When camping there is no kitchen or HVAC. You must plan out your trip completely and be prepared for anything. Use this article to get some ideas down for what you should think about when going camping.
Bring along a sleeping bag appropriate for the season. If you take a sub-zero bag camping in the middle of summer, you will probably sweat all night, or even overheat. The opposite is true as well, a summer bag won’t keep you warm in the winter. You may even risk hypothermia.
Always locate your shelter before dark when you are camping. Once the woods are dark, it is very difficult to find firewood, pitch your tent and prepare some food. This is particularly true for those city-dwellers that are not used to pitch-black darkness. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Camping provides the inevitable experience that you, your family and most of your possessions will probably get dirty. Being prepared for this will make sure you don’t stress too much when it occurs. Just enjoy and appreciate being free in the wilderness; get stuck in and get messy. Things will go to back to normal soon enough.
When camping, there is a good chance that your items will get dirty. If you are mentally prepared for this experience ahead of time, you can relieve the cause for a lot of stress when it does happen. Then, you can be as messy as you want, without worry of getting dirty. When you’re home, you can be normal again.
Let all of your family members have a chance to contribute to picking a campsite. One of the things you will want to discuss is which state you would like to visit. Choosing one can be really hard in the United States, given how many places there are to go! If it is easier, select a few of your personal favorites and then let the entire family vote.
Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. This will make everyone feel invested. Since the are so many great options to choose from across the U.S., it might be hard to select only one! You can select a few places to have the family vote on to make it easier.
Make sure that you know how to set up your tent before going on your trip. This will let you know that you’re not missing pieces from your tent and that you know how to pitch your tent in the right way. This will also eliminate some of the frustration associated with setting up a tent.
Extra Clothing
Always pack and carry a survival kit. You should have a bandanna (to use as a sling or tourniquet), wound coverings, something to use for sprains, matches, a knife, tablets to purify water and a compass in your kit. If you were to get lost or were put in an emergency situation, the survival kit will be of great help. Remember to take it everywhere you go when you’re away from your campsite.
Make sure to pack plenty of extra clothing for your children. Camping can be a messy affair. Dirt and dust are like magnets for children. That all means that you will have very dirty children as the day progresses. While there is nothing you can do about that, you can have some extra clothing just in case. Be sure you’re prepared!
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that is going to sleep in it. This makes it possible for everyone to sleep comfortably, and it also allows for room to move about and exit the tent if nature calls.
Review your health insurance policy. Sometimes when you go to a different place, you’ll have to get an additional policy to cover you. If you are going to a foreign country, this is especially critical. Always be prepared.
Talk to your children and friends about the dangers and risks of camping before embarking on your journey. 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.
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. Spending some time in cool water can help you stay clean and refresh your spirits, so a little swimming can soothe the part of your heart longing for a bath.
If you camp in an area known to have dangerous wildlife, be sure to incorporate extra precautions to stow away food securely. Wrap your food up tight and keep it far away from seeing areas. Making sure to do this, will lessen any chance of a wild animal attack.
Dryer lint makes wonderful kindling to start your campfires with. Start collecting it in advance of your trip. Simply hang a plastic bag near the dryer and stash the lint in the bag as it collects. Doing this means you can just snag your kindling on the way out the door the morning your trip starts.
Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on your camping trip into the wilderness. It is as convenient for repairs while you are camping as it is at home. Duct tape can be used to repair anything. Also, it can help to seal any tears, which can make your item usable for the duration of your trip. Duct tape on your feet can be used to prevent blisters on a long hike. You can also put it over bandages for extra protection.
Absorb Moisture
Are you just starting out in the world of camping? Give your tent a test run before you set out to pitch it in your first camp site in the wild. This will ensure that you understand how the tent is to be set up and taken down. This will help you set up camp in a hurry if you get to the site just before dark.
Pillows are a good item to bring to maximize your level of comfort while camping. Make sure that you bring camping pillows that do not absorb moisture. As they absorb moisture from the air, they can become covered in mildew rather quickly. Camping pillows are specially coated to prevent moisture absorption.
Write down a list of all the materials you need before you go camping. This is crucial when traveling to a campground. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.
If you are camping in uncharted territory, make sure that you understand potential dangers lurking there. There may be spiders or bears near you that could pose a threat. Every camping trip has different dangers.
Bring a good utility knife when you camp. Utility knives are among the most versatile pieces of equipment in a camper’s arsenal so make sure you Pack an extra one in your bag just in case you lose the one you carry around.
Camping is very different than life at home. For some, this is an appeal, whereas others find it difficult. Think through all of your camping trip ideas before you go out on your adventure. Use what you have learned from this article!
Charge your cellular phone to maximum capacity before you leave on your trip. Bring extra batteries in case the first one dies. Your cell phone makes for excellent emergency equipment, so you must ensure it does not die.