When camping there is no kitchen or HVAC. You must plan out your trip completely and be prepared for anything. The following article can give you some great ideas for making the next camping trip you take a truly memorable experience.
Always pack and carry a survival kit. In your survival kit, be sure you have waterproof matches, a flare gun, a first aid kit, water-purifying tablets and a knife. These are essential items for your survival if you ever get lost. Keep your kit with you at all times; don’t leave it at the campsite.
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. When night falls, making food, finding wood, and pitching your tent can be very difficult. This is particularly true for those city-dwellers that are not used to pitch-black darkness. Don’t get into this situation, look for proper shelter before you get to this point.
Ensure that your tent is large enough for all of the potential occupants. This will ensure you are able to comfortably move around without disturbing people you are sharing your tent with.
Select the right sleeping bag for the season. Make sure that your sleeping bags in the summer are not too heavy. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. You may even develop hypothermia.
Preparation could mean the difference between a good camping experience and a dreaded one. Only go camping when you have prepared yourself for it. Do your research and understand the local conditions and wildlife, as well as climate concerns. This is the best way to keep yourself safe and enjoy your trip.
Never assume that you will find enough wood to burn, because rain can change that in an instant. It is good planning to take your own wood with you and store it where it is dry.
Check over your medical insurance before going on a camping trip. If you go camping out of state, you may need to have coverage where you go. This can be especially important if you leave the country on your trip, such as camping across the border in Canada. It is important to always be prepared.
Enroll in a first aid course, especially if your trip will include kids. In an emergency, your first aid training could be the difference between life and death. Additional research can also provide valuable information. Be aware of the potential for poisonous snakes, wild animals and other possible wildlife dangers.
A bandanna or handkerchief should be brought along with you. In a pinch, that single piece of fabric can serve as a potholder, carrying bag, blotter, hand towel and paper towel. It is very versatile, so be sure you take one with you every time you go camping.
Do a “jungle breakfast” if you are bringing kids. Tie juice boxes, tiny boxes of cereal and fruit to trees in the woods. When your kids get up, have them hunt down their breakfast. This activity adds a bit more fun to camping.
Before you embark on any camping trip you should be sure you have emergency supplies on hand, like a first aid kit and more. You want to bring a kit for any situation that might arise during your camping trip. Be sure to do your research and bring along any location-specific items you will need.
Make sure you have all the gear you need before you leave your driveway. 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.
Take along things to do while you are in the wild. Scavenger hunts, card games and fishing poles all add up to wonderful diversions to do in the wild. If you are taking children camping, you might want to bring more activities than you think you are going to need.
Always become familiar with the potential dangers of a campsite before you enter it. This could be anything from wildlife to insects to poisonous plant life that could be a danger to you. Each area can pose different dangers, so familiarize yourself whenever you venture somewhere new.
Take extra precautions if you are camping in any area that has very dangerous wildlife. You should wrap up your food tightly, store it somewhere that isn’t close to your tent, and avoid certain types of food altogether. This will reduce the likelihood of experiencing an attack.
Camping is about being one with nature and living off the basics, but it is important to go prepared. Blankets are essential, in addition to a sleeping bag, to maximize comfort. This will keep you warm if it gets really cool at night and/or you can use them for additional padding.
The main idea when you’re camping out in the wilderness is to live with what you can, but it’s important to be prepared for anything. 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.
Always be prepared when on a camping trip. Remember, though, that you can’t plan for every eventuality. The weather may change all of a sudden, illness and injuries can occur, your circumstance can change, etc. It’s important that you take care of everything, don’t take risks that you don’t need to, and think things through before doing them.
It’s imperative that you take along the things you need when you’re going camping. Overlooking even a small thing can ruin an entire trip. Write a list of all the items you need and make sure to cross them off of the list once you pack them. You need to include things like; hand sanitizer, fire starters, utility knife, water, tarps, sleeping bags, tents and prepared foods.
Plan to save the light of your flashlight before you go camping. It’s easy to accidentally turn on a flashlight when rummaging through your bags. Keep the batteries for the flashlight in backwards. You will be able to keep your battery life this way.
Be aware of where your campsite is. You want to avoid things like wasp’s nest, ant hills and things of that nature. If you’re in an area that is rich in vegetation, try wearing long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself from insects. You should bring insect repellant along.
Sleeping bags can be purchased for a variety of camping conditions. Lighter bags are great for summer while heavy ones work well in fall and winter. If you plan to pitch a tent, make sure your sleeping bag stays snug against your body, as this prevents your body heat from escaping.
Carry an additional utility knife in case your original one breaks. An utility knife is the most versatile tool you’ll have as a camper, and bring another one if you should lose the other.
Do your packing deliberately and intelligently. Create a supply checklist for your trip and check off each item as it’s being packed. This is key if you plan to visit a far away spot that is not likely to offer fist aid or other critical supplies.
Always make sure that your cell phone is with you when you get to your campsite, and it should be fully charged. You may also want to bring a couple of extra batteries in case one runs out. A cell phone is valuable in case of emergency, so verify that it is usable.
Duct Tape
Be sure to create your shelter before it gets dark. It’s very hard to set up your tent when it’s dark outside. A flashlight or a fire will be essential. It will obviously be much easier to pitch your tent if the sun hasn’t gone down yet.
Duct tape is handy to bring along on your camping trip. Although modern tents are more durable than older ones, you still may tear your tent. Duct tape can help to seal holes and rips, and hold important things together when you need them most.
Leave your campsite clean when you leave it. Pack your own garbage bags to make cleaning easy. Get rid of things like trash and leftover food. The only things you should really be leaving behind at your campsite are your footprints.
Study the map of the area you plan to enter in advance and learn how to use a compass. You need to do this even if you’ve been to the campsite before. You may get lost even in a familiar site because so many areas look alike. Knowing how to use them can save you from a disaster.
If you plan on camping more than a couple days, bring along some entertainment. Multiple electronics may kill the spirit of the trip; however, books, music and games can bring some much needed excitement to the group, or offer a diversion when you are alone.
When erecting your tent, ensure that you are able to seal all seams. If sealant was not included in your tent, visit your local sporting goods store to purchase some. Sealant keeps both insects and rain out of your tent.
Bring lots of water and food on your camping trip. If your campsite is known to have an abundance of bears, be certain to store all food away from your sleeping area. Burn your garbage so that its odor does not draw bears in.
Your sleeping bag selection should be made with the expected climate in mind. So a lighter bag for summers and a heavier and thicker bag for winter time. In the winter, thicker bags are necessary to keep you warm.
Create a snake-proof campsite if there are snakes in the area. Stay away from snake homes like woods, rocks or deep thickets. Boots, clothing and bags should be checked to make sure that a snake has not found its way into them. Your tent must be kept sealed and the edges of it packed with earth to keep snakes from going under the tent.
Camping trips require that you give up a few of your creature comforts and get back to nature. For many, this is one of the great things about camping; for others, it is harder to deal with. Having the best camping advice and suggestions can make your trip as relaxing as possible and as much fun as it should be. You have read some of them here in this article so make sure you use them!
Be sure to have some activities you can do indoors. Be prepared for bad weather on your camping trip. It is a great way to occupy your time when you can’t get outdoors. This doesn’t have to mean the end of your trip. Be certain to have lots of activities handy that can be enjoyed inside.