The outdoor world entices many individuals to pick up and head for the wilderness. A great way to maximize the positive experiences you can have a camping adventure is to become privy to some knowledgeable advice and tips. Take time out to read the following article, and your camping trip is sure to be a success.
Sleeping Bag
Find where you will camp before sunset. When night falls, making food, finding wood, and pitching your tent can be very difficult. That is particularly true if you aren’t used to the blackness of the wilderness. Don’t let this happen to you, and have a shelter set up before dark.
Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. If you’re camping in the heat of summer, a sub-zero bag just isn’t comfortable or appropriate. The reverse is also true. Using a light, cool sleeping bag in the middle of winter will keep you very cold. You might even contract hypothermia.
Remember, wet wood won’t burn right, so nature may not always provide the wood you need. It’s important that you bring extra wood with you that you can keep in a dry area.
Although you might assume the woods will offer you plenty of firewood for your camping needs, nature may surprise you with rain-soaked logs or wood that will not easily ignite. It’s smart to bring your own wood and make sure it stays in a dry area.
Ask family or friends who are camping with you for their input on your camping location. Talk about which state to go to. There are many different places, so it can be hard to choose. To aid in this decision, you may want to offer a few of those that you personally like the best and than let each family member vote.
Take the tent into your yard and set it up before you go on your camping trip. This will allow you to get the experience needed for erecting your tent. This also helps you not to be frustrated when you’re trying to pitch your tent.
Preparation is key to enjoying your camping trip. It is a bad idea to go camping unprepared. Do your research and understand the local conditions and wildlife, as well as climate concerns. This is the best way to keep yourself safe and enjoy your trip.
Take a bandana or handkerchief with you. You can use it as a potholder, bag holder or a towel. You can use them to pick up hot pans, or to clean up a tiny spill; therefore, you should always have one with you.
Bring all necessary camping gear with you prior to going on your trip. You can not afford to forget an important item like your sleeping bag or your tent. 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.
Review your health insurance policy. Sometimes when you go to a different place, you’ll have to get an additional policy to cover you. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. Be sure that your insurance will cover you, no matter where you are.
Before you camp in a new location, you should familiarize yourself with the local dangers and risks. This means, research what types of animals and insects are deadly or which weather patterns you need to watch for. All camping spots have some dangers associated with them and you want to make sure you pick a spot that isn’t too bad.
While kids love camping, they need to have activities planned for them. Being in the woods can be boring for them as time goes on. Children may not have an idea of how to fish or set up a tent. Teach them these things ahead of time to ensure a great trip.
If you’ve brought the kids along, feed them a “jungle” breakfast. Tie fruit, juice boxes, and small boxes of cereal to trees. Then, when the kids wake up, have them go and “hunt” for their breakfast. It’s a great way to add a little magic to the camping experience.
If your dog goes with you, always keep up with him. You may encounter people with a fear of dogs. Respecting your fellow campers is essential when camping. Furthermore, dogs could cause a lot of damage to your campsite, or someone else’s, if they are not properly supervised.
Are you just starting with camping and want to know what to do to make it enjoyable? Before you take it on your first trip, practice setting up your tent. Doing so will ensure you know what tools you may need. That way, you can get things done rapidly once you get to the campsite.
Try to fit swimming into your schedule in some way. You may miss the shower at your home when you are camping. The cool water helps you to feel fresher, and you may just miss your shower a bit less.
Never let your kids roam out of your sight. Cars constantly come and go at campsites, and kids can quickly lose their way in the woods. Accidents and mishaps occur in a split second; make certain your children are safely supervised at all times.
Surprisingly, orange peels make a great mosquito repellent on outdoor adventures. If you’ve packed everything, except for mosquito repellant, do not fret. Rubbing your exposed skin with the inside of the orange peel is something recommended by many camping experts. It’ll keep you mosquito-free for hours.
Kids like camping, but they need structured activities. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. They may not be familiar with things like fishing, putting up a tent or otherwise roughing it. If you don’t normally spend time outside, show them before you go camping.
When choosing a sleeping bag, make sure that you pick one that is meant for the season and climate in which you plan to camp. For instance, if it is summer, you are going to want a lighter bag so that you stay as cool as possible. Conversely, during the winter you need to choose a heavy bag.
It’s a common mistake to set up your campsite near the restrooms. They think this is a convenience for them, but they find out differently. Campground bathrooms attract high foot traffic and create bright light during the night. Therefore, campers who set up nearby may not find their site as convenient or comfortable as they had hoped.
Talk to your children and friends about the dangers and risks of camping before embarking on your journey. Ensure you children know what poison ivy and poison oak looks like, what to do if they get lost or stumble upon wildlife.
Follow safety procedures. This includes avoiding interaction with any wildlife. Even squirrels and tiny animals may pose a threat to you and your family. And, unless you’re in Jellystone Park, don’t feed any bears!
Take a lot of pocket and dryer lint along on your next camping trip. Lint from your dryer is a great campfire starter. Lint makes better kindling than bits of wood. You just need your a spark and your lint to produce a warm fire.
Did you just purchase a new tent for your trip? Before you head off on that initial camping trip, practice pitching your tent. This will allow you take an inventory of all the necessary equipment needed to set up the tent. Doing this will help you pitch your tent quickly, just in case you get to your campsite when it starts to get dark.
If you enjoy the great outdoors and becoming one with nature, then you likely enjoy camping, in general. Camping, however, does take a good deal of planning and knowledge to ensure that you have a good time. Heed the advice in this article, and you should be a camping pro soon.
