Camping is a great activity that you can share with family and friends. Many shy away from it, but it really isn’t.It is not that hard when you have all of the right information. Continue reading this article for some great camping guidance that will make you an enthusiastic camper in short order.
When camping, be sure to locate a shelter before dark. Once the woods are dark, it is very difficult to find firewood, pitch your tent and prepare some food. This is even more true for city folks whose eyes are not used to the pitch black. Avoid this by setting up your shelter ahead of time.
Pick a sleeping bag according to what season it is. You are going to be really hot and uncomfortable camping in a sleeping bag designed for sub-zero temperatures. On the flip side, light-weight sleeping supplies will never keep you warm enough in the dead of winter. You might even experience hypothermia.
When purchasing a brand new tent, put it together once at home before going on your camping trip. This helps you learn to put up your tent and make sure there aren’t missing pieces. It also helps with the frustration of putting a tent up.
Make sure to have an idea of the weather will be before starting your trip. There are numerous websites that you can also give you an idea of what to expect. This will help you better prepare by having the right clothes and equipment.
Learn proper first aid. In an emergency, your first aid training could be the difference between life and death. Also remember to research other dangers near your camping location. 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.
Try to fit swimming to your schedule in some way. You may miss the shower when you are camping.
If you are taking kids camping, have them eat a “jungle breakfast.” Take juice boxes, mini cereal boxes and fruit and tie the food to trees. Let younger children wake up and hunt for their breakfast. This is a wonderful way to spice up the whole camping trip.
You certainly don’t want to forget essential items.
Bring duct tape with you since it can help you in many situations. It works quickly for inflatable leaks, tent holes, worn soles on shoes, sealing mosquito nets, securing tent poles, and so much more.
While kids love camping, make sure to make plans to keep them entertained. They have probably never fished or pitch tents. Teach them how to perform these things ahead of time to ensure a great trip.
Pillows are a good item to bring to maximize your level of comfort while camping. If you take along a regular bedroom pillow, it can get hot and sticky when it’s hot outside. They can mildew quickly after absorbing moisture. Pillows designed for camping have a coating on them that does not all the moisture to be absorbed.
Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the location. If you are camping in a colder climate, use a heavy-weight bag and use a light-weight one in the summer.You might even consider a bag that surrounds the body closely so that body heat can be retained.
You need to make sure you have everything you need when you go camping. Even just a handful of things missing can really affect your camping experience. Write a list in advance of what you are going to need, and then you can check each item off when it is packed. Some useful items are items to create a fire, your tent, tarp, a sleeping bag, water (and lots of it), soap, food that is already prepared, and a utility knife.
Keep pictures of your children on you if they are camping with you.This picture could be used to help you locate your children quickly if they are lost during the trip. Always keep one ready for emergency use, especially if your campsite is far from your home.
Come prepared before you go camping. No matter how careful you are, things can happen that are not a part of your original plan. Weather can change, situations can arise, injuries or illness can strike. To stay safe, plan ahead, do not take any risks and do not be careless.
These grab-and-go snacks are nutritious enough to eat in the event you don’t feel like cooking. These items can be stored for quite a while, so you can always save them for a later time.
When you are camping, be sure you choose the right sleeping bag for the site conditions. If you are camping in a colder climate, purchase a heavyweight sleeping bag; people who camp in warm weather should use a lightweight sleeping bag. A good sleeping bag will cling to the human body and help it to retain as much body heat as possible.
It is imperative that a first-aid kit and survival kits on hand when you go camping. These two items can be the deciding factor in whether you have to end a trip early and taking care of many situations as they arise. You can keep a potentially serious from getting worse until you can get help for the injured some medical help.
Plan your camping attire in advance of your trip. Make sure you have plenty of clean clothes for the duration of your trip. Also, remember to bring clothing that is weather appropriate for the climate of your campsite. Include closed toe shoes or hiking boots if you want to do some hiking.
Although the camp site may be a familiar one, you can still get lost when you arrive because many areas can look similar. You can avoid possible tragedy when you know how to use both of these great lifesaving tools.
You should always bring a spare utility knife when camping. This knife is a must-have for campers, and you should have a spare in case something happens to the first one.
Waterproof matches are an essential addition to your camping survival kit. Use an airtight container to hold the matches. You can convert standard matches waterproof by putting them in nail polish or paraffin. You can make a caddy for matches by putting them out of a film container or a small plastic medicine bottle made out of plastic.
Before going camping, make sure you know how to read your map or how to use your compass. If you have visited the campsite before, you can still get lost once you arrive. This can help you to avoid getting lost or falling into a dangerous situation.
Seal all the seams when pitching your tent’s seams.You can buy a tube at most sporting good stores if your tent didn’t include any. This will stop critters and rainwater from getting inside.
It is important that you practice food safety while you are out camping. Make sure to pack your foods in airtight containers. Store food that requires refrigeration in an insulated cooler. Raw food should be kept separate from cooked food as a way to prevent contamination. Handle food with clean hands, whether you bring sanitizer with you or soap. Also, be sure that all food is fully cooked and that any leftovers are chilled as soon as possible.
They think they are doing themselves a favor, but they will learn otherwise. Bathrooms provide constant light and also have a lot of traffic running through them at night. This location can lead to difficulty sleeping and other discomforts that you want to avoid.
If you think you might enjoy a camping trip but have never actually tried it before, give yourself a quick test-run to make sure you like it. Pitch your tent in your yard and sleep in it for the night. Under no circumstances should you enter your house, no matter what you might be wanting. If the night is fun, you are ready to head to the wilderness!
Always follow safety first during camping. This means you need to avoid large and some of the small wildlife. Even smaller animals can pose a danger. Obviously, you should never try to feed a bear, do not feed them.
For a cheap and disposable tarp to place under your tent, save an old shower curtain! You could also use the curtain as a cooking base or any place you need to control run-off. Do not throw out any old shower curtains — you can save them for camping.
Make sure that all food safety whenever you go camping. Make sure to pack your foods in airtight bags and waterproof containers. Store food in an insulated cooler. Cooked foods should be kept away from raw in order to prevent cross-contamination. Make sure your hands are clean by washing them with soap and/or using hand sanitizer. Cook foods to proper temperatures and get them chilled quickly.
Don’t forget the toilet paper and wet wipes. Leaves should only be used in the place of toilet paper if nothing else is available, so make sure to buy some baby wipes and toilet paper for camping trips.
A well stocked first aid kit should be a vital part of your camping trip. The kit should contain anything that you will need in case an accident. Your personal first aid kit needs to contain pain reliever, bandages, splinting materials, and whatever else you think you’ll need.
Be sure to pack plenty of water, drinks and food in the camping supplies. If bears are common where you will be camping, keep your food away from your sleeping area. Burn your garbage so that its odor does not draw bears in.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are smart items to pack on your camping excursion. You could always rough it by using leaves and other natural items, but that is an unnecessary inconvenience as long as you plan in advance.
Do your bathroom chores downstream if your camp site is close to a water source. This ensures that any water that flows through your camp site won’t be contaminated with your “special gift.” Make sure to relieve yourself well away from your campsite.
Stay away from brush and wood as well as thick or deep brush.Always check camping gear before putting it on; perhaps a snake has not gotten in.
Bring along some indoor activities. Be ready for bad weather while you’re out in the woods. You may end up spending a lot of time indoors if it rains. If you have nothing to do, you may find yourself bored and unoccupied. Be certain to bring activities along to pass time wherever you are.
You have your shelter prepared before it starts to get dark. If you do not have a tent, getting a place to sleep is better when there is light.
Nature isn’t your living area. Do not leave your campsite filthy or throw trash around. Ideally, you should leave the area where you chose to camp in the same condition as you found it when you first arrived. Respect nature, and clean your campground before you leave.
Take some indoor activities you can do inside. Be ready for bad weather on your camping trip. You could end up spending a lot of time in your tent if it rains. This doesn’t mean the end of your trip. Be certain to have lots of activities along to pass time wherever you are.
Listening to music or reading a book are both great ways to enjoy being in nature, but don’t forget to enjoy the scenery itself. If there are well marked trails available, go walking through the woods, or lose yourself looking at the stars of the night sky. All your stress will disappear.
Fire safety is vital when camping. Know how to make a secure fire ring to keep your campfire safely contained. Have water in the event that the fire gets too big.
Don’t skimp on clothes or food for camping trips. This will help you prepare in case of an emergency. If your food gets ruined or you decide to stay longer, you will have what you need.
Always pack extra food and clothes when you are camping. It is always better to have both in case of an emergency.
If you are using a public campsite, be courteous to those around you and turn off your lights. In some cases, people will keep their RV awning lights turned on throughout the night. There is no reason for this and it just disturbs others who are sleeping in camps close by.
There are common ethics and unwritten rules that all campers must obey.
When going camping, you have the potential to make friends that will last a lifetime. So be social, and get out and meet your neighbors in the campground. Camping can be a fun social activity. You are really missing out if you do not try to make some new friends on your camping trip.
If you camp at a public campground, be courteous to those around you and turn off your lights. There are people who leave their RV lights to remain on for the night. This is unjustified and will only serve to disturb others on the campsite.
Although it is not required, it is a nice gesture to leave some firewood for the next campers at your campsite. Sometime people arrive too late to collect firewood and your party may have collected the best pieces already. Of course it’s not mandatory, but it will be well appreciated.
As you can see, camping isn’t so difficult. Anyone can learn to perfect the art of camping. Use the tips that you learned on your next camping trip. You’ll find yourself on an excursion that puts you up close with nature.