If you’ve never gone camping, you are in for a treat. Experiencing fresh air and being surrounded by nature cannot be beaten. If you want to camp, then now is the time, more than ever, to get to it.
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 smart to bring your own wood and make sure it stays in a dry area.
Make sure that the tent you take camping has enough space for everyone you are taking along. This will give you the room necessary for a comfortable camping trip.
You will get dirty. Don’t stress out when it inevitably happens. Enjoy your time and don’t afraid to be messy. When you return home, make sure to stay as organized as possible.
Do a “jungle breakfast” if you are bringing kids. Bring some packaged foods, beverage boxes and even fruits, then tie them to trees near the campsite. Then, have the kids go on a hunt for their breakfast when they awaken. This is a great alternative way to keep your kids happy while camping.
Include the family in the selection of the campsite. Talk over what your destination state should be. The U.S. has dozens of great camping options. Throw out your ideas to see if they stick with members of your family.
Duct tape is a handy tool to carry when you are camping. You can patch holes in your tent, your mattress or your shoes, or secure your tent poles, seal mosquito netting and much, much more.
Before leaving for a trip away, attend a comprehensive first aid tutorial. Undertaking such a task is particularly important if you are going to be camping with children. If you have an accident, you are going to know how to fix the situation before you can get professional medical help. Make sure to do your research. Find out what poisonous snakes or dangerous animals live in the area.
Camping Pillows
Prior to leaving on your camping adventure, look at the weather forecast in the location your are going to be camping. There are dozens of websites that can tell you about local climates. When you know what to expect, you will have the right clothes packed.
Bring along camping pillows to the campsite. Regular pillows do not hold up well in the outdoor air. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. Camping pillows have a protective coating on them to prevent the absorption of moisture.
A ‘jungle breakfast’ can be a great activity for the kids. Take little juice boxes, mini cereal boxes, and fruit into the woods and be sure to tie them to a nearby tree. Then your kids can go out searching for their own breakfast. This will add some adventure and fun to their day.
While kids often have fun when camping, make sure to make plans to keep them entertained. They might get antsy once you start to get deeper in the forest. They may never have had a chance to set up a tent or catch a fish. Expose them to these activities prior to embarking on your trip.
Bring a hankerchief or a bandanna with you. In a pinch, that single piece of fabric can serve as a potholder, carrying bag, blotter, hand towel and paper towel. It does not take much space in your bag and can save the day in many different situations.
It’s important to talk with you kids about the dangers of camping. Make sure they understand what poison ivy looks like, to stay away from wild animals and to carry a light if they are walking around at night.
Oranges are great for camping since they’re healthy, easy to eat, and they also keep mosquitoes away. Rubbing orange peels on your body will function as a perfect insect repellent.
If Fido is coming with your on your camping trip, don’t forget his leash. Many people fear dogs. It’s important to think of other people when you’re out there camping. Additionally, dogs can wreak a lot of havoc on a campsite if they are not supervised properly.
Your camp should always be set up before the sun sets. If you driving an RV, you should locate a safe parking spot. If you have a tent, carefully select the plot of land you are going to use. Doing this when you still have daylight lets you get familiar with the area. It will also allow prevent the frustration of not being able to see while setting up your equipment.
If you are camping in a location with dangerous wildlife, take safety precautions with your food. You should wrap up your food tightly, store it somewhere that isn’t close to your tent, and avoid certain types of food altogether. This will reduce your chances of being attacked.
Purchase a few camping pillows to take with you. Regular bed pillows will feel hot and sticky during humid weather. They may also get mildew from all the moisture outside. Camping pillows have a protective coating on them to prevent the absorption of moisture.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. You’ll need a sleeping bag, as well as extra blankets. This can help you stay warm if it cools down at night or you may use them for extra padding.
Talk to your kids about common dangers before taking them on a camping trip. Make sure they understand what poison ivy looks like, to stay away from wild animals and to carry a light if they are walking around at night.
Prior to leaving for a camping journey, be sure to draft a list of necessary supplies. This is particularly helpful if you have to travel quite far to get where you are going. Pack in advance to avoid the stresses of packing before your trip.
It’s very important that you bring the proper items on your camping trip. If you forget a few things, it could ruin your entire trip. Write a list of essentials and as you pack the items, cross them off. Some things you should bring include your tent, sleeping bag, tarp, lots of water, a utility knife, already-made food, soap or hand sanitizer and items to start a fire.
Sleeping Bags
You want to make sure that you don’t end up with drained flashlight batteries when you head out on your camping trip. You don’t want to waste your flashlight battery and not be able to see. To avoid this, store the batteries backwards in your flashlights. They will stay handy but a thoughtless push of the button will not turn the flashlight on.
Make sure you choose a sleeping bag that is appropriate for where you will be camping. When the weather is warm, light sleeping bags work best; heavier sleeping bags are also available for colder weather. Make sure your sleeping bag fits you well, hugs your body and helps you to retain heat.
Bring the right sleeping bag for the weather you choose to sleep in. When the weather is warm, light sleeping bags work best; heavier sleeping bags are also available for colder weather. You want a sleeping bag that is close to your body and helps you retain your body heat if you plan to sleep in a tent.
The peel of an orange might save you from mosquito bites on your next camping trip. So, if you forgot to pack your mosquito repellant, do not despair. Use the insides of an orange peel, rubbed gently on any exposed skin. Mosquitoes hate the smell and will fly away for a few good hours; and you will be free of the nuisance.
An orange peel may just be the natural answer to repelling mosquitoes when you’re out camping. 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. This can help for many hours.
Trail Mix
If your kids are going camping with you, have a photo of them on you. In the case that a child goes missing, having their photo at hand could be of great use. Always have one on you for emergencies.
Trail mix and beef jerky are a couple great things to bring along on 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.
Select your campsite carefully. You have to figure out a spot that doesn’t have too many insects or problems with any animals. If you are next to a lot of vegetation, it is a good idea to wear longer sleeves to protect you from insects. Having insect repellent is a really sound idea.
Be sure to create your shelter before it gets dark. Tent building in the dark is a major obstacle to confront. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. Making the effort to do the work before the sun goes down will make for a more enjoyable trip.
A lot of people forget to put up shelter before it gets dark. Pitching a tent can be difficult enough in the daylight, let alone in the dark of night. If you wait until dark to pitch your tent, you will need to build a fire or light several lanterns to ensure you can see to pitch your tent correctly. It’s much easier to arrive early enough to get set up before sundown.
Take time to learn map and compass reading. If you have visited the campsite before, you can still get lost once you arrive. Learn to use these survival tools to prevent potentially bad situations.
Make sure that you never go camping without duct tape. While most camping equipment is durable, they can tear or break easily. Well-placed duct tape can save a trip, especially when a hole rips on the top of your tent.
Leave your campsite clean when you leave it. Bring enough garbage bags for all the trash. Get rid of things like trash and leftover food. The major rule for leaving a campsite is to just leave behind footprints.
It is important in tent building to close any and all seams on the tent. You can buy a tube at most sporting goods stores if your tent did not come with any. By sealing the seams on your tent, you will keep out rainwater and any small critter that might want to join your tenting party.
With advice in hand, it’s time to start planning your adventure! If you follow these simple tips, you will be a camping pro. No matter what your destination, you are going to have the time of your life.
Keep old shower curtains, you can use them as disposable tarps to put under your tent when you go camping! You can also use it as a way to control run-off as you are washing or cooking. Instead of consigning your shower curtain to the dumpster, wash it and keep it around for your next camping trip.