Prepare yourself to learn as much as you can about camping. Camping allows the entire family to share fun, learning experiences together. Read on for some great advice to get the best experience from your trip.
You will get dirty. Preparing for this in advance can help reduce the stress when it does happen. Enjoy your time and don’t afraid to be messy. When you return home, make sure to stay as organized as possible.
Check weather reports in the area you plan to camp in. There are lots of websites that can give you an idea of what the typical weather is like in the area during the time of your travel. When you have accurate weather information, the right clothing and equipment can be included in your supplies.
Review your health insurance policy. If you go camping out of state, you may need to have coverage where you go. That can be even more important when you plan to travel across international borders. It is important to always be prepared.
The way you prepare will determine whether your camping trip will be fun or if it will be dangerous. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. When heading to a new spot, be sure to research the area thoroughly so you know what to expect with regard to weather and wildlife.
Try to camp near water, where you can also enjoy swimming. Showering is one of the comforts of home you will have to do without while camping. The cool water helps you to feel fresher, and you may just miss your shower a bit less.
Dryer Lint
You need to take things to entertain yourself during your camping trip. Card games, fishing poles, and a list for a scavenger hunt are all great activities. If you have kids going with you, you may want to go a little overboard with the things you take for entertainment.
Old dryer lint makes a great fire-starter. In order to have enough lint to start a fire, begin collecting it a month prior to your trip. To make it easy to collect dryer lint, simply hang a bag next to the dryer and fill with your lint. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.
Have you just bought your first tent and want to begin camping? So, practice setting up your tent and taking it down before you leave home. This practice will give you the opportunity to make sure you have everything you need to get set up quickly and easily. This will also help you be able to accomplish the task quickly and efficiently once you arrive at your campsite, even if it is near dark.
Purchase some special camping pillows. If you take along a regular bedroom pillow, it can get hot and sticky when it’s hot outside. The will also pull moisture from the air and mildew will form quickly. Pillows made especially for camping have a protective outer layer that prohibits moisture absorption.
When planning for a camping trip, make sure you bring beef jerky and trail mix. These little nutritious snacks can come in handy after a long day. They will stay fresh for long periods of time, so they won’t go to waste.
When you go camping for the first few times, be sure that your camp is close to where you live. You might have gear problems, or you might figure that you want to cut your camping trip short. Perhaps you realize that you’ve run out of food or haven’t packed enough clothing. Many problems may arise for a new camper, so camping close to where you live can help you.
Smart campers will leave their car or base camp with a charged mobile phone. The best idea is to bring a couple of extra batteries to maintain your phone. In the event of an emergency, you will need your cell to call out for help, so this item is very important.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. You can easily turn on the flashlight while searching through bags and equipment. To prevent this from draining the batteries, store the batteries in the flashlight backwards until you need to use it. This way, you’ll still have fresh batteries for your trip.
Think carefully when you pack. Create a checklist of what you’re going to be bringing along and check things off while you’re packing them. This is key if you plan to visit a far away spot that is not likely to offer fist aid or other critical supplies.
Camping Trip
Many people forget to set up shelter before night falls. Pitching tents in the dark can be almost impossible. If it’s already dark, you’ll need to create fire while using a flashlight. It is basically easier to get your campsite set up before it gets dark and you are not fumbling around in the dark.
When going on a camping trip, it is vital that you bring several lanterns and/or flashlights, as well as extra batteries with you. There are times when you’ll need light to help you see after sundown. A flashlight can prevent a fall and scare away unwanted wildlife. If your children are along on your camping trip, give them each their own flashlight.
Always bring a roll or two of duct tape along when you camp. While tents are generally well-made, it is not unusual for them to tear. Duct tape will allow you to make some minor repairs and sleep comfortably if this happens to you.
Always keep an eye on your children, no matter where they are. Cars often travel through campsites, and little kids are prone to getting lost. Disaster can strike in seconds; this makes it imperative that you always have an eye out for your kids.
Clean up your campsite before going home. You need to bring along bags for trash so you can clean up. Pack up any food that may remain and remove it from the campsite. When you leave your campsite, the only thing you should leave are your footprints.
It’s a good choice to take off from your automobile or base when your phone has a full battery. It is an even better idea to bring extra batteries as an emergency backup. A cell phone is perhaps the most useful item of emergency equipment that you can carry with you, but you do need to ensure that it does not run out of juice.
Improper food packing leads to food poisoning in many campers each year. Make sure to maintain the best preservation possible to keep your food fresh for the longest period of time. Make sure food and drinks stay at a safe temperature by using enough ice. Most coolers have a plug that you can open, this drains the excess water, so your food won’t get wet.
It is imperative that a first-aid kit and other survival items never be forgotten for a camping trip. These items can literally save your life, or to a lesser extent, prevent you from returning from your trip before you are ready to do so. You can avoid making situations worse, and you can take an injured person for help in a safe way.
Whenever you’re choosing a sleeping bag, pick one out that’s for the climate you’re in. Summer requires only a lightweight sleeping bag. In the winter, however, you need something a bit thicker to stay warm.
Master a map and a compass before heading out for your trip. Even if you know the area well, getting lost is always a possibility. Learn to use these survival tools to prevent potentially bad situations.
Safety comes first when camping. Keep away from animals, both large and small. Small animals can pose a threat if they feel they are in danger. Keep your food out of reach of bears at all time, and do not try to interact with them.
When setting up the tent, know how to seal every seam. You may find a tube at many sporting good stores if the tent didn’t include any. This will allow you to keep wild animals and bad weather from getting into your tent.
If you are interested in camping in the woods but have never done so before, there is a quick way to test if you will enjoy it or not. Plan an overnight camping trip in your own backyard with the help of a borrowed tent and camping gear. During your night in the tent, do not access any of the facilities in your house. If your night goes well, and you don’t find yourself too tempted by the comforts of home, you will probably love camping.
So many people suffer from food poisoning because food is not stored and prepared correctly. Foods should be properly vacuum-packed, canned and sealed. Bring lots of ice to prevent food from spoiling, and remove the drain plug on the cooler so your food stays dry.
For a cheap and disposable tarp to place under your tent, save an old shower curtain! It can also be placed under cooking and washing stations so you can better handle the mess when those areas are used. Instead of getting rid of an old shower curtain, use it for your next camping trip.
Food safety is very important while you are camping. Use the correct containers to pack and store food in. Other foods should be kept in insulated coolers when appropriate. Do not store cooked and raw foods together to avoid contamination. Make sure your hands stay clean by washing them with soap and/or using hand sanitizer. Ensure that you heat food thoroughly and keep perishable items chilled at all times.
Take toilet paper and baby wipes with you. 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.
For a cheap and disposable tarp to place under your tent, save an old shower curtain! It can also be placed under cooking and washing stations so you can better handle the mess when those areas are used. Torn and battered shower curtains are great to use for camping out in the wilderness.
If you are planning a long camping trip, bring along plenty of entertainment. Bringing too many electronics defeats the purpose of camping, but some books for reading by the lake or music to listen to by the fire can be great.
After reading all of these tips and advice, you should be ready to have a great camping experience. Camping can be a great deal of fun if you are aware of what to do. Lucky for you, fun times are ahead after today.
If you’re camping in an area with snakes, take time to snake-proof your site. Set up camp away from brush piles, rock piles, thick bushes and anywhere else snakes like to hide. Make sure you check your items to make sure a snake didn’t sneak into them. Seal off your tent each night and build up dirt around the edges so a snake can’t slither under the tent.
