Have you taken a camping trip recently? When you camp, you can have a fun time returning to nature. You can escape from the pressures of work and daily life and just relax. You can take your camping trip from good to great with the solid advice in the article below.
You are going camping outdoors, so expect that you will all be getting dirty. While baby wipes can be used to help for some level of cleanliness, expect that people will get dirty. Be ready for it and accept it. Take this as an opportunity to enjoy the freedom, let your hair down, and get a little dirtier than usual. You can go back to normal when you go home.
Your sleeping bag should be seasonally appropriate. A sleep bag designed for winter camping would make you sweat during the summer. Conversely, if you bring a light-weight sleeping bag to a winter camping trip, you can be extremely uncomfortable the entire time. You might even contract hypothermia.
Get everyone involved in choosing a campsite. Think about where it is you want to go. Since the are so many great options to choose from across the U.S., it might be hard to select only one! If it simplifies things, pick four or five favorites and then give everyone a vote.
Bring a survival kit on the trip and keep it on your person all the time. Your survival kit should contain a survival knife, water-purifying tablets, waterproof matches, first aid kit, and a flare gun. Your kit may be all that stands between you and certain death if you become lost, as the items within it are essential to survival. Be sure to bring it with you whenever you leave your campsite.
It is always a smart idea to look into what the weather is going to be like, before going camping. There are a number of sites that can provide detailed information regarding what to expect weather-wise during your trip. When you know what the weather will be like, you can bring the proper gear and clothes.
If you are not prepared for your camping trip, your fun excursion can turn dangerous fast. It is a bad idea to go camping unprepared. If you are going to a new place, make sure you do some research about the local wildlife, as well as the local geography and climate.
Affirm that your insurance is intact before you leave on your trip. Sometimes going into a different state means that you will need to have an additional policy. This is more crucial if you go camping in another country. Semper paratus doesn’t just apply to the military! Be prepared!
Check out your medical insurance policy. Sometimes going into a different state means that you will need to have an additional policy. This is even more of a factor if you travel to another country to go camping, like Canada. Don’t get caught without the protection you need in case of an emergency situation.
You can go swimming at the same time that you camp! When camping, you may find you miss your home shower. When swimming, you will feel refreshed and cleaner. If you use some biodegradable soap, you can get just as clean as you would at home.
Make your kids a “jungle breakfast”. Use serving sized boxes of cereal, pieces of fruit and juice boxes and tie them to trees near your campsite. When they wake up, they’ll have to search the “jungle” for breakfast. This is a wonderful way to spice up the whole camping trip.
Anytime you are camping in a location that features hazardous animals, you must take extra care in terms of food storage. All of your foods should be tightly wrapped and not place near your tent. Some foods shouldn’t be brought at all. Doing this means you cut down on your possibilities of an animal attack.
You can easily start a campfire with lint from the dryer. Around four weeks prior to camping, start keeping the lint that you clean from your dryer filter. You can simply stuff it all into a plastic grocery bag you keep near the dryer. You can just go about your business after that.
Is this your first tent? So, practice setting up your tent and taking it down before you leave home. This will give you the confidence to pitch your tent at any time. This will help you quickly pitch a tent before darkness falls at your campsite.
A small luxury can help brighten up any camping trip. Carry something small and convenient, such as a chocolate bar or some coffee creamer. These small treats for yourself can really boost morale.
Before leaving for your trip, write a list of what you need to bring along. If you have to travel a long way to reach the campsite, this is particularly vital. Start packing a few days ahead of your trip, and tick items off as you pack them.
Find a soft and flat spot to pitch your tent when you are camping in the wilderness. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping on a slope or a spot with a rocky surface. Always put a tarp down on the ground first so that water can’t get in and ruin the tent.
Use an orange to help prevent bug bites. If you forgot to bring your favorite brand of mosquito repellant, this remedy might save you from some discomfort. Experts have said that you can just rub inner side of an orange peel on any exposed skin. This should effectively repel mosquitoes for hours.
Bring along extra flashlights, lanterns and spare batteries when you go camping. Flashlights will be essential at night. If you have a flashlight or lamp you can avoid injury, such as getting poked in the eye by a branch. It is a great idea to bring one flashlight for each person, especially when camping with children.
Charge your cellular phone to maximum capacity before you leave on your trip. You should also seriously consider bringing a spare battery for your cell phone in case the main battery dies. A cell phone is perhaps the most useful item of emergency equipment that you can carry with you, but you do need to ensure that it does not run out of juice.
When camping with kids, have a photo of them at hand. If you lose them at some point, a picture will be very helpful to local authorities. This is particularly useful if you will be camping somewhere far from where you live.
Camping can either be a beautifully relaxing journey, or it can be a virtual nightmare. The key difference? Preparation. If you know how to prepare for everything that may pop up, you’ll be able to better enjoy your trip.
Know how to use a compass and map before you head into the woods. If you have visited the campsite before, you can still get lost once you arrive. Avoid problems by learning to use these items that can save your life.
Bring duct tape with you on your camping adventures. Tents may get torn, in which case duct tape can provide a seal. A little duct tape can means you can still sleep dry through a rainy night.
When setting up the tent, know how to seal every seam. Some tents are sold with material to seal the seams, and the majority of sporting goods stores have tube available for the purpose. The seals keep water and pests from entering your tent.
Waterproof matches are an absolute essential addition to your camping survival kit. Keep them stored in an air and water tight container. A regular match can be made waterproof by dipping it in nail polish or paraffin. Easy-to-find 35mm film canisters and plastic medicine bottles make handy cases for matches.
Food poisoning afflicts many campers annually, since they don’t pack their food right. Bring preserved foods and foods that don’t spoil easily. Pack perishable foods in ice and drain your cooler often to prevent water from damaging the food.
It may sound silly to be reminded of this, but always make sure you take toilet paper on a camping trip. When camping at a facility without public bathrooms, you will need to do your business outside. It is not advisable to use leaves, as some plants are poisonous; stay on the safe side and take some toilet paper.
Sleeping Bag
When you’re away camping, what cooking methods are you planning on using? Prior to leaving, decide which cooking method you will be using so that you can pack the supplies you will need. If you want to eat food that is cooked over an open flame, you must have the proper equipment.
Choose a sleeping bag that is made for the time of year you will be camping. Summer requires only a lightweight sleeping bag. When it’s cold, you need to have a sleeping bag that will handle sub zero temperatures.
Safety procedures should be acknowledged when you’re out camping. Stay away from larger animals, and be cautious even around smaller ones. Smaller animals, like squirrels, can be more dangerous than their tiny size indicates. One thing you should never do is feed a bear if you see one, even though you probably would be too scared to approach one!
Safety procedures should be acknowledged when you’re out camping. In other words, stay away from wild animals, large or small. Small wildlife, such as squirrels, can be very dangerous despite their tiny size. It should go without saying, but do not feed any bears if you see them.
Food safety should be maintained while you are on your trip. Pack it in airtight containers and make sure they are waterproof too. Keep cold foods in ice in insulated containers. Make sure to keep your raw food and cooked food separate. Keep surfaces and hands clean when you’re dealing with your food. Use hand sanitizer or soap. Ensure that you heat food thoroughly and keep perishable items chilled at all times.
Use proper food safety techniques when you go camping. Keep food in containers that can’t get water in them, and bags that are airtight. Use a cooler that is insulated properly and filled with ice if need be. Keep your raw food away from cooked foods. Use a cleaner or sanitizer to keep hands and surfaces clean, just as you would at home. Cook all your food thoroughly and chill leftovers quickly.
Keep dry, fresh, and well-ventilated inside the confines of your tent. Condensation from breathing and perspiration can build up in a sealed tent, causing moisture to permeate the walls, roof, floor, and even sleeping bags. No one wants to wake up in a moist atmosphere, as this could make you very uncomfortable. Make sure to purchase a tent that has vents or windows that can be opened to stop moisture from becoming a problem.
For a better time when you plan your next camping trip, the tips above can be the way to go. These suggestions will help make your planning easier and more productive. It is a great idea to always look for any information that can enhance your experience.
Use a worn shower curtain as an inexpensive, disposable tarp for under your tent. You could also use the curtain as a cooking base or any place you need to control run-off. Whenever you replace a shower curtain, simply launder the old one, and stow it away with your camping gear for your next outdoor adventure.
