Reality television offers many outdoors and nature-related shows that are making camping a more desirable activity to many. If you think it’s time to take an adventure of your own, learn a few tricks to make your experience into a great one.
Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. Talk about the state you would like to go to. The United States offers so many choices that choosing one can be hard! If it is easier, select a few of your personal favorites and then let the entire family vote.
Buy a sleeping bag which will suit the weather you will be in. If you use a heavy winter sleeping bag in summer, this can be stifling and uncomfortable. Alternatively, taking a light bag in the winter can lead to great discomfort. You may even develop hypothermia.
When you buy a new tent, always set it up at home once before taking it camping. This will prevent you from having a tent with missing pieces and then you can set it up properly. This will also eliminate some of the frustration associated with setting up a tent.
Let your loved ones help you pick a campsite. Openly talk about the various options available to you. There are many sites in the country to visit that are nearby and are very beneficial. Throw out your ideas to see if they stick with members of your family.
Pack additional clothes when going camping. Camping can be very messy. Kids love to play in the dirt and will bring it back to your tent. Because of this, your children will likely be filthy by the end of the day. By packing a few extra changes of clothes, your children can be presentable at dinner. Staying prepared is the best way to avoid issues on your trip.
Get a big enough tent to fit everyone and gear properly. With enough room, getting up during the night will not disturb others in the tent, and you can all be comfortable while sleeping.
Before leaving for a trip away, attend a comprehensive first aid tutorial. Undertaking such a task is particularly important if you are going to be camping with children. With the training you receive, you will be better prepared to handle an accident or other emergency situation while you wait for medical assistance. Be sure to research beforehand. Know if there are any poisonous snakes in the area, what type of wild animals call those woods their home, etc.
Double-check any medical insurance. Traveling to a different area may necessitate that you purchase another policy. If you are camping outside of your own country, it can be even more critical. Be prepared in case there is an injury or illness.
Camping can be very dangerous or fun depending on whether you’re prepared or not. Be sure you’re always prepared before you go camping. Especially if you are camping in a new location, take the time to research the wildlife, plants, geography, and climate of the area.
Make your kids a “jungle breakfast”. Take mini-boxes of cereal, juice boxes and fruit out into the woods, and tie them to the trees. When they wake up, they’ll have to search the “jungle” for breakfast. This makes an interesting diversion for them during the trip.
Camping is fun for children, but make sure to plan out some extra activities they will like. Do not let the absence of TV and video games lead them to complain that they are bored. They may not know what it’s like to fish or do things in nature. Spend a day teaching them what they need to know before you leave for your trip.
No matter if you are going camping alone, or with a huge group, you need to always bring along an emergency kit. This kit must include the basics for the event of an emergency. Some extra things,like antivenom should be included for specific types of wildlife as well.
Remember to bring along wilderness-friendly activities. Card games, fishing poles, scavenger hunt lists and other supplies can make hanging out in the woods more fun. If you have kids going with you, you may want to go a little overboard with the things you take for entertainment.
Duct tape is a must-have when you go camping as it can be used for a variety of things. You can use to help seal leaks and rips and hold together important things that break. It can hold your shoes together if they fall apart, and you can even use it in case of emergencies for a temporary bandage or sling.
While the concept of camping involves getting away from it all, you still need to be prepared with some basic items. Not only should you carry a sleeping bag, a few blankets are a good idea also. This is useful for nights where the temperature gets too cold or as extra padding when sleeping on hard ground.
If your dog will be joining you on your camping trip, keep him leashed and under constant supervision. Many folks are scared of dogs. Respect for other campers is an important aspect of public camping. Additionally, your dog may cause damage to the property of someone else if left untethered and unsupervised.
It’s critical that you take along the right things with you when you go camping. If you forget a few things, it could ruin your entire trip. You might want to create a checklist of things you need to bring. You should bring along a knife, food, water, shelter and a sleeping bag.
Sleeping Bag
When you reach your campsite, pitch your tent on the softest, most level ground you can locate. A sloped and/or rocky area will make any time spent inside the tent very uncomfortable. Put a tarp down before pitching your tent to prevent water from entering.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. While a sleeping bag is obvious, it is still a good idea to bring extra blankets. This makes sure that any warmth that is not handled by the sleeping bag can be augmented by using extra blankets.
Take along a current picture of any kids you have camping with you. If you lose a child at any point, having a picture to show rescuers or search parties could be very useful. When camping far away from your house, remember to bring one in case of an emergency.
Pitching a tent can be complicated for anyone, but it is especially difficult for beginner campers. Practice putting your tent up before going camping. You should know what you need and how to do it before you actually have to do it. With this practice under your belt, your tent will go up much quicker and have you sheltered before night falls.
Bringing along a cell phone with a full charge isn’t a bad idea while camping. The best thing to do is bring some backup batteries. Your cell phone can help should an emergency arise.
Always watch your kids closely. There is quite a bit of traffic at campsites, and young kids can wander around in the woods, often getting lost. Accidents and mishaps occur in a split second; make certain your children are safely supervised at all times.
Have a first aid pack on hand, as well as a well stocked survival kit. If you do this, you can easily take care of problems that may occur without having to cut your trip short. Also, you can prevent dire situations and help you to get a sick person some help.
Surprisingly, orange peels make a great mosquito repellent on outdoor adventures. This is especially helpful if you forget bug spray, but have oranges on hand, or can borrow them from someone at your camping trip. Experts suggest rubbing the inside peel of a ripe orange over the exposed parts of your body. It’ll keep you mosquito-free for hours.
Pack your things with care. A checklist of all supplies can help you be sure that you have everything you need as you are packing. This is imperative if you’re camping in an area that does not have alternative access to essential safety items.
Though camping can be the best relaxation you can have, things can go south easily. It all depends on the time you take to properly prepare for your trip. The more prepared you are for your trip, the more likely that it will be the relaxing trip of your dreams.
Make sure that duct tape is part of your supply arsenal while camping. Tents can get torn in spite of the increased durability of the newer ones. The right strip of duct tape can mean sleeping dry at night after your tent has suffered damage during a day that was more exciting that you wanted.
After your trip, be certain you leave the campsite cleaner than it was when you found it. Pack trash bags to help the clean up efforts go smoothly. Dispose of any left over food as well as your trash. The best practice for cleaning up a campsite is to leave nothing but your footprints behind.
Figure out how to use a compass and read a map in advance. You can get lost no matter where you are camping, keep that in mind. This can help you to avoid getting lost or falling into a dangerous situation.
Plan things that are fun to do so your trip is filled with excitement. Campfire songs and roasting marshmallows aren’t the only fun things to do while camping. Use your imagination to come up with ideas that each family member will enjoy. When making plans, consider your older and younger children.
Remember to pack foods that don’t spoil to avoid food poisoning. Food that is stored incorrectly can go bad and cause food poisoning. Make sure there is plenty of ice in the cooler for perishables, and do not fail to drain the cooler regularly to prevent soaking the food.
When you are planning a long trip, bring games to increase the amount of fun that you have. Books, board games, a guitar or some music are all great options to bring along.
How do you plan to cook your food when you camp? It is essential to plan for cooking before you leave, so that you can have the tools on hand to do so successfully. You can easily boil foods like hot dogs over a boiling pot of water and an open flame, but you need the right equipment.
Sunscreen is essential for a camping trip. Sun protection is extremely important. Make sure the sunscreen you choose has a high enough level of protection. It is wise to bring along a sunscreen that can also protect you from bug bites so that you are placing only one product on your skin. After all, you do not want to have to put too many different lotions and potions on your skin while you are trying to enjoy your camping trip.
The best way to dress for camping is in layers. Outdoor weather can change without much warning. The morning may have a chill, but the afternoon may be balmy or sweltering hot. Late evenings often bring another cold spell. Dressing in layers will allow you to easily change your clothes as the weather changes.
If you’re camping where there are snakes, make your campsite snake-proof. Stay away from rocks, bushy areas and stacks of wood. Make sure you check your items to make sure a snake didn’t sneak into them. Keep all areas of your tent sealed so that snakes cannot get in there when you’re sleeping at night.
Use a shower curtain as a tarp to put underneath your tent. It can also be used for a washing area or cooking area base since you can control the run-off. Whenever you replace a shower curtain, simply launder the old one, and stow it away with your camping gear for your next outdoor adventure.
You will have now realized that camping does require a little thought. However, after reading this, you should be able to handle the basic stuff. Thanks to this information, you can sit back and relax a bit more while at your camping excursion!
If you will be camping for an extended amount of time, you may want to take the time to pack some entertainment. You don’t want to spend your entire time reading or playing with electronic gadgets, though. You can do that a home anytime!