Camping may seem like something only children enjoy, but camping still offers a fun day well spent, even for you. You can have a great time, so long as you are properly educated and devoted to creating the right adventure. These tips should help you along your way.
Let everyone know they have a say in the campsite and should help pick a favorite spot. This will make everyone feel invested. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. Throw out your ideas to see if they stick with members of your family.
Bring sleeping bags appropriate for the season. A winter bag for the summer will cause you to sweat all night. On the other hand, if you pack a lighter summer bag during cold weather camping, you are going to not get any rest. You could even experience hypothermia.
Carry a survival kit on your person. Don’t forget things like knives, waterproof matches, flares, first aid, and a water purifier. This kit could be the difference between life and death. It is important that you carry your survival kit with you at all times.
Examine your medical insurance policy. Out-of-state traveling will sometimes require additional coverage. If you are going to a foreign country, this is especially critical. It is essential to be prepared in case of emergency.
Camping can be very dangerous or fun depending on whether you’re prepared or not. Try to be as prepared as possible when you go out camping; don’t just take off on a whim. If you are going to a new place, make sure you do some research about the local wildlife, as well as the local geography and climate.
Don’t miss the opportunity to add swimming activities to your next camping trip. Many people miss a nice warm shower while camping. By taking a dip in a pool, lake or river, you will have fun and feel clean and refreshed at the same time!
You can easily start a campfire with lint from the dryer. Start collecting the lint from your dryer’s filter about a month before you go on your trip. You can hang a bag next to the dryer and just stuff your lint into it. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.
Oranges can be used as a food source and a way to repel mosquitoes while you camp. After enjoying the sweet juicy fruit, use the inside of the peel to rub on skin for a chemical free insect repellant.
If you are interested in camping alone or with friends, make sure you have prepared an emergency kit. You may need different supplies, depending on where you will be, but there are certain things that you should always have. Be sure to do your research and bring along any location-specific items you will need.
Make sure that you understand the dangers and risks of the camping site that you choose. This includes things like which spiders are deadly, whether or not there are sheer drops, and if flash floods are common. Each spot can contain dangers which can really affect your trip.
Be sure you set up camp before nighttime comes around. If you come to the camp site in an RV, find a parking spot immediately. If you are camping in a tent, look for a dry and flat area of ground. Knowing the area around your campsite before it gets dark adds to your camping safety. It also makes it much easier to actually see what you are doing, thus saving a great deal of frustration.
Talk with your children about the dangers associated with camping before you leave home. It’s easy to look at photos online of harmful plants like poison ivy so that they are aware that they should not touch them when they’re camping.
As you plan your camping adventure, take children aside and go over common dangers and issues they may encounter. Go on the Internet together and read about safety, look at poison ivy pictures and poisonous animals.
If you bring a dog with you to go camping, keep it leashed up and keep an eye on it. Some people fear dogs. It is important that you respect others while you are camping. Also, your pet could be destructive to other people’s belongings.
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.
If your campsite is known for wildlife, be extremely careful with food. All of your foods should be tightly wrapped and not place near your tent. Some foods shouldn’t be brought at all. This will reduce your chances of being attacked.
Bring along a sleeping bag made for the current weather. Lighter weight bags are great for warm weather; however, if the climate is cooler, a heavier bag will be in order. 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.
Duct Tape
Don’t forget to watch your children. There are always cars arriving and leaving from campsites, and it is easy for little kids to get lost easily in wooded areas. It only takes a second for something to happen, so make sure that your children always have the supervision that they need.
Rolls of duct tape can be useful to take along on any camping trips you have planned in the future. Just as it has myriad uses around the house, you can use it for a variety of needs in the woods, too. It is perfect for fixing an air mattress. It be used to seal tears in tarps, tents, and even sleeping bags. Duct tape on your feet can be used to prevent blisters on a long hike. It can even be used to bandage injuries.
The peel of an orange might save you from mosquito bites on your next camping trip. If you’ve packed everything, except for mosquito repellant, do not fret. Authorities recommend rubbing the interior of an orange peel over exposed skin. This should give you the protection that you need while out in the wilderness.
When you are at your campsite, pitch your tent on the softest and most level ground you are able to find. If you pick a spot that is rocky or has a slope to it, you will be uncomfortable when you are inside your tent. Also, put a tarp down on your site to repel water in the best fashion.
When going camping, bring some duct tape with you. While tents are generally well-made, it is not unusual for them to tear. Duct tape can help you to sleep in peace at night, and is very inexpensive.
Pack extra flashlights and plenty of batteries for your camping trip. There will be times when you will need to see clearly after the sun goes down. If you have the proper lighting, you can prevent experiencing bad falls or wildlife encounters. Bring flashlights to safeguard against the dangers of darkness.
When selecting a sleeping bag, make sure it’s season-appropriate. In the summer you want to have a light, cool bag. When it’s cold, you need to have a sleeping bag that will handle sub zero temperatures.
Pack wisely and carefully. Write down everything you will need, and cross them off as they are packed. This is very important if you’re going to a far away place that doesn’t have first aid supplies or thing you’ll need when an emergency arises.
Make sure to practice food safety whenever you go camping. If you bring food, pack them in waterproof containers and airtight re-sealable plastic bags. Put your food in an insulated cooler. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping cooked and raw foods far apart. Wash your hands while preparing food and afterward, and keep any surfaces, utensils and cooking containers clean as well. Cook all of your food to the right temperature and get them chilled quickly.
A lot of people forget to put up shelter before it gets dark. It is very hard to set up a tent when it’s dark. A flashlight or a fire will be essential. However, setting up your camp while it is still daylight is always your best option.
If you want an exciting camping trip from start to finish, plan your activities. There is much more to camping than fires and smores. Consider the ages and abilities of everyone involved while thinking of activities. Take younger and older children into consideration when you are planning.
Waterproof matches should be added to your camping survival kit. These should be stored in an airtight container. You can convert standard matches into waterproof ones simply by dipping each one into substances like 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.
Keep your tent free from moisture and well ventilated. If your tent is thoroughly sealed, perspiration and breathing can build condensation throughout your whole tent. You may even wake up wet. Tents typically have integrated vents or windows that may be opened slightly to keep moisture accumulations at bay.
When your camping trip is over, make sure to leave a clean campsite behind. Include trash bags in your supplies to make cleanup easy. Look around for any excess food, don’t leave it behind. The only things you should really be leaving behind at your campsite are your footprints.
Use a worn shower curtain as an inexpensive, disposable tarp for under your tent. You can also put it underneath a washing or cooking area to control any run-off or spillage. Instead of getting rid of an old shower curtain, use it for your next camping trip.
It may seem trivial to remind you of this, but do not forget to bring toilet paper along when you pack. If you are going camping in a place that has no toilets, it will be necessary for you to use the bathroom outside. You definitely don’t want to depend on leaves for cleaning yourself, because they could have been in contact with poison ivy.
When you are planning a long trip, bring games to increase the amount of fun that you have. Don’t bring a ton of electronics, but a book or music is great.
Make sure that you are always conscious of safety rules, regulations and best practices when you camp. Stay away from wildlife, even if they are not very large. Smaller animals can be a lot more dangerous than expected, like squirrels for instance. Obviously, if you see bears, do not feed them.
Be sure to pack lots of sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun’s rays is important. Also, make sure that you have a sunscreen with a high SPF. You can also choose a product that also repels insects. Just don’t put too many chemicals on your body at the same time when you’re out camping.
If you want to go camping but haven’t ever done that, there is something you can do quickly to get an idea of whether you will like it. Spend one night in your own backyard in a tent. Don’t allow yourself to go into the house for anything. If you enjoy your experience, you might have fun camping!
Snake proof your campsite if snakes live where you are camping. Stay away from piles of rocks or wood as well as thick or deep brush. Boots, clothing and bags should be checked to make sure that a snake has not found its way into them. Always keep the tent closed, and fill the corners with sand or soil to keep snakes from burrowing underneath.
If you camped as a child and want to do it again now, you just need the desire and the right information. Use this article to capture that feeling of camping that you once had when you were younger.
It is important to build your shelter during daylight hours. Try to arrive in time at your camp site so that you are not caught with the light fading before you can finish setting up. Even if you aren’t putting a tent up, it’s easier to make your shelter while there is light out.
