Camping is among the most fun activities that you can do with friends and family. Each and every person should give it a try at least once. The truth remains, though, that to camp properly, some specific knowledge is needed. Read on into the following paragraphs for a number of helpful hints about camping.
Always locate your shelter before dark when you are camping. Once the sky becomes dark, finding a good spot for your tent, necessary firewood and food preparation become near impossible. Someone who isn’t very familiar with the outdoors can come to harm by placing their tent in an unsafe area due to being unable to see. Avoid being in that position; find good shelter before the sun goes down.
Always find your shelter before it gets dark when you go camping. When night falls, making food, finding wood, and pitching your tent can be very difficult. 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.
Make sure that your sleeping bag is right for the season and climate where you are camping. If you bring sub-zero sleeping bags with you in the dead of summer, you will probably sweat all night. Also, during the winter, you should bring a sleeping bag that has down or heavy material. You may even get hypothermia.
Let all of your family members have a chance to contribute to picking a campsite. Discuss what state you want to visit. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. Throw out your ideas to see if they stick with members of your family.
Make sure you have a survival kit with you during your entire camping trip. This kit should include water-purifying tablets, a first-aid kit, flare gun, survival knife and waterproof matches. Your kit may be all that stands between you and certain death if you become lost, as the items within it are essential to survival. Keep it with you at all times when you leave your campsite for any reason.
Try to camp near water, where you can also enjoy swimming. Any time you go camping, you are likely to miss taking a shower. The water helps you feel refreshed and a bit cleaner so that you don’t miss showering quite as much.
Make sure to pack plenty of extra clothing for your children. Camping can be messy. Your kids may love playing around in the grass and dirt. This means that by day’s end your children and their clothes can be quite soiled. Though this is inevitable, having extra clothes on hand is always smart. It’s best to be prepared.
Make sure you have a good chat with your children about basic camping dangers before you head away. Go on the Internet together and read about safety, look at poison ivy pictures and poisonous animals.
Your camp should always be set up before the sun sets. If you are traveling in an RV, park it in a well secured area. If you are camping in a tent, look for a dry and flat area of ground. Doing this when you still have daylight lets you get familiar with the area. It is also easier for you to see what is happening, so you won’t feel so frustrated.
Duct Tape
If you are new to camping, you should camp near your home. If you have any equipment issues, it is better and easier to cut your trip short when you do not have so far to travel. Also, you can easily get home if you don’t have enough food or clothing. There are many unexpected problems you may encounter the first time you go camping, so stay close to home.
You should always have some duct tape along on any camping adventure. Duct tape has numerous uses at a campsite. It can repair an air mattress should it get a hole. Use it to cover any holes or rips that appear in tents or hold together items that break. Before embarking on an arduous hike, put it on each foot to stave off blisters. It can even be used to bandage injuries.
Make sure to prepare in advance before you engage in a camping trip. You need a sleeping bag, but you need to take extra blankets too. That helps you if the night gets really cold, and you are able to use them as padding, as well.
Is this your first tent? Long before you set off in the woods for the real thing, get some practice in on setting up the tent. This will enable you to learn how to pitch the tent properly and make sure all of the equipment is fully functional. You can do this best before it gets dark outside.
Bring all of the essentials that you will need while camping. Unfortunately, forgetting one or two key items can ruin your trip. Keeping a checklist is very helpful for this. Some useful items are items to create a fire, your tent, tarp, a sleeping bag, water (and lots of it), soap, food that is already prepared, and a utility knife.
Prepare for your camping trip thoroughly. While it’s crucial to plan ahead for things, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. The weather could change suddenly, you could encounter hostile people or animals, and someone could become sick or injured. It’s vital to everyone’s well being that no severe risks are taken and that all safety precautions are heeded.
Before leaving for your trip, write a list of what you need to bring along. This is critical if you are going to be covering some ground before getting to the spot where you pitch your tent. To ensure that everything gets packed, mark each item off the list as you pack it.
As you set up your campsite, choose an area that is as smooth and as level as possible for the location of your tent. Choosing a rocky or sloped spot will result in you feeling discomfort when you have to spend time in the tent. Prevent water from getting in by placing a tarp or plastic sheet under the floor of your tent.
Have the clothing you will pack planned out before your trip. Make sure you have plenty of clean clothes for the duration of your trip. You should also make sure that you pack suitable clothes for the weather forecast and activities planned. Closed toe shoes and hiking boots are generally needed for camping.
A pre-made list will help you remember exactly what you need for your camping excursion. This will be key, particularly if you are camping far away from home. Get prepared well ahead of schedule; at least one day, maybe two, is required to gather all the “forgotten” items you would regret not having in the wild.
Carry an additional utility knife in case your original one breaks. Utility knives are a fantastic to bring along when camping because they have so many uses. Be sure you have one with you and another for backup in your gear in case one gets lost.
Make sure you know how to read both a map and a compass. Although the camp site may be a familiar one, there may have been changes since your last visit and you could still get lost. Learning how to actually use certain items will help you avoid getting lost.
Many people don’t realize that it is necessary to make a shelter before it gets dark. It is really hard to set up a tent in the dark. A flashlight or fire will help you out. It’s much easier to arrive early enough to get set up before sundown.
Are you wondering how you will cook while you are camping? It is essential to plan for cooking before you leave, so that you can have the tools on hand to do so successfully. Also, take the necessary supplies on your trip to facilitate cooking.
Bring waterproof matches as part of your survival kit. Use an airtight container to store them. You can take ordinary matches and make them waterproof when you dip them into nail polish or paraffin. You can use an old 35mm film canister to store them. A medicine bottle also works as a viable storage container.
There are safety procedures that should be followed when camping. This means you should give wide berth to large woodland critters, and even some small ones. You may be surprised at just how dangerous little critters can be. And, unless you’re in Jellystone Park, don’t feed any bears!
Due the fact that food was not packed properly, there are many individuals that get food poisoning while they are camping. If your food isn’t canned, vacuum-sealed or preserved, you can get food poisoning because your food spoils. Pack plenty of ice to keep any perishable foods cold and remember to pull the drain plug in the cooler so the food does not get soaked.
Keep food safe when you’re out in the wild camping. Keep food in containers that can’t get water in them, and bags that are airtight. Insulated coolers are where the food should be stored. Cooked food should be kept separate from raw in order to prevent cross-contamination. Before you handle your food, clean your hands properly with soap or other sanitizers, and clean the food prep surfaces. Ensure that you heat food thoroughly and keep perishable items chilled at all times.
As crazy as it seems, packing a roll or two of toilet paper is a great idea when you are going camping. If there are no toilets at your destination, you will need to use nature as a bathroom. You do not want to use leaves to wipe yourself, as they may contain poison ivy, so take your toilet paper with you.
Like it was said earlier, it can be a great deal of fun to go camping, but knowledge is required for it to be successful. Always use this article’s tips when you want to start planning your future camping trips. By utilizing the information above, your trip is certain to be a greater success than you thought possible.
Be safe with food when you go camping. Use the correct containers to pack and store food in. Insulated coolers are best for keeping food. Keep cooked food separate from raw food to prevent contamination. Wash your hands while preparing food and afterward, and keep any surfaces, utensils and cooking containers clean as well. Cook all your foods completely and quickly refrigerate foods.
