Camping is a pastime that has long been known to be a favorite of many families. Yet, many never try it because it sounds so hard to do. It doesn’t have to be if you have the right tips. Read on to learn as much as you can about camping.
It is important to establish and set up your shelter before the sun goes down. You do not want to be stuck trying to put your tent together or finding a safe location for the tent when it’s pitch black outside. This is even more true if you’re accustomed to city life, and your eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness of the woods. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Always seek shelter before it is too dark to assess your surroundings. Once it grows black in the woods, you can have a hard time setting up your tent, preparing food, and getting adequate firewood. This is especially true if you are an urbanite whose sight is not used to the pitch dark. Set up camp before dark to keep yourself from getting into this situation.
Be sure to know the recent conditions of where you will be staying. For example, you will want to know if the area will be dry enough to find suitable firewood. It’s important that you bring extra wood with you that you can keep in a dry area.
Get a big enough tent to fit everyone and gear properly. You want to make sure that you have enough room in the tent for sleeping quarters and so that each person in the room has enough room.
Have everyone give their opinion on where you should camp. Talk about which state you would like to go to. With all of the options available, it is wise to let people decide for themselves. If necessary, select a few locations yourself, then let the family decide among your choices.
Camping can be extremely fun or extremely dangerous depending upon how prepared you are. Make sure you always go camping only after preparing yourself fully. If you are camping somewhere new, research the area to familiarize yourself with the climate, wildlife and other factors.
Be sure to bring a supply of oranges with you on your trip; they are both healthy and keep mosquitoes away. Use the peels to rub your body down. It is a low-cost, chemical-free way to keep bugs away.
Do not hesitate to pack too much for your kids. Camping is messy business. Dirt and dust are like magnets for children. That all means that you will have very dirty children as the day progresses. By packing a few extra changes of clothes, your children can be presentable at dinner. There is nothing like being prepared!
Always set up your camp before nightfall. Look for a safe parking place if you are camping in an RV. When you find a camping area, make sure that your tent is pitched on a flat area that isn’t near any unsafe ledges. Getting your camp set up before dark will give you time to get to know your campsite and surrounding area. This can help to reduce the stress that you have during your trip.
Kids like camping, but they need structured activities. They could get bored if there isn’t anything to do. They may not know how to fish or pitch tents. If this is their first time, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn new skills.
Do a “jungle breakfast” if you are bringing kids. Take smaller boxes of cereal, small cups of fruit and juice boxes away from your site and tie them up to treas. When they wake up, they’ll have to search the “jungle” for breakfast. It adds some fun to camping.
When planning for a camping adventure with kids, be sure to speak to them about camping dangers. Ensure you children know what poison ivy and poison oak looks like, what to do if they get lost or stumble upon wildlife.
Anytime you are camping in a location that features hazardous animals, you must take extra care in terms of food storage. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. Doing so will lessen your chances for an attack.
While the concept of camping involves getting away from it all, you still need to be prepared with some basic items. Not only should you carry a sleeping bag, a few blankets are a good idea also. This will allow you to stay warm, no matter how cold it gets, and it also serves as extra padding.
The supplies for your next camping excursion should include a couple rolls of duct tape. Its multipurpose properties aren’t only useful at home, they can be used in the wild too. You can slap a piece of it on a leaking air mattress. It is also useful for taping up tears in tents, tarps or sleeping bags. Before embarking on an arduous hike, put it on each foot to stave off blisters. It can also work as a bandage.
As you can see, camping isn’t that difficult at all. You can master it. Apply what you’ve just learned on your upcoming camping trip. In no time, you’ll be enjoying a great adventure in the great outdoors.
Make sure you bring the right things when you go camping. Overlooking even a small thing can ruin an entire trip. It may be helpful to make a list of everything you need and cross it off the list when you pack it. You will want to include everything you need, no matter how big or small, to ensure that you have what you need while you are away from home.