Camping may seem like something only children enjoy, but camping still offers a fun day well spent, even for you. It can still prove to be an enjoyable and passionate experience with Mother Nature. These tips should help you along your way.
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. Finding the right spot for your tent, gathering firewood and making dinner are all a lot tougher after darkness settles in. This is particularly true for anyone accustomed to city living and unfamiliar with pitch dark woods. Don’t let this happen to you. Look for adequate shelter before it gets this dark.
Choose a sleeping bag that is seasonally appropriate. A winter bag for the summer will cause you to sweat all night. On the other hand, bringing a lightweight sleeping bap for a winter trip can make you really uncomfortable the entire trip. You could even experience hypothermia.
Though you may believe that there will be sufficient wood lying around for your fire, you may only be able to find wet lumber that does not easily burn. It’s always a good idea to take along some wood of your own and keep it in a dry place.
Include the family in the selection of the campsite. Discuss which state you would most like to visit. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. To make it easy, pick a few that you really like and then have a family vote.
Remember that everything you bring will get dirty on your trip. If you are prepared for this situation, you will find that when it occurs, you will be less stressed. Enjoy hanging out in the wilderness and don’t worry too much about getting messy. You can return to being clean and civilized when you’re at home.
Check weather reports in the area you plan to camp in. Some websites will tell you what the weather is usually like during the time you’ll be going. If you have the correct information, you can pack properly.
Pack in excess for your kids when you are going camping. Camping can be very messy. Kids are always attracted to dirt. As the day goes on, your kids will get messier and messier. You may not be able to keep them clean, but you can bring a change of clothes. Prepare thoroughly!
A surprising tip you may not know about is that the lint from your dryer also doubles as great kindling for your camp fire. A month before your camping trip, begin collecting the lint from your dryer’s lint filter. Simply hang a plastic bag near the dryer and stash the lint in the bag as it collects. Your kindling will be ready for you to grab on the way out the door for your trip.
Attempt a “jungle breakfast” with the younger members of your camping party. Use serving sized boxes of cereal, pieces of fruit and juice boxes and tie them to trees near your campsite. When the children awake, tell them that they have to “hunt” to get breakfast. This makes the trip even more magical for kids.
Look into pillows made specifically for camping. If you take along a regular bedroom pillow, it can get hot and sticky when it is humid outside. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. Pillows specifically designed for camping have a barrier to stop this behavior.
Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. Any time you go camping, you are likely to miss taking a shower. Swimming is a great way to rinse off and can take the place of your daily shower.
If you are a novice camper, choose a destination close to home for your first trip. You might have gear problems, or you might figure that you want to cut your camping trip short. You may run short of food or need more clothing than you packed. 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.
Bring along a bandana or handkerchief. It can be used as a hand towel, potholder or even a gag in a pinch. As you can see, a handkerchief can serve many different purposes on a camping trip.
Are you a beginning camper and have just purchased your first tent? If you are not sure how to put your tent up, practice before going on your camping trip. This way, you will know the things you need to put your tent up. 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.
When going camping with kids, explain to them some common camping problems you might run into. Use the Internet to teach them about things like poison ivy and the like, and ensure that they will approach nature with respect and caution.
Camping Trip
When you are camping, pack enough of the right kinds of food. Depending on the length of time of your outing, you need to have plenty of non-perishable food. Food poisoning is a great way to make a good trip go bad. Cook and store your food properly during the trip to avoid food poisoning.
Always be prepared when on a camping trip. Try to plan your camping trip as best you can, but know that unexpected events can arise. Weather problems, injuries and other unexpected things may occur. You mustn’t take any reckless risks, be careless, and you need to think before acting.
Take some things to do on 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.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the “on” switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. This way they won’t activate if the switch is nudged and will stay fresh till you need them.
Are you a beginning camper and have just purchased your first tent? Practice setting up and taking down your tent before your trip. This way, you will know the things you need to put your tent up. This lets you get it done before night falls.
Prior to leaving for a camping journey, be sure to draft a list of necessary supplies. This will really be handy if you have a long hike to get to your campground. Pack in advance to avoid the stresses of packing before your trip.
Prevent the hassle of accidentally draining your flashlight’s batteries when camping. You can easily bump the power button on the flashlight while digging for things in a bag. To make sure your batteries don’t get drained, put the batteries in backwards. That way, the flashlight cannot possibly drain the batteries if the ON button is bumped.
Pack extra flashlights and plenty of batteries for your camping trip. It is important to see clearly at night, especially if you are venturing away from your site. 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.
Bring trail mix and beef jerky. Nutrient filled snacks can replace the need to cook if you don’t have the means or the energy. As an added benefit these snacks have a long shelf life, so if you do not eat them while camping you can enjoy them for months to come.
Two essential piece of camping gear are your first aid kit and your survival kit. These two things will make the difference between ending your trip early and taking care of many situations quickly and easily. You may also be able to prevent things that are serious from becoming deadly and earn yourself enough time to get the injured some medical help.
An easy, yet often forgotten tip is to find shelter before it gets dark. It is much more difficult to pitch your tent after dark. You will need to make a fire or have flashlight to do this. The process is far easier during daylight hours, and you will be relieved to be finished before darkness hits.
You next camping trip can turn out to be a weekend full of relaxation or it can be a nightmare. The key difference? Preparation. Being ready to tackle any situation that may arise will allow you to have an enjoyable trip.
Make sure waterproof matches are in your survival kit. These should be stored in an airtight container. Make some average matches waterproof by simply dipping them in nail polish or paraffin. A film container or pill bottle can serve for storage.
You may have fond memories of camping as a child, and have been wanting to immerse yourself in that sort of trip again. But you may need some information to refresh yourself. Let this article help you stir your imagination and spark your mind so that you can have a truly memorable camping experience and learn to love it all over again.
Even if it seems silly, bring toilet paper. If you take care of business in the woods, toilet paper is imperative to have. You certainly don’t want to be wiping yourself with leaves.