Camping can be great fun for people of any age. A good way to plan for your own adventure is to seek out the tips and techniques used by experienced campers. Read on to find some great advice that can help you embark on a fun wilderness adventure.
It’s imperative that you pitch your tent before the sun goes down. Once it gets dark, it is much harder to find wood for your fire, prepare food, and get your tent ready. This is especially important to those who are not accustomed to the darkness associated with the great outdoors. Don’t let this happen to you. Look for adequate shelter before it gets this dark.
Don’t be afraid to over-pack for your children. Camping is messy business. Children seem to be dirt magnets. This means that your kids will get dirty during the day. Take extra clothing with you for your children. Prepare thoroughly!
Though you may believe that there will be sufficient wood lying around for your fire, you may only be able to find wet lumber that does not easily burn. Bringing your own wood never hurts, especially when things are a little wet and you know a fire will be needed.
Be certain that your tent has enough space for both yourself and whoever else comes with you. With enough room, getting up during the night will not disturb others in the tent, and you can all be comfortable while sleeping.
Bring a survival kit that you can carry on your person at all times. You should have a bandanna (to use as a sling or tourniquet), wound coverings, something to use for sprains, matches, a knife, tablets to purify water and a compass in your kit. This kit may keep you alive if you are lost and these items are indispensable for a survival situation. Always carry it on your person when you venture away from your campsite, or it won’t do you much good.
Review the medical coverage that you have. You might need a new policy if you go to another state. 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.
Before you leave home to go camping, check to see if inclement weather is predicted in the area you are planning to visit. This can give you an idea of what you will be experiencing on your trip. When you have some idea of how the weather will behavior while you are camping, you can pack appropriate clothing and equipment.
Don’t wait until nightfall to set up camp. If you come to the camp site in an RV, find a parking spot immediately. Pitch your tent on land that is flat and dry. Doing this before night comes around will let you become accustomed to your surroundings. It is also easier for you to see what is happening, so you won’t feel so frustrated.
Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. Use the discarded peels to rub your exposed skin, and the insects will stay away from you.
Before you go camping in a new place, it is essential to have an understanding of what dangers are located there. You need to know about the local insect population, wild animals, natural dangers like water or steep locations and weather conditions. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.
Always understand what dangers are associated with a new place. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Every camping spot has a few dangers to be aware of.
Entertain Yourself
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 easy to go online together and look at pictures of poison ivy and other hazardous plants so they will know what not to touch as they explore the great outdoors.
You need to take things to entertain yourself during your camping trip. Entertain yourself by taking cards and fishing poles. If you bring your kids, these games will help to fill the void when there is free time.
If you are a novice camper, choose a destination close to home for your first trip. If you want to end your trip, you will be close to home. Maybe you will find out that there isn’t enough food or clean clothes to continue. A variety of issues could arise if you don’t know what to expect, so being close to home can prevent you from feeling stranded and stuck.
Bring some duct tape on your camping trip. It is nearly as useful while camping as it is around the house. You can use this to repair any holes in an air mattress. It can also seal rips in tarps, a sleeping bag, or the tent. Before embarking on an arduous hike, put it on each foot to stave off blisters. You can also put it over bandages for extra protection.
If your dog will be joining you on your camping trip, keep him leashed and under constant supervision. You may encounter people with a fear of dogs. You must show respect for others when you camp. Also, your pet could be destructive to other people’s belongings.
When selecting an area for your tent, look for the area of the campsite with the flattest and softest ground. If you choose an uneven area, being in your tent will be uncomfortable and unenjoyable. In addition to looking for soft ground, lay down a tarp to prevent moisture from soaking into the bottom of your tent.
Make sure that you bring items along with you that will make your camping trip more fun. Bring card and board games, proper attire for hiking or swimming, books (if you want quiet time) and any fishing or birding gear that you may need. If you brought kids along, you might want to pack a lot of things for entertainment.
Prior to leaving for a camping journey, be sure to draft a list of necessary supplies. This is doubly important for campgrounds that are far away. Pack in advance to avoid the stresses of packing before your trip.
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! It’s important to plan for anything, but the unexpected could still happen. Weather can change, situations can arise, injuries or illness can strike. It’s important to not be careless, not take any unnecessary risks, and to think before taking any actions.
Make sure you always know where your children are. Cars often travel through campsites, and little kids are prone to getting lost. Disaster can strike in seconds; this makes it imperative that you always have an eye out for your kids.
Be sure that you have a good amount of lighting devices with you, as well as means of keeping them running. This will ensure everyone remains safe. A flashlight can prevent a fall and scare away unwanted wildlife. If you have little ones with you, make sure to pack a flashlight for them, too.
Be aware of your campsite location. Refrain from setting your camper up next to bees nests or breeding grounds for safety. If you’re in an area that is rich in vegetation, try wearing long pants and long sleeves to protect yourself from insects. It would also be advisable to carry a high-quality insect repellent with you.
Trail mix is a classic snack and for a good reason. Throw a little beef jerky, a few fruits, and you’ve got yourself a full camper’s meal. These grab-and-go snacks are great for taking on a hike or as a snack after a long day when you don’t feel like preparing a meal. These snacks should preserve for a good while, so there’s no wasting involved if they aren’t eaten.
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 among the most versatile pieces of equipment in a camper’s arsenal so make sure you Pack an extra one in your bag just in case you lose the one you carry around.
Bringing along a cell phone with a full charge isn’t a bad idea while camping. The best idea is to bring a couple of extra batteries to maintain your phone. Your cell phone is the best piece of emergency equipment you have so make sure it doesn’t die on you.
Camping can either be an extremely relaxing or an extremely torturous experience. Preparation is the difference between the two. If you are well prepared for any possible situation, you are likely to have a great camping experience.
When camping, pack carefully and wisely. Make a checklist of supplies that you will need on your camping trip, and check items off as you pack them. This is very helpful if you’ll be far from civilization.
When preparing your survival kit for your camping trip, pack some waterproof matches. Store them inside an airtight container. Make some average matches waterproof by simply dipping them in nail polish or paraffin. You can use an old 35mm film canister to store them. A medicine bottle also works as a viable storage container.
Figure out how to use a compass and read a map in advance. If you have visited the campsite before, you can still get lost once you arrive. You can prevent disaster by knowing how to use these lifesaving items.
Dress yourself up in multiple layers when you go camping. It is not uncommon for it to be hot and then cold within an hour in some areas. A chilly morning can turn into a hot and humid afternoon. Nighttime can often be much colder than mornings and afternoons. It is best to bring all types of clothing so that no matter what the weather is, you will be prepared.
Remember to choose a sleeping bag that is suitable for the season you are camping in. In summer weather, for example, you’ll need a light bag that will help you stay cool. In the winter, however, you need something a bit thicker to stay warm.
If you want to go camping but haven’t ever done that, there is something you can do quickly to get an idea of whether you will like it. Spend one night in your own backyard in a tent. Don’t allow yourself to go into the house for anything. If you like it, you will probably enjoy camping.
When you are camping, it is vital to make sure tent has good ventilation and stays dry. When a tent is totally sealed, condensation may occur in the sleeping bags, floor, roof, and walls from breathing and sweating. You can wake up wet without adequate ventilation. Tents generally have built-in doors, windows, and vents that you can crack to create a cross-breeze and prevent a buildup of moisture.
Bring some means of cleaning water, like tablets, if you are 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. Also, try out these tablets prior to your trip to get used to them. You will want to get a different type of tablet it you find out that you don’t like the way your water taste.
Sunscreen is essential for a camping trip. You want to keep your skin protected during your trip. Make sure to get a sunscreen with a high SPF and put it on regularly. It would be even better to get a sunscreen that also has bug protection. The fewer chemicals you need to worry about applying, the better.
People of every age love camping. With a bit of preparation and know-how, you can plan a camping trip that will be relaxing and memorable for everyone. Using the helpful advice in the article above can help make your camping dreams come true.
Take a lot of pocket and dryer lint along on your next camping trip. Although it may seem like an unlikely item to pack, it can be one of the best tools you can bring for quickly starting your campsite fire. The lint makes bright flames, even brighter than with twigs or wood chips. For the perfect fire to keep you warm, give your lint a spark to get it going.