Camping Advice For Camping Lovers And Haters

This is time well spent with nature and discovery for couples or families to get some quiet time. Camping is a great way to enjoy being outdoors, if one is well prepared. The article below contains tips to help you properly plan for your next camping trip.

Though you may believe that there will be sufficient wood lying around for your fire, you may only be able to find wet lumber that does not easily burn. It’s important that you bring extra wood with you that you can keep in a dry area.

TIP! Don’t assume you can find wood at or near your camp site. Bringing some extra wood in a watertight wrapping is a smart idea for camping success.

Allow everyone in the trip to have a say in the location. Discuss which state you want to visit. There are a lot of places to choose from. You can select a few places to have the family vote from there.

Consider taking a CPR and first aid class. This is especially important if young children are traveling with you. This way, should an accident occur, at least you are properly prepared until help arrives. Be sure to do thorough research too. Be sure you are aware whether there are any snakes or spiders that are poisonous and what kind of critters are out there in the area.

TIP! If you’re going to be taking your children camping, attend a first-aid course. In the unfortunate case of an accident, you will be prepared to handle the situation.

Pack in excess for your children. Camping can be very messy and dirty when you bring your children.Kids love the dirt and will bring it back to your tent.This means you should prepare to have dirty during the day. While you can’t do much about that, you can have some extra clothing just in case.

Camping is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous; the difference between the two is preparation. Make sure you always go camping only after preparing yourself fully. If you are camping in a new location, research the local wildlife, geography and the climate before leaving home.

TIP! Preparation can make your camping trip easy and relaxing. Always fully prepare before you head out on a camping trip.

Try to fit swimming to your camping experience. You may miss the shower when you are camping.

You can use dryer lint to kindle your campfire. In order to have enough lint to start a fire, begin collecting it a month prior to your trip. Place the lint you normally throw in the trash in a plastic bag to take with you. Doing this means you can just snag your kindling on the way out the door the morning your trip starts.

TIP! Dryer lint makes surprisingly good kindling for starting campfires. Around four weeks prior to camping, start keeping the lint that you clean from your dryer filter.

A bandanna or handkerchief can be a great addition to your camping equipment. These can be used for several things, towel or even something to carry an item in.

When camping alone or in the company of friends, always bring an emergency kit. Pack an emergency kit that contains basic first aid supplies as well as anything needed for the specific location in which you are camping. Some extra emergency supplies like anti-venom may be included, too, depending on the types of wildlife you may encounter.

TIP! If you are going camping, be sure to have a first aid kit. Always keep the bare basics with you in the kit, and make sure that you have water purification tablets in it as well.

After you have eaten the orange, use the inside of the peel to rub on skin for a chemical free insect repellant.

Try to find a campsite that is closer to your house for your convenience when on your first trip. You could experience a number of problems, such as equipment failure, and wish to cut the trip short. You may come to realize that you should have packed different clothing, or need more food. Many problems may occur for novice campers, so be sure to camp near home.

TIP! Try to find a campsite that is closer to your house for your convenience when on your first trip. You may run into problems that will require you to shorten your trip, like problems with equipment.

Duct tape is a must-have when you go camping as it can be used for many mishaps in camping. It works quickly in a pinch for tent holes, inflatables with leaks, shoes with worn soles, securing the tent to its pole, securing tent poles, many more things.

Take along items to use while you are camping 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 you are going camping with children, you need to make sure that you bring a lot of things to keep them entertained during the trip.

TIP! Take along things to do while you are in the wild. Fishing poles, card games and even a scavenger hunt list will make great entertainment in the woods.

It is very inconvenient to forget something important like the tent or tent.

Duct tape is an imperative item to bring with you on your camping trip into the wilderness. Not only is it useful around the home, but it serves many purposes while camping. You can use this to repair any holes in an air mattress. It can also fix up a tarp, sleeping bag, or even the tent. Prior to heading off on a long nature hike, place some tape on your heels to avoid blistering. You can use duct tape for almost anything.

TIP! Pack some duct tape next time you embark on a camping trip. There are multiple uses to put it to when camping, just like at home.

If you bring a dog camping with you, keep him leashed and under constant supervision. There are those who do not like dogs. Respect is important aspect of public camping. Also, dogs can damage things around your campsite, so be sure to keep control of them at all times.

When you find your camping spot, put the tent up on top of the patch of ground that is flattest and softest. Choosing a slanted or rocky site will make your stay quite uncomfortable. Always lay a tarp down first to prevent water from entering or damaging the tent.

TIP! Look for the softest and flattest ground you can possibly find for your tent. Choosing a rocky or sloped spot will result in you feeling discomfort when you have to spend time in the tent.

Keep pictures of your children on you if they are camping with you.This can help you locate your children quickly if they are lost during the group and lost. Be sure to have a photo for an emergency, particularly if your camping destination is quite a ways from home.

If you put some thought in ahead of time, you will not have to worry about drained batteries in your flashlight while you are at a camp out. It is all too easy to accidentally switch your flashlight on when digging through your bags. To prevent this from draining the batteries, store the batteries in the flashlight backwards until you need to use it. That way, the flashlight cannot possibly drain the batteries if the ON button is bumped.

TIP! Prevent the hassle of accidentally draining your flashlight’s batteries when camping. It is all too easy to accidentally switch your flashlight on when digging through your bags.

Be very aware of the place where you put up your camp. You want to avoid erecting your tent near a spot that doesn’t have too many insects or other insect habitats. If you’re in an area that is rich in vegetation, make sure that you wear tops with long sleeves and full length pants in order to protect your body’s skin from insect bites. You also might want to have insect repellent.

Pack extra flashlights and plenty of batteries for your camping trip. Once the sun has set it is nice to have a source of light. Having the ability to light up an area well can prevent injuries and potentially dangerous encounters with wildlife. If you have children with you on your camping trip, a smart thing to do is to give each of them a flashlight.

TIP! Be sure that you have a good amount of lighting devices with you, as well as means of keeping them running. You may need to be able to see in front of you after sunset at some points during your trip.

Pack your things carefully and wisely. Create a checklist of necessary supplies and check things off while you’re packing them. This is very important if you will be camping in a remote location without access to first-aid supplies or thing you’ll need when an emergency.

Take some time to find the right sleeping bag for the climate conditions at your campsite. For example, there are lightweight sleeping bag for warm weather and heavy sleeping bags for colder weather. If you are going in cold weather, you will want a sleeping bag that hugs your body.

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

One easy tip that you have to build your shelter before dark. It’s hard and frustrating to set up your tent when it’s dark outside. You will need a flashlight or make a fire while it is still light. It is easier to get your campsite set up before it gets dark and you do it while it is still daylight.

Try to keep your cell phone completely charged. As an added safety precaution, you may wish to bring an additional battery so you have plenty of power. A cell phone is a great emergency device; make certain it will keep working.

TIP! It is generally a smart idea to leave your basecamp or car with a fully charged cell phone. Even better, bring extra batteries so you are prepared if there is an emergency.

Clean your campsite when you leave to go back home. Bring enough garbage bags for the anticipated clean up. Pack up any leftover food and remove it from the campsite. The main rule of thumb when breaking down a campsite is to only leave footprints behind.

Many people don’t realize that it is necessary to make a shelter before it gets dark. It is extremely difficult to pitch a tent whenever it is dark. You need to make a fire or use a flashlight. It is best to do this before dark so you can put it up correctly.

TIP! A simple and obvious piece of advice is that you should create your shelter when it is still light. The tent pitching process can be extremely hard if there is no light.

They do this in the belief that it will be very convenient, but they aren’t. Bathrooms provide constant light and also have a lot of traffic running through them at night. This can lead to difficulty sleeping and nuisance.

Learn how to use a compass or read a map, beforehand. Even if you know what your campsite is like, you may still get lost because a lot of areas look similar around where you are. This can help you to avoid getting lost or falling into a dangerous situation.

TIP! Take time to learn map and compass reading. If you have visited the campsite before, you can still get lost once you arrive.

Make sure that all food safety whenever you go camping. Make sure to pack your food stays dry and safe by using airtight bags and waterproof containers. Store food in an insulated cooler. Cooked foods should always be kept separate from raw foods so they don’t become contaminated. Make sure your hands stay clean by washing them or using hand sanitizer. Cook all your food thoroughly and get them chilled quickly.

Keep your food safe when you are camping. Pack your foods in bags or containers that are airtight and waterproof. Insulated coolers are where the food should be stored. Make sure to keep your raw food and cooked food separate. Keep your hands and preparation surfaces clean when handling your food, either with soap or hand sanitizer. Cook all food to safe temperatures, and chill foods as soon as they cool down.

TIP! Make sure that all food brought along on a camping trip is preserved and prepared properly. Put your food in waterproof containers.

Make sure your tent is well ventilated and dry. If your tent is sealed tightly, it will create condensation on not only the tent, sweating and breathing will really accumulate on everything inside. This may cause you to wake up wet. Tents usually have integrated vents or windows that moisture accumulations at bay.

Dress in layers when camping. Weather in the outdoors can change very quickly. It can be chilly in the early morning, only to be followed up with a sweltering, humid afternoon. Also, as soon as night time begins to fall, temperatures can plummet. It is best to bring all types of clothing so that no matter what the weather is, you will be prepared.

TIP! When camping, wear layers. You want to make sure that you are comfortable in any weather.

Stay away from piles of rocks or wood piles. Always check camping gear before putting it on; perhaps a snake has not gotten in.

Plan enough activities to keep everyone busy the entire time. Campfires and making smores aren’t all there is to do when you’re going camping. Come up with creative ideas and plan something fun for each person to do in your camping party. Take your children’s age into consideration when making plans.

TIP! Plan plenty of activities to keep yourself busy while camping. There is so much more to camping than just roasting marshmallows.

You have to be sure that your shelter is established before it gets dark. If you have no tent, it is much easier to set up a shelter in the daylight.

If you have wondered if you will like camping or not, you can do a test at home to see if it’s for you. Spend one night in your own backyard in a tent. Don’t go back inside the house for any creature comforts. If you find that you have fun, there’s a good chance that camping in the mountains or woods will be even more of a blast for you.

TIP! If you have wondered if you will like camping or not, you can do a test at home to see if it’s for you. Set up a tent in your backyard, and do a campout back there.

Even though camping is a fun and popular getaway, things can turn sour without the right planning. With any luck, this article should have given you some useful tips to have a great time and enjoy the next camping trip.

A used shower curtain can double as a cheap tarp to place on the ground before you set up your tent. It can also be placed under cooking and washing stations so you can better handle the mess when those areas are used. Instead of throwing a shower curtain in the trash, clean it and use it for camping.

TIP! Keep old shower curtains, you can use them as disposable tarps to put under your tent when you go camping! It also doubles as a ground base for cooking, washing, etc; basically anything you need safe above the dirt. Do not throw out any old shower curtains — you can save them for camping.