Prepare yourself to become a camping expert. There’s nothing like a nice weekend camping trip to bring your family closer together. Use the tips that follow to extract the most value from your camping experience.
When camping, get your shelter squared away before nightfall. Finding the right spot for your tent, gathering firewood and making dinner are all a lot tougher after darkness settles in. This is particularly the case for city slickers who are unaccustomed to darkness. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Bring along a sleeping bag appropriate for the season. You don’t want to sweat all night because you brought a sleeping bag that is suitable for winter in the middle of the summer. On the other hand, bringing a lightweight sleeping bap for a winter trip can make you really uncomfortable the entire trip. You could even develop hypothermia or frostbite if it’s very cold.
While you may count on Mother Nature to have plenty of wood to stoke your campfire, you may encounter only wet wood that won’t burn. Therefore, take some wood with you on your camping trip and store it in a location where it can remain dry.
Don’t be afraid to over-pack for your children. Camping can be a bit messy. The dirt is like a magnet that draws your children into the mess. So, you are likely to be dealing with grimy kids all day long. To prepare, bring additional clothing for your children. Don’t be caught without something you need!
Be well-versed in emergency first aid if you plan on camping out, especially if there will be kids with you. In the unfortunate case of an accident, you will be prepared to handle the situation. Also be sure to do all the research you can about the area. Know if there are any poisonous snakes in the area, what type of wild animals call those woods their home, etc.
When buying a tent, be sure that it’s large enough to accommodate you and any guests you have. This helps you to have a more comfy night’s sleep, and trips in and out of the tent will be less disturbing for those who are sleeping.
If you are camping for the first time, stay close to home. There may be unforeseen issues that you never considered they may force you to cut the trip short. Also, you can easily get home if you don’t have enough food or clothing. Many issues can occur for new campers, so you should camp near home your first time.
Take a class on how to do first aid. This is especially important if you are taking kids with you. You will be prepared for any accidents that may occur and can survive until you reach professional medical care. Be sure to do thorough research too. Know about any poisonous snakes and spiders in the area, and learn what animals live there.
Food is one of the most important items to bring while camping. Food that is resistant to spoiling, or that can be kept cold in your cooler, are the best options to choose. Getting food poisoning can bring an abrupt end to a camping trip. Learn the right type of food preparations meant for camping before you go.
Preparation could mean the difference between a good camping experience and a dreaded one. Only go camping once you are fully prepared. If you’re visiting a new location, be sure to research its wildlife, climate, and geography.
Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on your camping trip into the wilderness. A roll of duct tape has a great number of uses on a campsite. You can use this to repair any holes in an air mattress. It is also useful for taping up tears in tents, tarps or sleeping bags. You can even use it to help prevent blisters on your feet. This can also be used for injuries when you do not have a regular doctor around.
Check the terms of your health insurance before leaving. Some policies will not cover you outside your own state. Popping over the border into Canada could also cause an issue. Be sure that your insurance will cover you, no matter where you are.
Though camping may be about roughing it in the wilderness, being prepared is a necessity. A sleeping bag is a must, and extra blankets should also be considered. This helps to make sure that you are comfortable at night when it is chilly.
The whole point behind camping is to be one with nature, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be prepared for it. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. This will allow you to stay warm, no matter how cold it gets, and it also serves as extra padding.
Always keep an eye on your children, no matter where they are. Cars abound at campgrounds, and it is easy for a little one to walk into the woods and have trouble getting out. Disaster can strike quickly if you aren’t watching closely.
Your list of camping supplies should include several flashlights with extra batteries and lanterns. There are times when you’ll need light to help you see after sundown. Without a flashlight, you could easily fall or be surprised by an animal. When you camp with kids, having a flashlight for every child is a good idea.
An orange peel can help to avoid insect bites. If you forgot to bring your favorite brand of mosquito repellant, this remedy might save you from some discomfort. Experts have disclosed that simply rubbing the inner peel of a ripened orange on exposed skin can act as a repellant. This can keep mosquitoes at bay for a number of hours.
Sleeping Bag
It is recommended you bring lots of beef jerky and/or trail mix when you go camping. These little nutritious snacks can come in handy after a long day. Also, these foods keep well so if you don’t eat them, you can enjoy them later.

Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the environment in which you are going to camp. Use a lightweight sleeping bag for hot weather and a heavy sleeping bag for cold weather. If you are spending the night in a tent in cold weather, a bag that hugs your body and traps your body heat is essential.
You must have a first aid box as well as a distinct survival kit. These two things will make the difference between ending your trip early and taking care of many situations quickly and easily. This can help keep issues from escalating, and let you secure help for an injured camper.
Believe it or not, an orange’s peel may keep mosquitoes from biting you during your next camping excursion. If you neglected to pack mosquito spray, fear not. Instead, just rub the white part of an orange rind over your skin. The mosquitoes should stay away from you for hours.
Waterproof matches are an essential part of any camping survival kit. Store them inside an airtight container. Even normal matches can be waterproofed with nail polish or paraffin wax. You can stash them in a 35mm film canister or a plastic medicine bottle.
Before setting out on your camping adventure, plan for what you will wear. Take extra pairs of clothes to last you throughout your whole trip. Be sure to also carry clothing that is weather and climate appropriate on your trip. Shoes that are durable enough to handle rough terrain should be worn at all times.
Clean out your campsite before you leave to go back home. You should have trash bags on hand for this purpose. Pack up any food that may remain and remove it from the campsite. When you leave a campsite, the only thing left should be your footprints.
If you are taking your kids camping with you, make sure you bring a photo of them along. In the unfortunate event of an accident, this will help you have some form of identification for seeking assistance. Keep pictures of your children on you when ever you are far from home.
Whenever you’re choosing a sleeping bag, pick one out that’s for the climate you’re in. Choose a lighter bag for summer months, as an example. However, you’ll need a heavyweight sleeping bag to keep you warm at night.
It is recommended you bring lots of beef jerky and/or trail mix when you go camping. At the end of the day, you might feel too tired to cook so having these nutrient-filled snacks on hand can be very useful. Such foods will also remain edible for quite some time, so will not go to waste if you don’t eat them up on your trip.
It is important that you practice food safety while you are out camping. Use bags that are airtight and your containers should be waterproofed. Keep cold foods in ice in insulated containers. Store raw food apart from cooked food to avoid contamination. Make sure your hands stay clean by washing them with soap and/or using hand sanitizer. Make sure that you cook foods throughout so that you do not risk any sickness.
You should be sure you have survival and first aid kits. These can be useful for any situation and can extend your trip. A first aid kit helps to prevent situations from becoming serious, and it allows you to help family or friends until medical help arrives.
Keep dry, fresh, and well-ventilated inside the confines of your tent. When your sleeping quarters are entirely sealed, from head to toe, condensation gathers and can aggravate the breathing. You’ll wake up wet. Tents usually have some openings in them to ensure that moisture doesn’t build up too much.
One simple tip that many people overlook is creating your shelter before dark. When it’s dark outside it can be very hard to put your tent up. You should pack a flashlight or make a fire while it is still light. It is much simpler to set up your campsite before sunset.
If you have never been camping in the forest before and are thinking about doing so, this is a fast way to find out whether or not camping is for you. Pitch your tent right up in the sanctuary of your very own backyard, and sleep there for the entire night. Do not let yourself go indoors for anything! If you like this, you’ll like camping!
Seal all of your tent’s seams when erecting your tent. If sealant was not included in your tent, visit your local sporting goods store to purchase some. This will allow you to keep wild animals and bad weather from getting into your tent.
On camping trips of longer duration, bring some entertaining activities along. Of course, if you bring too many electronics, you may defeat the purpose of the trip, but there is nothing better than sitting beside a lake reading, or listening to music beside a camp fire at night.
With the information here, you should feel better about your next camping trip. Camping can be memorable, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can end up frustrated. Implement what you’ve just learned, and get to camping!
Pack enough food, water and drinks for your trip. It’s also important to find out if their are bear-proof garbage cans in the area, or that you learn how to hang your food in trees if there are bears near your camping location. You don’t want this to happen because you want to enjoy yourself camping.