You’re in for a real treat if you are experiencing the joys of camping for the first time. Falling asleep under the stars and waking up to the sounds of nature is incredible. If you want to go camping, but aren’t sure how to do it, the article below will help.
While it may be that there’s enough wood around to keep a fire going for a long time, some of the wood may be wet and cannot burn no matter what you try. It’s smart to bring your own wood and make sure it stays in a dry area.
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. You are going to roast all night long in a sleeping bag designed for cold weather that you camp with during summer. Conversely, if you bring a light-weight sleeping bag to a winter camping trip, you can be extremely uncomfortable the entire time. You may even get hypothermia.
Pack a survival kit and carry it on you at all times. Survival kits must include water purification tablets, a knife, a first aid box, flare gun and waterproof matches. Your survival kit can be the difference between you making it out of the woods on a stretcher or your own two feet. Always keep it nearby and never leave it behind at the campsite.
Make sure that all of your friends and family are involved in choosing the camping site. Talk about where you want to camp. There are many sites in the country to visit that are nearby and are very beneficial. If necessary, select a few locations yourself, then let the family decide among your choices.
Before you set out on your camping trip take the time to check the weather forecast for the area that you will be visiting. You can visit http://www.weather.com to check the weather just about anywhere. Be sure to look at the 10 day forecast along with extended weather patterns. This way you will know what type of clothing to pack and the equipment you need.
Don’t be afraid of bringing too much if you have kids. Camping can be quite dirty. Kids love to play in the dirt. As a result, they are going to be seriously messy by the end of each day. Be sure to pack some extra clothes for your kids in case this happens. Prepare thoroughly!
If you are camping in the summer, go swimming too. When you go camping, you can miss out on things like showers. 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!
Make sure your medical insurance is up-to-date. You might need a new policy if you go to another state. This is a bigger factor if you’re traveling to another country for a camping trip, such as Canada. Be prepared in case there is an injury or illness.
It’s imperative that you locate a safe place to camp and pitch your tent before the sun goes down. If you’re driving an RV, find a safe parking spot. If your camping with a tent, make sure to find a dry area that is also flat so you can pitch your tent with ease. Doing so before nightfall will allow you to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. It will also allow prevent the frustration of not being able to see while setting up your equipment.
Entertain Yourself
Make sure you pack plenty of camping-friendly food. Depending on the length of your stay, you will want food that is not very perishable. No one wants to end their trip early because of food poisoning from spoiled food. Learn the right type of food preparations meant for camping before you go.
Take some things to entertain yourself while in the wild. Entertain yourself by taking cards and fishing poles. If kids are coming along for the trip, take even more entertainment with you to keep them from getting bored without their electronics.
It is really critical to make sure that you pack the essential items and equipment for camping. If you forget a few things, it could ruin your entire trip. It is best to create a list a few weeks before your trip and to use it while packing. You will want to include everything you need, no matter how big or small, to ensure that you have what you need while you are away from home.
While the concept of camping involves getting away from it all, you still need to be prepared with some basic items. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. If the temperature drops at night, you can use the blankets for warmth, or as padding, too.
Your list of camping supplies should include several flashlights with extra batteries and lanterns. Once the sun has set it is nice to have a source of light. A flashlight can prevent a fall and scare away unwanted wildlife. It is a great idea to bring one flashlight for each person, especially when camping with children.
Be prepared for your next camping adventure by taking precautions on conserving flashlight batteries. You can easily press the “on” switch on a flashlight when digging in your camping bag. If you want to avoid draining your batteries, keep flashlights stored with backwards batteries in them. That way you make sure you don’t accidentally turn them on.
Don’t forget to watch your children. Cars always are always coming and going from these sites, so young children may simply and quickly get lost inside the woods. Accidents and mishaps occur in a split second; make certain your children are safely supervised at all times.
A pre-made list will help you remember exactly what you need for your camping excursion. A list will help you to not forget to bring any essentials. Prepare for your trip a couple days prior to leaving and use a check list to ensure you have everything as you pack.
Keep an eye out on your camping area. Always avoid camping near a bee’s nest or insect breeding grounds. When staying near plants, use long sleeved shirts as well as pants; this avoids insect issues. Don’t forget to bring along the bug spray.
Don’t take your eyes of children while camping. Cars always are always coming and going from these sites, so young children may simply and quickly get lost inside the woods. In no time, your children could be harmed, so always keep a watchful eye on them.
Bring along a survival kit and a first-aid kit. These two kits are essential for your safety and well being. This is a great way to avoid a situation getting out of control.
Before you go camping, make sure to think about the clothes you will need for the trip. Be sure you have enough clean clothes to last the entire trip. Be sure to also carry clothing that is weather and climate appropriate on your trip. You should also have a pair of hiking boots or some other type of durable, protective shoe.
Camping can either be a beautifully relaxing journey, or it can be a virtual nightmare. Being prepared creates the division between the two possibilities. When you try to consider all the issues that may arise, you can enjoy your trip with piece of mind.
Be aware of your campsite location. Try to steer clear of wasp nests or other pest havens. When near vegetation, long sleeves shirts and long pants will keep insects from getting on your skin. Having insect repellent is a really sound idea.
Pack your things carefully and smartly. Compile a checklist of things that you need for your trip, then check the items off on the list as you add them to your bags. If you are going deep into the bush or backcountry where emergency supplies and services are inaccessible, then you really need to make sure you have first aid material and related equipment.
Seal all your tent’s seams. You may find a tube at many sporting good stores if the tent didn’t include any. The seals keep water and pests from entering your tent.
Always pack a roll of duct tape when you go camping. While most camping equipment is durable, they can tear or break easily. Your tent can easily be repaired with some duct tape, which will keep you nice and dry in your damaged tent.
After your trip, be certain you leave the campsite cleaner than it was when you found it. Bring enough trash bags for the anticipated clean up. Look around for any excess food, don’t leave it behind. The main rule when you’re leaving a campsite is that you should only leave your footprints behind.
Though it might seem like a no-brainer, do not forget your toilet paper. If you are going camping in a place that has no toilets, it will be necessary for you to use the bathroom outside. Wiping yourself with leaves is an uncomfortable task, especially in areas where poison ivy is common, so toilet paper is a must-have item.
Remember to pack foods that don’t spoil to avoid food poisoning. Preserve the food by vacuum sealing or canning it to prevent food poisoning on long camping trips. Pack an adequate supply of ice for keeping perishable foods nice and cold and be sure to drain your cooler’s plug so the food doesn’t get soaked.
Maintain your tent well ventilated and dry. If your tent is sealed tightly, it will create condensation on not only the tent, but also on items in the tent. You may end up waking to unpleasant dampness. Crack one of your tent’s vents, doors or windows so that moisture does not build up.
It is important to take toilet paper along when you go camping. You may have to use nature’s toilet. If you forget the toilet paper, you may be forced to use leaves, some of which could be poison ivy.
If you’ve never gone camping before and think you might want to try it, you can quickly test whether this will be an enjoyable hobby for you. Pitch a tent in your garden or backyard and spend one or two nights in it. No matter what happens, stay out of the house. If you find the exercise enjoyable, you might like real camping, too.
Food safety should be maintained while you are on your trip. Place food in sealed containers so it does not come in contact with water. Other foods should be kept in insulated coolers when appropriate. Keep food contamination low by separating raw and cooked foods. Use a cleaner or sanitizer to keep hands and surfaces clean, just as you would at home. Make sure that you cook foods throughout so that you do not risk any sickness.
You should bring toilet paper and baby wipes on every camping trip. Of course, if you really want to, you can use leaves as toilet paper. However, there’s no reason to torture yourself trying to do this when you can easily buy baby wipes or toilet paper before your trip.
After reading this article, you are now prepared to set out on your next camping adventure. Remember what you have learned here, and you will become a master camper. No matter how far you travel, you will have a great camping experience.
Downstream is the best place for you to go to the bathroom while camping. This prevents the water flowing near your campsite from being contaminated. Also, your lavatory area should be 100 yards or more away from your campsite.
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