
Are you planning a camping trip? Are you prepared for common situations that you may encounter on your trip? Though common sense can cover most of these situations, it never hurts to do some homework to ensure that you cover your bases. Keep reading for smart tips.
A first aid kit or survival kit is imperative for camping. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include. Never assume there won’t be any trouble. Anything can happen, and you need these essential items to help save your life if necessary. Remember to carry it with you and do not leave it in your camp.
Always seek shelter before it is too dark to assess your surroundings. After the night falls, pitching a tent, locating firewood and making food can be difficult. This is even more true if you’re accustomed to city life, and your eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness of the woods. Avoid being in that position; find good shelter before the sun goes down.
The way you prepare will determine whether your camping trip will be fun or if it will be dangerous. It is a bad idea to go camping unprepared. 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.
When purchasing a brand new tent, put it together once at home before going on your camping trip. This helps you learn to put up your tent and make sure there aren’t missing pieces. You will find your frustration level diminishes greatly as well.
Make sure your medical insurance is up-to-date. If you are going camping out of state, you may have to add an additional policy for full coverage. If you plan to travel to a different country, such as Canada, then its is especially important. Be prepared in case there is an injury or illness.
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 websites that can give you an idea of what the typical weather is like in the area during the time of your travel. When you know what to expect, you will have the right clothes packed.
You can use dryer lint to kindle your campfire. Collect some lint from your clothes dryer to bring with you. Simply use a plastic grocery sack to collect each new crop of lint. The morning of your departure, all you need to do is grab the bag and depart, kindling sorted!
Camping is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous; the difference between the two is preparation. Only go camping when you have prepared yourself for it. When heading to a new spot, be sure to research the area thoroughly so you know what to expect with regard to weather and wildlife.
Oranges will not only fill you up, but they’ll keep mosquitoes away. After you have eaten the orange, rub the peel onto exposed body parts and this will repel any blood-sucking bugs.
See if you can integrate swimming into your camping trip. While camping, you might really miss the luxury of showering. The coolness of water while swimming is refreshing on hot days, and it helps you to clean yourself. You might not miss the shower after all!
Be certain you have everything you will need before embarking on your adventure. It would be a shame to arrive at your campsite only to realize you have forgotten some important items, like food and water. In order to ensure that this does not happen, make a checklist before you head out and cross off the items as you pack them.
Did you know that dryer lint can make great kindling to get a campfire started? Collect the lint in your dryer and store it in a bag a few weeks before you go camping to prepare for this. Keep a simple plastic or ziplock bag near your dryer to make collecting easier. Using this for your kindling will save you time looking for it, and it will work even better than any kindling that you do find.
Make sure you have a good chat with your children about basic camping dangers before you head away. Go on the Internet together and read about safety, look at poison ivy pictures and poisonous animals.
Be prepared to handle any emergency that may arise and have a plan in place. This kit should contain the basics, but should evolve as you change your camping locations. Having extras like anti-venom is a good defense for certain kinds of wildlife.
If you are a camping amateur, keep your camping adventure near your home. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don’t like camping. You may run short of food or need more clothing than you packed. Many things can arise for the first-time camper, so camp close to home the first time.
Don’t wait until nightfall to start your camp site. Choose a parking spot that you feel comfortable with if you are camping in an RV. Seek out flat, dry ground if you are roughing it with a tent. As long as it is daylight, you should not have trouble with these tasks. This can help you see what you are doing and prevent frustration.
Take care to pack sufficient, non-perishable foods. Depending on the length of your stay, you will want food that is not very perishable. Your camping trip will be ruined if you get food poisoning. Take all precautions to make sure your food is packed and prepared properly.
When you find your camping spot, put the tent up on top of the patch of ground that is flattest and softest. An area that is sloped or rugged won’t make for the best place to put your tent. Always lay down some tarp first to prevent any water damage to the tent.
Bring activities for you to have fun with while camping. Scavenger hunts, card games and fishing poles all add up to wonderful diversions to do in the wild. If your kids are along on your camping trip, include as many entertainment items as possible.
Write down a list of your necessary items before heading out on a camping excursion. This is doubly important for campgrounds that are far away. Pack a few days before your camping trip is supposed to happen and check off your list while you go through things.
If you’re camping where there is dangerous wildlife, double your food reserves. You will need to keep your food in airtight containers or securely wrapped, and store it away from your tent. Some foods should be avoided entirely. This will reduce your chances of being attacked.
Sleeping Bag
You should always have some duct tape along on any camping adventure. Its multipurpose properties aren’t only useful at home, they can be used in the wild too. It can be used as a quick patch in the case of a punctured air mattress. Also, it can help to seal any tears, which can make your item usable for the duration of your trip. If you want to take a long hike it can be put on feet to keep blisters at bay. It can even be used to bandage injuries.
Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the environment in which you are going to camp. Use a lightweight sleeping bag for hot weather and a heavy sleeping bag for cold weather. Make sure that your sleeping bag hugs your body. You want to be able to retain body heat.
Plan to save the light of your flashlight before you go camping. It is very common for flashlights to be turned on inadvertently when going through camping supplies or while being stored. To avoid this, store the batteries backwards in your flashlights. If the power switch is touched, the flashlight won’t turn on and you’ll still have full battery power.
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. Experts have said that you can just rub inner side of an orange peel on any exposed skin. This can help for many hours.
Pack extra flashlights and extra batteries when you go camping. This will ensure everyone remains safe. Having an adequate amount of light can help avoid injuries from falls and running into animals living in the wild. If you have kids with you on your camping trip, hand each of them a flashlight.
Be very aware of the place where you have decided to set up. You want to avoid erecting your tent near a wasp’s nest or other insect habitats. If you must erect your tent near dense areas of vegetation, make sure that you wear tops with long sleeves and full length pants in order to protect your body’s skin from insect bites. This way you ensure your safety as much as possible.
Plan out your clothing prior to a camping trip. Consider how many outfits you will need for the number of days you plan to be on your trip and add in a few extra in case of bad weather. Also, check the weather so that you can dress accordingly. Shoes that will hold up and have closed toes are what you should wear for the most part.
A utility knife is one of the most useful camping tools. One of the most useful camp items is a utility knife, so pack an extra one just in case one gets lost.
Utility knives are great to have when camping. It is even better if you have more than one. 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.
After reading this short article, you should now be aware of the fact that there are a few things that you need to consider before embarking on a camping adventure. Camping can be fun and safe with the correct preparation. Utilize the information you have learned in this article to ensure a fun, safe camping trip.
When you’re done with your trip, be sure to leave behind a clean campsite. Consider taking along a few garbage bags so you have a place for all your trash. Remove any traces of food from the campsite. A good rule of thumb is to only leave your footprints behind.
