Many people enjoy vacation time, and millions of people around the world love to go camping. If you want to really enjoy going camping, read this article and its tips. You will be sure to make as many great memories and have as much fun as any theme park or museum vacation!
Let those you are camping with help pick the site. Have a conversation about where you want to go. The United States offers so many choices that choosing one can be hard! Throw out your ideas to see if they stick with members of your family.
Be prepared to get dirty. Being prepared for the inevitable is the best way to avoid unneeded stress. Let loose and allow everyone to get messy while you enjoy the time spent in the woods. After all, you can be normal at home.
If you have a new tent, practice setting it up at home before your trip. This will let you know that you’re not missing pieces from your tent and that you know how to pitch your tent in the right way. You will find your frustration level diminishes greatly as well.
Make sure you have a survival kit with you during your entire camping trip. A survival kit should include items like a flare gun, matches that are waterproof, a knife and other items you think you may need. This kit can save your life if you get into a dangerous situation. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.
It is better to over-pack than to under-pack, especially for kids. Camping can be messy. Kids love to play in the dirt. This means that your kids will get dirty during the day. You can’t avoid the dirt, but some extra clothes will help out. Stay ahead of the game!
Review the medical coverage that you have. If you are going camping out of state, you may have to add an additional policy for full coverage. This is especially true if you are traveling out of the country. Don’t get caught without the protection you need in case of an emergency situation.
Make sure that you get a tent that is big enough for you and whoever else is going to be inside the tent. This will allow everyone in your tent to be comfortable at night and to easily get up if they need to use the bathroom.
Don’t miss the opportunity to add swimming activities to your next camping trip. Many people miss a nice warm shower 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!
Don’t miss the opportunity to add swimming activities to your next camping trip. You may miss the shower at your home when you are camping. Cool water will make you feel clean and fresh, so you may not miss your shower at all.
Be sure and give children a thorough explanation of what camping is all about and entails, before hauling them off on a potentially dangerous adventure. Use the Internet to teach them about things like poison ivy and the like, and ensure that they will approach nature with respect and caution.
To start your fires at camp, use dryer lint as kindling. Collect the lint in your dryer and store it in a bag a few weeks before you go camping to prepare for this. You can simply stuff it all into a plastic grocery bag you keep near the dryer. As such, you’ll have kindling ready whenever you are.
When you go camping for the first few times, be sure that your camp is close to where you live. You could run into problems with your gear, or decide to cut the trip short. You may come to realize that you should have packed different clothing, or need more food. People that are camping for the first time may have a lot of problems, so being close to home is recommended.
You need duct tape because it is a versatile, handy tool. Duct tape has numerous uses at a campsite. You may need to patch up a punctured air mattress. It is also useful for taping up tears in tents, tarps or sleeping bags. If you want to take a long hike it can be put on feet to keep blisters at bay. It may also be used as emergency bandaging.
If you are camping deep in the woods, take extra care with your food. 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.
Are you a new camper with a brand new tent? Spend time practicing pitching a tent prior to leaving for your trip. This way, you will know the things you need to put your tent up. This can help you finish it quickly if you get to the campsite prior to it getting dark.
Camping Trip
You want to make sure that you don’t end up with drained flashlight batteries when you head out on your camping trip. You may accidentally turn on a flashlight while you’re looking through what you have packed for your trip. To prevent this, put flashlight batteries in backwards. It will keep the power from draining from the batteries and have them easily installed when you need it.
Create a list of items you need for your camping trip. This is imperative when there is travel involved during your camping trip. A couple of days before your trip, make a list of everything you need, checking things off as you pack them
Pack extra flashlights and plenty of batteries for your camping trip. Even after the sun is gone, you may need to see. Sufficient light can help you avoid falling or bumping into to animals. If you have kids with you on your camping trip, hand each of them a flashlight.
Flashlights, lanterns and a good supply of extra batteries are necessary supplies during any camping trip. There are going to be moments when you must clearly see certain items when it gets dark. If you have the proper lighting, you can prevent experiencing bad falls or wildlife encounters. If you’re taking kids along with you, give each one of them a flashlight.
Use an orange peel mosquito repellant. Don’t worry if you forgot your bug spray. Use the insides of an orange peel, rubbed gently on any exposed skin. This will help you to avoid insects.
Make sure you always know where your children are. There are cars that pull in and out of campsites, and of course, young children can quickly and easily get lost in the woods. In no time, your children could be harmed, so always keep a watchful eye on them.
Start setting up camp well before dark. It is much more difficult to pitch your tent after dark. If it’s already dark, you’ll need to create fire while using a flashlight. It is easier if you do it while it is still daylight.
Be mindful of where exactly you put up your camp. You want to avoid erecting your tent near a wasp’s nest or other insect habitats. If you’re close to a lot of plants and things, long sleeved shirts and long pants should be worn to protect you from bugs. It may be wise to take along bug spray too.
Your survival kit should include waterproof matches. Keep them in a container that is airtight. You can add paraffin to regular matches, or even nail polish for a homemade waterproof match. An empty prescription bottle or an old film container makes great storage for your matches.
Utility Knife
When setting up a tent, ensure that the seams are all sealed. A handy tube is available at many sporting good stores to help you do this. This will stop critters and rainwater from entering your tent.
One great piece of equipment to carry while camping is a spare utility knife. A utility knife is one of the most versatile and important pieces of equipment that no camper should be without.
When selecting a sleeping bag, make sure it’s season-appropriate. In summer weather, for example, you’ll need a light bag that will help you stay cool. For wintertime, you will need to ensure that you have a heavyweight bag that will keep you warm in cold temperatures.
Create shelter before it gets dark out, as it can be very difficult to function when night falls. When it is daytime, it is a much easier setting for pitching a tent. A flashlight or a fire will be essential. It is simply much easier to do this while the sun is still out so that you are all set whenever it gets dark.
For a cheap and disposable tarp to place under your tent, save an old shower curtain! You could also put it down in the area in which you are going to wash your dishes or prepare your food. Instead of throwing out old shower curtains, keep them around for your next camping trip.
Know how to use a compass and map before you head into the woods. It is still possible to get lost at the camp grounds even though you have already been there, because campsites look similar. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you’re lost. Learn to use them so that you don’t suffer a tragic fate.
An essential element of your camping gear is a first aid kit. Make sure the kit contains everything you may need for any type of mishap. Examples of some of the items that should be in your first aid kid include aspirin, bandages, splints, snake bite kit, antiseptic spray and more. Of course, you need to pay attention to your safety and try to avoid accidents. However, you need your kit to prepare you for when accidents do happen.
Make sure to seal the seams in your tent when you are setting it up. If sealant was not included in your tent, visit your local sporting goods store to purchase some. This will keep any critters and/or rainwater from getting inside your tent.
Bring some entertaining items for your trip. Electronics can spoil the mood of camping, but bring a book, a radio, a baseball glove, and maybe even your bike to keep you active and entertained for the duration of the trip.
A shower curtain that’s old makes a good disposable and cheap tarp to put beneath your tent. Additionally, you can use it as a place to cook or wash up. Do not throw out any old shower curtains — you can save them for camping.
Be sure to pack lots of sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun is essential. Be sure that your sunscreen’s ability to protect you is sufficient enough. If possible, look for a lotion that provides both sunscreen and bug repellent in one bottle. You don’t want to be slathered with tons of chemicals on your trip.
Baby Wipes
Set up your sleeping arrangements before darkness strikes. If night is already falling, there may not be enough time to get things built before dark. When not camping in a tent, building your shelter is far simpler if you have daylight to guide you.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are two things that every camper will appreciate. Leaves should only be used in the place of toilet paper if nothing else is available, so make sure to buy some baby wipes and toilet paper for camping trips.
Make sure that you bring along some items that can keep you entertained while indoors. Prepare for inclement weather. If rain happens to fall, you might end up spending a great deal of time in your accommodations. That is not to say that your trip is a bust. Bring some inside activities in case you get stuck in your RV, cabin or tent.
It’s easier to go camping when you have the proper tips, like what this article has provided you with. You will get so much more from your relaxation time when you follow the suggestions found in this article. Make your next camping trip the best it can be and really enjoy nature.
Always carry your map of all the camping trails near your site. After all, there is always a chance that you could make a wrong turn and end up getting lost. If you have a map with you, you have a better chance of quickly finding your way back to camp before it gets too dark to see.