A lot of people think of camping as bug bites, low food and being bored. This isn’t correct. It is possible to enjoy your time while camping and even avoid the insects, as long as you bring the right tools. If you want to learn easy ways to enjoy camping, you should read the tips below.
Make sure you have a survival kit with you during your entire camping trip. Your survival kit should contain a survival knife, water-purifying tablets, waterproof matches, first aid kit, and a flare gun. You may find that this kit makes the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Always carry it on your person when you venture away from your campsite, or it won’t do you much good.
Bring sleeping bags appropriate for the season. A winter bag for the summer will cause you to sweat all night. On the other hand, you don’t want a lightweight summer sleeping bag if you’re going to be out in the frigid temperatures of wintertime. You may even get hypothermia.
Do not worry that you have packed too much stuff for the kids. Camping can be messy. Kids are seriously attracted to the dirt. So, you are likely to be dealing with grimy kids all day long. You may not be able to keep them clean, but you can bring a change of clothes. Prepare ahead of time!
When choosing a tent, pick one that has plenty of room for you and all of your camping companions. This will give you the room necessary for a comfortable camping trip.
The way you prepare will determine whether your camping trip will be fun or if it will be dangerous. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. When heading to a new spot, be sure to research the area thoroughly so you know what to expect with regard to weather and wildlife.
If you are camping in the summer, go swimming too. The thing people tend to miss most while camping is the convenience of their home shower. 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!
Purchase pillows that are made specifically for camping. Your standard pillow that you have at home will not be comfortable if the conditions become humid. The tend to absorb ambient moisture and grow mildew as well. A good pillow intended for camping, however, will keep the moisture out, which will prevent any of the above problems.
Examine your medical insurance policy. If you go to another state, you may have to have another policy. This can be especially important if you leave the country on your trip, such as camping across the border in Canada. It always pays to be prepared for anything!
Ensure that you pack everything that you will need before leaving for a camping trip. You do not want to forget essential items. Therefore, double check everything before you leave home.
Take some things to entertain yourself while in the wild. 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 kids are coming along for the trip, take even more entertainment with you to keep them from getting bored without their electronics.
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. You should know if there are deadly spiders found there, or if sheer cliffs or flash floods occur there. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.
Make sure not to drain the batteries in your flashlight by accident. It is not uncommon to accidentally bump the switch and turn your flashlight on when you are digging around in your bag. To prevent draining the batteries, place them in your flashlight backwards. This way they won’t activate if the switch is nudged and will stay fresh till you need them.
Mosquito Repellant
If your dog will be joining you on your camping trip, keep him leashed and under constant supervision. A lot of people have a fear of dogs. You should keep that in mind while you are on your camping trip. Also, dogs have the potential to wreck your campsite, or that of someone else, if they are allowed to run loose.
Use an orange peel mosquito repellant. Don’t worry if you forgot mosquito repellant. Just rub the inside of the peel over any exposed body parts. This can keep mosquitoes at bay for a number of hours.
Consider the erection spot for your tent carefully. One thing to consider is whether or not there are insect nests in the space in which you want to set up. To keep the bugs off of your skin, wear garments that cover your skin especially if plant life is abundant. Also, carry insect repellent.
If you’re going to camp somewhere where dangerous animals reside, you need to make sure you’re very careful about your food. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. Making sure to do this, will lessen any chance of a wild animal attack.
Trail Mix
Trail mix and jerky are great snacks for a camping trip. After a long day of outdoor activities, you will often feel too drained of energy to prepare a hot meal, so the availability of nutrient-filled snacks, such as trail mix an beef jerky, can be a real lifesaver. As an added benefit these snacks have a long shelf life, so if you do not eat them while camping you can enjoy them for months to come.
It’s imperative that you take along the things you need when you’re going camping. Forgetting one or two key items could result in disaster. It may be helpful to make a list of everything you need and cross it off the list when you pack it. 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.
Make sure you pack carefully and wisely. Make a list of the things you need on your trip. Check each item off when you pack it. This is crucial if you are camping in an area that is remote and has limited access to emergency assistance.
Duct Tape
Make sure you have charged flashlights for the trip. It is all too easy to accidentally switch your flashlight on when digging through your bags. You can avoid dead batteries by installing them in the flashlight backwards until you need the light. You will be able to keep your battery life this way.
Always bring a roll or two of duct tape along when you camp. Tents are usually more durable than they used to be, but they can still get torn. Your tent can easily be repaired with some duct tape, which will keep you nice and dry in your damaged tent.
Once you are finished camping, be sure your campsite is left clean. Pack your own garbage bags to make cleaning easy. Pack up any food that may remain and remove it from the campsite. The major rule for leaving a campsite is to just leave behind footprints.
Don’t make the mistake of waiting until dark to pitch your tent. It is very hard to put up a tent when it is dark. A flashlight or fire will help you out. It will obviously be much easier to pitch your tent if the sun hasn’t gone down yet.
A common mistake with newer campers is to set their site up near bathrooms. They think this is a convenience for them, but they find out differently. Bathrooms provide constant light and also have a lot of traffic running through them at all hours. Thus the strategy of camping out close to the restrooms ultimately backfires.
Have you thought about how you are going to prepare food when you are camping? You should determine how you plan on cooking your food, so you know what supplies to bring. Cooking over a campfire is fun, but can’t be done with out the right tools.
When erecting your tent, ensure that all of the tent’s seams are sealed. Extra sealer tubes can be purchased at most sporting supply stores. This helps to prevent bugs, as well as rainwater, from coming in your tent.
As you now realize, camping can be one of most exciting experiences for you and your family. Apply the ideas presented here as a roadmap to planning your next time in the great outdoors. Using these tips will make your camping trip a great experience while allowing you to avoid common pitfalls.
