So, your plan is to go camping? Does your planning take into account the simple things that can occur on any camping trip? Although many parts of camping are easy to understand, it’s wise to learn all you can in advance. Keep reading for camping tips.
When camping, there is a good chance that your items will get dirty. If you’re ready for this, it will bother you less when it happens. Just enjoy and appreciate being free in the wilderness; get stuck in and get messy. You can get clean when you return home.
Remember, wet wood won’t burn right, so nature may not always provide the wood you need. Therefore, take some wood with you on your camping trip and store it in a location where it can remain dry.
Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. Talk about which state to go to. Choosing one can be really hard in the United States, given how many places there are to go! To aid in this decision, you may want to offer a few of those that you personally like the best and than let each family member vote.
Let your family members all have a decision when it comes to choosing a campsite. Talk about the state you would like to go to. There are thousands upon thousands of places to choose from. Make a list of your favorites and allow the family to vote.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that will be expected to use it. This will allow you to sleep more comfortably and get up easier during the night when you need to use the bathroom.
Build yourself a survival kit; keep it with you anywhere you go while camping. You need to pack a flare gun, utility knife, matches and a first aid kit. This kit can save your life if you get into a dangerous situation. Never leave the kit behind, even for a short excursion.
Prior to leaving on your camping adventure, look at the weather forecast in the location your are going to be camping. There are lots of excellent websites that you can use for a weather forecast and they can give you an idea of what to expect. If you have the correct information, you can pack properly.
Attempt a “jungle breakfast” with the younger members of your camping party. Bring some packaged foods, beverage boxes and even fruits, then tie them to trees near the campsite. Once the children are awake, tell them they need to forage for their meal. It’s a great way to add a little magic to the camping experience.
Camping has the potential to be thrilling or hazardous, depending on your level of preparation. Try to be as prepared as possible when you go out camping; don’t just take off on a whim. Do your research and understand the local conditions and wildlife, as well as climate concerns. This is the best way to keep yourself safe and enjoy your trip.
Pillows are a good item to bring to maximize your level of comfort while camping. Don’t bring the pillows you use in your bedroom. These pillows can trap heat 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.
Double-check any medical insurance. Sometimes when you go to a different place, you’ll have to get an additional policy to cover you. This is especially true if you are traveling out of the country. Be sure you’re prepared to be on the safe side!
Always understand what dangers are associated with a new place. This could be anything from wildlife to insects to poisonous plant life that could be a danger to you. Any place you go has its own unique challenges.
Always bring along a well-stocked emergency kit when you head out on a camping trip. Depending on the location, the kit may have extra items, but the basic items should be there. Items that will help with possible snake bites or a sling in case of sprains or breaks is a good idea, too.
Try to schedule activities for your children such as board games or card games. If you’re settled among the trees, they may become bored. They may not have any experience with things such as fishing or setting up a tent. Consider introducing your kids to these things in advance of your trip so they know how to do them and view them as fun.
To make your camping trip more enjoyable, bring along something luxurious. Take along some candy, some coffee you enjoy or anything that is lightweight but reminds you of home. These things can help to keep you happy and make your trip more enjoyable.
Plan for every situation that you can think of before packing for your trip. Even with a perfect plan, things can still go awry. There can be changes in the weather or circumstances, and illness and injury can also occur. You mustn’t take any reckless risks, be careless, and you need to think before acting.
When you are planning a camping trip with children, take some time before you go to talk with them about common camping dangers. 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.
Flashlights are imperative to bring while camping as there is minimal light in the wilderness. There are times when it is important to be able to see clearly in the dark. Without a flashlight, you could easily fall or be surprised by an animal. When you camp with kids, having a flashlight for every child is a good idea.
If Fido is coming with your on your camping trip, don’t forget his leash. There are those who have a fear of dogs. You must respect other campers. Also, because it is a new territory, dogs can get into trouble and cause damage to the site if not supervised.
Sleeping Bag
Though camping may be about roughing it in the wilderness, being prepared is a necessity. Blankets are essential, in addition to a sleeping bag, to maximize comfort. This is useful for nights where the temperature gets too cold or as extra padding when sleeping on hard ground.
Always pick an appropriate sleeping bag for the weather. Use a lightweight sleeping bag for hot weather and a heavy sleeping bag for cold weather. You must have a bag that surrounds the body closely so that body heat can be retained.
Remember the old scout motto – be prepared! Even if you plan in advance, something may still go wrong. Weather can change, situations can arise, injuries or illness can strike. Don’t take risks, think ahead before doing anything and be careful.
Pick out your clothing attire ahead of time. Make sure you’ll have clean clothes to wear every day. Also, make sure you’re taking along clothes that work with whatever the weather will be where you are camping. Include closed toe shoes or hiking boots if you want to do some hiking.
Keep pictures of your children handy if they are camping with you. If you lose them during your trip, that picture can help you immensely. You should bring another photo to keep in case of emergencies.
It is a good idea to have a cell phone that is fully charged in your car or base camp. You should also seriously consider bringing a spare battery for your cell phone in case the main battery dies. The cell phone comes in handy in emergency situations, so you will need all the battery power you can get.
Beef jerky and trail mix are two camping staples you should always bring with you. It’s likely that you’ll be so worn out at dinnertime that you will only feel like snacking and not cooking. Because these items will last a while, you don’t have to eat them right away if you don’t want to.
Always bring both a first-aid kit as well as a survival kit. These items can literally save your life, or to a lesser extent, prevent you from returning from your trip before you are ready to do so. You may be able to keep an emergency from going from bad to worse.
Charge your cellular phone to maximum capacity before you leave on your trip. Better yet, bring along an extra battery or two in case your phone runs out of juice. Your cell phone makes for excellent emergency equipment, so you must ensure it does not die.
Many people get food poisoning when camping because of improper packing every year. If your food isn’t canned, vacuum-sealed or preserved, you can get food poisoning because your food spoils. Pack an adequate supply of ice for keeping perishable foods nice and cold and be sure to drain your cooler’s plug so the food doesn’t get soaked.
Whenever you camp, what will you do for cooking purposes? You should figure this out before you leave home so you can carry the correct supplies with you. If you want to eat food that is cooked over an open flame, you must have the proper equipment.
Always make sure that your sleeping bag is light enough or heavy enough for the season you will be using it in. For instance, if it is summer, you are going to want a lighter bag so that you stay as cool as possible. Conversely, during the winter you need to choose a heavy bag.
If you are interested in camping in the woods but have never done so before, there is a quick way to test if you will enjoy it or not. Pick up your tent, set it in your own back yard, and spend the night there. Under no circumstances should you enter your house, no matter what you might be wanting. If you like this, you might enjoy camping.
Remember food safety when you go camping. Food should be packed in bags that are airtight or in waterproof containers. Any perishable food should be stored in insulated coolers. Store raw food apart from cooked food to avoid contamination. Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer before you prepare your food. Make sure cooked foods reach the correct temperature and make sure perishable foods are kept chilled.
One tip that every camper would be wise to use is to bring along some baby wipes and toilet paper. While you could certainly “rough it” and use leaves, there’s not really a good reason to torture yourself when wipes and toilet paper are easily transported.
Here is a quick way to see if you would enjoy camping in the outdoors. Set up your tent in your backyard and camp out for a night. Don’t wander back into the house at whim. Make yourself stay outside and live off the land that is your backyard, just as if you were deep in the woods! If you find the exercise enjoyable, you might like real camping, too.
Take along your lint! If might sound odd, but lint can help you start a campfire. Lint creates a much hotter fire than sticks do. You just need your a spark and your lint to produce a warm fire.
Now that you’ve read these tips, you should be aware of things that you must prepare for prior to your camping trip. Camping is by no means a fancy outing, but you should always be prepared for a few basic things that can occur. Utilize the information you have learned in this article to ensure a fun, safe camping trip.
It is a good idea to set up your shelter before darkness arrives. If its sundown, it might be too late for you to finish your shelter before dark. No matter what you are using for shelter, it is so much easier to set up when there is natural light outside.
