Camping is a very unique life experience. Sleeping all night under the stars is more relaxing than you may have ever imagined. If you are looking for ways to make your camping trips enjoyable, the tips below can help.
Proper planning and preparation can keep you safe and make your camping experience more enjoyable. Always be well prepared prior to leaving on your camping trip. Research the place that you are traveling to, which will help you to understand the climate and geography.
Let your family members all have a decision when it comes to choosing a campsite. Openly talk about the various options available to you. There are millions of options just in the United States, and it can sometimes be difficult to choose the perfect one! Try to select a short-list and then put it to a family vote.
Double check your medical insurance. 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. Be sure you’re prepared to be on the safe side!
Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. Save the orange peels and rub them into your exposed skin. Insects will stay away from you for an affordable price.
Try to combine a camping experience with a swimming experience of some kind. When you’re out camping, it’s really easy to miss your shower at home. By taking a dip in a pool, lake or river, you will have fun and feel clean and refreshed at the same time!
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Don’t bring the pillows you use in your bedroom. These pillows can trap heat during humid weather. They also absorb moisture out of the air and can mildew quickly. A good pillow intended for camping, however, will keep the moisture out, which will prevent any of the above problems.
The lint from the dryer actually is great to help start campfires. A month before your camping trip, begin collecting the lint from your dryer’s lint filter. An easy way to remember to save up your lint is to keep a plastic bag near your dryer as a reminder. As such, you’ll have kindling ready whenever you are.
Food is one of the most important items to bring while camping. Depending upon how long your trip will last, you should have plenty of food that won’t spoil over the course of your trip. No one wants to end their trip early because of food poisoning from spoiled food. This will make it easier to avoid food poisoning.
Always prepare an emergency kit when camping, whether you are going by yourself or with others. You may need different supplies, depending on where you will be, but there are certain things that you should always have. Take precautions for wildlife too, so keep some anti-venom on hand.
Take some things to entertain yourself while in the wild. You might want to take a deck of cards or a list of things to look for during a scavenger hunt as well as a fishing pole. Children often complain that they’re bored wherever they go, so bring along as many items as you can think of to keep them entertained.
Before the sun goes down, make sure that you have your camp completely set up. If you’re driving an RV, find a safe parking spot. When you find a camping area, make sure that your tent is pitched on a flat area that isn’t near any unsafe ledges. Doing this during daylight hours will save you hassle and frustration. It will also allow prevent the frustration of not being able to see while setting up your equipment.
When it comes to camping, it is important to be prepared. There is always the potential that something unexpected may happen even with the most careful planning. Weather conditions can turn on a dime, your surroundings can change suddenly and injuries can occur at any time. Never take unnecessary risks or be careless, and always think before you act.
Talk to your children and friends about the dangers and risks of camping before embarking on your journey. Make sure they understand what poison ivy looks like, to stay away from wild animals and to carry a light if they are walking around at night.
Write down a list of all the materials you need before you go camping. This is critical if you are going to be covering some ground before getting to the spot where you pitch your tent. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.
Should you decide to bring your dog, pack a long leash and prepare everyone to keep careful watch on the pet. There are people who do not like dogs, so you will want to keep them in control. It’s important to think of other people when you’re out there camping. Also, your pet could be destructive to other people’s belongings.
Orange Peel
Take along some things to entertain yourself and your family. Card games, fishing poles, scavenger hunt lists and other supplies can make hanging out in the woods more fun. If you are taking children camping, you might want to bring more activities than you think you are going to need.
An orange peel can help repel mosquitoes. If you’ve packed everything, except for mosquito repellant, do not fret. Seasoned campers suggest that you can rub your skin with the inside of an ripe orange peel. You should be mosquito free for hours.
Don’t forget the duct tape. The tape that does it all at home, also does it all while camping. You can use this to repair any holes in an air mattress. Duct tape can also seal other rips, such as ripped tents or sleeping bags. If you want to take a long hike it can be put on feet to keep blisters at bay. In a pinch, it can even serve as a bandage for injuries.
Pack mindfully and appropriately. Have a checklist on hand and cross your items off the list as you add them to your pack. This helps to reduce the chance of an emergency impacting the quality of your trip.
Know where your kids are at all times. Cars often travel through campsites, and little kids are prone to getting lost. An accident can occur quickly, so it is important to be vigilant.
Many people don’t realize that it is necessary to make a shelter before it gets dark. It is really hard to set up a tent in the dark. It is possible to do by firelight or by flashlight, but it will more than likely be frustrating and can be downright impossible in areas where there are hazards nearby. Making the effort to do the work before the sun goes down will make for a more enjoyable trip.
A simple camping tip everyone should know is to build shelter during daylight. It’s very hard to set up your tent when it’s dark outside. It is possible to see what you are doing by the light of the campfire or with the aid of a flashlight. It is basically easier to get your campsite set up before it gets dark and you are not fumbling around in the dark.
Duct Tape
Don’t leave your campsite a mess! You need to bring along bags for trash so you can clean up. Pack up any leftover food and take it with you. The main rule when you’re leaving a campsite is that you should only leave your footprints behind.
Make sure that duct tape is part of your supply arsenal while camping. Tents are generally well-made nowadays, but rips and tears do happen. The right strip of duct tape can mean sleeping dry at night after your tent has suffered damage during a day that was more exciting that you wanted.
Improper food packing leads to food poisoning in many campers each year. If your food is not preserved, canned or vacuum sealed, you run the risk of getting food poisoning from spoiled food. Pack a lot of ice with you to keep any food that needs to be cold as cold as it can be, and drain your cooler out frequently to avoid wet food.
People who don’t pack food correctly risk food poisoning. Any food that is not canned, preserved, or vacuum sealed is at risk of spoiling or causing food poisoning. Make use of an abundance of ice so that your foods stay fresh and make sure to remove the cooler’s drain plug to prevent soaking of your items.
People that are new at camping sometimes mistakenly set up their camps near restrooms. While this might be convenient, you’ll soon find out differently. Bathrooms have constant light and lots of foot traffic. They may end up ruining the entire experience.
Whenever you’re choosing a sleeping bag, pick one out that’s for the climate you’re in. You need a lightweight sleeping bag for the summertime. Meanwhile, if you are camping during the winter months, you will probably desire a more heavyweight sleep bag that will protect the body’s extremities from frostbite.
Always follow safety guidelines during your camping trip. In other words, stay away from wild animals, large or small. Even small animals can present a danger. Don’t feed bears if you encounter any.
If you’re ready to head to the wildnerness to camp but haven’t ventured outside of your home in the past, it’s easy to test your readiness. Pitch a tent in your backyard and spend an evening out there. Stay out of the house. If you find this to be an enjoyable experience, chances are good you will like camping out for real.
Dressing in layers helps when you are camping. Outdoors weather changes frequently. It may be chilly early in the morning, but then the afternoon can be incredibly hot and humid. The night can get cold. You’ll need to have layers of clothes so that you can adjust to the weather as it changes throughout the day.
Now that you are properly educated on how to go about it, you can start working on creating your next camping adventure. Remember what you have learned here, and you will become a master camper. Whether you go far away or settle for a nearby locale, you are sure to have an awesome adventure.
When you are going camping for a longer time, be certain to bring activities for entertaining yourself. While you may want to stay away from devices that connect you with the real world, there are many activities you can enjoy without the help of technology. Some of these include board games, a good book or your favorite music.
