What You Need To Know For Your Next Camping Trip

As we watch more and more outdoor-themed TV shows, it is no surprise that many more families are heading out camping these days. If you are one of the many who enjoys good outdoor fun, read on in the article below for a memorable experience!

You may feel that when you get to your campsite you will have enough wood to make a fire. This is not always the case because green and wet wood will not burn easily. Therefore, take some wood with you on your camping trip and store it in a location where it can remain dry.

Always locate your shelter before dark when you are camping. Once blackness falls out there in the woods, it can be extremely difficult to pitch a tent, find good firewood and prepare food. This is really important for people who live in the city. Don’t let this happen to you. Look for adequate shelter before it gets this dark.

TIP! Search out shelter before the sun sets when you are camping. Once things go dark, you will find it very hard to erect a tent, locate wood and cook a meal.

Take a first aid class, particularly if you are traveling with children. You will be prepared for any accidents that may occur and can survive until you reach professional medical care. You should also research the area you plan on camping in. Know about any poisonous snakes and spiders in the area, and learn what animals live there.

Check the terms of your health insurance before leaving. Sometimes when you go to a different place, you’ll have to get an additional policy to cover you. This can be even more important if you’re leaving to another country when you are camping, such as Canada. Be sure you’re prepared to be on the safe side!

Pick a sleeping bag which is appropriate for the season. If you bring a sub-zero sleeping bag to go camping in mid-summer, you might find that you are sweating all night long. On the other hand, bringing a lightweight sleeping bap for a winter trip can make you really uncomfortable the entire trip. In the worst case, you could be putting yourself at risk of getting frostbite or even worse.

TIP! Make sure your sleeping bag is right for the weather. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night.

If you are interested in camping alone or with friends, make sure you have prepared an emergency kit. There are certain things you’ll need to include at certain locations (i.e. a snake bite kit.) However, there some basics you should always have with you. Species specific antivenom should be packed to protect against animal bites.

Set your campsite, tent and sleeping bags up before it gets dark. If you driving an RV, you should locate a safe parking spot. Locate a flat area of dry ground if you plan to pitch a tent. Doing this before night comes around will let you become accustomed to your surroundings. This can help you see what you are doing and prevent frustration.

Make sure to see what the weather forecast is for the town you are camping in. The Internet is a great resource for finding weather related information for the area you will be camping in. When you know what the weather will be like beforehand, you can plan more appropriately.

TIP! It is always a smart idea to look into what the weather is going to be like, before going camping. The Internet is a great resource for finding weather related information for the area you will be camping in.

Don’t forget to include special pillows made just for camping on your adventure. Regular bed pillows can become damp if the weather is wet or humid. They also take moisture from the air and that makes them grow mildew fast. Pillows made specifically for camping have a protective layer that keeps these things from happening.

Make sure that you are aware of the perils around the camping site that you choose. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Each camping spot poses its own dangers.

Bring a hankerchief or a bandanna with you. This item has many different uses such as a hand towel and carrying bag. Its uses are innumerable, so it is smart to always have one available.

TIP! Take along a bandanna or a small towel. This single fabric piece can be used as a carrying bag, hand towel, paper towel, potholder, and blotter.

If you’re camping where there is dangerous wildlife, double your food reserves. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. That will reduce the chance of a critter attack.

Bringing everything you need for your trip is important. Even just a handful of things missing can really affect your camping experience. The creation of a list of all the things needed and use of that list when packing will be helpful. Make sure that you bring a lot of water, knives, soaps and food on your camping trip for safety.

Ensure that you pack everything that you will need before leaving for a camping trip. You can not afford to forget an important item like your sleeping bag or your tent. Double check the items you want to take and make a check list before you leave to make sure that you bring everything with you.

TIP! Make sure you have all the gear you need before you leave your driveway. You would be pretty irritated if it turned out that you left your sleeping bag or tent back at home.

When you show up to go camping, pitch your tent wherever you can find flat and soft ground. Choosing a rocky or sloped spot will result in you feeling discomfort when you have to spend time in the tent. Put a tarp down before pitching your tent to prevent water from entering.

A checklist is essential before embarking on any camping journey. This is doubly important for campgrounds that are far away. Make sure you have everything you need and pack a couple days before leaving.

Take along things to do while you are in the wild. You can take card games, a list for a scavenger hunt, and fishing poles for some entertainment. If you are taking children camping, you might want to bring more activities than you think you are going to need.

TIP! Bring along supplies to keep you entertained in the great outdoors. Card games, fishing poles, scavenger hunt lists and other supplies can make hanging out in the woods more fun.

When camping with children, bring along a picture of each child. If you lose a child at any point, having a picture to show rescuers or search parties could be very useful. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.

Keep an eye out on your camping area. You have to be sure you don’t set up next to stinging insects or anything unsafe. If you’re near lots of vegetation, you should wear long sleeves and pants to protect your skin from insects. You should bring insect repellant along.

When you are camping, be sure you choose the right sleeping bag for the site conditions. Lighter bags might be good ideas for warmer climates and seasons to avoid unnecessary weight and space usage, but make sure that you have a heavy enough bag to stay warm in cold conditions. Make sure your sleeping bag fits you well, hugs your body and helps you to retain heat.

TIP! Choose an appropriate sleeping bag for the conditions in which you will be camping. 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.

Trail Mix

If you’re planning on camping, you need to remember to pack energy food like beef jerky and trail mix. 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. Because these items will last a while, you don’t have to eat them right away if you don’t want to.

Don’t let your kids out of your sight. Cars often travel through campsites, and little kids are prone to getting lost. It doesn’t take much time for something to occur, so be sure your kids are properly supervised.

TIP! Know where your kids are at all times. Kids can get lost easily, even in the campsite and they have to be aware of others driving on the camp roads.

It is wise to leave a cell phone fully charged somewhere where you can reach it. If that’s not an option, bring an extra battery. A cell phone will be your best friend in the event of an emergency, so keep it charged and available.

One simple tip that many people overlook is creating your shelter before dark. Pitching a tent can be difficult enough in the daylight, let alone in the dark of night. You should pack a flashlight or make a fire while it is still light. Making the effort to do the work before the sun goes down will make for a more enjoyable trip.

Have the clothing you will pack planned out before your trip. You will need an adequate supply of clean clothes to last the entirety of your trip. Also, be sure that you carry articles of clothing that are appropriate for the weather and climate of your camping location. Shoes need to be closed and durable, especially for hiking.

TIP! Pick out all of your clothing before you go camping. You don’t want to be stuck wearing dirty clothes daily.

Any survival kit you assemble for camping needs to include waterproof matches. Even though they are water proof, you still want to have them sealed off from liquid. You can take ordinary matches and make them waterproof when you dip them into nail polish or paraffin. Your container can be an empty film holder or even a plastic medicine bottle.

There are many things to take into consideration before camping. However, the points shared in this article will help you be ready to handle most camping-related basics. Knowing what to expect goes a long way in planning the ideal camping trip.

When you are out in the wilderness with kids, have a photo of them with you. This picture could be used to help find them if they were to get separated from the group and lost. A picture should be carried anytime you are away from home, but even more importantly when camping in the woods.

TIP! When camping with kids, have a photo of them at hand. If you lose them during your trip, that picture can help you immensely.