The old and the young alike can find camping to be superbly entertaining. Using proper tips and advice allows you to have an enjoyable camping trip. Go over the ideas in the article that follows, and you’ll find yourself better prepared to go on your camping journey.
Select a sleeping bag which is right for the season. A bag that is intended for winter conditions will surely cause you to overheat when you are trying to sleep in summer weather. If you use a lightweight sleeping bag during the winter, you can spend your night shivering if it’s cold outside. Extremely cold weather can bring about frostbite.
Build yourself a survival kit; keep it with you anywhere you go while camping. Survival kits should contain waterproof matches, a survival knife, a first aid kit, a flare gun and water purifying tablets. This kit may keep you alive if you are lost and these items are indispensable for a survival situation. Be sure to bring it with you whenever you leave your campsite.
You might think that you can find all of the wood that you need to keep the fire going, but there is a good chance that the wood will be wet. It’s a great idea to carry your own wood with you and to keep it secure in a dry area.
Look at the weather forecast prior to leaving for your trip. You can find the average weather during a season for almost any location online. Armed with the forecast, you can prepare yourself with appropriate clothing and camping gear.
Oranges can be used for insect repellent. Don’t throw away the peels when you are finished with them and rub them on yourself. Apply to any skin that’s exposed to keep insects away with no chemicals. It’s a lot cheaper than spending your money on bug spray!
Take along a bandanna or a small towel. Such an item can be used as a carrying bag, a potholder, a hand towel, a blotter or a paper towel. There are many uses for these, so you want to be sure you have one or both of them on your next camping trip.
Don’t forget the duct tape when you pack for a camping trip, to solve just about any dilemma! From mending tent holes to fixing shoes, duct tape can be used for a lot of repair work in a pinch.
Before going to a new place to go camping, you need to know what dangers may be lurking. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Each spot can contain dangers which can really affect your trip.
When you’re going to take some kids with you on your camping trip, educate them on the dangers that camping can bring with it. It is simple to check out the Internet for photos of dangerous plants like poison ivy so they know what to avoid in the wild.
Kids like camping, but they need structured activities. They could get bored out in the woods and away from the things they use to entertain themselves regularly. They probably aren’t used to fishing or campfires. If they aren’t used to camping activities, teach them before you leave.
If you bring a dog camping with you, be sure to keep an eye on them and be sure they’re on a leash. Other campers may not like dogs, or could even be afraid of them. You must respect other campers. Additionally, dogs are capable of damaging the camping area if you don’t keep a good eye on them.
Try to find a campsite that is closer to your house for your convenience when on your first trip. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don’t like camping. Novice campers sometimes don’t pack enough food or clothing, which is a problem if they are far away. First-time camping is a learning experience and anything can happen, so find a campground near your home.
Generally when you camp, you want to live with as little as possible but still be prepared for anything. In addition to your sleeping bag, bring a couple of blankets. This is useful for nights where the temperature gets too cold or as extra padding when sleeping on hard ground.
Plan to save the light of your flashlight before you go camping. You don’t want to waste your flashlight battery and not be able to see. Keep the batteries for the flashlight in backwards. This will allow you to keep them stored without accidentally turning them on and wasting the batteries.
Always keep a close eye on your kids. There is quite a bit of traffic at campsites, and young kids can wander around in the woods, often getting lost. It doesn’t take much time for something to occur, so be sure your kids are properly supervised.
Sleeping Bag
Trail mix and jerky are great snacks for a camping trip. When the day ends, you may feel so tired you aren’t in the mood for cooking. Nutrient-rich treats like beef jerky and trail mix will help satisfy your hunger. They will stay fresh for long periods of time, so they won’t go to waste.
Make sure your sleeping bag is appropriate for the location. If its winter, use a heavy-weight bag and use a light-weight one in the summer. Make sure your sleeping bag fits you well, hugs your body and helps you to retain heat.
If you are going on a camping trip, you want to be sure that you have a knife or two on hand. Utility knives are the most diverse tools you can carry, so be sure to carry an additional one just in case it gets lost.
If you are taking children with on your camping trip be sure to bring pictures of them as well. In case you get separated, having the pictures on your person will help you find them quickly. Keep pictures of your children on you when ever you are far from home.
Always pack a roll of duct tape when you go camping. While most camping equipment is durable, they can tear or break easily. Duct tape will allow you to make some minor repairs and sleep comfortably if this happens to you.
Always make sure your mobile phone battery is fully charged. As an added safety precaution, you may wish to bring an additional battery so you have plenty of power. A cell phone is a great emergency device; make certain it will keep working.
Clean your campsite at the end of your stay. You should have trash bags on hand for this purpose. Remove any traces of food from the campsite. The best practice to follow when camping is to clean the campsite well, and leave only your footprints behind.
Pack wisely! Make a list of what you’ll need and check it off as you get things packed. This is imperative if you’re camping in an area that does not have alternative access to essential safety items.
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 backyard and spend the entire night out there. Stay away from your house at all costs. If you find the experience enjoyable, camping may just be for you!
Waterproof Matches
Keep old shower curtains, you can use them as disposable tarps to put under your tent when you go camping! It also doubles as a ground base for cooking, washing, etc; basically anything you need safe above the dirt. Torn and battered shower curtains are great to use for camping out in the wilderness.
Don’t forget waterproof matches in a camping survival kit. Always store your matches in a container or packaging that is airtight. To save money, dip regular matches in shellac, nail polish or wax to make your own waterproof matches. You can easily find something to hold them, perhaps a film canister or a medication bottle.
Do not forget to bring a lot of sunscreen. You must stay protected from the sun’s rays. Seek out a sunscreen that has sufficient SPF protection. It would be even better to get a sunscreen that also has bug protection. This can minimize the amount of chemicals you are putting on your skin daily.
When setting up a tent, be sure its seams are all sealed. If sealant was not included in your tent, visit your local sporting goods store to purchase some. By sealing the seams on your tent, you will keep out rainwater and any small critter that might want to join your tenting party.
Pocket lint is an essential for camping. It seems like a silly suggestion, but lint is free, abundant, and flammable, making it great for starting campfires. The lint also produces flames which are brighter than flames produced from wood chips. Just a bit of lint and a tiny spark can be all you need to get started.
When you’re done with your trip, be sure to leave behind a clean campsite. Trash bags must be packed for use when cleaning up the site. Be certain to take your leftover food with you too. The rule of thumb when breaking down a campsite is to only leave footprints behind.
Bring water purification tablets when you go camping. Even if you bring water that you feel is enough or boil water from the outdoors, you may not have enough time or it may not be enough what you collect. If you have never used purification tablets before, you may want to give them a try before you embark on your camping trip. It would be silly to risk dehydration because of a bad taste.
It may sound silly to be reminded of this, but always make sure you take toilet paper on a camping trip. If you take care of business in the woods, toilet paper is imperative to have. Avoid using leaves to wipe, as you may not be able to recognize poisonous plants such as poison ivy.
Be sure to have some activities you can do indoors. Be certain you have a plan in place if the weather is bad while you are camping. You could end up spending a great deal of time in your tent if it rains. It can save your trip from being a disaster. You just need things that can help you pass the time when you can’t spend it outdoors.
Use the appropriate sleeping bag for the current season. For example, summertime camping calls for a lightweight bag that helps you stay cool. However, if it is winter, a thicker sleeping bag will be needed so you won’t freeze during the night.
The top priority for any camping trip is fire safety. A fire ring is important to create while camping so you should understand how this is accomplished. The fire may burn more than you intend, so keep water pails near. Act quickly if you need to control a fire that grows too large, and never leave your fire burning when you aren’t at your site.
What will you do about cooking food while camping? Before you leave you should decide just how to cook and what you’ll need to bring for it. You can easily boil foods like hot dogs over a boiling pot of water and an open flame, but you need the right equipment.
Before you leave for a camping trip, discuss the trip with your doctor if you have medical conditions. There are a lot of things that could go wrong that you didn’t consider. Just an ounce of prevention can stop a possibly harmful situation while camping.
Always wear your clothing in layers for camping outings. Even if you check the weather ahead of time, weather can change with very little notice. It may be very cold in the morning, but the afternoon can be blistering hot. The evenings may turn cold again very quickly. Dressing in layers will allow you to easily change your clothes as the weather changes.
Keep a map with you of all of the trails that surround your campground. Even the most seasoned camper may get lost if he or she makes a wrong turn. With a map, it is far more likely that you will be able to recover and get yourself back to the campsite.
Camping has been an activity enjoyed by people from all walks of life for well over a century now. To ensure that you and your party have a great time, you will need a certain level of knowledge about what to expect while camping. Hopefully, the information you have learned in this article will give you a great starting point.
There are many different essentials that you should bring with you while camping such as batteries, hats and matches. Flashlights can help a lot, as there is minimal light in the wilderness. A hat can keep your unruly hair tamed and shield you from the sun, and your toiletries will allow you to grab a quick shower, if facilities exist at your site.
About The Author
