The joys of camping! Taking time out to appreciate nature is a great way to spend time with your family or just with yourself. Camping is the best way to explore the great outdoors, but it can be a mysterious subject. Look at the following advice to learn how to have fun camping.
Find where you will camp before sunset. After night falls, it becomes harder to prepare your camp ground and set up the tent. That can be especially true for someone who live in the suburbs and is not used to total darkness. Avoid this situation by finding shelter before the moon is out.
Make sure you know what’s covered in your medical insurance. You may need another policy if you’re going to a different state. Popping over the border into Canada could also cause an issue. It always pays to be prepared for anything!
Don’t assume you can find wood at or near your camp site. Make sure you bring some of your own dry kindling and make sure it stays in a dry area.
Let your loved ones help you pick a campsite. Engage in conversation about what state and location they would like to visit. The many options may make it difficult to settle on one. If it is easier, select a few of your personal favorites and then let the entire family vote.
If you are going camping, whether with others or alone, a survival kit is essential. This kit will change depending on when and where you are camping but should always include the basics. Don’t forget to pack the extra for your location, too, such as antivenom for snake bites.
Camping Tent
After you buy your camping tent, set it up at home rather than waiting until your trip to set it up for the first time. By doing this you will be able to make sure that your tent does not have any missing parts. Furthermore, such a task will help to reassure you that you know how to errect your camping tent properly. You don’t want to waste time at your destination, so this will make you well prepared.
Don’t forget the duct tape. There are multiple uses to put it to when camping, just like at home. You can use it to repair a hole in an air mattress. You can also use it to patch up a tent, tarp or sleeping bag. If you are going on a long hike, you can put it on the sensitive parts of your feet for blister prevention. It may also be used as emergency bandaging.
Carry a bandana or handkerchief with you. That small piece of cloth could become a potholder, a bag, a blotter or a towel. It does not take much space in your bag and can save the day in many different situations.
You can easily start campfires using dryer lint as a starter material. Start collecting it in advance of your trip. Keep a simple plastic or ziplock bag near your dryer to make collecting easier. You can just go about your business after that.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. While a sleeping bag is a necessity, you should bring extra blankets. This is useful for nights where the temperature gets too cold or as extra padding when sleeping on hard ground.
Children love camping, but be sure that you provide them with activities. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. They may not know how to fish or pitch tents. Spend a day teaching them what they need to know before you leave for your trip.
Talk to your children and friends about the dangers and risks of camping before embarking on your journey. It is simple to show them which plants they should stay away from prior to your trip.
Take some preventative steps in order to avoid inadvertently draining the batteries in your flashlights during your next camping adventure. It is very common for flashlights to be turned on inadvertently when going through camping supplies or while being stored. To make sure your batteries don’t get drained, put the batteries in backwards. This way, if the button is turned on, the flashlight will not light and your batteries remain full.
If you are traveling to a place with an abundance of animals, make sure you are prepared with respect to food. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. Taking these precautions can significantly lower you chances of being attacked.
Plan ahead and come prepared. Bring extra blankets along with your sleeping bag. This will keep you warm if it gets really cool at night and/or you can use them for additional padding.
If you’re planning on camping, you need to remember to pack energy food like beef jerky and trail mix. When the day ends, you may feel so tired you aren’t in the mood for cooking. Nutrient-rich treats like beef jerky and trail mix will help satisfy your hunger. These items can be stored for quite a while, which means you don’t have to worry about the expiration date.
Do you know how to pitch a tent? Spend time practicing pitching a tent prior to leaving for your trip. If you have successfully done it at home, pitching it at your campsite will be easier. You can do this best before it gets dark outside.
It is really critical to make sure that you pack the essential items and equipment for camping. Even letting one particular item slip your mind can devastate your trip. Write a list of all the items you need and make sure to cross them off of the list once you pack them. Your list should include a sleeping bag, tent, tarp, water, food, knife, soap, fire-starting items and more.
Every camper should possess a basic utility knife. Utility knives are the most diverse tools you can carry, so be sure to carry an additional one just in case it gets lost.
Beef jerky and trail mix are great foods to bring on your camping trip. 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. Because these items will last a while, you don’t have to eat them right away if you don’t want to.
Smart campers will leave their car or base camp with a charged mobile phone. Another good idea is to keep an additional battery available. Your cell phone can help should an emergency arise.
Depending on your ability to plan, you can either have a great time camping, or you can have a miserable time. The difference between these two comes down to one thing – preparation. If you prepare for different scenarios, you’re more likely to have an enjoyable trip.
It’s vital to pack first aid and survival kits. Together, these items can be the difference between going home early and rapidly addressing problems that arise. This precaution can prevent loss of life and give you the time you need to get needed medical assistance in case of injury.
Camping is an all-time popular vacation activity for many, but it can pose potential dangers and a bad time, if not properly planned. The above article has given you all the advice you need to ensure your next camping trip is enjoyable.
Think carefully when you pack. Have a checklist of everything you need on your next camping trip, and then use that list in full to pack. This is especially important if you will be camping in a remote location without access to first-aid supplies or other items you might need in an emergency.
