No matter where your intended destination is, near or far, the better prepared you are, the more fun you will have. Go through some of the details outlined below to make sure you don’t overlook anything so you can concentrate on having fun. This information will give you what you need to have the best camping experience possible.
Make sure that your sleeping bag is right for the season and climate where you are camping. If you take a sub-zero bag camping in the middle of summer, you will probably sweat all night, or even overheat. On the flip side, bring a sleeping bag meant for summer camping will make you very cold during your winter camping trip. You might develop hypothermia.
Let everyone help choose the perfect campsite for your family. Openly talk about the various options available to you. 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.
Let everyone know they have a say in the campsite and should help pick a favorite spot. Discuss which state you would most like to visit. With the many parks and preserves in the world, deciding where to go can be a task into itself. It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.
Build yourself a survival kit; keep it with you anywhere you go while camping. Survival kits must include water purification tablets, a knife, a first aid box, flare gun and waterproof matches. This kit can save your life if you get into a dangerous situation. Never leave the kit behind, even for a short excursion.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that will be expected to use it. Being stuffed into a tent can make it almost impossible to get any sleep, and you certainly do not want to be stepping on people if you have to get out during the night.
See if you can integrate swimming into your camping trip. Many people miss a nice warm shower while camping. The cool water helps you to feel fresher, and you may just miss your shower a bit less.
Preparation and organization are chief factors to facilitate a great camping trip. Prepare fully before going on a camping trip. If you’re visiting a new location, be sure to research its wildlife, climate, and geography.
Bring things like a bandanna and handkerchief along with you. Such an item can be used as a carrying bag, a potholder, a hand towel, a blotter or a paper towel. You will find that you can use these in a lot of versatile ways, so bring one along when you’re camping.
Check out your medical insurance policy. Leaving your state may affect your policy. This is very important if you will be camping in a foreign country. Always be prepared.
Always remember to bring a roll of duct tape with you when you go camping as it can be used for all manner of things. It is good for patching holes in tents, shoes, and inflatables. It is also good for securing tents and sealing up mosquito nets.
Bring along camping pillows to the campsite. Since standard pillows can pick up a lot of humidity, debris or even creepy-crawlers, leave them safely at home. Those big pillows can also mildew, because they absorbs moisture. Camping pillows have a protective coating on them to prevent the absorption of moisture.
Bring everything that you will need before starting out on your camping trip. Forgetting something important, such as a sleeping bag, is a terrible feeling. Verify all the things that you need or should take and write out a list of all of them. Then, check your final packing according to the list to be sure.
Before you decide to take off on a camping trip somewhere you’ve never been, you need to do some research on what the area is like and be aware of the local risks and dangers. Figure out if there are any poisonous insects, what the land looks like and how the weather will be. Every camping trip has different dangers.
Kids love camping, but you need to plan out activities for them to do on the trip. They could get bored if there isn’t anything to do. Children may not have an idea of how to fish or set up a tent. Allow them to practice these activities prior to going camping if they’re not that experienced with the outdoors.
Take a few things with you to entertain yourself while you’re camping. Card games, fishing poles, and a list for a scavenger hunt are all great activities. If you bring your kids, these games will help to fill the void when there is free time.
Pack plenty of food of the proper variety. It depends on how long you’ll be out, but you must have food that won’t spoil on your trip. Just a little food poisoning can turn a camping trip upside down. Learn the right type of food preparations meant for camping before you go.
Always be prepared when on a camping trip. Make sure you have put a little thought into things in case the unexpected does occur. The weather could change suddenly, you could encounter hostile people or animals, and someone could become sick or injured. Do what you can to prevent any accidents or illnesses and bring what you need to treat it if it does happen.
Have you just bought your first tent as a rookie camper? Learn how to pitch your tent before you leave for the campsite. This will help you to be prepared with the right equipment and skills to pitch your tent with ease. This is ideal, as even if you end up at your campsite while the sunlight is fading you will be able to quickly set up your camp.
Make sure that you choose the right sleeping bag for the conditions on the campsite. For example, there are lightweight sleeping bag for warm weather and heavy sleeping bags for colder weather. You also want to get a sleeping bag that is comfortable to sleep in as well, so test them out.
Think carefully on your next trip to prevent the drainage of your flashlight batteries. You don’t want to waste your flashlight battery and not be able to see. If you put the batteries in your flashlight backwards, you can avoid this. You will be able to keep your battery life this way.
You should leave your car or basecamp with a cell phone that’s fully charged. Another good idea is to keep an additional battery available. This is an important thing to have and you need to make sure you can use it if you need.
When you are camping, be sure you choose the right sleeping bag for the site conditions. Lighter bags are great for summer while heavy ones work well in fall and winter. You might even consider a body hugging one as it helps you retain your body heat.
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. If it’s already dark, you’ll need to create fire while using a flashlight. This should be done when the sun is present so that you can use natural light.
Be aware of your campsite location. You should avoid setting up near any insect breeding grounds like wasp’s nest and beehives. Keep an eye out for animals and insects around your camp, and make sure there aren’t any large populations of them close to you. You also might want to have bug repellant nearby.
Bring duct tape with you on your camping adventures. Although tent fabric technology has come a long way, tearing is still a possibility. A little duct tape can means you can still sleep dry through a rainy night.
Smart campers will leave their car or base camp with a charged mobile phone. As an added safety precaution, you may wish to bring an additional battery so you have plenty of power. Your cell phone makes for excellent emergency equipment, so you must ensure it does not die.
A lot of people contract food poisoning because they don’t properly pack their food. If your food is not preserved, canned or vacuum sealed, you run the risk of getting food poisoning from spoiled food. Ice is important as it will help to keep your food chilled and fresh.
When camping, pack carefully and wisely. Make a list of what you’ll need and check it off as you get things packed. This is something you should strive to do if you are camping in a secluded spot, away from first-aid or emergency amenities.
When you go camping, dress in layers. Weather can change on a dime. A cold morning can turn into a very hot afternoon. This type of cycle can continue with a cold night. Wearing clothes in layers allows you to adjust to rapidly changing weather and temperatures throughout the day.
Duct Tape
If you are interested in camping in the woods but have never done so before, there is a quick way to test if you will enjoy it or not. Pitch a tent in your backyard and spend an evening out there. Do not let yourself go indoors for anything! If you find the experience enjoyable, camping may just be for you!
Make sure that you never go camping without duct tape. Tents can be quite durable, but they aren’t invincible. Duct tape can help you to sleep in peace at night, and is very inexpensive.
For a longer camping trip, make sure you bring something to entertain yourself. Don’t bring a ton of electronics, but a book or music is great.
When going camping, always remember to take waterproof matches with you when you’re creating a survival kit. These should be stored in an airtight container. You can add paraffin to regular matches, or even nail polish for a homemade waterproof match. You can stash them in a 35mm film canister or a plastic medicine bottle.
Be sure to pack lots of sunscreen. Protecting yourself from the sun’s rays is important. Locate a sunscreen that gives you the best protection. Consider finding a product that protects from insects as well as the sun. That way, you can avoid applying any more products than necessary on your trip.
Seal the seams on your tent when you’re putting it up. If tent sealer was not provided with the tent, you can purchase some at a sporting goods store. Sealing the seams of your tent will prevent any insects or water from getting inside.
Take along some water purification tablets when you go camping. Never say never, but if you get hurt or lost in the great outdoors, you will need the purification tablets if you can’t boil water. At home, make sure you try the tablets out to be sure you know what the water tastes like. The worst thing that could happen is that you become dehydrated, so be sure to plan to prevent this from happening.
Clearly, camping is an activity that can be enjoyed by virtually everyone. Even the indoor hermit can find camping enjoyable with the proper information and preparation. Get out and explore and enjoy the wonders that Mother Nature has provided you.
Take drinks, food and water with you when you go camping. Keep your food safe from animals while you are sleeping by securely storing it. Burn your garbage so the food smells don’t attract any bears.
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