Many people look to camping as a fun, exciting get away from their everyday life and stresses. Your trip can be an unmitigated disaster, however, if proper plans are not made. This article will provide you with tips to help you have a smooth camping experience.
While you may count on Mother Nature to have plenty of wood to stoke your campfire, you may encounter only wet wood that won’t burn. It’s smart to bring your own wood and make sure it stays in a dry area.
You might think you can find enough wood for your fire in the woods, but the wood you find might be wet and not want to burn. It’s always prudent to bring wood that you have gathered beforehand, and to store it in a location where it will stay dry.
Bring along an emergency survival kit, and keep it on you for the duration of your camping trip. This kit should include water-purifying tablets, a first-aid kit, flare gun, survival knife and waterproof matches. This kit can keep you alive! Carry it at all times.
You may wish to take a class that has to do with first aid, especially if you’re traveling with kids. If you have an accident, you are going to know how to fix the situation before you can get professional medical help. Be sure to research the area you are visiting. Know if there are any poisonous snakes in the area, what type of wild animals call those woods their home, etc.
Don’t fear that you are overpacking for your kids on a camping trip. Camping is messy business. Almost every child will want to play in the dirt or mud, constantly. Children will get dirtier as the day goes on. Take extra clothing with you for your children. Be sure you’re prepared!
Fabric Piece
A tent needs to be the proper size for all people staying 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.
Pack a bandanna or handkerchief. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter. There are various uses for this fabric piece, so be sure to carry one on your trip.
Attend a class in first aid; this is a really good idea if you are camping with children. With the training you receive, you will be better prepared to handle an accident or other emergency situation while you wait for medical assistance. Be sure to do some research as well. Find out if the local snakes are poisonous or if there may be plants or animals that you need to avoid.
Do not forget to pack duct tape for your camping trip so that it can solve neraly any problem! It is great for patching your tent, repairing your shoes, fixing your insect netting and various other tasks.
Research the area you are planning to camp in and familiarize yourself with its particular dangers. Some examples of dangers are flash floods or poisonous spiders. Every camping spot has its own potential dangers for the untrained.
Children love camping, but be sure that you provide them with activities. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. They may not know what it’s like to fish or do things in nature. Show them how to do these things before you leave if they haven’t spent a lot of times outdoors.
Though camping may be about roughing it in the wilderness, being prepared is a necessity. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. Blankets make good padding and can help you stay warm if it’s colder than you expect at night.
Pack plenty of food of the proper variety. It is very important to make sure the food you bring will not spoil during your trip. Food poisoning will put a damper on your trip and force you to end it quickly. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the highest level of preparation with your food.
Think carefully on your next trip to prevent the drainage of your flashlight batteries. It is all too easy to accidentally switch your flashlight on when digging through your bags. You can safeguard the power by slipping the batteries in backwards in the flashlight cylinder. This prevents accidental switch nudges so that they will remain fresh when you need them.
When you are camping around dangerous creatures, you have to be even safer regarding food. Take safety precautions, such as wrapping your items in many layers for protection. This can prevent an attack.
Make a list and check it twice before packing for your camping excursion. This will really be handy if you have a long hike to get to your campground. Get all your things together a few days before your trip and mark them off on your list.
Camping is about being one with nature and living off the basics, but it is important to go prepared. While a sleeping bag is obvious, it is still a good idea to bring extra blankets. This helps to warm you up in case it gets too cold at night. They are also good to use for extra padding.
Your list of camping supplies should include several flashlights with extra batteries and lanterns. You will surely find it necessary to illuminate things once night falls. If you have a flashlight or lamp you can avoid injury, such as getting poked in the eye by a branch. If you’re taking kids along with you, give each one of them a flashlight.
As you set up your campsite, choose an area that is as smooth and as level as possible for the location of your tent. Choosing a slanted or rocky site will make your stay quite uncomfortable. Always lay a tarp down first to prevent water from entering or damaging the tent.
Make sure to watch your children very closely. Not only can your children get lost, but they may also encounter cars that enter the campsite. It doesn’t take much time for something to occur, so be sure your kids are properly supervised.
Prior to your camping trip, create a list of all the equipment and personal items you need to take. This is crucial when traveling to a campground. Get all your things together a few days before your trip and mark them off on your list.
Consider the erection spot for your tent carefully. You don’t want to camp very close to bee hives or ant hills. If you are next to a lot of vegetation, it is a good idea to wear longer sleeves to protect you from insects. Always bring insect repellent on any camping trip.
Be certain to have multiple lanterns or flashlights handy as well as additional batteries. You’ll need these items to help you be able to see after dark, which may be necessary at times. Without a flashlight, you could easily stumble and fall or be surprised by local wildlife. You may want to get each child a flashlight of his or her own if you’re taking kids on your camping trip.
Depending on your ability to plan, you can either have a great time camping, or you can have a miserable time. How you prepare for your camping trip will make or break your weekend. The more prepared you are for your trip, the more likely that it will be the relaxing trip of your dreams.
Sleeping Bag
Think carefully when you pack. Create a supply checklist for your trip and check off each item as it’s being packed. This will save you the inconvenience of forgetting something and having to stop for it and it is very important, especially if your are going to a remote location.
Always pick an appropriate sleeping bag for the weather. Bags that are light are good for warmer places and a sleeping bag that’s heavier works best when things are colder. You need a sleeping bag that fits snugly and keeps your body heat in if you’re going to sleep outside in a tent.
People will often forget to build their shelter before sunset. Tent building in the dark is a major obstacle to confront. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It is simply much easier to do this while the sun is still out so that you are all set whenever it gets dark.
Don’t take your eyes of children while camping. Not only can your children get lost, but they may also encounter cars that enter the campsite. Something could happen very quickly, so if you keep an eye on your kids, your supervision will help keep them safe.
It’s essential to take duct tape on every camping trip. Tents are fairly strong these days, but aren’t completely resistant to tears. Duct tape can help to seal holes and rips, and hold important things together when you need them most.
An easy, yet often forgotten tip is to find shelter before it gets dark. Pitching tents in the dark can be almost impossible. You will need a flashlight or you’ll have to build a fire. The process is far easier during daylight hours, and you will be relieved to be finished before darkness hits.
After your trip, be certain you leave the campsite cleaner than it was when you found it. Pack your own garbage bags to make cleaning easy. Don’t leave any food behind either. The best practice to follow when camping is to clean the campsite well, and leave only your footprints behind.
At the end of your camping outing, try to leave the site cleaner than you found it. Bring enough garbage bags for all the trash. Don’t forget to pack up your leftovers. The major rule for leaving a campsite is to just leave behind footprints.
Remember to pack foods that don’t spoil to avoid food poisoning. Food poisoning can happen when food is spoiled, which is something you risk when you take food not properly preserved, vacuum sealed or canned. Bring ample amounts of ice along in coolers to keep perishable items cold, and drain the water from melting ice each day to prevent food from becoming wet.
One of the most common problems campers have is food poisoning from spoiled or improperly handled food. If food is not properly vacuum-sealed, canned, or preserved, you risk getting sick from spoiled food. Ice is important as it will help to keep your food chilled and fresh.
An old shower curtain makes the perfect DIY tent tarp. This is good to use for areas where you cook and clean, since you can control the run-off. Don’t throw that shower curtain away; save it for a camping tarp.
Often, those new to camping make the erroneous choice of putting up tents too close to restrooms. They think they are doing themselves a favor, but they aren’t. Light and high traffic are usually found around the bathroom area. While it is convenient, it will decrease your comfort levels.
A full first aid kit should be a vital part of your camping gear. Kits need to include everything necessary in the event of injuries. First aid supplies to consider include dressings and wound cleansers, splints, snake bite kit and aspirin. Accidents can and do happen on many camping trips, so always travel prepared.
As was said before, camping is often enjoyable. Though, in the absence of sound planning, camping can become rather difficult and unpleasant. Remember to keep the information here in mind to make for the best camping trip possible. And remember, have fun!
If there are snakes nearby, snake-proof your site. Set up camp away from brush piles, rock piles, thick bushes and anywhere else snakes like to hide. Boots, clothing and bags should be checked to make sure that a snake has not found its way into them. Seal off your tent each night and build up dirt around the edges so a snake can’t slither under the tent.
