If you’ve never gone camping, you are in for a treat. Being able to become one with nature can be a very liberating experience for many people. If not knowing what to do to prepare for a camping trip has held you back, this article is perfect for you.
Be sure to know the recent conditions of where you will be staying. For example, you will want to know if the area will be dry enough to find suitable firewood. It’s smart to bring your own wood and make sure it stays in a dry area.
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. Bringing your own wood never hurts, especially when things are a little wet and you know a fire will be needed.
You will get dirty. If you’re prepared beforehand, it won’t stress you out when it occurs. Just enjoy and appreciate being free in the wilderness; get stuck in and get messy. After all, you can be normal at home.
Don’t fear that you are overpacking for your kids on a camping trip. Camping can be messy. Children seem to be magnetically attracted to dirt. That all means that you will have very dirty children as the day progresses. You may not be able to keep them clean, but you can bring a change of clothes. Prepare thoroughly!
Include the family in the selection of the campsite. Talk about which state you would like to go to. There are many different places, so it can be hard to choose. Narrow down your top choices and let your entire family decide.
Attempt a “jungle breakfast” with the younger members of your camping party. Tie up small boxes of juice, cereal and food to a tree. When the children awake, tell them that they have to “hunt” to get breakfast. The kids will love it.
Be well-versed in emergency first aid if you plan on camping out, especially if there will be kids with you. Should an emergency arise, your knowledge of first aid can prevent further issues until help arrives. Additional research can also provide valuable information. Be aware of poisonous flora and fauna, as well as of what sounds animals make.
Oranges taste great, but they can also help keep mosquitoes away from you. After you’ve enjoyed the orange, keep all the peels. If the mosquitoes are swarming, rub the peels over your body to keep them at bay.
Check out your medical insurance policy. Sometimes when you go to a different place, you’ll have to get an additional policy to cover you. Popping over the border into Canada could also cause an issue. It is important to always be prepared.
Before you decide to take off on a camping trip somewhere you’ve never been, you need to do some research on what the area is like and be aware of the local risks and dangers. This includes things like which spiders are deadly, whether or not there are sheer drops, and if flash floods are common. Make sure you take these dangers into consideration before you leave.
Set up a “jungle breakfast” when you are camping with your kids. Tie juice boxes, tiny boxes of cereal and fruit to trees in the woods. Once the children are awake, tell them they need to forage for their meal. It adds some fun to camping.
Talk to your children about the dangers of camping before heading out on your trip. You can all get together and check out pictures of various plants that are hazardous so they can learn what they can’t touch when they’re looking around.
You don’t have to entirely rough it. Bring a little piece of luxury from home. Bring along something lightweight and easy to carry, like a little bit of cream for your coffee or a candy bar. A few small indulgences can make you incredibly happy.
Sleeping Bag
Duct tape is a must-have when you go camping as it can be used for a variety of things. It can help you out if something happens and your tent gets torn somehow. You can fix leaks on inflatable beds, tape up shoes, seal up any bug netting, and a lot more.
The idea of camping is to live with just the essentials, but you should make sure to be well 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.
Be certain you have everything you will need before embarking on your adventure. You don’t need to forget something important like your sleeping bag or tent. Make a list of the items you need, and double check it before you leave home.
Do you know how to pitch a tent? If you are not sure how to put your tent up, practice before going on your camping trip. This will give you the confidence to pitch your tent at any time. Doing this will help you pitch your tent quickly, just in case you get to your campsite when it starts to get dark.
Kids love camping, but you need to plan out activities for them to do on the trip. If you are just sitting in the woods, they will end up bored. They may not know how to fish or pitch tents. If this is their first time, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn new skills.

You must take the appropriate items with you when camping. Forgetting just one or two things could ruin your trip. Make a master checklist of everything that you will be needing on your trip and be sure to check off items as they are packed or loaded into the car. Some must have items include a tent, sleeping bags, a couple of tarps, food and water, a knife and fire starting supplies.
If you are new to camping, you should camp near your home. This is so you can easily get home if you don’t enjoy your camping experience. Also, you can easily get home if you don’t have enough food or clothing. There are a lot of different things that can come about and being closer to home will make it a lot easier.
Be sure that you have a good amount of lighting devices with you, as well as means of keeping them running. Flashlights will be essential at night. If you have the proper lighting, you can prevent experiencing bad falls or wildlife encounters. Bring flashlights to safeguard against the dangers of darkness.
Did you just purchase a new tent for your trip? Practice setting up and taking down your tent before your trip. You should know what you need and how to do it before you actually have to do it. This also means that you can do it rather easily and speedily when you get to your campsite, meaning your tent might be up before the sun is totally gone.
Use an orange to help prevent bug bites. If you remembered to pack everything but the mosquito repellant, don’t despair. Rub this inner peel of the orange over your exposed skin and watch the magic at work. Mosquitoes hate the smell and will fly away for a few good hours; and you will be free of the nuisance.
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! Often times, even the best plans go awry. The weather could turn sour, injuries could occur or other unforeseen events may happen. You should not be careless, take unnecessary risks, or perform any action without considering the consequences.
Be aware of the location of your campsite. Try to steer clear of wasp nests or other pest havens. Make sure that everyone wears long sleeved clothing if you camp near abundant vegetation, to minimize poison and insect issues. Always bring insect repellent on any camping trip.
An orange peel may just be the natural answer to repelling mosquitoes when you’re out camping. This is an especially useful tip to remember if you forgot your bug spray. Experts suggest rubbing the inside peel of a ripe orange over the exposed parts of your body. Mosquitoes should be repelled from you for a few hours.
Trail Mix
Pay attention to where you’re setting up camp. You should avoid setting up near any insect breeding grounds like wasp’s nest and beehives. If there is a lot of nearby vegetation, protect yourself against insect bites by wearing pants and long sleeved shirts. Always bring insect repellent on any camping trip.
It is always a good idea to bring plenty of trail mix and/or beef jerky when you are planning a camping trip. When the day ends, you may feel so tired you aren’t in the mood for cooking. Nutrient-rich treats like beef jerky and trail mix will help satisfy your hunger. These snacks should preserve for a good while, so there’s no wasting involved if they aren’t eaten.
When preparing a survival kit for a camping trip, you should bring along waterproof matches. Use an airtight container to store them. You can add paraffin to regular matches, or even nail polish for a homemade waterproof match. You can store these matches in something like a medicine bottle or empty film container.
It makes sense to keep a totally charged cell phone on hand. You may also want to bring a couple of extra batteries in case one runs out. In the event of an emergency, you will need your cell to call out for help, so this item is very important.
When you’re setting up a tent it’s important to seal every seam. If your tent doesn’t have a tube, you can find easily find them. By doing this, you will prevent wayward animals or rain from making it inside.
You must always pack a survival kit and first aid kit. Without them, you may need to finish your camping trip earlier than you would like. This can help keep issues from escalating, and let you secure help for an injured camper.
While it may sound obvious, don’t forget to pack the toilet paper when you head out for a camping trip. If there are no restrooms in your camp area, you must go in the woods. If you forget the toilet paper, you may be forced to use leaves, some of which could be poison ivy.
After reading this article, you are now prepared to set out on your next camping adventure. If you follow these simple tips, you will be a camping pro. Regardless of the location you choose, you are guaranteed to enjoy your next camping trip.
When selecting a sleeping bag, make sure it’s season-appropriate. For example, in the summertime, a lighter bag will keep you cool. But during the cold of winter, you need a thermal bag that will keep you protected from the elements.