teach them how to perform these acts before you set out to camp.
Always bring ample food, and make sure you bring the right types. It is very important to make sure the food you bring will not spoil during your trip. Food poisoning could put an end to your nice vacation. Take the proper steps to prepare your food and do research if necessary.
If camping is something that you are new to, have your first trip close to where you live. This is so you can easily get home if you don’t enjoy your camping experience. Maybe you will find out that there isn’t enough food or clean clothes to continue. There are many unexpected problems you may encounter the first time you go camping, so stay close to home.
Should you decide to bring your dog, pack a long leash and prepare everyone to keep careful watch on the pet. Some people get frightened by dogs. Take others into consideration when you camp if you bring a dog. Additionally, your dog may cause damage to the property of someone else if left untethered and unsupervised.
Did you know that a roll of high-quality duct tape is a great item to take camping with you? Its multipurpose properties aren’t only useful at home, they can be used in the wild too. It can be used to fix a hole in your air mattress. It be used to seal tears in tarps, tents, and even sleeping bags. Putting some on your feet before hiking can prevent blisters. You can also put it over bandages for extra protection.
Take along things to do while you are in the wild. Create a good scavenger hunt list, pack some fishing poles and carry along some board or card games to entertain you while sitting in the middle of the woods. If your kids are along on your camping trip, include as many entertainment items as possible.
Is this the first time you are camping? Before you go out and start on your trip, practice setting up your tent. This way, you will know the things you need to put your tent up. Practicing how to pitch a tent will also ensure you can quickly set up your tent when you arrive at your campsite.
Take extra precautions if you are camping in any area that has very dangerous wildlife. Wrap your food up tightly so that smells don’t escape and store it away from your sleeping tent area. Making sure to do this, will lessen any chance of a wild animal attack.
Bringing everything you need for your trip is important. If you forget a key item, it can destroy the vacation. Write a list in advance of what you are going to need, and then you can check each item off when it is packed. Be sure your list includes the tent and sleeping bags, as well as food items and personal hygiene items.
Think carefully on your next trip to prevent the drainage of your flashlight batteries. You can easily turn on the flashlight while searching through bags and equipment. To prevent this, put flashlight batteries in backwards. This way they won’t activate if the switch is nudged and will stay fresh till you need them.
Pack lanterns, flashlights and extra batteries when you go camping. It is important to see clearly at night, especially if you are venturing away from your site. Without a flashlight, you could easily stumble and fall or be surprised by local wildlife. When you camp with kids, having a flashlight for every child is a good idea.
It is advisable to bring beef jerky or trail mix with you on a camping trip. By nightfall, you may be too exhausted to prepare a campfire and cook, and having the quick, nutritious foods will really come in handy. These foods also keep well, eliminating the worry of spoilage.
As you can see by now, there are many things you should do to plan for your camping trip. Be certain to utilize the advice discussed above in order to have a safe, enjoyable time in the great outdoors.
Matches that are waterproof are a key component of any survival kit. Even though they are water proof, you still want to have them sealed off from liquid. You can make regular matches waterproof by dipping them into either paraffin or nail polish. You can make a carrying case for matches by putting them in a film canister or a small plastic medicine bottle.
