A lot of folks think camping is just rationing food, being bored and getting bit by bugs. That is not way it has to be. Proper planning allows you to have fun and enjoy eating good food while camping. You can even repel insects if you plan appropriately. Learn more about planning an enjoyable trip by reading on.
You need to make sure your sleeping bag is sufficient for the climate. You are going to roast all night long in a sleeping bag designed for cold weather that you camp with during summer. On the other hand, light-weight sleeping supplies will never keep you warm enough in the dead of winter. You might even get hypothermia.
Make sure that the sleeping bag you bring camping is right for the weather. Don’t take a heavy sleeping bag out in the summer, it could make you sweat and be uncomfortable all night long. The opposite is true as well, as you need a good, heavy sleeping bag when you are going to be enduring very cold conditions. You might even get hypothermia.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that will be expected to use it. You should have no problem sleeping and getting through the nights when camping.
Before camping, check out your medical insurance to affirm that it is intact. Out-of-state traveling will sometimes require additional coverage. This can be especially important if you leave the country on your trip, such as camping across the border in Canada. It is essential to be prepared in case of emergency.
While you may count on Mother Nature to have plenty of wood to stoke your campfire, you may encounter only wet wood that won’t burn. Bringing your own wood never hurts, especially when things are a little wet and you know a fire will be needed.
If you are going camping with children, eat a “jungle breakfast”. Bring small cereal boxes, juice drinks and fruit, and keep them tied up high in the trees. Then your kids can go out searching for their own breakfast. The kids will love it.
Dryer Lint
All participants should have a say in where you go camping. One of the things you will want to discuss is which state you would like to visit. There are thousands upon thousands of places to choose from. 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.
Dryer lint is a great item to bring if you are trying to start a campfire. A month before your camping trip, begin collecting the lint from your dryer’s lint filter. You can simply stuff it all into a plastic grocery bag you keep near the dryer. Just grab your bag of dryer lint and go on camping day.
Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. After you have eaten the orange, rub the peel onto exposed body parts and this will repel any blood-sucking bugs.
Pack and carry a survival kit on your person for the entire trip. Your survival kit needs to have water-purifying tablets, a type of survival knife, a first-aid kit, a flare gun, and waterproof matches. Your kit may be all that stands between you and certain death if you become lost, as the items within it are essential to survival. Remember to take it everywhere you go when you’re away from your campsite.
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! Try to plan your camping trip as best you can, but know that unexpected events can arise. Weather conditions may abruptly change for the worse, someone could get sick or injured, along with a number of other possible mishaps. Always avoid unnecessary risks and try not to be careless.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. Your flashlight’s power switch can be easily turned on by mistake while you search through your bag. If you want to avoid draining your batteries, keep flashlights stored with backwards batteries in them. This will ensure they do not drain if the flashlight is accidentally turned on.
Preparation could mean the difference between a good camping experience and a dreaded one. Prepare fully before going on a camping trip. If you are camping somewhere new, research the area to familiarize yourself with the climate, wildlife and other factors.
Sleeping Bag
Your sleeping bag should be able to accommodate a variety of camping conditions. So bring a lighter sleeping bag for the hotter months out of the year, and a thicker one for the colder months out of the year. You need a sleeping bag that fits snugly and keeps your body heat in if you’re going to sleep outside in a tent.
Examine your medical insurance policy. Out-of-state traveling will sometimes require additional coverage. This is especially important if your camping destination is in Canada or another country. Don’t get caught without the protection you need in case of an emergency situation.
Don’t let your kids out of your sight. Cars often travel through campsites, and little kids are prone to getting lost. Make sure your children are always supervised because mishaps can happen quickly.
Use an orange to help prevent bug bites. Don’t worry if you forgot mosquito repellant. Seasoned campers suggest that you can rub your skin with the inside of an ripe orange peel. It’ll keep you mosquito-free for hours.
A bandanna or a handkerchief can be beneficial to bring on your trip. They can serve many purposes, like potholder, blotter, hand towel or carrying bag. There are many uses for these, so you want to be sure you have one or both of them on your next camping trip.
Reading a map and using a compass are two things that should be done before heading out for a camping trip. It is still possible to get lost at the camp grounds even though you have already been there, because campsites look similar. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you’re lost. Learn to use them so that you don’t suffer a tragic fate.
Though it might seem like a no-brainer, do not forget your toilet paper. If you camp somewhere without restrooms, you are going to have to go in the woods. You definitely don’t want to depend on leaves for cleaning yourself, because they could have been in contact with poison ivy.
To start your fires at camp, use dryer lint as kindling. Start storing your lint in a bag a couple weeks before your trip. Keep a used grocery bag on your laundry room door to collect the lint. That way, it will be convenient to just grab it at put it in your car at the last minute.
Choose a sleeping bag that is made for the time of year you will be camping. In the summer months, you need a lightweight option. When it’s wintertime, it’s a good idea to get a thicker bag so you’re not too cold.
A common mistake with newer campers is to set their site up near bathrooms. They might think this will make things easier, but they will learn otherwise. There is usually light in that area, as well as heavy foot traffic. Therefore, campers who set up nearby may not find their site as convenient or comfortable as they had hoped.
Camping is fun for children, but make sure to plan out some extra activities they will like. If you are just sitting in the woods, they will end up bored. They may not know what it’s like to fish or do things in nature. Consider introducing your kids to these things in advance of your trip so they know how to do them and view them as fun.
This article has hopefully helped you see that camping can provide hours of enjoyment for everyone. Use this information as a great guide to planning the next outdoor adventure you wish to go on. This will allow you to stay away from the bad things so you can enjoy the good things about camping.
