It doesn’t get much better than lounging around a campfire under the stars surrounded by your friends and family. There are many reasons why camping is one of the favorite pastimes of many people. However, while camping may be a blast, you need to plan for many things when taking a trip. This article will provide you with some helpful advice to properly prepare for your camping excursion.
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in the summertime if your sleeping bag is rated for sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand, if you pack a lighter summer bag during cold weather camping, you are going to not get any rest. You could even develop hypothermia or frostbite if it’s very cold.
While you may think that nature will offer up enough wood to keep your fire embers burning, it could quite possibly be wet wood that doesn’t really want to burn. As an added precaution, bring along wood from around your yard or logs from a home store, and keep them where they will stay dry.
Let all of your family members have a chance to contribute to picking a campsite. Discuss what state you want to visit. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. Narrow down your top choices and let your entire family decide.
Remember that everything you bring will get dirty on your trip. If you are prepared for this situation, you will find that when it occurs, you will be less stressed. Enjoy your time and don’t afraid to be messy. You can get cleaned up when you return home.
Do not worry that you have packed too much stuff for the kids. Camping can get very messy and dirty when you bring your children. Kids simply love to get dirty. That all means that you will have very dirty children as the day progresses. The solution is not to stop them from getting dirty, but to have clean clothes ready for them after they are done. Be ready for anything.
Make sure that you find out what sort of weather is forecast for the place that you are going to be camping at. The Internet is a great resource for finding weather related information for the area you will be camping in. When you know what to expect, you will have the right clothes packed.
When buying a tent, be sure that it’s large enough to accommodate you and any guests you have. You want to make sure that you have enough room in the tent for sleeping quarters and so that each person in the room has enough room.
For an exciting twist on the morning meal while camping with your kids, get up early and prepare a “jungle breakfast”. Portable foods, such as boxed cereal, juice, and fruit, can be tied to trees. Then your kids can go out searching for their own breakfast. It adds some fun to camping.
Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. You are probably going to miss the shower you have at home while camping. 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!
Dryer lint can be used as kindling for starting your campfire. Around four weeks prior to camping, start keeping the lint that you clean from your dryer filter. Keep a used grocery bag on your laundry room door to collect the lint. This technique allows you to grab your kindling and go the day of your trip.
Find all of your equipment and start packing well in advance of your trip. It wouldn’t be good if you forgot something you really need like your sleeping bag or a tent. Make a comprehensive checklist of all of the items you will need on your camping trip and double check items in your bags and car against the list to ensure that you do not forget anything.
Before camping, get some camping pillows. Since standard pillows can pick up a lot of humidity, debris or even creepy-crawlers, leave them safely at home. The moisture in the air can also cause mildew. Pillows specifically designed for camping have a barrier to stop this behavior.
Safeguard your food from the local wildlife. These precautions include tightly wrapping your foods and storing them away from your tent. You also have to just forgo certain foods entirely. Doing this means you cut down on your possibilities of an animal attack.
If camping is new for you, start somewhere nearby. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don’t like camping. You may not have enough food, or realize that you didn’t pack the right clothing. There are a lot of different things that can come about and being closer to home will make it a lot easier.
A handy tool that will make your life easier when camping, is duct tape. It has a myriad of uses for campers, just as it does for homeowners. This can be used to close up any issues with your air mattress, which can save you money. It can also be used on your tarp or tent. Prior to heading off on a long nature hike, place some tape on your heels to avoid blistering. In a pinch, you can also bandage an injury with it.
If your intended camping destination is known for its prowling wildlife, take more than enough precautions to secure food. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. Doing this means you cut down on your possibilities of an animal attack.
Camping is about being one with nature and living off the basics, but it is important to go prepared. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. These can be used for additional padding or for extra warmth on a chilly night.
Ensure you bring some flashlights and extra batteries whenever you go camping. There are going to be moments when you must clearly see certain items when it gets dark. Without a flashlight, you could easily stumble and fall or be surprised by local wildlife. It’s a good idea to bring along one flashlight for each person in your camping party.
Make a list and check it twice before packing for your camping excursion. This is imperative when there is travel involved during your camping trip. Pack a few days before your camping trip is supposed to happen and check off your list while you go through things.
An orange may prevent you from getting mosquito bites when you’re on your camping trip. If you neglected to pack mosquito spray, fear not. Just rub the inner peel of an orange on your skin for a natural insect repellent. This can keep mosquitoes at bay for a number of hours.
Be sure that you have a good amount of lighting devices with you, as well as means of keeping them running. Even after the sun is gone, you may need to see. Without a flashlight, you could easily fall or be surprised by an animal. If you are bringing children on your trip, it’s a good idea to provide each of them with their own light.
If your kids are going camping with you, have a photo of them on you. In the unfortunate event of an accident, this will help you have some form of identification for seeking assistance. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.
Pay close attention to where your kids are when camping. Cars abound at campgrounds, and it is easy for a little one to walk into the woods and have trouble getting out. In no time, your children could be harmed, so always keep a watchful eye on them.
Pack ready to eat foods in your camping gear, like trail mix and jerky. Both items are fairly healthy and will come in handy when you don’t feel like cooking. As an added benefit these snacks have a long shelf life, so if you do not eat them while camping you can enjoy them for months to come.
When you are out in the wilderness with kids, have a photo of them with you. Should you lose track of your children at some point during your camping trip, having a picture handy could make a world of difference. This is particularly useful if you will be camping somewhere far from where you live.
Always bring a survival kit and a full first aid kit with you. Together, these items can be the difference between going home early and rapidly addressing problems that arise. You can also prevent serious situations from becoming dire, and allow you to get an injured person to help safely.
Select your campsite carefully. Refrain from setting your camper up next to bees nests or breeding grounds for safety. If you’re in an area that is rich in vegetation, try wearing long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself from insects. This way you ensure your safety as much as possible.
Seal all of your tent’s seams when erecting your tent. You may find a tube at many sporting good stores if the tent didn’t include any. This helps to keep animals, insects and rainwater out so you stay comfortable.
Trail mix and jerky are great snacks for a camping trip. Both items are fairly healthy and will come in handy when you don’t feel like cooking. Also, these foods keep well so if you don’t eat them, you can enjoy them later.
Even if it seems silly, bring toilet paper. You may have to use nature’s toilet. Rather than using leaves as a substitute, just bring your own toilet paper.
Have a first aid pack on hand, as well as a well stocked 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. Carrying these items can help a situation stay safe, rather than turning very harmful or even fatal.
Your tent should be dry and well ventilated. If your tent is completed sealed, you will find that condensation will accumulate on the sides of the tent from breathing and perspiration. You might find yourself waking up wet. Find a tent with a built-in vent to reduce the moisture in your sleeping area.
Bring toilet paper along when you travel. If there are no toilets at your campsite, you will need to use the bathroom outside. Avoid using leaves to wipe, as you may not be able to recognize poisonous plants such as poison ivy.
As you’ve read, there are many things to plan for prior to taking a trip to the great outdoors. Utilize all that you have learned to have a great family oriented time and stay safe.
Whenever you select a sleeping bag, ensure that your selection is one that is appropriate for the season. In the summer you want to have a light, cool bag. For wintertime, you will need to ensure that you have a heavyweight bag that will keep you warm in cold temperatures.
